Results

HID Global Corporation

08/18/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/18/2022 11:46

Innovation Partners for Patient IDs — Mayo Clinic in Conjunction With HID Global Develop a New RTLS BLE Beacon Wristband

A hospital's most valuable asset is its patients.

And, knowing where the patients are at all times not only increases safety, improves productivity and enables better workflow, but it also allows healthcare enterprises all over the world to engage in something revolutionary: a journey of digital transformation.

BLE Beacon Wristband Reveals RTLS Innovation

For innovation to occur, companies in a joint strategic partnership have to think progressively, factoring in the needs of stakeholders, customers and regulatory agencies.

Mayo Clinic is one of the largest healthcare institutions in the world. They have a global workforce of over 73K, and their flagship Minnesota campus alone cares for over 16K patients a month - let alone over 1.2M patients a year!

HID Global has deployed over 20K BluFi™ gateways and a whole host of RFID tags for patients, staff (i.e., BLE badges) and assets across three of Mayo Clinic's largest campuses.

Operating on such a scale prompted Mayo Clinic to work in conjunction with HID Global to develop a new patient wristband/beacon, empowering both the hospital and its patients with a powerful new tool offering a host of advantages over previous wristbands. The new beacon wristband:

  • Comes in a small form factor of just under 20 millimeters (see figure below)Edit media Ima
Image
Size comparison: BLE beacon to a US dime
  • Takes advantage of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology enabling beacons to transmit data across a wide-area Bluetooth to WiFi network (such as HID's powerful BluFi gateways)
  • Operates with push button activation, enabling the beacon to become disposable
    • Activation period is three-weeks long
  • Uses a Tyvek wristband, which solves a few different problems
    • For patient MRIs, the wristband is cut off and the beacon is removed (beacons interfere with an MRI scan]
    • After the MRI, a new Tyvek wristband is affixed to the removed beacon and placed back on the patient
  • Is easily scalable, meaning there is no limit to the number of beacons that can be in service concurrently
  • Provides robust RTLS (real-time location services), keeping constant track of patient whereabouts and treatments
  • Features a beacon small enough not to be a choking hazard

For a massive healthcare institution such as Mayo Clinic, a patient wristband that accomplishes all of the above is not only a huge benefit for the hospital and patients alike, but also gives the enterprise a competitive advantage over similar organizations.

The HID Global/Mayo Clinic partnership in developing this new device highlights what a robust and innovative business relationship we have together - not just on this remarkable project but also for a host of others.

-Mark Robiton, VP Global Business Segment, HID Global

For a deeper dive into how RTLS technology can help your healthcare enterprise optimize its asset management while helping to ensure the safety of your staff and patients, see our white paper Achieving Healthcare Optimization Through Real-Time Location Services.

Nick Iandolo is an experienced Senior Marketing Strategist specializing in Content Marketing and Corporate Communications Writing, primarily for market-disrupting technology organizations. His work has been featured in publications such as Morning Consult, NewDesign Magazine UK, SmartCard Identity News, and Construction Outlook. Nick is also a Spartan Race athlete, and lives just outside of Boston Mass with his wife, daughter, and Golden Retriever.