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Oracle, Capgemini, Intel and Geodan demonstrate healthcare asset tracking
Oracle, Capgemini, Intel and Geodan have created an RFID-based system for identifying and visualising
the whereabouts of vital medical equipment, vehicles, personnel and patients in real time.
Ten journalists were treated to a vision of the future in February, when they visited the pilot installation at the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) at the University of Amsterdam. The pilot has been created by a consortium comprising Capgemini, Geodan Mobile Solutions, Intel, and Oracle. The project was carried out at the request of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and was financed in part by the Ministry of Economic Affairs
as coordinator of the statewide IT agenda.
The journalists heard from Dr P.J.M. Bakker, oncologist and RFID project executive at the AMC, about the potential this technology has for improving patient safety
and the monitoring of critical processes.
Asset tracking is a key challenge in hospitals worldwide: effective treatment is only possible when healthcare providers are able to locate and provide the right resources, often against tight and inflexible deadlines. With budgets under pressure, hospitals cannot afford to have resources sit idle. Effective management of limited resource is the only way to ensure that life-saving equipment is on hand wherever and whenever it is needed. If doctors and nurses cannot
find vital equipment, it can have significant repercussions in an emergency situation.
Oracle, Intel and Geodan's solution uses inexpensive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. They are fitted to devices, such as portable medical equipment, stretchers and wheelchairs, and can be issued to staff and patients in the form of wristbands. The tags can transmit their location to a reader up to 30 metres away, and can be configured to connect to an existing wireless LAN so that no additional reader infrastructure is necessary. The location information from the tags can be used not only to identify the whereabouts of the person or item in real time, but also to build up a picture of the movement of equipment around
the hospital, so that assets can be managed and deployed more efficiently.
The solution runs on Intel architecture and comprises Geodan Movida location awareness software, Oracle Fusion Middleware and
Oracle Database 10
g
Spatial.
The joint solution was also demonstrated at the World Healthcare Congress (WHCC) by Cap Gemini, the platinum sponsor of the WHCC, Oracle, and Geodan. The demonstration at the March 2007 event, which attracted healthcare leaders from across Europe, stimulated much interest
and discussion.
In 2004, Geodan was the first recipient of the
Oracle PartnerNetwork Innovation Award, which is given by Oracle to recognise partners who have developed an innovative product or service that complements Oracle's own. Oracle rewards award winners with funds
for advertising and market development, and with support from the Oracle sales force.
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