Press Release
Humber Selects RTLS from Versus for Improved Patient Flow
(Traverse City, Michigan, May 11, 2010) – Humber
River Regional Hospital (HRRH) has selected Versus Advantages, a
Real-time Locating System (RTLS) from Versus Technology,
Inc. (Versus, PINKSHEETS:
The search for an effective patient flow management system was
spurred by Ministry of Health and
Long-term Care Performance Goals set forth in 2008. These goals challenge
hospitals to improve their emergency room patient flow management processes. In
turn, the Ministry of Health provides funds to support hospital improvements
that help patients obtain more timely care. HRRH’s specific focus, like that of
70 other hospitals, is on reducing emergency room wait times, which currently
average between 15.8 and 17.0 hours for complex conditions and 3.9 hours for
minor or uncomplicated conditions.
The Real-time Locating System (RTLS) from Versus will provide real-time
patient locating at each facility and track key metrics such as Total Length of
Stay based on patient acuity to facilitate easy reporting of patient wait times
to the Ministry of Health. The automatic collection of patient location data
will relieve staff of the “busy work” associated with keeping up with each
patient’s individual progress, such as when the patient goes to diagnostic
imaging and when the patient returns. With this situational awareness, the
patient’s status as relayed to caregivers is timelier and “next stage” events
can be triggered automatically based on patient status.
Dr. R. Kumar, Chief of Emergency Services at HRRH and
Co-Physician Director notes, “At present we have to
rely on data which, because of the lag in reporting time, may not represent the
current situation. With Versus’ real-time technology, we can review and analyze
data immediately, and be able to correct bottlenecks in real time, helping us
provide even better care to our patients and families.”
In addition to capturing data points and interactions as they
happen, the Versus system will also feature a two-way integration to HRRH’s Meditech system, where Versus will receive patient
registration data and update HRRH’s Meditech whiteboards
in real-time. This offers several important benefits. The first is simply that
staff will not have to perform these data entry tasks that are automated by
Versus. There’s less potential for data entry errors and duplicate data. The
deducible efficiency gains also mean that the stages of care are auto-time
stamped (important for metrics reporting) while all necessary patient
information is instantaneously available to a wider audience of caregivers and
administrators. This will allow HRRH to make changes to processes that delay
the receipt of timely care for patients.
With the changes set forth by the Ontario government, including public reporting of metrics, it will be important for area hospitals to pay attention to outcomes as a result of technologies and processes implemented to address emergency room wait times. “Humber River is the second hospital in Ontario in the last six months to announce the use of the Versus Advantages to improve patient flow. Efficient patient flow is evidenced to have a positive impact on safety, satisfaction and revenue,” explains Darren Micallef, Consultant, HC4Site. “We need to look beyond the labour force to reduce wait times. Bringing in an expert at patient flow, like Versus, is key to ensuring that the provincial targets are not only achieved, but achieved in a manner that is timely, efficient, intuitive for staff and that complements Humber's unique processes.”
About Humber River
Regional Hospital
Humber River Regional Hospital
is one of Canada's largest regional acute care hospitals, serving a catchment
area of more than 850,000 people. Affiliated with the University of Toronto,
the hospital is home to Ontario's first Centre of Excellence for laparoscopic
bariatric surgery; Canada's first home nocturnal dialysis program and a major
cancer program.
Humber River's redevelopment
plan, approved by the provincial government, will see it commence construction
of Ontario’s first digital hospital in 2011; one Humber River plans to make a
technological and environmental showcase. HOK, one of the world's leading
healthcare design teams, has been retained to provide the design compliance
services for the new hospital project. Learn more about Humber River at www.hrrh.on.ca.
About HC4Site
Healthcare 4Site is the
Canadian Sales Agent for Versus Technology, Inc. With many years’ experience
servicing the healthcare sector, Healthcare 4Site’s
mission is to improve patient care, service and operations by incorporating
today and tomorrow’s technology.
About Versus Technology, Inc.
For
nearly 20 years, Versus Technology, Inc. has maintained the leadership position
in the development and sale of context-aware real-time location systems (RTLS) used for enterprise patient tracking, bed management and asset
tracking to improve patient
flow and caregiver/patient
communications in hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Versus also
develops dual infrared and Active RFID tags and other location tracking
hardware to make locating systems more precise, security systems more
intelligent, nurse call systems automatic, and hospital asset tracking systems
more efficient. Indoor positioning through Versus’ RTLS enhances existing
hospital software and patient care systems with real-time, reliable bed-level
location information. The patented Versus IR and Active RFID patient and asset tracking system is exclusively endorsed by
the American Hospital Association and is a key component of their Patient Flow
Platform—which includes a select group of vendors that provide proven solutions
to enhance patient flow and improve patient safety. (www.versustech.com; Pink Sheets: VSTI.PK)
Safe Harbor Provision
This release may include
forward-looking statements which “bespeak caution,” and which are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the forward-looking statements. The statements are made only as of
the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update
them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
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HC4Site Contact:
519.636.0046
|
Media Contact: Versus Technology, Inc. 877.983.7787 |
Investor/Analyst
Contact:
Joseph Winowiecki, Chief Financial Officer joew@versustech.com |
