Press Release
Patient Tracking a Success During BHEPP
Emergency Response Drill
(Traverse City, Michigan, December 1, 2010) – Just ten weeks
after Versus Technology, Inc. (Versus, PINKSHEETS:
 |
The
The BHEPP began exploring RTLS options
after the inability to track patients during a mass casualty event had been
documented as a gap in multiple real disasters. The U.S. Navy produced a video for CMAX-09, in which, Brian Gragnolati, President,
Suburban Hospital states, “If you think about what the biggest problem is in
any crisis, it’s communication and moving information” as he explains the need
for RFID / RTLS. Versus’ RTLS was selected to enhance
communication and keep information tied to patients, even as they are moved
from facility to facility.
|
| The BHEPP’s goal is to create a sustainable response model that
can be replicated in other areas, especially densely
populated areas at risk for national disasters or terrorist attacks. “Having
real-time information related to the victim’s arrival and location was
immensely helpful to the first-time Incident Commander in his decision making,”
says Cindy Notobartolo, Division Director ED/Trauma, Safety & Security Services at Suburban Hospital. “Within our patient information
system, the patient’s location was tied to triage and treatment data and made
available in real-time to all emergency care personnel. The external evaluators
were impressed that our tracking ability was 100% throughout the exercise.”
|
 |
 |
During the drill, as victims arrived at Suburban Hospital triage
area, they were decontaminated, triaged and assigned Versus ID badges which
were worn clipped to the victim’s clothing. A photo of the victim was also
taken to support Lost Person identification and family reunification efforts. Emergency
personnel then transported the patient to the appropriate treatment area.
The Versus ID badges, which emit digitized infrared (IR) and
radio-frequency identification (RFID) signals, immediately communicated the
patient’s location and triage level to care providers and Central Command via
the BHEPP’s patient information system. When patients were reassessed, treated
or moved to other areas, their locations were updated in real-time. Location of
key personnel and equipment was also provided in real-time.
|
Versus prepared views and rules to support the key RTLS drill
functionality as outlined below.
1.
Real-time locating of all
patients from decontamination and triage through discharge or hospital
admission.
2.
Rules-based pediatric monitoring, with location-based alerts to
help ensure children are secure and monitored at all times. The CMAX-10 drill
did not take advantage of the dedicated pediatric area; however, the rules for
monitoring and securing pediatric patients are in place and fully functional
for future use.
3.
Real-time locating of
critical equipment to decrease time to locate, improve utilization and support
sharing across participating facilities.
4.
Web service integration
with National Library of Medicine’s Patient Tracker for badge assignments,
triage level and patient demographic information as it became available to the
provider.
5.
Real-time locating of key
mass casualty incident personnel to improve communication and enhance decision-making
capabilities of the Incident Commander.
6.
Tracking the evacuation
of current hospital patients and their arrival at remote partner facilities for
expanded surge capacity.
CMAX-10 was a valuable exercise for both the BHEPP
and Versus; each organization identified areas for
improvement related to expanded use, patient identification, training,
information availability, advanced rules for patient transfer and make-ready
operations. They look forward to building on this foundational experience to
enhance communication and safety during future drills and in the event an
actual response is required.
About BHEPP
This partnership is a
first-of-its-kind collaboration that links military, federal, local and private
mass disaster medical response efforts within the national capital area. Established
in 2004, the partnership is now a model for other health care agencies
throughout the country
About
Versus Technology, Inc.
Established in 1988, Versus
Technology, Inc. specializes in real-time location systems (RTLS) for healthcare. Used for
enterprise patient
tracking, bed
management, asset tracking, and nurse call automation, Versus Advantages™ improves patient
flow and
documentation of caregiver and patient interactions, while enhancing
communication and efficiency. Exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital
Association, the Versus Advantages infrared (IR) and Active RFID solution is responsible for
clinical-grade location and automation at a number of hospitals, clinics and
long-term care facilities worldwide. To learn more about Versus Technology,
Inc. (Pink Sheets: VSTI.PK), our technology and client successes, visit www.versustech.com and take the Advantages
Tour.
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.
###
|
Media Contact: Versus Technology, Inc. 877.983.7787 |
Investor/Analyst
Contact:
Joseph Winowiecki, Chief Financial Officer 231.946.5868 joew@versustech.com |
