Pilot Validates RTLS, Dana-Farber Selects Versus for Yawkey Cancer Center
Traverse City, Michigan, January 26, 2011—Following a three-month pilot project, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has selected Versus Advantages™ Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) from Versus Technology, Inc. to assist with patient tracking, room utilization, workflow optimization and reporting in their new Yawkey Center for Cancer Care.
Versus was selected to deploy a pilot system following a request for service that involved several real-time locating system (RTLS) technologies and providers. The pilot project was conducted in one of Dana-Farber’s current adult cancer clinics, which sees an average of 200 patients per day. Versus met Dana-Farber’s primary objectives—including locating to the chair level. Versus utilizes digital Infrared (IR) signals, which enables the signal reception area to be focused to inches in order to accurately determine location at no additional cost.
“Locating to chair level provides tremendous value to organizations that are struggling with capacity management or that offer specialized services like dialysis or infusion therapy—where a patient doesn’t need to be in an exam room,” explains Paul Timmerman, VP, Versus. “In Dana-Farber’s case, they will be using Versus to monitor infusion therapy patients and to capture treatment times and interactions with providers. We’ll also alert staff to check on patients at pre-determined intervals.”
Versus Advantages, which combines rules-based viewing, reporting and automation software with IR locating and radio frequency (RFID) badge status, is able to capture the patient’s location, stage of care and alert staff to significant visit intervals or a patient’s wait time. The staff can quickly find patient information on the Versus Glance-and-Go™ electronic displays to facilitate communication exchange.
Versus Advantages will be implemented for real-time location of patients, staff and equipment as well as workflow automation throughout the clinics on the 9th and 10th floors of the 275,000 sq. ft. Yawkey Center. The new Yawkey Center for Cancer Care is opened on January 30, 2011.
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. It provides adult cancer care with Brigham and Women’s Hospital as Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and it provides pediatric care with Children’s Hospital Boston as Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center. Dana-Farber is the top ranked cancer center in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report, and one of the largest recipients among independent hospitals of National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health grant funding.
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.