RFID Case Study: An innovative solution for patient flow management in hospitals

Partheas is a company specializing in the digitalization of healthcare processes. Their core product, Partheas Flow, focuses on optimizing patient flow within hospitals and medical centers. This solution is designed to increase the efficiency of care delivery based on real-time tracking and management of patients throughout the entire healthcare infrastructure.

Challenge

Hospitals face various challenges in patient flow and capacity management. Traditional methods heavily rely on manual processes, leading to delays, inefficiencies and reduced patient satisfaction. Partheas recognizes the need for an automated solution that can efficiently guide patients through their hospital visit while simultaneously reducing the workload for staff.

Solution

Partheas Flow offers an advanced solution for managing patient flow in hospitals and medical centers using RFID technology. This solution begins as soon as patients enter. They receive a reusable RFID badge that guides them throughout their visit. At the end of their visit, patients return this badge, contributing not only to a sustainable environment but also lowering operational costs. With the help of SensThys hardware, including the SensThys Enterprise reader and the SensRF-101 antenna, patients are tracked via this badge from the moment they enter the hospital. This means not only knowing where a patient is but also managing capacity based on the availability of doctors and nursing staff, and assigning patients to the right care providers for examinations. This approach
ensures that the hospital can optimally deploy its resources, reducing waiting times and optimizing patient care.

A key feature of Partheas Flow is the detection function. When a patient enters a waiting area and is detected, the system can automatically take action to promote flow. For example, if there is no queue at a doctor, the patient receives a call via TV screens in the waiting area to proceed to the respective doctor.

The choice for SensThys was made because of its compact form factor, high performance, and the ability to integrate the hardware in a non-invasive manner into the hospital environment. Its built-in Ethernet switching and integrated PoE (Power over Ethernet) power distribution system allow for easy cascading of multiple readers, ensuring a non-invasive setup.

Privacy
The handling of sensitive privacy data is given special attention by Partheas. All collected data is securely processed and encrypted for transmission. The system architecture ensures that only anonymized data is used to manage patient flow, with patient identification remaining within the healthcare system.

Result

The implementation of Partheas Flow has resulted in significant benefits for participating hospitals. The hospital in Herentals (Antwerp), one of the locations where Partheas Flow has been implemented, sees about 1200 patients on busy days. Automation of patient flow and capacity management has observed significant improvements in efficiency. These improvements have resulted in cost savings, reduced waiting times for patients, and better deployment of staff. For instance, the hospital in Herentals has been able to save on approximately five FTEs, mainly by reducing the need for staff at desks for follow-up and management of patient flows.

Conclusion
Partheas Flow illustrates the power of digital innovation in healthcare. By using advanced RFID technology and a deep understanding of the needs of both patients and care providers, Partheas offers a solution that modernizes care delivery, increases efficiency, and ultimately leads to an improved patient experience.

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