[Patient tracking with beacon technology : Pilot project in a radiological practice].

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Informatics
• Patient Flow Optimization

Background:

• Waiting times are a persistent challenge in healthcare, impacting patient satisfaction.
• Existing information systems often lack real-time tracking and visualization capabilities for patient flow.
• Increasing patient expectations necessitate improved transparency and management of healthcare processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a beacon technology-based patient tracking system in a radiology practice.
• To assess patient and staff acceptance of the new tracking system and associated workflows.
• To determine if real-time patient flow visualization can aid in controlling and reducing waiting times.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a pilot patient tracking system utilizing beacon technology in a radiology practice.
• Real-time tracking of patient location and status (e.g., waiting).
• Display of patient flow and waiting times on a smart dashboard for process monitoring.

Main Results:

• The beacon technology system successfully met project requirements and was accepted by patients and staff.
• The system provided the first clear, real-time visualization of patient flows and waiting times.
• Processes and waiting times, previously unrecorded or only noted via complaints, became controllable.

Conclusions:

• Beacon technology offers a viable solution for real-time patient tracking and process visualization in healthcare.
• Transparency in patient flow management can lead to reduced waiting times and increased patient satisfaction.
• Scalability is feasible, though integration with existing information systems presents a technical challenge.