VSTI .054..Karmanos Cancer Center Tracks Patient Flow in Clinic with Versus
Advantages(TM) RTLS
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Barbara Ann
Karmanos Cancer Center is the first cancer center in Michigan to track and
manage patient flow using the Versus Advantages(TM) Real-time Locating System
(RTLS) at its newly opened Dresner Family Clinic for Hematologic Malignancies &
Stem Cell Transplantation.
Karmanos, located in Detroit, Mich., is designated by the National Cancer
Institute as among the very best cancer centers in the United States. The
center, which sees more than 6,000 new patients annually, strives to find ways
in which to improve services, says Kathleen Fedoronko, Karmanos' executive
director of Patient Care Services.
A patient satisfaction survey conducted in 2010 pointed to one area in need of
improvement -- patient wait times. Fedoronko notes that the time studies
Karmanos used to identify possible causes of long waits were labor-intensive
and, as a result, were done infrequently. "We really felt we didn't have a great
sense overall of our throughput issues," she says. "That's when we became
interested in electronic [patient tracking] systems."
When the decision was made to build the Dresner Family Clinic, a new space that
combines two previously separate clinic environments, Karmanos knew technology
could ease the transition and manage patient flow in the much-larger
16,000-square-foot area. The center selected Versus Advantages Clinic solution,
an automated workflow management system using RTLS.
As the most deployed RTLS in healthcare for automated patient flow, Versus helps
Karmanos manage the visits of 250+ patients per week through the Dresner
Clinic's 16 exam rooms and 13 infusion rooms.
"We love working with innovators in healthcare like Karmanos," says Matthew
Schmidt, a national sales director for Versus, "and we're pleased to see them
embrace technology to provide better patient care. It's clear the patients come
first at Karmanos."
Both patients and staff at the cancer center wear Versus Clearview(TM) Badges,
which communicate room-level location through low-powered, safe infrared (IR)
and radio frequency (RFID) signals. Rules-based clinical workflow automation
software provides real-time situational awareness to staff, allowing them to
view patient progression and room status on workstations and four 42-inch
Glance-and-Go(TM) overhead screens.
The system tracks patient and staff workflow to identify bottlenecks for process
improvement and to enhance patient safety. "We are looking at specific
milestones, like how long it takes from the time the patient walks in the door
to the time they get triaged, to when they get their vitals taken," says Valerie
Fred, an operations support specialist at Karmanos. "Then we're looking at the
patients' overall length of stay. And we're also looking at that data separated
by physician, to see the variability [in times] between physicians and how
they're operating in the environment."
But it's the real-time workflow management that is especially important to the
clinic. Fred explains, "Patient visits can be very involved. They are seen by
pharmacists, possibly a social worker, a bone marrow transplant coordinator --
there's so many different people that may come in and out of that patient's room
while they're here."
With the Versus displays, each caregiver can know at a glance what needs to
happen next during the patient's visit. The automated communication of patient
status eliminates a lot of wasted time on the phone, asking who's where and
what's next.
Versus also communicates room status (occupied, empty, reserved, or needing
cleaning), making room turnover more efficient.
"This has been fabulous in that we can all, at a glance, see if a patient
arrives early, if a patient is late, how they're doing compared to their
appointment time, who's seeing them, why they're here, and their overall length
of stay," Fred says. "We've come to rely on it quite a bit in a short period of
time."
Fred adds that prior to using Versus Advantages, nurses were usually in-tune
with patients' lengths of stay. But for providers, who often don't see patients
until well into their visits, length of stay wasn't at the forefront.
"This is a nice way for all the providers in the clinic to see how long it's
taking for a patient to get through the system," Fred says, "and maybe speed
things up on that actual day -- prioritizing the patients."
Based on the success of Versus Advantages at the Dresner Family Clinic, Karmanos
is currently planning to expand utilization of the RTLS.
About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Located in mid-town Detroit,
Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 41 National Cancer
Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring
for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $265 million, conducting
more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical
trials, Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the
commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on
faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by
thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect
and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School
of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics
related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president
and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to
karmanos.org.
About Versus Technology, Inc. Established in 1988, Versus Technology, Inc.
specializes in real-time location systems (RTLS) for healthcare. Used by more
than 700 hospitals for enterprise patient tracking, bed management, asset
tracking, and nurse call automation, Versus Advantages(TM) 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 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: Investor/Analyst Contact:
Versus Technology, Inc. Versus Technology, Inc.
Stephanie Bertschy, Director of Marketing Joseph Winowiecki, Chief Financial Officer
877.983.7787 231.946.5868
skb@versustech.com joew@versustech.com
SOURCE Versus Technology, Inc.
www.prnewswire.com
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
-0-
KEYWORD: Michigan
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CPR
HEA
OTC
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
