Application of Automation Technology in Hospitals

Technological innovations have, at all times, surprised the world. Apply automation technology in the healthcare sector. A wealth of convenience awaits the management! Maintaining a hospital’s systems and processes and efficiently managing them with little increase in staffing is today made feasible with automation. Deliverability of data from one system to another, enhanced security, energy cost savings, patient comfort, streamline of processes, increase in accuracy – these are only few of the phrases that identify hospital automation. “Automation can make a huge difference in the way workflow happens in hospitals. Providing doctors a better access to patient information, improving back office operations, ensuring complete security within the premise, intelligent saving of energy, ensuring patient comfort are few of the benefits associated with automation technology. Patients can save time and enjoy better convenience and comfort while management can enjoy a streamlined process besides saving on overall operation costs,” says Mr. Jatinder Singh, COO, Smart Automation Technologies. Automation of processes can lead to: • Automated workflow and no administrative inefficienciesrn• Improved patient care and increased efficiencyrn• Automated sharing of critical information with clinics, labs, insurers, etc. • Online appointment and automated data entry • End-to-end online management of hospital and patient recordsrn• Access to virtual doctorrn• Hassle-free insurance claim processingrn• EMR (Electronic Medical Report) • Strengthen patient relationships. Many entrances, different rooms and spaces, accessibility to drugs, high-value equipment, doctors, staff, patients, and movement around the building and within the perimeters – this comprises a hospital. Round the clock operation is its quintessence; this is where the security aspect holds immense significance. It is efficient security measures that people, property, information and reputation can be protected. Guards at the perimeters of the hospital premise, entry, exit, and at various departments are employed for security and yet efficiency is not definite. Evidently, in places with public footprint, such as a hospital, employment of guards is mandatory. Use of automation security will not only help hospital authorities reduce count of guards but also enjoy enhanced security. With CCTV security cameras installed at the perimeters, entry, exit and at various prime points of the property, management can keep track in real time how the guards are functioning. Sensors with CCTV security cameras at the perimeters will not only help authorities employ a single guard but also let them get alerts if the guard stays idle or goes away for a break or doesn’t stroll covering the boundary. Fire, smoke, pager, and other alarm systems, two-way voice communications, access control systems, door release, photo identification, etc. are the other hi-tech security hospital automation systems, the integrated use of which can ensure enhanced and complete security of a hospital. When it comes to tracking patients and employees, it is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology that is the most effective. Research and development on RFID is still in progress to take maximum advantage of this technology in various sectors including healthcare. This technology can be applied in radiographs and records to ensure the correct identification of the patient. Hospitals are increasingly using Smart cards to store medical records of patients. RFID has also proven to be an efficient technique to maintain clinical samples of patients in laboratories. Energy cost saving is one of the greatest advantages of automating a hospital. Lights, HVAC, and other equipments run 24 X 7. It is making optimum usage of electricity and reducing the overall huge electricity bills every month that the ‘big desires and limited budgets’ syndrome can be realized. To make this happen: • Use LED lights instead of tube or CFLrn• Use occupancy based sensors for HVAC functioningrn• Use sensor based lights in stores and areas less visitedrn• Use motion based lighting controls with multi timing options in certain areasrn• Use 500-1000 KVA generators when no electricityrn• Use energy metering on all energy equipmentsrn• Manage energy usage from a central controller. Patient comfort is an integral part of five star hospitals. Using a remote or a touch panel interface, patients can control room activities such as switching on TV, light, fan, HVAC, window drapes, etc. Automation facilitates video conferencing for patient and visitor meet. An automated information panel enables e-filing of all information, and panel (video) interaction with doctor about progress. In short, hospital automation is all about enjoying convenience at its best and saving on costs.