Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, May 19, 2010
Tue, May 18, 2010 Avera McKennan Expands Use of Versus RTLS to Surgery Center
TRAVERSE CITY, MI--(Marketwire - May 18, 2010) - Since 2003, Avera McKennan University Hospital has utilized the Real-time Locating System ([ RTLS ]) from [ Versus Technology, Inc. ] (Versus) (
Scheduled to open July 6, 2010, the [ Avera Surgery Center ] will focus on ambulatory or same-day general outpatient surgical procedures. This new space encompasses 34,000 square feet of the newly constructed Avera Cancer Institute and is connected via a skywalk to Avera McKennan. The [ Versus Advantages Clinic ] solution will be utilized throughout Avera Surgery Center, including the 28 private patient rooms and eight surgical suites, to provide more efficient patient flow and communication to family members regarding patient status.
The Avera Surgery Center has separate entrances and very specific clinical workflows. Each patient who enters this area will be provided a Versus locating badge. With this badge, staff will be able to identify the patient's location, wait time and status (e.g., Are we waiting for the patient's lab results? Has the surgeon seen the patient?). They'll also be able to identify how long the patient waits at each stage of the process, from registration to discharge. When aggregated across all patients, services and providers, this will help Avera better understand the intervals of care, scheduling needs and their capacity for additional procedures.
Avera will use the data gathered with [ Versus Advantages ] to discreetly communicate patient status to concerned family members in the waiting area. Family and friends will be able to watch as their loved ones progress through the various stages of treatment. They'll know where the patient is and who is with the patient. If family members leave the Surgery Center for a break at the bistro or to enjoy other amenities such as the indoor garden, they'll be given an alpha pager to which Versus will relay similar patient status information. Information like this puts family members at ease and allows staff to continue serving other patients without interruptions from anxious loved ones wanting to know "How much longer?"
"Avera has been using the Versus solution for years," says Paul Timmerman, VP of Versus. "So, we're really excited to help them expand the solution to other areas and for greater functionality. It demonstrates the viability of our offering which allows healthcare organizations to begin with one application, like asset tracking or nurse call integration and build on that foundation for enterprise visibility and workflow automation." For a virtual [ tour ] of the Versus Advantages RTLS solution, visit [ www.versustech.com ].
About Avera McKennan
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center is an integrated health care delivery network providing a full continuum of care. As a member of Avera Health, the region's largest and strongest health care network, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, right here at home. Within our network are 235 care locations in 87 communities in five states, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, retirement communities, home medical equipment outlets and research centers. [ http://www.avera.org ]
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. (
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