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How GPS Tracking Secures Medical Equipment in Healthcare

GPS tracking secures medical equipment by providing real-time location data, which reduces loss and theft and improves emergency response times. In healthcare, GPS enhances asset utilization, compliance, and operational efficiency. Unlike RFID or barcodes, GPS tracking can alert administrators when equipment leaves designated areas, safeguarding essential devices and optimizing costs. This technology ensures that critical medical assets are readily available for patient care.

The location and availability of medical equipment are crucial to patient safety. Even durable medical equipment (DME), such as sterilizers and wheelchairs, can be lost or misplaced, leading to potential compromises in patient care. That’s because hospitals and other medical facilities have traditionally performed DME tracking manually, an approach prone to errors.

Why Track Medical Equipment in Healthcare?

Fortunately, the trend has shifted toward more comprehensive durable medical equipment tracking devices and platforms. A DME tracker app, combined with the right tracking technology, ensures critical equipment is stored securely and can be located when needed.

So, “to DME track or not to DME track?” isn’t the question. All healthcare facilities can benefit from DME tracking. The real question is how you should track durable medical equipment.

Different Ways to Track Your Medical Equipment

Three primary tracking technologies are common in healthcare: GPS devices, RFID tags, and barcodes.

RFID (radio frequency identification) uses small electronic devices known as “tags,” which attach to the asset you want to track. RFID tags resemble stickers or labels but contain a tiny microchip and an antenna. The chip stores information about the object it’s attached to, like an inventory ID number, the product manufacturer, storage location, etc.

RFID readers emit radio waves that activate all the RFID tags within range. The reader then receives data from the tag. Readers can be handheld devices or fixed installations mounted on walls or ceilings. They are often integrated into checkout counters and customer exits in retail environments to prevent theft.

Barcodes are an even more simple solution. A barcode is printed on a label and then stuck to tracked equipment. A scanner is then used to read the label. The durable medical equipment inventory software then logs the equipment’s move from one place to another.

GPS tracking devices can be attached to or embedded within medical equipment and provide location data. The tracking device communicates with GPS satellites, providing real-time tracking and enabling a faster response to theft. DME tracking with GPS can also send alerts when equipment moves outside a designated area, a process known as geofencing.

How GPS Trackers Help Manage DME

While RFID and barcodes have their proponents, GPS tracking has unique advantages when monitoring high-value or mobile DME. The benefits of GPS become apparent when you consider the limitations of the alternatives:

  • RFID has a limited range, making it ineffective for tracking inside a medical facility. Monitoring ends once RFID tags are out of a reader’s range.
  • Tracking with barcodes requires personnel to scan equipment or manually enter a barcode number. Barcodes provide limited to no protection against theft.

The most practical uses for RFID and barcodes are within the bounds of an inventory store room. Both can be helpful in logging when stock goes in and out of inventory, but neither is very helpful for location tracking. On the other hand, GPS can work in conjunction with durable medical equipment tracking software to locate equipment in real-time.

5 Benefits of GPS Tracking in Healthcare

A GPS-based DME tracking solution offers numerous benefits over RFID or barcodes, but here are just the top five:

1. GPS Prevents Loss and Theft

GPS protects against loss and theft when equipment goes missing. It can even help prevent such incidents with geofencing by sending alerts when equipment moves outside a predefined zone. This is especially important for essential or costly medical equipment.

2. GPS Improves Asset Utilization

By analyzing GPS data, healthcare facilities operations managers gain valuable insights into equipment usage patterns. The tracking software’s analytics can reveal underutilized or misplaced assets, helping improve asset utilization.

3. GPS Enhances Emergency Response

During an emergency response, every second counts. GPS empowers facility managers to quickly identify, locate, and retrieve essential medical equipment thanks to its real-time tracking capabilities.

4. GPS Aids in Compliance and Reporting

Healthcare facilities are subject to stringent regulatory requirements. GPS tracking aids compliance efforts by providing reliable, accurate data on equipment usage and maintenance schedules. With this data easily accessible, the burden of compliance and reporting on healthcare administrators is significantly reduced.

5. GPS Reduces Operational Costs

By helping prevent equipment loss and theft, GPS is a significant cost-saving tool. Usage data provided by GPS tracking helps optimize maintenance windows, reducing operational costs. The asset utilization features can also save money, as they help identify idle equipment and cut unnecessary spending.

Tips for Choosing a GPS Tracking Solution

While GPS is the best solution for MDE tracking, selecting the right solution isn’t always easy. There are many different devices on the market from multiple vendors, all of whom claim to have the best solution. Follow these tips to choose the GPS tracking solution that’s best for your healthcare organization:

  • Identify your core needs: List the tracking and security features that will impact your facility the most.
  • Consider ease of use: Look for a user-friendly GPS tracking system that requires minimal training.
  • Check for scalability: Ensure the GPS tracking solution can grow with your facility as it expands.
  • Look for reliable support: Find a trusted partner in the GPS tracking industry who can provide strong support and regular updates.

Protect Your Medical Assets With Tracking Technologies

As a healthcare administrator, investing in durable medical equipment inventory software with GPS tracking is highly beneficial. The user-friendly software and powerful GPS tracking enhance security, reduce equipment loss risk, and improve operational efficiency. With the right system, you can safeguard critical medical assets, ensuring they’re always available when needed.

Tracking Technologies provides proven GPS tracking solutions to the healthcare industry. Our consulting services ensure your investment protects your durable medical equipment. To learn more, contact us today.