Real-Time Location System Early Adopters Experience Varied Benefits, but Continue to Pursue Location-Technology ROI

OREM, UT, December 27, 2011 (Press-News.org) An estimated 10 to 15 percent of the healthcare market is currently utilizing a real-time location system (RTLS) solution. Some providers may initially view RTLS as a specialty investment that is only helpful at certain types of organizations. However, the KLAS "Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) 2011: Maximizing the ROI" study finds that 95 percent of responding organizations (ranging from facilities with 25 beds to large IDNs with thousands of beds) that use RTLS cite operational efficiency gains.

Over 150 organizations shared their RTLS experiences--outlining differences in depth/breadth of deployment and vendor performance. Respondents in this study shared their experiences working with AeroScout, Awarepoint, Ekahau, GE, Intelligent InSites, Radianse, and Versus. An update on the RTLS solutions offered by CenTrak, Cerner, Hill-Rom, Sonitor, and TeleTracking is also provided.

"Providers using RTLS solutions reported finding success when automating the monitoring of refrigerator temperatures; tracking assets, patients, or staff members; assessing hand-hygiene compliance; and engaging in a variety of other uses. However, not all RTLS deployments are created equal," said report author Steve VanWagenen. "Much of a facility's success with RTLS depends on the breadth of the deployment, the variety of ways RTLS is being used, and the level of integration between RTLS and other solutions."

Customer satisfaction scores related to contracting, implementation, product quality, support, and overall vendor relationship highlight some of the key vendor strengths and weaknesses. Some of the key differentiators are total cost of ownership, reporting/analytics tools, and depth of use.

Providers also shared the lessons they have learned while deploying RTLS and what they would do differently if given the chance to start fresh. The biggest lessons learned? Adjust staff workflow to incorporate RTLS use, build organizational awareness of the many RTLS-use cases, and strengthen RTLS infrastructure before the go live to improve adoption and maximize the ROI.

To learn more about the RTLS market, healthcare providers can access the report "Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) 2011: Maximizing the ROI" online at a significant discount. To purchase, healthcare providers and vendors can visit www.KLASresearch.com/reports.

KLAS is a research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting on the performance of healthcare vendors. KLAS' mission is to improve delivery by independently measuring vendor performance for the benefit of our healthcare provider partners, consultants, investors, and vendors. Working together with executives from more than 4500 hospitals and more than 2500 clinics, KLAS delivers timely reports, trends, and statistics that provide a solid overview of vendor performance in the industry. KLAS measures performance of software, professional services, medical equipment, and infrastructure vendors. For more information, go to www.KLASresearch.com, email marketing@KLASresearch.com, or call 1-800-920-4109 to speak with a KLAS representative. Follow KLAS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KLASresearch.