RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK and ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. (June 20, 2007) – Halifax Regional Medical Center, located in northeastern North Carolina, has signed an agreement with RadarFind, an innovator of healthcare asset tracking systems, to begin implementation of a new Real Time Location System (RTLS) designed to enhance patient care, reduce equipment expenditures and improve overall hospital efficiency.

The RadarFind system uses automatic indoor location technology to keep track of and monitor the status of various medical devices throughout a hospital. With this integrated hardware/software solution, staff can easily and rapidly locate essential equipment such as intravenous pumps, wheelchairs, beds, pulse oximeters and mobile computer systems at any given time—all through a user-friendly computerized system that easily accommodates various hospital staff skill levels.

“As one of the largest employers in Roanoke Rapids, we have a deep commitment to our community. With the forthcoming regional development associated with the Carolina Crossroads music and entertainment district, we want to best prepare for the anticipated increase in demand for medical services. By employing new technologies such as the RadarFind system, we can deliver a higher quality of patient care while enjoying greater economic efficiencies,” said Halifax Regional president and CEO Will Mahone.

“Hospitals use a variety of mobile assets that are an integral component of efficient operations. Lost, stolen and misplaced equipment drive operational costs up and quality of care down,” said Louis Bianchin, senior analyst from Venture Development Corporation, a market research firm. “By using RTLS technology, hospitals can monitor the location and utilization of these assets, which provides multiple benefits. The most immediate are reduced equipment inventory, improved equipment provisioning times, improved workflow and greater patient care quality.”

RadarFind is the industry’s only RTLS featuring a programmable tag that identifies not only where a piece of equipment is located, but also its status, i.e., Available, In Use, Needs Cleaning, etc.

“When we were in discussions with RadarFind, we immediately realized how much valuable time we could save our staff by not only knowing exactly which floor and room our medical devices were located, but whether they were available for immediate use. This system will dramatically increase our efforts to address patient needs in a timely manner,” said Karen Daniels, R.N., M.S.N., Halifax Regional’s vice president of nursing services.

According to Sherry Jensen, Halifax Regional’s vice president of finance, “The RadarFind tag’s status indicator on crucial patient care equipment will allow our hospital administrators to capture valuable data about equipment utilization. This will certainly reduce our costs through more effective planning and budgeting of future capital expenditures. In addition, by using this system to manage equipment preventive maintenance schedules, we can reduce labor costs associated with JCAHO compliance.”

The RadarFind system uses innovative technology that overcomes the implementation limitations associated with typical RFID and WiFi solutions. Designed to seamlessly integrate with existing hospital infrastructure and operations, the RadarFind system does not require new wiring in patient rooms or wall penetration, and does not interfere with existing hospital networks. In addition, the asset tag’s battery lasts throughout the life of most medical devices to which they are attached—a unique feature compared to most other tracking systems.

When hospitals consider investing in an asset tracking system they should factor in the ease of installation along with any hidden costs associated with interrupting facility operations and patient services. Due to its simplicity, the RadarFind's system can be readily installed even while patients are in the room.

“Extensive research was conducted on hospital needs and operational concerns in developing the RadarFind asset tracking system. As a result, we are able to provide an integrated solution where tags and readers can be installed in patient-occupied hospital rooms without disrupting patient care,” said Terry Kane, M.D., president and CEO of RadarFind. “The RadarFind system will be able to easily scale to support Halifax Regional as it expands to meet the healthcare needs of the growing population in their service area.”

About Halifax Regional Medical Center
Halifax Regional Medical Center is licensed for 206-beds, including psychiatric and nursery. A non-profit organization, Halifax Regional is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. For more information, visit www.halifaxregional.us.