Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) have become a significant tool within healthcare, playing a pivotal role in improving patient health outcomes, optimizing financial performance, reducing non-clinical burdens, and supporting staff safety. CenTrak’s new RTLS software platform, ConnectRToffers a secure, high-performance cloud environment, and seamless scalability to meet the needs of modern healthcare organizations. The platform’s architecture currently supports Workflow RT, Hand Hygiene RT, and Duress RT, with additional cloud-enabled solutions on the horizon.
Following the recent release of ConnectRT, CenTrak launched an innovative RTLS hardware solution that offers scalable location data capabilities, interoperability, and cost-effective deployment. This solution is the industry’s first scalable Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Multi-Mode (MM) Platform, redefining industry standards. The BLE MM Platform provides hybrid architecture that effortlessly transitions between BLE and all CenTrak Clinical-Grade Locating (CGL) environments. This interoperability empowers customers to leverage mixed RTLS infrastructure within a single building or across an entire enterprise.
The BLE MM Platform’s flagship product, CenTrak’s redesigned RTLS badge, supplies healthcare providers with a quick, cost-effective entry point solution for their RTLS journey.
CenTrak’s Kevin Paroda (Director of Global Hardware, Product Management) and Nick Adriance (Director, Global Operations) discuss how emerging technologies, such as BLE-enabled Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) and cloud-based software platforms, enhance healthcare by benefiting patient care, staff safety, operational efficiencies, and overall costs.
Can you please provide an overview of the key features and functions for CenTrak’s two newest solutions (ConnectRT and BLE Multi-Mode Platform)?
- How are the two solutions different from each other?
ConnectRT is a state-of-the-art cloud-based software platform developed to advance the utility of Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) in healthcare, providing users with a seamless, centralized experience. Cloud software simplifies implementation, configuration, and maintenance, lowering expenses and easing the labor-intensive management typically associated with physical servers. With a unified dashboard that’s accessed through Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities, ConnectRT operates as a centralized hub, offering the user easy access to CenTrak’s solution applications and system management tools.
The ConnectRT platform delivers two key components, cloud architecture and a shared user experience. Cloud architecture enables automatic and proactive application updates for easier maintenance and support. It also provides a multi-tenant, secure environment offering advanced encryption, regular security audits, and compliance certifications, including HIPAA. The unified interface and experience across all platform applications delivers users a consistent look and feel to ensure ease of navigation and efficiency. Essential administrative functions like user management, staff assignments, site hierarchy structures, facility maps, and device configurations are also consolidated across the platform.
On the other hand, CenTrak’s BLE Multi-Mode Platform solution is a technology platform that leverages a hybrid architecture to deliver real-time location data consumed by the software application. This innovation builds upon CenTrak’s well-respected legacy of Wi-Fi Multi-Mode, offering a feature-forward and cost-effective technology that swaps Wi-Fi with BLE for a more versatile RTLS hardware platform. Healthcare facilities benefit from the flexibility to reduce or eliminate hardware installation, lowering downtime, and networking complexity or opt for in-room location devices. Whether it’s infrared, low-frequency RF, or Bluetooth Low Energy, the all-in-one approach guarantees seamless performance across various environments, offering game-changing scalability and adaptability.
How does ConnectRT serve to transform healthcare operations? What industry challenges are being addressed?
CenTrak’s ConnectRT platform proactively addresses the evolving needs of the market. One of the pivotal factors influencing this initiative is the complexity associated with managing and updating physical server environments to support RTLS. The traditional approach places a heavy burden on IT departments and poses challenges in scaling and growing applications over time. In contrast, a cloud-based solution offers scalability and ease of management as facilities increasingly rely on Real-Time Location Systems solutions to enhance safety and efficiency within their organizations. The platform’s cloud-hosted nature is designed to yield significant benefits, including immediate access to new product features and enhancements.
CenTrak notes that it created the industry’s first BLE Multi-Mode Platformfor RTLS. How is the new BLE Multi-Mode Platform an actionable game-changer for the healthcare industry? What industry challenges are being addressed?
A multi-mode approach allows facilities to prioritize needs and begin small with entry-level use cases and thoughtfully plan to develop their system over time to address the dynamic challenges inherent in healthcare. CenTrak’s BLE Multi-Mode solution is the first of its kind that allows a single RTLS tag or badge to seamlessly transition between BLE-only environments as desired, for cost-effective location and data communications, to more advanced Clinical-Grade Locating (CGL) networks. This flexibility in location granularity empowers customers to harness mixed RTLS infrastructure within a single building or across an entire hospital campus, effectively balancing affordability and precision according to the specific needs and circumstances of each department.
Recognizing the significance of location data and the transformative outcomes it offers, the platform seeks to address the pressing need for healthcare facilities to quickly begin their RTLS journey while minimizing disruption to hospital operations. Its deployment is designed to be low-impact, ensuring a smooth transition with easy scalability for future needs. Additionally, some facilities may be deterred by the potential costs associated with installing and maintaining additional systems. BLE Multi-Mode mitigates this concern by facilitating “tag only” hardware deployments, specifically tailored to BLE-supported use cases, thus offering a cost-effective solution without compromising on the value of RTLS insights. As healthcare leaders begin to reap the benefits of their initial RTLS programs, they can seamlessly scale up to more advanced use cases requiring finer location granularity.
Why did CenTrak decide to pursue these industry concerns?
CenTrak believes in the power of its RTLS technology and the breadth of data analytics that it can provide to create a safe and efficient healthcare enterprise. This technology isn’t just for large organizations with deep pockets but can and should be utilized by facilities of all types and sizes from rural critical access hospitals, freestanding clinics and surgery centers to large enterprises and integrated delivery networks (IDNs). Cloud-based solutions and BLE technology makes RTLS more affordable, scalable, and easier to maintain in order to support a more positive healthcare experience for all.
What differentiates these solutions from other offerings in the healthcare market?
Many RTLS providers focus on a single-point solution such as asset tracking, hand hygiene compliance monitoring, wayfinding, or staff duress. CenTrak’s ConnectRT and BLE Multi-Mode Platform, however, offer an approach to a suite of RTLS solutions that is comprehensive, leveraging a single badge, software application, and networking infrastructure to maximize the value of healthcare technology investments.
The CenTrak platform also shines through its seamless integration capabilities. Through the utilization of the CenTrak BLE Multi-Mode badge, the platform effortlessly integrates with existing systems and connects with BLE-enabled networks offered by leading vendors such as Cisco Systems and HPE Aruba Networking for location information and data communications.
CenTrak goes further by offering integration with various solution providers, which includes seamless collaboration with nurse call platforms, CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems), EHR (Electronic Health Records) systems, patient infotainment solutions, and more. CenTrak bridges these disparate systems to empower healthcare facilities and infuse their existing solutions with invaluable location data, thereby optimizing workflows, driving operational efficiency, and reducing staff burden.
What does deployment look like for these solutions? How should leadership approach staff and stakeholder buy-in?
The goal is to help healthcare facilities derive actionable insights and secure the desired ROI from their RTLS – leading to transformative changes and strengthening their leadership position in the healthcare industry.
When deploying any new technology or solutions, leadership should approach staff and stakeholders with a structured, transparent plan for buy-in. Leadership should establish committees with diverse representation, including end-users, senior leaders, and administrators. It’s key to provide clear communication about benefits and best practices. Healthcare facilities should seek a strategic partner with comprehensive clinical expertise to facilitate the training and buy-in process. Through CenTrak’s EngageSM program, our experts evaluate existing processes, establish governance models, and collaborate on SOPs, training, and communication strategies. Through this process, the healthcare facility experiences a seamless transition, user adoption, and sustainable success with documented ROI.
How can readers follow along with CenTrak and see future updates?
- Website: centrak.com
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/centrak
- See the newest release from CenTrak here: CenTrak Announces Addition of Plug-and-Play BLE – This is the expansion of its comprehensive RTLS portfolio with the launch of a fully integrated, plug-and-play Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) platform. This cost-effective solution is designed to provide healthcare organizations with unprecedented flexibility, supporting asset tracking, staff duress systems, and other essential applications. As the first provider to deliver a full spectrum of location technologies on a single, interoperable platform, CenTrak, built on decades of industry expertise, sets itself apart from newer vendors that offer only BLE-based tracking.
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