Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Reduces Losses and Administrative Overhead With Ekahau RTLS

RESTON, Virginia and BRNO, Czech Republic, November 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute (MMCI) provides complete diagnostics, treatment, and preventive care in oncology for both Czech citizens and international patients. MMCI is the only health care provider in the Czech Republic that is a member of the OECI (Organisation of European Cancer Institutes).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090513/347052 )

MMCI has implemented the Ekahau Real Time Location System (RTLS) integrated with their Cisco Wireless LAN (WLAN) for optimizing patient care and tracking assets across its two pavilions. The same Cisco WLAN that supports RTLS for tracking patients and assets, such as infusion pumps, wheelchairs and defibrillators, is also used to access patient records and care information at the patient bedside. Unis Computers, a premiere partner of both Cisco and Ekahau, implemented the system at MMCI.

The Ekahau RTLS system is deployed over a Cisco Medical Grade Network (MGN) which allows hospital staff to not only access vital patient information electronically but to view images, video and other medical information anywhere within the footprint of the network. Patients are issued Ekahau wearable tags that track them throughout the WLAN covered premises, making it easy for caregivers to immediately locate them in case of an emergency or in time for a procedure.  The tags also have a call button that the patient can press in case of an emergency. The system alerts staff if patients try to wander into areas they are not supposed to be in.

By tagging the mobile patient care equipment, MMCI has been able to reduce equipment losses from theft and accidental misplacement and has been able to increase the utilization of those devices resulting in more efficient, safe and timely patient care. "We were the first hospital in the Czech Republic to introduce a WLAN-based tracking system," said Dr. Marek Svoboda, Deputy Director for Development, Science and Training for MMCI. "This new technology enables us to for example obtain laboratory results more quickly. The new system also provides administrative relief: thanks to the RTLS system medical staff now spend around 15 percent less time on administrative tasks," says Dr. Svoboda.

Petr Lacina, Director of the Technology Department at Unis Computers, is also satisfied with the results of the collaboration. "We were able to implement the installation of the WLAN-network within 3 months," says Lacina. "We are particularly happy with the benefit for the patients who are now able to stay in contact with family and friends via WLAN."

"We are glad to contribute, together with Cisco and Unis Computers, to the efficiency and safety at MMCI. This project already has a very positive reference effect in the Czech Republic and elsewhere," says Dirk Lenz, Ekahau's Regional Director Central and Eastern Europe.

Earlier this year Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute was awarded the "Most Innovative Mobility/Virtual Enterprise Project of the Year" category at the Innovation Awards at Cisco Live 2011 in London.  The project aimed for improving the quality of medical care and cost management through the use of wireless technologies and related applications. This project was also supported by the European Union via the "Integrated Operational Programme for Regional Development."

About MMCI:

MMCI is the only health care provider in the Czech Republic carrying two quality approvals: by the Joint Commission International and by the independent Czech Republic Joint Accreditation Commission (Spojená akreditacní komise CR, SAK). For more information please visit: http://www.mou.cz 

About Ekahau Inc.

Ekahau Inc. is the industry leader in providing Wi-Fi-based RTLS solutions. Ekahau's customers, including several Fortune 500 companies worldwide, are realizing the benefits of Wi-Fi based location services and innovative Wi-Fi network planning and optimization tools. Ekahau's solutions are being used in more than 300 hospitals around the world, as well as by manufacturing, retail and industrial companies, government agencies and the military. Ekahau partners include wireless software developers, leading system integrators and international OEM partners, who develop and market wireless enterprise applications. Ekahau is a U.S.-based corporation, with headquarters in Reston, Va., and other offices in Saratoga, Calif.; Helsinki, Finland; Tokyo; and Hong Kong. For more information about Ekahau, please visit http://www.ekahau.com.

Information on Unis Computers can be found here: http://www.uniscomp.cz