Using Real-Time Locating Systems to Optimize Endoscope Use at a Large Academic Medical Center.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) manages a large inventory of surgical equipment which must be delivered to operating rooms on-time, efficiently, and according to a set of quality standards and regulatory guidelines. In recent years, flexible scope management has become a topic of interest for many hospitals, as they face pressure to reduce costs, prevent infections that can result from mismanagement, and are under increased regulatory oversight. This work conducted at MGH proposes a novel method for surgical equipment management in a hospital.