Automatic time-motion study of a multistep preoperative process.

Background: Hospitals use time-motion studies to monitor process effectiveness and patient waiting. Manual tracking is labor-intensive and potentially influences system performance. New technology known as indoor positioning systems (IPS) may allow automatic monitoring of patient waiting and progress.

Using location tracking data to assess efficiency in established clinical workflows.

Location tracking systems are becoming more prevalent in clinical settings yet applications still are not common. We have designed a system to aid in the assessment of clinical workflow efficiency. Location data is captured from active RFID tags and processed into usable data.

Automatic detection and notification of "wrong patient-wrong location'' errors in the operating room.

When procedures and processes to assure patient location based on human performance do not work as expected, patients are brought incrementally closer to a possible "wrong patient-wrong procedure'' error. We developed a system for automated patient location monitoring and management. Real-time data from an active infrared/radio frequency identification tracking system provides patient location data that are robust and can be compared with an "expected process'' model to automatically flag wrong-location events as soon as they occur.