RFID (eng. radio frequency identification) automatic object identification method, based on the storage and remote transmission of information by radio waves, is spreading rapidly around the world and covers more and more important areas: identity and credit cards, protection of goods, access cards, animal identification, etc.
The Republican Klaipeda Hospital, open for innovations, was the first in the Baltic States to install three smart warehouses in the hospital’s operating room: for ear, nose, throat and gynecology operating rooms and in the main operating unit.
“Smart warehouse” is a residue management system that allows you to see in real time the remnants of all the kits in the warehouse. The control system is based on wireless identification technology, therefore, the program automatically, depending on the real consumption of goods and residues, generates new orders for the supplier. This ensures the timely replenishment of the sets,” Povilas Norbutas describes the modern innovation by the Head of the Innovation Department of AmberCell Solutions, which installed the equipment in RKL.
In smart warehouses, disposable sterile medical blankets are stored, their sets for different operations, such as hip prosthetics, laparoscopic and other surgeries.
“The smart warehouse is a lot of relief for the man. the work of a nurse. Previously, every Friday I had to count the remnants of the means – each blanket, bathrobe, etc., and place orders to the pharmacy. Now this is done by a modern warehouse. Goods passing through the gates of a smart warehouse are automatically scanned and the number of goods in the warehouse is visible on the tablet screen. After the package is taken out of the warehouse, the information is also scanned. The warehouse data is also seen by our supplier, so he makes sure that there is no shortage of tools in the warehouse. I don’t have to do it anymore,” Laima Janulienė, a senior nurse in the operating room, is delighted with the advantages of a smart warehouse.
With the introduction of modern innovation in the operating room, there has been a shift to the use of 100% disposable blankets. Until then, disposable blankets were used to perform joint replacement and arthroscopic surgeries and accounted for about 10%. In other operations, reusable textiles were used.” After the operations, reusable bathrobes, blankets had to be counted, sorted out, given to the laundromat by our mistress, and the laundry that returned from there was accepted, sorted, folded, assembled, packed in crepe paper and handed over to the sterilization room. It’s a time-consuming difficult job. Now used disposable medical blankets, after use, are disposed of. We can use disposable surgical blankets without a smart warehouse, but the point is that they are now brought to complete in sets and all the way to the door,” says Laima Janulienė, senior nurse of the operating room.
Suppliers not only bring the goods to the operating room, thereby removing part of the load from the hospital pharmacy, but also unpack the kits from the transport boxes, put the packages on special operating carts and bring the goods to the warehouse. This no longer needs to be done by the department’s medics. In the warehouse, the goods, in the places reserved for them, are placed by the operating staff, but the supplier himself takes out the remaining transport boxes, without overloading the department with garbage. The operating room staff is pleased with the improved quality of work, working with disposable blankets.
“By starting to work on disposable blankets, we also ensure the safety of our patients. Blankets for single use heat the patient, he does not let moisture through, the patient does not get wet. All products – bathrobes, blankets – are put together in sets that contain more medical devices, such as napkins or a scalpel blade. In this way, the nurse prepares for the operation faster, there is no need to open additional packages, there is less dust and garbage in the operating room,” says Laima Janulienė.
Modern innovation has not only facilitated the work of operating staff, but also saves the time of doctors. The operating room’s senior nurse hopes that in the future, the smart warehouse will also account for more disposables.
Text source : CoR Hospital
