A system to track moveable medical equipment in Forth Valley Royal Hospital has been shortlisted for the Scottish Government’s ‘Driving Improvements, Delivering Results’ category in this year’s UK Advancing Healthcare Awards.
Problems locating certain items which had been ‘borrowed’ or tucked away in cupboards have been solved by the Head of Medical Physics Bryan Hynd, and his team of 14 staff, who are responsible for managing around 14,000 devices. This includes buying new equipment, carrying out planned maintenance and repairing faults.
Initially a thousand medical devices were fitted with radio frequency identification tags and five fixed readers were installed in key areas of the hospital. In addition, eight hand-held mobile readers are used by the medical physics team when auditing wards. The benefits experienced in finding ‘lost’ equipment have allowed Bryan to justify further investment to expand the successful tacking system.
The Awards, which are open to allied health professionals, healthcare scientists and those who work alongside them in support roles, aim to recognise and reward innovation, creativity, leadership and compassion. Winners will be announced on 16th April 2016.
