REAL TIME LOCALISATION SYSTEMS CHRISTOPH KARL – HEAD OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT HEALTHCARE, SCHRACK SECONET, AUSTRIA
RTLS solves shortage of skilled nursing staff
Day-to-day life in hospitals is more complex and challenging than ever. Expectations of patient care are growing, while at the same time general conditions in nursing are becoming more and more difficult – in particular, staff shortages, budget cuts, and compliance with legal regulations pose a challenge to healthcare facilities. Christoph Karl, head of product management healthcare at Schrack Seconet, explains why real time localisation systems (RTLS) are considered a gamechanger for everyday care.
The population is ageing. According to the projection from the Statistical Office of the European Union, the proportion of people over 80 years of age in the European Union will increase many times over, from 6 per cent in 2022 to 15 per cent in 2100.1
This means that every third
person will be older than 65. Further, this change in demographics will have a huge impact on all areas of life – but the challenges for the healthcare sector are particularly significant. As expected, the longer people live, the longer the need for appropriate care in nursing facilities. However, while society is ageing, the proportion of the population in employment is declining at the same time. In specific terms, this means that while people are getting older, the population group aged 15 to 65 is estimated to shrink by about 10 per cent.1
Healthcare facilities must adapt One does not have to be an expert to quickly realise that these developments will, sooner or later, lead to a problematic imbalance between the need for care and the available care options. It is also clear that age progression will need to be tackled with new ideas and solutions for healthcare in the future. Already, the need for nursing staff is huge, and many places are experiencing staff shortages. That is why healthcare facilities are increasingly relying on technical support to optimise processes and increase efficiency – a trend that will grow significantly in the coming decades. Modern communication systems that grow with the ever-changing demands and challenges, and, therefore, represent an improvement in the quality of care for management, staff, and patients alike are in demand now more than ever. After all, it is not just the
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age structure of the population that has been changing for some time, but the understanding of care has also adapted over the years. For example, patient demands have risen just as much as general standards of care. We have moved away from passive, space-bound care towards comprehensive health promotion that supports independence and encourages activity and mobility. Today, more than ever before, patient care is focused on the individual needs of patients. So, healthcare facilities have to keep up with these trends and developments if they are to provide the required level of quality, comfort, and safety in patient care in the long term.
Modern technologies create more mobility for everyone The wellbeing of people has moved to the forefront of nursing care and has long been supported by a strong sense of duty on the part of nursing staff. The typical hospital atmosphere has also long since become a discontinued model – instead,
contemporary healthcare facilities offer open, friendly living spaces where patients can enjoy a great deal of comfort and maximum freedom of movement. It is without doubt that the new course direction in healthcare has a positive impact on patients’ recovery trajectories and, in terms of long-term care, helps residents keep their independence for as long as possible. However, when it comes to running a healthcare facility, the increasingly individualised care means a lot more work. For the staff, it is becoming more and more difficult to juggle all the tasks in the increasingly complex daily care routine, to maintain an overview at all times, and to ensure the safety of the patients at the same time. Often, this can lead to overwork, stress, and anxiety about responsibility among staff. But solutions do exist that support healthcare facilities with modern technologies in providing individualised, professional, and efficient care, that not only maximise patient safety but also help to reduce the workload of nursing staff.
Real time localisation systems allow a high degree of independence for patients
Christoph Karl
Christoph Karl BSc MSc has been working for 17 years in the field of product management for security and facility technology. A trained mechatronics engineer, he has been a part of the Austrian high-tech company Schrack
Seconet since 2015. Christoph is an experienced specialist in both engineering and marketing and manages the whole product life cycle of his company’s healthcare portfolio, which specialises in communication technologies. Together with his team, he pushes the development of state-of-the-art call,
communication, and protection systems – including mobile emergency calls, disorientation, and runaway protection, always with the aim of simplifying the
everyday life of care staff with technology, improving the safety and comfort of patients and residents, and increasing the overall quality of everyday care.
IFHE DIGEST 2024
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