Awarepoint and Skytron in asset management partnership

Friday 15th February 2008

Awarepoint Corporation and Skytron have launched Skytron Asset Manager, the health care industry's only integrated active RFID asset management and information resource solution to improve hospital patient care, enhance staff productivity and better manage equipment capital and rental expense.

While standard real-time location services (RTLS) provide location tracking and reporting of mobile assets via a web-based search application, Skytron Asset Manager adds another critical dimension to information on-demand - incorporating operators' instructions, maintenance manuals and parts catalogues into the asset tracking RFID platform.

"Not only does the system provide real-time location information of mobile assets, it further integrates the myriad operators' instructions for all types of health care equipment. Skytron Asset Manager creates a wireless hospital asset management solution which can consolidate medical equipment information and location needs for both mobile and fixed assets," said Randy Tomaszewski, Skytron's vice president of marketing.

The Skytron Asset Manager solution further integrates with Skytron's SkyVision operating room video and data system to provide total equipment information at the point of care.

With it, users can track the location and status of equipment and people, plus have operation, maintenance and technical manuals at their immediate fingertips, without leaving the operating room.

"In addition to tracking the location of mobile equipment needed for a particular procedure, the integration with SkyVision enables users to further review key information such as lighthead positioning, surgical table specifications or light fixture rotation capabilities - on screen within the OR through the SkyVision interface," said Bryant Broder, Skytron's senior product manager.

"This real-time, point of care information can reduce time searching for equipment, impact infection rates by reducing the number of times personnel must exit and re-enter occupied ORs and ultimately increase OR utilisation through on-time starts and faster turnover," Broder said.

Under the new partnership, Skytron's extensive North American network of independent distributors will sell, install and support the patented active RFID- RTLS technology, powered by Awarepoint's exclusive ZigBee sensor network.

"After reviewing dozens of asset-tracking solutions, we selected Awarepoint's ZigBee sensor network technology for our asset tracking and management solution," said Dave Mehney, President and CEO of Skytron.

"Unlike other RFID solutions we analysed, Awarepoint's patented technology provides the industry's only truly wireless solution, allowing our hospital clients to be up and running in days, not weeks or months."

Sensors simply plug into electrical outlets to form the Awarenet mesh network. Once the sensors are plugged in, the mesh network forms automatically to track small battery-powered tags that are attached to equipment or people. Users track location and detailed product information from any accessible hospital-based computer.

"Awarepoint is extraordinarily proud to partner with Skytron. During our due diligence, we were immediately impressed with Skytron's rich history of client satisfaction and long-term client relationships," said Jason Howe, CEO of Awarepoint.

"With Skytron Asset Manager's enhanced product information capabilities and SkyVision point of care integration, this partnership offers the most complete, cost effective and scalable asset tracking and management solution in the industry today."

Awarepoint

Skytron