Hey Reader,

Healthcare's operational transformation often requires looking beyond industry boundaries for proven models of success. Just as Virginia Mason revolutionized their operations by adopting Toyota's quality system, hospitals today can transform their support services through a model inspired by air traffic control. This innovative approach, called Care Traffic Control (CTC), leverages location-based services to orchestrate the complex symphony of hospital logistics. In this model all transport tasks that are a part of support services are consolidated into a single function.

TLDR:

Care Traffic Control transforms hospital support services by centralizing transport operations and implementing location-based technologies, significantly improving efficiency and care delivery while reducing waste and staff frustration.

Key Concepts:

Care Traffic Control (CTC): A centralized system for managing hospital logistics and support services, inspired by air traffic control principles.

Location-based Services (LBS): Technologies that enable real-time tracking and coordination of people, equipment, and supplies within a facility.

Unit Orderly: A non-clinical role that serves as the crucial link between centralized transport services and clinical departments.

Detailed Explanation:

The Current State of Hospital Logistics

Traditional hospital operations often suffer from fragmented logistics systems, with each department managing its own transport needs. Aside from the inefficiencies this leads to lost equipment, medications and lab samples, resulting in delayed services, and frustrated staff. Trained and certified technicians are taken away from their primary duties to deliver items that are better handled by central service. The lack of coordination creates a chaotic environment where nurses spend valuable time searching for equipment or managing logistics instead of focusing on patient care.

The CTC Model

Drawing inspiration from air traffic control systems, CTC creates a structured approach to hospital transport. Situational awareness and workflow automation are core features of the concept. Location-based services enable both of the core features. The workflow transformation is drive by three key roles:

• Central Dispatch Service (Control Tower): Coordinates all transport movement within the facility
• Transporters (Flight Crew): Execute the movement of people and materials
• Unit Orderlies (Gate Crew): Manage last-mile logistics within departments

The Central Dispatch Service (control tower)

The transport jobs go off as either scheduled or stat and the supply and demand signals are tracked closely with location technology. Arrivals and departures are tracked as events that offer predictability to the destination recipients.

The Role of the Transporter (flight crew)

When the transport tasks are transfered from the source department to CTC the pool of transporters is increased because transporters are crosstrained and certified to move multiple items. Their role is simplified because in many cases they are dropping items off to be stocked by someone at the destination location (unit orderly).

The Role of the Unit Orderly (gate crew)

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of CTC is the reintroduction of the Unit Orderly role. This position serves as a dedicated logistics coordinator for each unit, ensuring:

• Proper stock levels are maintained
• Equipment is stocked and available
• Things coming into the unit (arrivals) are properly handled
• Things leaving the unit (departures) are properly handled
• Lost items are quickly located (including patients)
• Emergency requests are promptly addressed

Departmental Impact

The departments using this service benefit in many ways but we will list one for each department.

• Patient transport - Patients are ready and handoffs are executed correctly
• Supply chain - No stockouts and tightened demand signals
• Central Equipment - Mobile medical devices always available when needed
• Labs - No lost lab samples and timely retrievals
• Pharmacy - No lost medications and on-time deliveries
• Clinical Engineering - Medical devices' downtime decreased
• Linen Management - Higher utilization rate for linens
• Food Services - Patient satisfaction increases
• Waste Management - Infection control through efficient waste transport

Technology Infrastructure

The success of CTC relies on robust location-based services that are available in the market now, including:

• Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) for asset tracking
• Indoor Positioning (IPS) for locating mobile devices
• Mobile communication devices for staff coordination
• Scheduling and routing software for optimal transport planning
• Track and trace tools adapted from commercial logistics

Implementation and Impact

The implementation of CTC follows a phased approach, starting with core support services and gradually expanding. Early adopters have seen significant improvements in:

• Equipment utilization rates
• Supply chain efficiency
• Staff satisfaction
• Patient experience
• Waste reduction

Key Takeaways:

• Care Traffic Control represents a systematic approach to hospital logistics that can significantly improve operational efficiency and staff satisfaction.
• Success requires both technological infrastructure and organizational transformation, including the crucial Unit Orderly role.
• The model's scalability allows for gradual implementation, starting with core support services and expanding based on demonstrated success.
• Location-based services provide the foundation for real-time coordination and optimization of mobile workflows.
• The system's benefits compound as more services are integrated into the centralized model.

Conclusion:

Care Traffic Control represents a paradigm shift in how hospitals manage their support services. By learning from successful models outside healthcare and leveraging modern location-based technologies, hospitals can transform their operations to better serve both staff and patients. Ready to learn more about how CTC can transform your hospital's operations? Visit WhyWhereMatters.com to explore implementation strategies and success stories and please sign up.

I look forward to hearing your views & perspectives on this topic. If there is anything I can assist with, please connect.

Until next week,

Paul E Zieske ​Location Based Services Consulting ​​​