Health System Turns To RFID To Slash Infection Rates

Infection control via improved hand-washing efforts is the impetus for a recently announced pilot project involving big data and wireless sensors at Columbus, Ohio-based OhioHealth.

The 17-hospital system plans to monitor staff hand-washing practices in real time using radio frequency identification technology integrated with wireless sensors. The technology has already been installed at every hand-washing station at one OhioHealth's hospitals in Columbus.

Thus far, the pilot has helped the hospital achieve more than 90 percent compliance with handwashing standards.

"Superbugs like MRSA can live for hours on surfaces, and we want to do everything we can to protect our patients from these kinds of serious infections," OhioHealth Senior Vice President and CIO Michael Krouse said in a statement.