TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To complement its process improvement work, Virginia Mason Medical Center has selected Versus Technology, Inc.'s hybrid infrared (IR) and RFID real-time locating system (RTLS), Enterprise VISion(TM): Clinic, to optimize patient flow, staff working environment and overall efficiencies at the Virginia Mason Kirkland clinic in Kirkland, Wash. The primary care clinic, set to open this month in a new location, expects between 300 and 400 patient visits each day and will utilize Versus' real-time patient tracking to manage the patient experience by reducing wait times and increasing staff efficiencies throughout the multi-disciplinary clinical areas.
"Word-of-mouth is the highest form of compliment and that Virginia Mason sought us out after visiting one of our clients in Silverdale, Wash., speaks volumes," says Paul Timmerman, Versus' VP of Business Development. "From Versus' standpoint, for an organization as accomplished in lean management practices as Virginia Mason is, it is wonderful to be recognized not only for the real-time workflow solutions we bring to the table, but also our ability to assist in meeting the organization's management goals. We look forward to many successes with Virginia Mason as they look to bring the Versus location information system advantages to their clinic."
Aside from standard VISion: Clinic bed management features that will automatically help staff determine room availability (clean, dirty, occupied, etc.) in each clinical area, front desk staff will direct patients to rooms based on the physicians' room assignments, which change on a daily basis. Physicians and nurses will receive customized reminders regarding unique patient needs and alerts indicating which patient should be seen next. Real-time dashboards will help the VM Kirkland team identify patient flow bottlenecks.
"At Virginia Mason, we use the Toyota Production System adapted to health care to improve efficiency, remove wastes from the system and reduce delays for our patients," said Kim Pittenger, MD, VM Kirkland medical director. "One of our goals of the Virginia Mason Production System is to use technology like this to automate some aspects of our work that allows providers to have more time for personalized, value-added care for our patients."
Pittenger explained that the VM Kirkland team worked closely with Versus to enhance the technology to capture situational awareness. "We cannot improve what we cannot measure, and we cannot accept waits and delays," he said. "Now with the Versus system in place, we have location awareness, acuity awareness and time awareness, which will lead to an improved patient experience."
About Virginia Mason Medical Center
Virginia Mason Medical Center, founded in 1920, is a non-profit comprehensive regional health-care system that combines a primary and specialty care group practice of more than 480 physicians with a 336-bed acute-care hospital in Seattle. In addition, Virginia Mason has a network of clinics located throughout the Puget Sound area and manages Bailey-Boushay House, a nursing residence and Adult Day Health program for people living with HIV and AIDS. Virginia Mason also has an internationally recognized research center, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason. For more information, visit VirginiaMason.org.
About Versus Technology, Inc.
Versus Technology, Inc. is the leader in the development and sale of context-aware real-time location systems (RTLS) used for enterprise patient tracking, bed management and asset tracking to improve patient flow and caregiver/patient communications in hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Versus also develops dual infrared and Active RFID tags and other location tracking hardware to make locating systems more precise, security systems more intelligent, nurse call systems automatic, and hospital asset tracking systems more efficient. Indoor positioning through Versus' RTLS enhances existing hospital software and patient care systems with real-time, reliable bed-level location information. The patented Versus IR and Active RFID patient and asset tracking system is exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association and is a key component of their Patient Flow Platform--which includes a select group of vendors that provide proven solutions to enhance patient flow and improve patient safety. (http://www.versustech.com/; Pink Sheets: VSTI.PK)
Safe Harbor Provision
This document may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events, such as the development of new products, the commencement of production, or the future financial performance of the Company. These statements fall within the meaning of forward-looking information as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting the Company's markets and market growth rates, products and their rate of commercialization, services, prices and adequacy of financing, and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
