Daily Archives: May 27, 2021

RTLS solutions have changed a lot throughout the years, and the journey has been a fascinating one.

May 26, 2021When you think of asset and staff tracking in real time, what comes to mind? Perhaps duress buttons, locators, GPSwhat about cow bells?Seriously, cow bells were one of the original asset-tracking systems. Cow runs away, you're looking for it, cow gives away its location by the ring of the bell. Simple.

Needless to say, things have changed in the Information Age. Real-time locating systems (RTLS) are vital tools for improving staff safety, business efficiency and logistics. And, yes, some high-tech RTLS solutions still track cows. RTLS solutions have changed a lot throughout the years, and the journey is pretty fascinating. What's on the bleeding edge of asset and staff tracking could propel new growth of industries from healthcare to corrections.

Early Technology and Ancient TimesThe earliest uses for RTLS solutions were livestock tracking, and for good reason. For about the first 10,000 years of human history, once cattle were domesticated from their ancient wild ancestors, cattle symbolized wealth, offered protein-rich food sources, and were used for plowing and other agricultural purposes too. Suffice it to say, it was important to keep track of this very literal representation of financial stability.

There's evidence of pottery cowbells in use as early as 4,000 years ago, then a gradual shift to iron and other metal devices. While bells are still in use, adorning animals in many cultures, RTLS solutions using GPS or other positioning technologies are now widely used in agriculture, allowing farmers and ranchers clearer and more immediate visibility into their herds' movements, behaviors and more.

RTLS Goes Global: Military MightThe U.S. military started using radarshort for "radio detection and ranging"during World War II as an RTLS method for tracking enemy planes and ships. Radar works by emitting short electromagnetic waves, which then bounce back to the radar receiver and can be used to determine how close or far away an object is.

After Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Scottish-born Robert Watson-Watt, who's heralded as the developer of modern radar, advised the U.S. military on a much-needed air strategy. For obvious reasons, having the power to scan the skies and anticipate an airborne attack was top-of-mind for the United States. Great Britain used the same technology to help detect Germany's Luftwaffe aircraft as they flew and dropped bombs over London and the surrounding areas.

Like many major technological advances throughout the course of human history, radar and similar methodologies were being developed by numerous nations simultaneously, including Germany, the Soviet Union, Japan and Italy. Watson-Watt's technology, dubbed "radar" by the U.S. Navy in 1940, was the most technologically advancedand it helped turn the tide of the war.

Product Tracking and the Rise of Massive WarehousingWith the advent of modern big-box storesthink Walmart, Costco and Ikeaand multinational logistics channels, RTLS technology became an incredibly important tool for asset tracking, efficient shipping and more.Let's zoom in on Walmart and its pioneering asset-tracking techniques.

After humble beginnings in Arkansas in 1962, Walmart grew to become the largest retailer in the United State by 1990. By 1999, it was the largest employer in the world. And while Amazon and similar companies have now taken top spots for total company value, Walmart paved the way in offering a massive selection of goods in its stores across the world. But how did the company do it? Supply chain managementaided by innovative asset-tracking technology.

Walmart pioneered new types of cross-docking and supply chain management, but arguably its most groundbreaking RTLS innovation was in combining radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking technology with universal product codes (UPCs). This allowed the retail giant to quickly turn over its inventory, reduce costs associated with lost, stolen or misplaced goods, and locate a product on any shelf across its vast network of warehouses and stores.

Staff Duress and Facility SafetyBut enough about productslet's talk people. Specifically in hospitals, corrections facilities and mental health facilities, RTLS technology can be used to prioritize the safety of staff members, as well as that of those in their charge. It can get pretty complicated in a sprawling facility, but basically, indoor RTLS technology can be used to track a person or an asset, such as an expensive piece of medical equipment, down to the room they're in. Facility-based RTLS works through an interaction between signals sent out from transmitter tags on people or physical assets and strategically placed locators that convey the data to the staff tasked with tracking movement within the facility.

Usually, RTLS for staff safety or efficiency uses radio frequency beacons such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or custom signals for locating, sometimes triangulating over multiple receivers. These solutions should all be crafted for the environments they're set to operate in to maximize signal propagation and speedwhen seconds matter for personal safety, no delay is acceptable.Uusing hospitals as examples, those that upgrade to an effective RTLS solution report huge increases in workplace safety, as well as big cost savings.

On the Horizon: Staff Efficiency, Advanced TechnologiesAt this point, it seems clear that staff duress and tracking should be a standard operating procedure in environments that call for itespecially in high-intensity, fast-moving environments such as corrections facilities, mental health facilities or healthcare facilities. The technology is such a powerful tool for safety that it feels like an operational necessity.

That's why I believe the next evolution of RTLS is its role as an efficiency tool.We're already seeing this in healthcare. By tagging high-value, high-demand assets like fluoroscopes, wheelchairs, ventilators and portable ultrasound devices, nurses and other employees can efficiently and accurately find them when they need them, thereby improving patient care.

The industry is discussing how to use this tracking technology to track patients' journey through a health facility, to improve how quickly they receive care. Nurses and other care providers will have greater control over the care environment, and overall satisfaction with health services should increase provided we tackle the privacy issues.Today's technology is primed for this kind of evolutionespecially tech that solves for challenges posed by complex physical environments. With all the advances happening in the RTLS space, we are sure to see solutions that go beyond just providing "more cowbell."

Isaac Davenport, Ph.D., is Actall's chief technology officer. In this role, he supports Actall in recruiting, project management, technology strategy, system design, debugging, employee development, vendor management and occasionally connector specification. Isaac has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from CU and has worked on dozens of product-development programs. He has run small companies and has worked as a hardware, firmware, and software design engineer and technical management consultant for large businesses.

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The Evolution of Real-Time Location-Tracking Technology | RFID JOURNAL - RFID Journal

Owl Insights is a cloud-based platform created to help organisations administer mental health treatment. Through a digital, data-driven, automated system, it enables clinicians to screen and monitor patients, whether they're adults, teenagers or children..

The platform has been used across the US, by Texas Childrens Hospital, Virginia Tech, Californias San Mateo County Office of Education, and more recently by Main Line Health, a not-for-profit health system serving the greater Philadelphia region. Here CEO Eric Meier tells us how it works and how technology can help to address the mental health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When and why Owl Insights was founded?Owl was conceived at the University of Washington in their clinical psychology department. The focus was implementing and training psychologists on evidence-based care. In 2016, I was brought in as CEO to bring this innovative product to market.

How is Owl improving behavioural healthcare through technology?Owl represents the evolution of behavioural health. Leveraging a data-driven, clinical decision support platform, Owl matches patients with the right level of care, personalises treatment pathways, and enables clinicians to measure treatment response to ensure and improve effectiveness.

You've recently partnered with Main Line Health, what capabilities will you be providing them?Main Line Health was looking to enhance and differentiate their behavioural health service and partnering with a technology platform leader that would help them improve clinical workflows, deliver evidence-based care, improve the patient experience and improve clinical outcomes.

Does Owl's platform integrate with healthcare providers' electronic health records (EHRs)?Owl has an automated, bi-directional integration with EHR systems. This enables automated workflows, reduces clinician burden and ensures high patient engagement.

Owls cloud-based platform will seamlessly integrate with Main Line Healths EHR system to screen, stratify and monitor patient progress. The data generated will provide critical insights and advanced reporting to effectively treat patients with a wide variety of behavioural health conditions.

What role can technology play in addressing the mental health crisis caused by the pandemic?With the accelerated use of telehealth, Owl better supports care management in a virtual environment, allowing a more consistent experience, quality measurement and patient engagement.The data and insights driven by use of Owl allows real-time progress monitoring of patients from wherever the patient is located. Using technology to improve workflow and reduce clinician burden allows greater clinical decision support to ensure that patients are getting the right treatment at the right time.

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In ancient times, humans did not at first regard death and disease as natural phenomena; they were regarded as supernatural in origin.

They might be the result of a spell cast upon the victim by some enemy or the work of an offended god.

Drilling holes 2.5 to 5cm across in the skull known as trephination was one method practised to provide the evil spirit a means of escape.

Hypnosis, magic and religion also played a large part in the medicine practised by prehistoric human society.

This was accompanied by incantations, dancing, grimaces etc, hence practitioners were also called witch doctors or sorcerers.

The transition from magic to science was a gradual process that lasted over centuries.

There are illustrations of the usage of opium, mandrake plants or alcohol to decrease pain and for surgical procedures like the amputation of a limb.

Making a patient unconscious by hitting them on the head (and giving them a concussion) was another method that sometimes had lethal consequences.

Moving forward, plant products were widely used in folk medicine, and indeed, are still used in many parts of the world today.

As a matter of fact, some modern drugs have their origins in plants, e.g. aspirin from willow bark, digoxin from foxgloves, morphine from opium poppies and quinine from Chicona bark.

Beginnings of a science

The works of the Greek Father of Medicine Hippocrates (460-375 BCE) mark the beginning of diseases being considered a natural, rather than a supernatural, phenomenon.

The first vaccination occurred in the late 18th century, when English physician Edward Jenner (1749-1823) discovered that a person became protected from smallpox when they were inoculated with pus from a cowpox lesion.

Perhaps the most spectacular advancement of the 19th century was the discovery that diseases were caused by minute living organisms.

The usage of antiseptics by French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur (1822-95) and British surgeon Joseph Lister (1827-1912) dramatically reduced infections and deaths after surgical procedures.

At the beginning of the 20th century, German physician Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915) discovered the lethal effects of arsenic on the microorganism responsible for syphilis.

This success inaugurated the antibiotics era, and was followed by the accidental discovery of sulphonamides and penicillin.

Gene-based therapy is the latest advancement in modern-day medicine. AFP

Lock and key

At this point, all these discoveries were made via observations of the patients; the doctors and scientists then did not know how exactly any of these medicines acted inside the human body.

With technological advancements in the field of microscopy, it was discovered that medicines specifically bind to a particular protein on the bodys cells and cause their effect.

These proteins are known as receptors and are potential targets for drugs.

Each receptor binds to one unique ligand (chemical compounds present in our body), just like a lock and key.

Only the correct key (ligand) can fit into the keyhole of the lock (receptor).

Upon the binding of the ligand to the receptor, a chain of signalling reactions will trigger the cells response.

This response can vary depending on the organ and the type of cell.

For example, in the stomach, it could be gastric secretion from the parietal cells to digest food, while in blood vessels, it could be constriction of the smooth muscle cells to increase blood pressure, and so on.

That is also how medicines act on our cells.

The chemical structure of a medicine is designed to selectively bind to a receptor, producing a desirable effect to cure or control a disease.

In type 2 diabetes, for example, there is insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas, resulting in an unhealthily high glucose level in the blood.

Anti-diabetic medicine (e.g. gliclazide) acts on the beta cells of the pancreas and increases its insulin release.

This increased amount of insulin elevates the use of glucose by peripheral tissues and reduces blood glucose levels.

Gene effect

We also came to know about biological units we inherit from both our parents known as genes, which are made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that reside in the nucleus of our cells.

Genes are responsible for our looks, height, skin colour and body functions, as well as our resistance to or predisposition for certain diseases.

It is now a reality that each one of us can have our genetic makeup analysed if we so wish.

This can provide information to doctors on how our bodies respond to certain medications, allowing them to see which medications are effective and which ones should be avoided to decrease adverse effects.

Genetic differences between humans (caused by natural mutations) can result in slightly altered proteins, which may in turn be more or less active.

If the altered protein is involved in metabolising a particular medicine, this may affect the levels of the medicine in the body, and thus influence how the patient responds to the medicine.

This understanding has helped doctors realise why some people react differently to certain medicines.

In personalised medicine, doctors modify the dosage of the medicine or substitute it with a different one, according to the genetic makeup of the patient for optimal treatment effects.

It is now also possible to treat or cure genetic disorders diseases caused by genetic abnormalities that affect the normal functioning of the body by replacing the defective gene with a healthy copy, or knocking out the defective gene.

Known as gene therapy, this method of treatment is advancing rapidly and may become the primary form of treatment, rather than drugs or surgery, in the not-so-far-away future.

Associate Professor Dr Kumaraswamy Kademane and Dr Irma Izani Mohamad Isa are with Perdana University Graduate School of Medicines Pharmacology Unit. This article is courtesy of Perdana University, which is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the readers own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

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The evolution of medicine from sorcery to gene therapy - The Star Online

By Jill Fox

Ohana is a Hawaiian word used to describe a group of people fighting for the same purpose. Office Evolution has brought just that to Coral Springs, with their Were all in this together culture and passion for catering to dreamers, risk-takers, and doers.

Originating in Hawaii, according to their core values, Office Evolution is an Ohana of entrepreneurs, bound together, focusing on success.

Franchise owner and longtime South Florida resident Mark Mendel, is excited to bring together other local professionals, entrepreneurs and companies to help them grow, succeed, and reach their goals.

Whether starting a new business or 35 years into a career, Office Evolution provides a safe, affordable, and inspired workspace for the community.

Particularly in this economic environment, business owners and professionals need to focus on growing their businesses, and we provide everything they need in one place, said Mark.

From workspaces to executive amenities, concierge-like reception, live telephone answering, and meeting rooms all without the worry of a lease, capital improvements, phone systems, or office staff.

Our business allows sole-preneurs, start-ups, and businesses in any state of expansion to do what people have done in the digital age over the last five years, said Mark. We provide members what they want when they want it.

Heres how it works. Clients call Office Evolution for whatever type of workspace they need a private office, a conference room, or a place to drop in and work for a few hours.

We have helped employees of companies whose offices have closed and dont want the hassle of a lease, as well as others who are just in town for a day, said Mark.

The franchise prides itself as the only shared workspace in the Parkland/Coral Springs area that has secured, covered parking, hurricane-proof windows, and is easily accessible on the first floor of a corporate building.

Having spent the last 20 years traveling extensively as a corporate executive, being back in the South Florida community was important to him.

Now Mark is trading in his passport for a chance to help others realize their dreams.

When small business owners succeed, we all share in that success, he said, adding the pandemic forced the issue of a trend that was already happening in the office industry.

With so many business professionals under one roof, he thinks of Office Evolution as a mini chamber of commerce.

We have something to contribute to other businesses both the services we provide as well as enhancing the community and their business exposure as well, said Mark.

Upon entering, clients will meet Josh Mendel, Marks nephew, who will manage the Coral Springs location and brings extensive customer service and sales expertise to their Ohana.

Like a good concierge at a hotel, we pride ourselves on great customer service thats what sets us apart, said Mark.

And like a hotel, those who are traveling can use a conference room or office for as little as an hour in any of their 70 other locations around the country.

If a member has a meeting in Tampa, they can use an office there for the day, said Josh.

Other locations in Florida include Jacksonville, Plantation, and Tampa, and Mark plans to open more in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Office Evolution member Tim Corvino does quality assurance for software development. He said what he loves about his office is the family-owned vibe.

Weve been here for two months, and theyve been nothing but great, he said.

We told them were a growing business, and they said they would work with us to get us whatever we need.

They provide everything from safe and secure high-speed internet to a caf, where someone can share coffee with a client. There are options for catering, as well as standard administrative tasks, like notaries.

We allow people to scale up or down as they need, which allows businesses and professionals to conserve their capital and use it for their business rather than for their landlord, said Mark.

Although they opened in January, they are already expanding and the renovated space will be completed in June. Currently, they are offering a grand opening Hard Hat special, where members will receive two months free with a year membership.

Clients can reserve an office for a week, a month, a year we have no minimum lease, said Mark. No build-out, no furniture needed, and we provide the utilities just bring a laptop, and youre ready to work, he said.

Office Evolution is located at 3301 North University Drive, Suite 100. 754-203-0004

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