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Description:

ProAct is a solution for the real time localisation, tracking and alarming of patients, assets and clinical staff. ProAct supports clinical workflows by providing information to reduce risks and to enhance process quality in an event-driven way.

Functionally:

ProAct is based on real time localisation systems using different kinds of technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), WLAN or ultra-sound. ProAct has been tested within the scope of a pilot project in the surgery department of the Innsbruck University Hospital as the first solution of its kind worldwide. With the findings from this pilot trial, we are currently developing one of the first standard software solutions for supporting clinical workflows by real time localisation. It can be used in all areas of the healthcare sector. Resource planning and process optimizations are further topics being addressed by ProAct.

The concept of ProAct consists basically out of 3 components:

1. A localisation infrastructure (hard- and software)
2. The ProAct platform
3. A specific ProAct application (or usecase). Example: Patient-tracking in a surgery room in order to safeguard that the right patient is in the right surgery room and therefore reduce the risk of identity confusion and medical malpractice. Checks and warnings are provided by ProAct automatically.

Innovative aspecsts and major advantages/benefits:

ProAct is a web-based multi-application platform. With its components, new applications can be easily adopted and implemented. Technically, it provides several inbound interfaces such as a HL7 interface to clinical information systems or various sensor system technologies as well as outbound interfaces to display information to the user, such as popup clients, mobile phones and other devices. Heart of ProAct is a powerful rules engine, which is employed to process data and events, based on an extendable set of business process rules. That way, ProAct serves as an event-driven information hub. Master data from legacy systems can be imported into ProAct automatically. The software includes a highly user-friendly and convenient user interface.

Current stage of development:

Pre-product stage. Different kinds of use cases and applications can be realized via ProAct, two applications have been developed and tested under real conditions in a hospital yet. Those were (1) a system to protect dementia patients by prevention of an unaccompanied or unescorted leaving of a defined area and (2) a staff security alarm system.