Oulu-based Haltian has successfully deployed its IoT solution at Milton Keynes University Hospital in England. According to CEO Pasi Leipälä, the project is a great example of the innovative application of digitalisation in healthcare.
Implementation and Features
The initiative at Milton Keynes commenced in the hospital’s Cancer Centre in 2022, and the Haltian Empathic Building Hospital solution has now been implemented in other wards as well. At its core is a digital map that provides real-time information on staff locations, the status of critical care equipment and room occupancy. This system utilises the Real-Time Locating System (RTLS).
The practical implementation involves various sensor devices installed in the rooms, on critical equipment and medication cabinet keys, and carried by the staff. Sensor data, such as temperature and location information, is transmitted to a gateway using the Wirepas MESH protocol over a Bluetooth® link and then transferred via a 4G link to the cloud.
Technology and Partners
Another key partner in this project include Quuppa, whose compact modules (tags) can be carried in the pocket. “We utilise positioning technology from partners such as Quuppa or Haltian’s own HITS system, depending on the specific requirements,” says Leipälä.
The web-based software not only shows the location of critical equipment, but also that of the personnel on the screen. This visibility allows staff to spend more time on patient care, instead of searching for equipment.
Environmental Data Collection and Energy Efficiency
Haltian’s solution goes beyond location information. The company’s smart sensors gather data on various environmental factors, such as temperature, lighting, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. The collected data can be used to optimise the air conditioning of individual rooms in an energy-efficient manner. With the help of Haltian’s solution, Milton Keynes Hospital has managed to reduce building energy consumption by 40%.
Network and Expansion
Leipälä mentions that Haltian has been using the Wirepas protocol since around 2015-2016. Due to the MESH-type protocol, the devices automatically expand the network, eliminating the need for high-density gateways. In practice, one router per building floor is sufficient.
Expansion and Pilot Projects
The success at Milton Keynes has led to pilots in around 15 hospitals in the UK, Norway, Sweden and two in Finland. A significant collaboration was recently announced: Region Skåne, one of Sweden’s largest hospital districts, has agreed a four-year partnership with the Oulu-based company. The hospital district based its decision in favour of Haltian on the comprehensive nature of the solution, where one and the same partner supplies everything from the sensors to the user interface.
For Pasi Leipälä, Milton Keynes is an important reference point, as the National Health Service (NHS) is planning to build several new hospitals in the coming years, with some significant projects already underway. In addition, many old hospitals in England are set to undergo modernisation.
The article was originally published on www.etn.fi (in Finnish).