RTLS Transforming Healthcare in Europe

RTLS is Transforming Healthcare in Europe

Europe’s healthcare systems face growing pressure: an aging population, rising patient expectations, and the ongoing challenge of staff burnout. These issues demand more than small adjustments—they call for smarter, more connected solutions. For hospital leaders, the time is now to adopt digital tools that not only cut costs but also improve safety, efficiency, and the overall patient experience.

Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) are becoming the backbone of the modern hospital. They simplify operations, boost staff productivity, and free caregivers to spend more time on patient care. The RTLS market in European healthcare is projected to grow by 17.7% annually, reaching over €442 million in Germany alone by 2030.

Supporting Clinical Staff: Reducing Stress and Saving Time

Staff burnout is one of the biggest threats to healthcare quality. Administrative work, manual processes, and safety concerns often take time and energy away from patient care. Research shows that clinicians spend a large part of their day on non-clinical tasks like locating equipment or finding colleagues. In fact, nurses can spend up to an hour per shift just searching for medical devices—adding up to billions in lost productivity each year.

RTLS helps solve these challenges by automating routine tasks and giving staff the support they need:

• Faster Equipment & Colleague Location: Find the right tools or people instantly, saving valuable time each shift.
• Improved Safety: Staff badges with a discreet SOS button provide immediate access to help, creating a safer work environment.

By reducing unnecessary stress and saving time, RTLS allows healthcare professionals to focus on what matters most caring for patients.

The Data-Driven Hospital: Turning Insights into Action

RTLS is more than just location tracking. It provides real-time data that leaders can use to make smarter decisions:

• Clinical Workflows: Spot and eliminate bottlenecks in patient journeys.
• Equipment Utilization: Track usage patterns to reduce rentals, prevent theft, and improve purchasing decisions.
• Staff & Patient Movement: Analyze activity to optimize layouts and resource allocation.
• Safety Monitoring: Ensure secure access to restricted areas and automate compliance with safety protocols.

With these insights, hospitals can shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive planning, building smoother, safer, and more efficient operations.

Smarter Asset Management, Better Patient Care

Medical equipment must be available and ready at all times. RTLS-powered asset tracking helps hospitals stay ahead by:

• Room-Level Accuracy: Quickly locate critical equipment during emergencies.
• Automated Inventory: Get alerts when equipment levels are low to avoid shortages.
• Cost Savings: Prevent unnecessary rentals and protect against loss with automated exit alerts.

The result: reduced costs, faster response times, and better patient outcomes.

Enhancing the Patient Experience

Patients expect care that is safe, seamless, and transparent. RTLS helps hospitals deliver on these expectations:

• Instant Assistance: Wristbands with call buttons allow patients to request help, with their exact location sent to staff.
• Added Protection: Infant safety and wander management solutions create a secure environment.
• Informed Patients: Real-time updates on wait times and schedules reduce anxiety and improve satisfaction.
  
  

Building the Hospital of the Future with Sentrax

Adopting RTLS is a key step in creating a modern, patient-centered healthcare system. The challenge lies in choosing a solution that is accurate, scalable, and cost-effective.

At Sentrax, our Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based RTLS platform combines precision with flexibility. Designed to meet European healthcare standards, our solutions cover asset tracking, staff safety, and patient care. They can be deployed for immediate needs and scaled as your facility grows.

Don’t just manage today’s challenges—prepare your hospital for a safer, smarter, and more human-centered future.