By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cash Transfers: Good for HIV/AIDS Too
    August 9, 2012
    unnecessary medical tests
    Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
    September 5, 2013
    Image
    Mobile Health Around the Globe – mHealth Fighting Malnutrition in India
    December 17, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: There’s a MERS Patient in Your Hospital: Now What?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > There’s a MERS Patient in Your Hospital: Now What?
NewsTechnology

There’s a MERS Patient in Your Hospital: Now What?

Bill Crounse
Bill Crounse
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

This week we learned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the first case of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) that appears to have been transmitted from one person to another within the United States. Even more concerning is the fact that this most recent case was transmitted between two people who only had face-to-face business contact with each other.

This week we learned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the first case of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) that appears to have been transmitted from one person to another within the United States. Even more concerning is the fact that this most recent case was transmitted between two people who only had face-to-face business contact with each other. Previously, experts believed that MERS was primarily a risk for those who had prolonged contact with an infected individual such as might occur between people living together or hospital staff caring for patients with MERS. Fortunately, the man infected in this latest case never experienced much in the way of symptoms. However, the man he caught it from wasn’t so fortunate. That man was hospitalized at Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana, where he continues to improve.

Worldwide there have now been more than 570 confirmed cases of the illness and 171 deaths. Cases of MERS have been identified in 18 countries, leading the World Health Organization to caution that the spread of MERS is becoming more serious and urgent.

So, what happens if a patient with MERS ends up in your hospital? Are you prepared to protect your staff and other patients? Well, that’s exactly what confronted administrators at Community Hospital in Munster. Lucky for them, the hospital was using a RFID tracking solution from Microsoft partner, Versus Technology.

More Read

pic_hc-professionals
Video: Utah & Massachusetts on Healthcare Exchanges
Metabolic Surgery for Treatment of Obesity
Essential Features of Today’s Hospital Websites
TheVue, Episode 1: Patient Engagement and Adoption [PODCAST]
President Obama Issues Order To Federal Agencies – Use Technology to Improve Customer Service

MERS technologyI first told you about the good work of Versus Technology back in January of 2011. On HealthBlog and on our on-line video series, Health Tech Today, we discussed how Real Time Location Services (RTLS) technology from Versus was being used to streamline clinical workflow. Their solution combines radio frequency identification (RFID) and infrared (IR) tracking of badges and tags to identify people and equipment. The location and status of all tagged staff and equipment can be monitored on computer screens. Rules-based automation is continuously applied to improve clinical workflow and productivity while reducing patient wait times.

Versus logoSince I last reported on this topic, Versus Technology has continued to innovate and win customers around the country. One of those customers it turns out, is Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana. Yes, that same hospital with the identified and admitted MERS case. Because all hospital staff were wearing Versus RLTS badges, management didn’t have to guess about who had come in contact with the contagious patient. Thanks to RTLS technology from Versus and other tools, it was possible for managers at Community Hospital to know down to the second which staff members had had contact with the MERS infected patient and for how long. With Versus, interactions between all badge-wearing people (patients, staff, visitors, etc.) and tagged equipment are automatically recorded. By using reports generated by a facility’s integrated nurse call system or advanced Exposure Control reports from special analytics software, a facility like Community Hospital can know immediately who, and even what equipment, has been exposed to a contagious patient and to what degree. Such knowledge is essential in determining necessary isolation and monitoring of exposed staff, as well as special cleaning of contaminated equipment. You can learn more here.

This is but one more example of how information communication technology is being used to improve the quality and safety of patient care in hospitals and health facilities around the world. Whether it is MERS today, or another even more dangerous infectious disease down the line, it is comforting to know that technology is making it easier to identify, contain and control whatever might come our way next.

TAGGED:MERS
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Healthcare’s Interoperability Problem: A Q and A with HIMSS CEO

August 12, 2013

Are New Medical Technologies The Reason For Health Care Cost Escalation – Not Really

May 20, 2012

How New Technology Is Making Breast Implants Safer

April 24, 2020

RSNA 2013: What Did We Learn?

December 8, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?