An indoor software tracking system called “Novatrack” developed at Henry Ford Innovations (HFI) https://henryford.com/cinnovations, as part of the Henry Ford Health System https://www.henryford.com, is now ready for use in hospitals. The two developers behind the system report that the tracking system has the potential to be a “game changer” in healthcare which will help to optimize operations and improve efficiencies.
Novatrack is believed to be a first-of-its-kind software for use coordinating indoor hospital logistics. The system is based on the hospital’s floor print and uses the hospital’s wireless network.
Also, Apple’s indoor positioning system is used to provide real-time visualization and location of the staff since the staff carries iPhones equipped with the Novatrack app. This makes it possible for managers to monitor the staff’s locations from a traffic control center and then communicate with the staff via text messaging.
Novatrack was first developed by two Henry Ford health team members, Paul Zieske, Program Manager of Location Services in Information Technology, and Daniel Siegal MD, Vice Chair of the Department of Radiology. They met and developed the software within HFI’s Davidson Fellowship program which provides training and education on how to commercialize digital technologies.
After learning about the commercialization process, the next step was to build a prototype and test the technology accomplished in 2018. Novatrack is now being expanded for use in inpatient pharmacies and soon will be available in inpatient food delivery services. In 2020, the software will be able to be used at Henry Ford’s other four acute care hospitals.
An agreement with Navy Systems https://sites.google.com/new/navy/navy-systems/home, a Detroit-based start-up company, has been signed to market Novatrack commercially. The agreement is the latest licensing agreement made by HFI to develop and commercialize their intellectual assets.