RFID Healthcare: Providence Health & Services Chooses WWT And AeroScout For Wireless Asset Tracking Solution

World Wide Technology, Inc. (WWT), a market-leading systems integrator that provides innovative technology and supply chain solutions, and the leading provider of Wi-Fi-based Active RFID solutions, recently announced the addition of Providence Health & Services (PH&S) to their healthcare customer portfolio. WWT and AeroScout have partnered to configure, install, train and support a Wi-Fi-based asset tracking and location solution at Providence's Centralia location. PH&S is a 27 hospital, 46,000 employee system which operates in Alaska, Washington, Montana, Oregon and California.

"Providence is committed to delivering superior clinical care, and this means excelling in every aspect of a hospital's complex environment," said Jody Albright, Western Washington CIO at PH&S. "Eliminating the time and resources associated with searching for and managing assets, whether they are IT equipment, medical devices or even patients and caregivers, will reduce costs and improve operational efficiency The WWT and AeroScout solution delivers compelling value, especially because we can take advantage of our existing wireless infrastructure."

The wireless asset tracking and location solution utilizes innovative Active RFID technology from AeroScout to improve equipment management and utilization, increase safety and patient throughput. It also provides data for analysis and reporting to improve regulatory compliance and reduce expenses. The AeroScout deployment will utilize Providence's existing IT infrastructure and network investments, including its medical grade wireless network designed by Motion Computing and powered by Cisco Systems. The first phase of the Centralia project will track networked devices, such as laptops and tablets with potential future phases addressing medical equipment, patients and staff while also incorporating Passive RFID components for greater inventory control capabilities.

AeroScout's healthcare solutions include a suite of hardware and software products for tracking location and status in real-time over standards-based networks, and using this information to drive business processes. AeroScout's Active RFID Tags utilize standard Wi-Fi networks to track high-value assets and people in real time, in any environment. This unique technology extends the capabilities of Wi-Fi networks to new applications that drive efficiency and productivity. AeroScout's healthcare solutions were recently exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association.

"We are pleased to join forces with WWT to help Providence enhance patient care, streamline workflows and improve asset utilization," said Gabi Daniely, vice president of marketing and product strategy at AeroScout. "Wi-Fi-based Active RFID has proven successful in providing benefits across multiple functional areas within a healthcare organization, and we look forward to applying these benefits to Providence."

Healthcare organizations are turning to WWT to deliver IT solutions that streamline costs, increase productivity and improve patient care. The company offers technology products from more than 3,000 manufacturers and maintains over 1,000 technology certifications to ensure it provides the latest in technology solutions and creates true value for its customers. WWT is a member of Cisco's Healthcare Industry Solutions Partner Network and has strong relationships with many healthcare solution providers including AeroScout and Motion Computing.

"The asset tracking solution we are implementing at Providence is a great example of how WWT brings people, processes and partnerships together to solve business problems through advanced technology," said Bob Olwig, vice president of strategy at World Wide Technology. "Providence is benefiting from the expertise, innovation and know-how of Cisco, AeroScout and other technology leaders to improve operations and drive value out of their IT investments."

About WWT
World Wide Technology Inc. is a systems integrator that provides innovative technology and supply chain solutions to the commercial, government and telecom sectors. The company brings to market a powerful blend of knowledge, infrastructure and technology to help its customers manage the planning, procurement and deployment of IT products and solutions. Based in St. Louis, WWT works closely with industry leaders including Boeing; Dell; Cisco Systems; AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc.; Microsoft and the U.S. Air Force. WWT employs over 1,000 people and operates more than 1.7 million square-feet of warehousing, distribution and integration space in 20 facilities throughout the world. For more information on World Wide Technology, visit www.wwt.com.

About AeroScout
AeroScout is the market leader in Active RFID asset tracking and location solutions over standard Wi-Fi networks. The company's enterprise visibility solutions accurately locate and monitor assets and people in both indoor and outdoor environments to improve business processes. AeroScout is the only provider of Wi-Fi-based Active RFID to receive an exclusive endorsement from the American Hospital Association (AHA), and provides location tracking solutions to more than 50 of the world's leading hospitals. Founded in 2000, AeroScout pioneered the Wi-Fi visibility market by introducing the industry's first Wi-Fi-based Active RFID tag, and is widely recognized as leading the market in number of tags shipped. AeroScout is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., with offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.aeroscout.com.

SOURCE: World Wide Technology, Inc. and AeroScout, Inc.