OHIO: Integrating IoT Technologies for Enhanced Clinical Engineering and Dynamic Tracking of Medical Equipment

The paper outlines the OHIO project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation action programme, via the ODIN - Open Call issued and executed under the ODIN project (GA 101017331), which focuses on the enhancement of hospital safety, productivity, and quality. The main objective of OHIO is to provide a solution to empower the management of hospital facilities in terms of clinical engineering and logistics for the use-case hospital “Le Scotte” in Siena, Italy. The OHIO framework integrates various technical solutions to address possible management challenges which may arise during the maintenance of medical equipment, such as the unavailability and the untraceability of a device, or the technicians’ lack of knowledge on how to reach it. The paper also describes a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) designed for measuring OHIO’s impact on maintenance timings and efficiency. Preliminary outcomes show promising results in preventing failures, improving scheduling, and providing efficient indoor navigation. The OHIO project demonstrates potential enhancements in hospital operations and maintenance through digital IoT solutions, successfully responding to a set of previously unmet needs.