A pioneering system that enabled equipment tracking across the rehabilitation unit at Nottingham City Hospital has proven so effective that it will now be introduced at the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in time for its first patients.
The real-time location services technology, supplied by Kontakt.io, will support both patient and staff safety while also ensuring that essential equipment can be located swiftly from the very first day the NRC begins operating.
The NRC is a purpose-built, 70-bed facility designed for people recovering from serious illness or life-altering injury. Situated within the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough—already home to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC)—the centre will be managed and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust once it opens later this year.
Kontakt.io’s innovative technology partnership with the NRC includes:
- Real-time asset tracking – this allows a staff member to look on an app to identify where a piece of equipment is within the building. This real-time visibility of tagged devices in the large building to ensure that the location of critical equipment can be quickly identified, saving NRC staff a substantial amount of time.
- Smart safety badges for staff – these enhance the protection of our staff and patients by sending instant alerts to staff phones with a real-time location, enabling a rapid response in emergency situations.
- Patient location wristbands – to improve patient safety within the vast grounds of the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate, staff will be notified if patients cross a pre-defined boundary, significantly improving absconding response times, thus reducing the risk of harm. Locating patients will also help to keep them on track with their rehabilitation and medicine schedule without impeding their freedom to make full use of the NRC facilities.
Lisa Yates, Senior Commercial Analyst for the NRC, said: “We are pleased to be working with Kontakt.io as a strategic partner in delivering this critical technology.
“This system will not only help us manage resources more effectively but also significantly enhance safety, security, and the experience of our patients and staff.”
The Kontakt.io software will be implemented across the whole NRC site and integrated seamlessly into the existing digital infrastructure.
These innovations align with the NRC’s mission to combine world-class rehabilitation services with cutting-edge digital technologies, future-proofing the facility as demand and complexity grow.
“Our solutions are designed to reimagine healthcare environments by making them safer, more intelligent, and more efficient,” said Philipp von Gilsa, CEO of Kontakt.io. “Partnering with the NRC represents a shared commitment to long-term digital transformation in rehabilitation care, helping to establish the NRC as a national benchmark for innovation.”
Looking ahead, the NRC and Kontakt.io hope to continue to explore new advancements in real-time location services, including predictive analytics to drive smarter operational decision-making. This scalable platform ensures the NRC remains a leader in digitally enabled rehabilitation as it evolves and expands.
