Yiqun Zhao ¹ and Jonathan Sahagun ², ¹ USA, ² California State Polytechnic University, USA

In hospital settings, efficient wheelchair management is crucial for optimizing patient transport. Traditional methods, including manual tracking and GPS, often fall short because of indoor interference and high maintenance costs. This research presents a solution to this challenge utilizing bluetooth beacon technology to provide real-time localization of wheelchairs within hospital environments. By integrating bluetooth beacons with a centralized mobile application, our system offers precise and continuous updates on wheelchair availability and wheelchair location. This approach addresses common drawbacks of existing systems, such as the range limitation of the RFID system and infrared system, and the inaccuracy of GPS upon indoor use [1]. Through analysis and testing in simulated hospital conditions, the proposed system demonstrates significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and user experience. The results of the test suggest a cost-effective alternative for improving resource management and patient care in healthcare facilities.

Healthcare, Wheelchair, Real-Time Tracking