HID Expands Healthcare RTLS Portfolio with Acquisition of Intelligent Observation

Strategic acquisition strengthens HID’s Real-Time Location Systems offering with advanced hand hygiene compliance solution

HID, a global leader in trusted identity solutions, today announced the acquisition of Intelligent Observation, a leading platform provider for hand hygiene compliance in healthcare. This strategic move expands HID’s Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) portfolio and strengthens its position as a partner for hospitals and healthcare facilities seeking digital solutions to prevent infections and improve patient safety.

Focus: Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as healthcare-associated infections, are infections that patients develop during their stay in a healthcare facility, such as a hospital or clinic. They typically occur 48 hours or more after admission and are often caused by bacteria or viruses spread through contaminated equipment, invasive devices like catheters or ventilators, or insufficient hand hygiene by healthcare staff.

Common HAIs include pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and surgical site infections. HAIs increase patient recovery times, raise treatment costs, and pose serious risks to patient health, making prevention a top priority for hospitals worldwide.

“Patients enter the hospital to get better, not to catch an infection,” said Björn Lidefelt, EVP and Head of HID. “Integrating Intelligent Observation into our RTLS portfolio enables healthcare providers to proactively prevent HAIs and create a safer patient experience.”

The Intelligent Observation platform was designed to help reduce HAIs through continuous monitoring of hand hygiene compliance, which is one of the most effective ways to prevent infections from spreading within healthcare facilities.

How the Platform Works

• NFMI Wearables:
  Healthcare staff wear patented Near-Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) devices, offering centimeter-level location accuracy.

• Automated Monitoring:
  The system detects when a healthcare worker approaches a hand sanitation station and tracks whether proper hand hygiene is performed.

• Cloud-Based Dashboard:
  Compliance data is sent to a SaaS dashboard, providing detailed reports across multiple facilities, down to room-level insights, including isolation rooms.

• Advanced Features:

  • Measurement of handwashing duration with soap and water

  • Infection tracing tools to identify and mitigate potential outbreaks

  • Individual hygiene scorecards delivered directly to staff inboxes for self-monitoring and training

Why NFMI Matters

NFMI (Near-Field Magnetic Induction) is a specialized wireless communication technology designed for very short distances, using magnetic fields instead of traditional radio waves. It enables energy-efficient, secure, and extremely precise location tracking – ideal for sensitive environments such as hospitals.

Benefits of NFMI for healthcare applications:

• Centimeter-level accuracy for precise compliance tracking

• High security, as signals are spatially limited and extremely difficult to intercept

• Reliable performance even in environments with heavy metal equipment, such as operating rooms or intensive care units

• Very low power consumption, making it ideal for wearables with long battery life

These characteristics make NFMI the ideal technology for Intelligent Observation’s hand hygiene compliance platform, providing accurate and tamper-proof tracking of staff movements and hygiene procedures.

Driving Efficiency in Healthcare

“We are committed to providing a best-in-class RTLS experience to help healthcare facilities meet their growing needs,” said Marc Bielmann, SVP and Head of Identification Technologies at HID. “Adding Intelligent Observation is another important step toward enabling safe, efficient, and data-driven workplaces through real-time location insights.”

Integration into HID’s Global Structure

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, Intelligent Observation will join HID’s Identification Technologies Business Area. The solution will benefit from HID’s global sales network and operational resources, enabling rapid growth and global deployment.

“At Intelligent Observation, our mission has always been to reduce HAIs through innovative and intuitive technology,” said Seth Freedman, CEO of Intelligent Observation. “Becoming part of HID allows us to scale our vision and impact even more healthcare professionals where it matters most.”

Key Facts

• HID acquires Intelligent Observation to expand its healthcare RTLS portfolio.

• Platform combines wearable NFMI devices, real-time tracking, and cloud-based compliance reporting.

• Designed to reduce hospital-acquired infections and improve patient safety.

• Strengthens HID’s role as a global partner for digital healthcare innovation.