A system for tracking an activity in a healthcare environment includes a
master station having a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, badges
coupled to objects, each transmitting a unique badge ID, and sensors
disposed throughout the environment, each including a transceiver for
receiving badge IDs and transmitting to the master station transceiver
the badge IDs and a unique sensor ID that relates the sensor to a
location. The master station processor determines object locations from
the badge and sensor IDs by identifying the badge associated with the
object, relating the sensor ID to the sensor location, and storing object
location information in memory. Each badge also includes a displacement
sensor that generates signals indicating object movement and direction
for transmission to the sensor transceivers which forward displacement
information to the master station. The master station processor uses the
information to update the stored object location information.