Patient care apparatus and method

• US 20030019165A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lanci, Dennis M., Gallant, Dennis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/153,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20030019165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/36.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/00 Treatment rooms or enclosures for medical purposes baby incubators, couveuses A61G11/00; devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen or the like A61H33/14 ; for isolating individuals from external stimuli A61M21/0094 ; containers or portable cabins for affording breathing protection in general A62B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/002 Supply appliances, e.g. columns for gas, fluid, electricity supply vertical ducts or channels for receiving utility lines E04F17/08; installations of electric cables or lines, wall trunking H02G3/0431; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles F21V33/0068; stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles F16M11/00; buildings for public purposes E04H3/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/004 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/005 mounted on the wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/008 mounted on a mobile base, e.g. on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/108 Means providing sterile air at a surgical operation table or area treatment rooms A61G10/00; instruments or implements for sterile operation A61B90/00; sterilisation of air A61L9/00; purification of air in air-conditioning systems F24F3/16, F24F8/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/00 General identification or selection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0005 Means for bathing bedridden persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0015 having means for attaching a cabinet in order to transport bed and cabinet together
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0503 Holders, support devices for receptacles, e.g. for drainage or urine bags hanging-up devices for infusion A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 : sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 : covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 : mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 : characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 : Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 9/02 : Cleaning devices washing and rinsing machines for crockery and tableware A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/61 : Two- or three-bottle systems for underwater drainage, e.g. for chest cavity drainage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 : Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 : in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 : Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 : Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 : Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/745 : Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 : Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 : Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 : Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 : allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 : for medicine and surgery

Abstract

A patient care apparatus for use in a healthcare facility having a patient room separated from a hallway. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a supply receptacle and a portion situated in an opening formed between the patient room and the hallway. The cabinet has a first side accessible in the patient room and a second side accessible in the hallway. A communication portion is coupled to the hospital computer network and is configured to receive a signal indicating at least one of activation of a faucet in the room, collection of patient data, use of a supply item, and collection of supply data. A mobile supply cart is configured to carry supplies. The mobile supply cart includes a supply data management unit on which inventory management data is entered, and a transceiver configured to send the inventory management data to a computer network of the healthcare facility and receive supply refill orders transmitted from the network.

Claims

1. A patient care apparatus for use in a healthcare facility having a patient room separated from a hallway, the apparatus including a cabinet having a supply receptacle and a portion situated in an opening formed between the patient room and the hallway, the cabinet having a first side accessible in the patient room and a second side accessible in the hallway.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cabinet includes a supply receptacle having a first door coupled to the first side, a second door coupled to the second side, the first door movable between positions permitting and limiting access to the supply receptacle from inside the patient room, and the second door movable between positions permitting and limiting access to the supply receptacle from the hallway.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a tote drawer unit having a plurality of compartments for holding supplies, the supply receptacle being sized to receive the tote drawer unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the tote drawer unit includes a retainer for coupling the tote drawer unit to the cabinet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the retainer includes a hook-shaped portion to couple the tote drawer unit to a foot board of a hospital bed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a tote drawer unit having a plurality of compartments for holding supplies and a mobile supply cart having an opening sized to receive the tote drawer unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the tote drawer unit includes a retainer for coupling the tote drawer unit to the mobile supply cart.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cabinet includes a waste receptacle having a first door coupled to the first side, a second door coupled to the second side, the first door movable between a position limiting access and a position permitting access to the waste receptacle from inside the patient room, and the second door movable between a position limiting access and a position permitting access to the waste receptacle from the hallway.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a communication portion including a monitor positioned adjacent a wall which partially separates the patient room and the hallway, the monitor movable between a position facing away from the wall and a position facing the wall.

10. A modular supply management apparatus for use in a hospital room in communication with a hospital computer network, the room separated from a hallway, the apparatus including a supply portion including a receptacle for holding patient care supplies, the supply portion at least partially situated in an opening between the room and the hallway, the receptacle being accessible from the hallway, and a communication portion coupled to the hospital computer network and configured to receive supply data and send the supply data to the computer network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the receptacle is accessible from the room.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the communication portion includes a supply data receiver to receive the supply data from a supply data source.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the supply data source includes a manual entry device configured to receive the supply data manually entered by a caregiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the manual entry device includes a keyboard coupled to a hospital computer network.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the manual entry device includes a touch screen coupled to a hospital computer network.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the supply data source includes an automatic supply sensor to automatically detect at least one of the presence and absence of supplies and receive the supply data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the automatic supply sensor includes a proximity sensor to detect at least one of the presence and absence of a supply item in the receptacle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the automatic supply sensor includes a weight sensor to detect at least one of the weight and absence of a supply item in the receptacle.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the automatic supply sensor includes a bar code reader.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the communication portion includes a window provided in a wall between the room and the hallway and a display terminal movable between an orientation facing the interior of the room and an orientation facing the hallway.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the display terminal is situated outside the room and is accessible from the hallway.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the display terminal is pivotally mounted on one side of the wall, the pivotal mount being operable by a caregiver from the other side of the wall to move the display terminal between the orientation facing the interior of the room and the orientation facing the hallway.

23. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a mobile supply cart coupled to the hospital computer network and configured to receive the supply data from the computer network.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 further including a tote drawer unit including a compartment for holding supplies, the mobile supply cart configured to couple to the tote drawer unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the mobile supply cart includes a wireless transceiver to transmit supply data to, and receive the supply data from, the computer network.

26. A modular work cell for a patient room, the modular work cell including a first sink portion, a second supply and waste receptacle portion, and a third communication portion, the first, second, and third portions being coupled together to form an integral unit.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the work cell is configured to cooperate with a wall in the patient room, the supply receptacle including a first side accessible from inside the patient room, and a second side accessible from outside the patient room.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the third portion is coupled to a hospital computer network and a patient monitoring equipment.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the second portion is coupled to the third portion, and the third portion is configured to receive supply data.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the first portion is coupled to the third portion, and the third portion is configured to receive caregiver activity data.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the caregiver activity data includes hand-washing data.

32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the third portion includes a window to provide a view into and out of the patient room.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the window is changeable between a transparent state and a non-transparent state.

34. The apparatus of claim 27 further including a mobile supply cart including a compartment to carry supplies, the mobile supply cart including a supply data receiver.

35. A mobile supply cart for use in a supply management system of a healthcare facility, the mobile supply cart configured to carry supplies, and including a supply data management unit on which inventory management data is entered, and a transceiver carried by the cart configured to send the inventory management data to a computer network of the healthcare facility and receive supply refill orders transmitted from the network.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 further including a tote drawer unit including a tote drawer housing configured to carry patient-care supplies.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the tote drawer unit includes a handle coupled to the top of the tote drawer housing.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the tote drawer unit includes at least one hook coupled to the tote drawer housing, the at least one hook adapted to engage a portion of the mobile supply cart to couple the tote drawer unit to the mobile supply cart.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the mobile supply cart includes an opening to receive the tote drawer unit therein.

40. A set of equipment for use in a healthcare facility, the set of equipment including a computer, and a work cell including a sink, a hand-washing monitoring system communicating hand-washing data to the computer.

41. A method for managing patient care supplies in a patient room, the method including providing a supply cabinet for storing health care supplies, monitoring quantities of the health care supplies in the cabinet to obtain supply data, sending the supply data to a computer, using the computer to calculate a resupply requirement from the supply data, and dispatching health care supplies to the cabinet based on the resupply requirement.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein dispatching health care supplies to the cabinet based on the resupply requirement includes providing a mobile supply cart to carry supplies to the room.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein providing the mobile supply cart includes providing a receiver on the mobile supply cart to receive the supply data.

44. The method of claim 42 further including sending the resupply requirement to the mobile supply cart.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein providing a supply cabinet includes providing a supply cabinet situated at least partially in a wall which at least partly defines the room, and providing in the cabinet a receptacle accessible from inside the room and from outside of the room.

46. The method of claim 41 wherein monitoring quantities of the health care supplies includes providing a supply sensor to sense automatically quantities of the health care supplies.

47. A method for monitoring caregiver activities in a patient room of a healthcare facility, the method including receiving caregiver activity data in the form of a first signal, the first signal indicating at least one of activation of a faucet, collection of patient data, use of a supply item, and collection of supply data, transmitting the first signal to the receiver, providing a caregiver a transmitter badge, using the badge to transmit a second signal to the receiver when the badge is in the patient room.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein transmitting the first signal includes automatically transmitting the first signal when the caregiver activates the faucet.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein transmitting the first signal includes transmitting the first signal when the caregiver measures a quantity of a supply using a bar code reader.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein transmitting the first signal includes transmitting the first signal when the caregiver manually enters supply data into at least one of a computer touch screen, a keypad, and a keyboard.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein transmitting the first signal includes transmitting the first signal when the caregiver collects patient data using patient monitoring equipment.

52. A supply management system for use in a healthcare facility, the supply management system including a hospital bed, a cabinet formed to include a space, and a plurality of tote drawer units, each tote drawer unit configured to carry patient-care supplies and to be received in the space, each tote drawer unit including a feature for selectively coupling the tote drawer unit to the hospital bed to be transported with the hospital bed.

53. The supply management system of claim 52 wherein the cabinet includes a first side in a patient room and a second side opposite the first side and outside the patient room, and the space includes a supply receptacle having a first door coupled to the first side, a second door coupled to the second side, the first door movable between a position permitting access to the supply receptacle from inside the patient room and a position limiting such access, and the second door movable between a position permitting access to the supply receptacle from outside the patient room and a position limiting such access.

54. The supply management system of claim 52 wherein the tote drawer units each include a plurality of compartments for holding the patient-care supplies.

55. The supply management system of claim 52 wherein each tote drawer unit includes a feature for selectively coupling the tote drawer unit to the cabinet.

56. The supply management system of claim 55 wherein the feature for selectively coupling the tote drawer unit to the cabinet includes a hook-shaped portion to couple the tote drawer unit to a foot board of the hospital bed.

57. The supply management system of claim 52 further including a mobile supply cart to transport the patient-care supplies, the mobile supply cart having at least one opening sized to receive a tote drawer unit.

58. The supply management system of claim 57 wherein each tote drawer unit includes a feature for selectively coupling the tote drawer unit to the mobile supply cart.

59. The supply management system of claim 52 wherein the cabinet includes a first side in the room and a second side opposite the first side, and a waste receptacle, the cabinet having a first door coupled to the first side, a second door coupled to the second side, the first door movable between a position permitting access to the waste receptacle from inside the patient room and a position limiting such access, and the second door movable between a position restricting access to the waste receptacle from outside the room and a position permitting such access.

60. A tote drawer unit for use in a supply management system of a healthcare facility, the tote drawer unit including a housing configured to carry patient-care supplies, a handle for facilitating handling of the housing, and at least one feature adapted to engage a portion of a hospital bed to couple the tote drawer unit selectively to the hospital bed.

61. The tote drawer unit of claim 60 wherein the housing includes at least one interior wall forming a plurality of compartments for holding patient-care supplies.

62. The tote drawer unit of claim 61 wherein a door is coupled to the housing to selectively close at least one of the compartments.

63. The tote drawer unit of claim 60 wherein the at least one feature is adapted to engage a cabinet to couple the tote drawer unit to the cabinet.

64. The tote drawer unit of claim 60 wherein the at least one feature is adapted to engage a portion of a mobile supply cart to couple the tote drawer unit to the mobile supply cart for transportation of the tote drawer unit therewith.

65. A method for managing supplies in a healthcare facility having a patient room separated from a hallway, the method including providing supplies through a first opening in the hallway into a cabinet and gaining access to the thus-provided supplies through a second opening in the patient room into the cabinet.

66. The method of claim 65 further including opening a first door in the hallway to provide access to the first opening, and opening a second door in the patient room to provide access to the second opening.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein providing supplies through a first opening in the hallway into a cabinet includes providing a tote drawer unit having a plurality of compartments, placing supplies in at least one of the compartments, and providing the tote drawer unit through the first opening.

68. The method of claim 67 including coupling the tote drawer unit to the cabinet.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein coupling the tote drawer unit to the cabinet includes providing on the tote drawer unit a hook-shaped portion configured to be coupled selectively to the cabinet and to a foot board of a hospital bed.

70. The method of claim 65 wherein providing supplies through a first opening in the hallway into a cabinet includes providing supplies in a tote drawer unit having a plurality of compartments for holding the supplies and transporting the tote drawer unit to the first opening in a mobile supply cart having an opening sized to receive the tote drawer unit.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein transporting the tote drawer unit to the first opening in a mobile supply cart having an opening sized to receive the tote drawer unit includes providing on the tote drawer unit a retainer for coupling the tote drawer unit to the mobile supply cart.

72. The method of claim 65 wherein providing first and second openings in a cabinet includes providing first and second openings in a cabinet having a waste receptacle having a first door and a second door, moving the first door between a position limiting access to the waste receptacle from inside the patient room and a position permitting access to the waste receptacle from inside the patient room, and moving the second door between a position limiting access to the waste receptacle from the hallway and a position permitting access to the waste receptacle from the hallway.

73. The method of claim 65 further including moving a monitor positioned adjacent a wall which partially separates the patient room and the hallway between a position facing away from the wall and a position facing the wall.