INGRESS/EGRESS SYSTEM FOR HYGIENE COMPLIANCE

• US 20090272405A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Meritech, Inc.
• Inventors: Smirnow, Jason, Beck, Amy, Stenberg-Garcia, Amy, Yaffe, Rebecca, Barnhill, Paul R., Lockridge, Kathy, Glenn, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,377,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A system and method for ensuring compliance with a hygiene requirement are provided. The system includes a automated cleaning station operatively associated with a locking mechanism. The automated cleaning station provides means for a user to wash one or more appendage and means for verifying that a full washing cycling was completed. The locking mechanism may be unlocked in response to complete verified washing cycle. The locking mechanism may provide access to, for example, a work area, a work station and/or a work item.

Claims

1. A method for verifying compliance with a hygiene requirement, comprising:

recording, by a processor, at least an identity of the user;

based on information associated with the person, determining if a hygiene cycle is needed and if a hygiene cycle is needed, proceeding as follows;

detecting, by the processor, a presence of at least one appendage of a user within a wash chamber associated with an automated cleaning station,

automatically starting a washing cycle associated with the wash chamber;

determining, by a processor, if the washing cycle is complete; and

applying the following first and second sets of rules (I) and (II);

(I) if the wash cycle is complete, stopping, by the processor, the washing cycle and recording an indication that the user completed the washing cycle; and

(II)(i) if the wash cycle is not complete, determining, by the processor, if the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber;

(II)(ii) if the at least one appendage is not within the wash chamber, stopping the washing cycle and recording an indication that the user did not complete the washing cycle, and

(II)(iii) if the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber, continuing the washing cycle, wherein the washing cycle continues until the occurrence of at least one of;

the wash cycle is complete and the at least one appendage is no longer within the wash chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying second and third sets of rules (III) and (IV);

applying third and fourth sets of rules (III) and (IV);

(III) in response to the indication that the user has completed the wash cycle, automatically unlocking a locked door thereby allowing a user to pass through the door; and

(IV) in response to the indication that the user has not completed the wash cycle, not automatically unlocking a locked door thereby preventing a user from passing through the door.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying third and fourth sets of rules (III) and (IV);

(III) in response to the indication that the user has completed the wash cycle, automatically unlocking a locked workstation thereby allowing a user to access the workstation; and

(IV) in response to the indication that the user has not completed the wash cycle, not automatically unlocking a locked workstation thereby preventing a user from accessing the work station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the person always indicates that a hygiene cycle is needed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the person includes job title information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the person includes an indication of a former location of the person.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the person includes a time of day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated cleaning station is associated with a boundary between hygiene zones.

9. A system for verifying compliance with a hygiene requirement, comprising a hygiene compliance monitor operable to:

monitor at least an identity of the user;

based on information associated with the person determine if a hygiene cycle is needed and if a hygiene cycle is needed, proceed as follows;

detect a presence of at least one appendage of a user within a wash chamber associated with an automated cleaning station,

automatically start a washing cycle associated with the wash chamber;

determine if the washing cycle is complete;

when the wash cycle is complete, stop the washing cycle and recording an indication that the user completed the washing cycle;

when the wash cycle is not complete, determine if the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber;

when the at least one appendage is not within the wash chamber, stop the washing cycle and recording an indication that the user did not complete the washing cycle, and

when the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber, continue the washing cycle, wherein the washing cycle continues until the occurrence of at least one of;

the wash cycle is complete and the at least one appendage is no longer within the wash chamber.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the hygiene compliance monitor is further operable to:

in response to the indication that the user has completed the wash cycle, automatically unlock a locked door thereby allowing a user to pass through the door; and

in response to the indication that the user has not completed the wash cycle, not automatically unlock a locked door thereby preventing a user from passing through the door.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the hygiene compliance monitor is further operable to:

in response to the indication that the user has completed the wash cycle, automatically unlock a locked workstation thereby allowing a user to access the workstation; and

in response to the indication that the user has not completed the wash cycle, not automatically unlock a locked workstation thereby preventing a user from accessing the work station.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the person always indicates that a hygiene cycle is needed.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the person includes job title information.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the person includes an indication of a former location of the person.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the person includes a time of day.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the automated cleaning station is associated with a boundary between hygiene zones.

17. A method, comprising:

determining, by a processor, an identifier associated with a first user;

determining, by the processor, that a first user has failed to complete a wash of a body part successfully;

determining, by the processor, a response to the unsuccessful wash, wherein a plurality of users have a plurality of different responses to an unsuccessful wash; and

initiating, by the processor, a selected response.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the response selected depends upon one or more of a wash history of the first user, a job title of the first user, a department to which the first user is assigned, a badge number of the first user, and a unique identifier of the first user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of responses include at least two of the following:

alerting the first user, alerting a responsible person other than the first user, and at least one of disablement and enablement of a device associated with the first user.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first user is currently noncompliant with a cleaning protocol, wherein the response is locking of a door to prevent passage of the first user and wherein a second user, who is currently compliant with the cleaning protocol, may pass freely through the door while the door is locked.

21. A hygiene compliance monitoring system, comprising:

a computer; and

a display operable to;

provide up-to-date hand-washing statistics for a plurality of users, the statistics indicating compliance statistics by one or more of department and job title, whereby statistics for differing departments and/or job titles are compared; and

provide a set of current washes for a plurality of different users including user-specific information, the user-specific information comprising one or more of the user'"'"'s name, a user identifier other than name, and a user badge identifier.

22. A hygiene compliance monitoring system, comprising:

at least one automated cleaning station, the station having one of or more of network address;

a data hub operable to receive, for each user, cleaning compliance information from the at least one automated cleaning station; and

a processor operable to determine, for a user not in compliance with a cleaning protocol, a user identifier and an identity of a device associated with the noncompliant user, the device being used by the user during his employment and disable the noncompliant user from using the device.