SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PATIENT SAFETY SUITED FOR DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH HAND HYGIENE GUIDELINES

• US 20100328443A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation
• Inventors: Tweed, Robert B., Lynam, Donald S.
• Application Number:
  US12/823,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/993 Evaluation of the quality of the acquired pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• 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

An exemplary method and system monitors patient safety to, for example, minimize disease transmission from healthcare providers with unclean hands to patients and their surroundings. Signals (for example, infrared and radio frequency) among an area monitor, identification badge, and cleaning agent dispenser help locate and identify objects (persons and equipment). Objects may be identified and monitored using object recognition and motion tracking, zones (around the objects) are defined based on proximity to the object, and subzones are defined within zones to enhance monitoring of compliance with hygiene guidelines. The movements of objects may be monitored using motion tracking, and the objects may be identified by detecting a signal pulse in the object'"'"'s silhouette. A caretaker entering a zone, moving between subzones, or contacting objects without dispensing cleaning agent from a dispenser can be alerted that they have unclean hands. Observations can be automatically recorded for real-time alerting and auditing purposes.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring patient safety in an area, the area including an area monitor and a cleaning agent dispenser, the method including:

a) emitting a monitor line-of-sight signal into the area using the area monitor, the monitor line-of-sight signal including information uniquely identifying the area;

b) detecting the monitor line-of-sight signal using a badge carried by a service provider when the service provider enters the area;

c) sending a first non-line-of-sight signal from the badge to the area monitor after the service provider has entered the area, the first non-line-of-sight signal including information uniquely identifying the service provider carrying the badge;

d) detecting the first non-line-of-sight signal using the area monitor; and

e) determining whether cleaning agent is dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser while the service provider is within a dispensing distance of the cleaning agent dispenser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the area monitor at least substantially saturates at least a portion of the area with the monitor line-of-sight signal.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of identifying the service provider who dispensed cleaning agent from the cleaning agent dispenser, wherein identifying the service provider includes the steps of:

a) sending a dispenser line-of-sight signal from the cleaning agent dispenser to the badge, the dispenser line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the dispenser;

b) sending a second non-line-of-sight signal from the badge to the dispenser, the second non-line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the service provider; and

c) sending a dispenser non-line-of-sight signal from the dispenser to an area monitor, the dispenser non-line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

a) performing object recognition of an object in the area using an area monitor, the area monitor being located in the area; and

b) defining a contact zone based on proximity to the object, the perimeter of the contact zone being within zero to 24 inches of the object.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

a) performing motion tracking of the patient; and

b) defining a contact zone based on proximity to the patient, the perimeter of the contact zone being within zero to 24 inches of the patient.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the shape of the perimeter of the contact zone at least substantially matches the shape of the perimeter of the object on at least two of four sides.

7. The method of claim 4 further including the steps of:

a) monitoring a field of view using the area monitor, the field of view at least partially including the contact zone; and

b) detecting entry of the service provider into the contact zone by motion tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of identifying the service provider being tracked, wherein identifying the service provider includes the steps of:

a) emitting a badge line-of-sight pulse from the badge; and

b) detecting the badge line-of-sight pulse in the field of view of the area monitor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

a) the badge line-of-sight pulse is detected at least partially within a silhouette of the service provider, the silhouette being detected using motion tracking, and

b) identifying the service provider further includes the step of associating the badge line-of-sight pulse with the service provider in whose silhouette the line-of-sight pulse is detected.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

a) identifying the service provider further includes the steps of;

1) sending an activate command from the area monitor to the badge; and

2) emitting the badge line-of-sight pulse from the badge in response to the activate command, and

b) the sending the activate command is sequentially repeated for each service provider in the area, each activate command including information that uniquely identifies the badge that is to emit a badge line-of-sight pulse in response to each activate command.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the steps of:

a) determining whether the cleaning agent was dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser a period of time before entry of the service provider into the contact zone;

b) identifying a first noncompliance event if the cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser the period of time before entry of the service provider into the contact zone; and

c) communicating a first noncompliance alert to the service provider if the first noncompliance event is identified.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

a) dividing the contact zone into a first contact subzone and a second contact subzone; and

b) identifying a second noncompliance event if the cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser before the service provider moves from the first contact subzone to the second contact subzone.

13. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

a) defining a caution zone based on proximity to the object, the caution zone extending beyond the contact zone; and

b) detecting entry of the service provider into the caution zone by tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of identifying a third noncompliance event if the service provider exits and reenters the caution zone without dispensing cleaning agent from the dispenser.

15. The method of claim 13 further including the steps of:

a) identifying a caution event if the cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser the period of time before entry of the service provider into the caution zone;

b) communicating a cautionary alert to the service provider if the caution event is identified; and

c) communicating a noncompliance alert to the service provider if the noncompliance event is identified.

16. A method for monitoring patient safety in an area, the area including an area monitor and a cleaning agent dispenser, the method including:

a) performing object recognition of an object in the area using the area monitor;

b) defining a contact zone based on proximity to the object, the perimeter of the contact zone being within zero to 24 inches of the object;

c) monitoring a field of view using the area monitor, the field of view at least partially including the contact zone;

d) detecting entry of a service provider into the contact zone by tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view; and

e) determining whether cleaning agent is dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser;

1) while the service provider is within a dispensing distance of the cleaning agent dispenser, and

2) within a period of time prior to entry into the contact zone by the service provider.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the steps of:

a) performing motion tracking of the patient; and

b) defining a contact zone based on proximity to the patient, the perimeter of the contact zone being within zero to 24 inches of the patient.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the shortest paths from substantially all points on the perimeter of the object to the perimeter of the contact zone are at least substantially equal.

19. The method of claim 16 further including the steps of:

a) recording a first noncompliance event if cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser within a period of time prior to entry into the contact zone; and

b) communicating a first noncompliance alert to the service provider if the first noncompliance event is recorded.

20. The method of claim 19 further including the steps of:

a) dividing the contact zone into a first contact subzone and a second contact subzone; and

b) recording a second noncompliance if the cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser after the service provider leaves the first contact subzone but before the service provider enters the second contact subzone.

21. The method of claim 19 further including the steps of:

a) defining a caution zone based on proximity to the object, the caution zone extending beyond the contact zone;

b) detecting entry of the service provider into the caution zone by tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view;

c) identifying a caution event if cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser within a period of time prior to entry into the caution zone; and

d) communicating a cautionary alert to the service provider if a caution event is identified.

22. The method of claim 19 further including the steps of:

a) defining a caution zone based on proximity to the object, the caution zone extending beyond the contact zone;

b) detecting entry of the service provider into the caution zone by tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view; and

c) recording a third noncompliance event if the service provider exits and reenters the caution zone without dispensing cleaning agent from the dispenser.

23. The method of claim 16 further including the step of identifying the service provider who dispensed cleaning agent from the cleaning agent dispenser, wherein identifying the service provider includes the steps of:

a) sending a dispenser line-of-sight signal from the dispenser to a badge carried by the service provider, the dispenser line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the dispenser;

b) sending a second non-line-of-sight signal from the badge to the dispenser, the second non-line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the service provider; and

c) sending a dispenser non-line-of-sight signal from the dispenser to an area monitor, the dispenser non-line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the service provider.

24. The method of claim 16 further including the step of identifying the service provider being tracked, wherein:

a) identifying the service provider includes the steps of;

1) sending an activate command from an area monitor to a badge carried by the service provider;

2) emitting a badge line-of-sight pulse from the badge in response to the activate command;

3) detecting the badge line-of-sight pulse in the field of view of the area monitor; and

4) associating the badge line-of-sight pulse with the service provider, and

b) sending the activate command is sequentially repeated for each service provider in the area, each activate command including information that uniquely identifies the badge that is to emit a badge line-of-sight pulse in response to each activate command.

25. The method of claim 16 further including the steps of:

a) emitting a monitor line-of-sight signal from an area monitor into the area so as to at least substantially saturate at least a portion of the area with the monitor line-of-sight signal, the monitor line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the area;

b) detecting the monitor line-of-sight signal using a badge carried by the service provider entering the area; and

c) sending a first non-line-of-sight signal from the badge to the area monitor, the first non-line-of-sight signal including information that uniquely identifies the service provider carrying the badge.

26. An area monitor for monitoring patient safety in an area, the area including a cleaning agent dispenser, the area monitor being configured to:

a) perform object recognition of an object in the area;

b) define a contact zone based on proximity to the object, the contact zone being within a reachable distance of the object;

c) monitor a field of view, the field of view at least partially including the contact zone;

d) detect entry of a service provider into the contact zone by tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view; and

e) determine whether cleaning agent is dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser;

1) while the service provider is within a dispensing distance of the cleaning agent dispenser, and

2) within a period of time prior to entry into the contact zone.

27. The area monitor of claim 26, wherein the shape of the perimeter of the contact zone at least substantially matches the shape of the perimeter of the object on at least two of four sides.

28. The area monitor of claim 26 further configured to:

a) perform motion tracking of the patient; and

b) define a contact zone based on proximity to the patient, the perimeter of the contact zone being within zero to 24 inches of the patient.

29. The area monitor of claim 26 further configured to:

a) divide the contact zone into a first contact subzone and a second contact subzone;

b) define a caution zone based on proximity to the object, the caution zone extending beyond the contact zone;

c) detect entry of the service provider into the caution zone by tracking the movement of the service provider within the field of view;

d) record a caution event if cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser within the period of time prior to entry into the caution zone;

e) record a first noncompliance event if cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser within the period of time prior to entry into the caution zone; and

f) record a second noncompliance event if the cleaning agent is not dispensed from the cleaning agent dispenser before the service provider moves from the first contact subzone to the second contact subzone;

g) communicate a cautionary alert to the service provider if a caution event is recorded; and

h) communicate a noncompliance alert to the service provider if a noncompliance event is recorded.

30. The area monitor of claim 29 further configured to record a third noncompliance event if the service provider exits and reenters the caution zone without dispensing cleaning agent from the dispenser.