DEVICE FOR COORDINATING PATIENT CARE IN HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, DOCTORS OFFICES OR THE LIKE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A DEVICE

• US 20110004070A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Max Rist
• Original Assignee: Annett Wendorf, Hansjorg Waibel
• Inventors: Wendorf, Annett, Waibel, Hansjörg, Rist, Max
• Application Number:
  US12/734,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for coordinating patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors offices or the like, comprising a plurality of cross-departmental medical care stations (8, 9) that are combined into at least one care group (12, 13, 16, 17), each being stationary in different care regions (1 to 6), wherein at least one mobile care station support unit (10, 11, 14, 15) that is independent from the care groups is associated with each care group (12, 13, 16, 17). Furthermore, each care group (12, 13, 16, 17) is provided with a separate, particularly wireless communication device, with which communication exclusively within each care group (12, 13, 16, 17) and thus independent from communication within a possibly existing other care group (12, 13, 16, 17) can be carried out. A radio device is preferably provided as the communication device. By means of the particular wireless communication with the communication device associated with each care group (12, 13, 16, 17), the mobile care station support units (10, 11, 14, 15), the number thereof being smaller than the number of the stationary medical care stations (8, 9) of said care group (12, 13, 16, 17), can be directed as a function of predetermined care parameters to the stationary medical care stations (8, 9) that require support via the communication device.

Claims

1. Device for coordinating patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors offices or the like:

a) comprising a plurality of cross-departmental medical care stations (8, 9) that are combined into at least one care group (12, 13, 16, 17), each being stationary in different care regions (1 to 6);

b) wherein at least one mobile, care station support unit (10, 11, 14, 15) that is independent from the care groups is associated with each care group (12, 13, 16, 17); and

c) whereby each care group (12, 13, 16, 17) is provided with a particularly wireless communication device, with which communication can be carried out within each care group (12, 13, 16, 17).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the provision of a plurality of care regions (1 to 6) each associated with at least two functionally different stationary medical care stations (8, 9):

a) whereby with regard to different care regions (1 to 6) multiple functionally similar stationary medical care stations (8, 9) are provided, each forming a cross-departmental care group (12, 13, 16, 17);

b) whereby at least one mobile care station support unit (10, 11, 14, 15) that is independent from the care groups is associated with each care group (12, 13, 16, 17), and

c) whereby the care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) are equipped with separate, particularly wireless communication devices that enable communication exclusively within each of the respective care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) and are therefore isolated from a communication within another care group (12, 13, 16, 17).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized by the number of care station support units (10, 11, 14, 15) of each care group beings smaller than the number of stationary care stations (8, 9) within each care group (12, 13, 16, 17).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized by the number of mobile care station support units (10, 11, 14, 15) within a care group (12, 13, 16, 17) being predefined in such a way that a single mobile care station support unit (10, 11, 14, 15) is associated with two or three or four functionally similar stationary medical care stations (8, 9) within the respective care group (12, 13, 16, 17).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized by each cross-departmental care group (12, 13, 16, 17) having a predefined number, preferably between two and five, of stationary, functionally similar medical care stations (8, 9) so that if the number of total available stationary functionally similar medical care stations per care group (12, 13, 16, 17) exceeds this predefined number, the remaining stationary, functionally similar medical care stations (8, 9) of one or more additional care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) are associated as functionally similar care groups for the formation of multiple functionally similar care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) that are independent of each other, which in each case are equipped with different, particularly wireless communication devices so that communication exclusively within each of the respective care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) and therefore isolated from a communication within all other functionally dissimilar and functionally similar care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) can be carried out.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized by each communication device of a care group (12, 13, 16, 17) forming a group communication device, whereby all group communication devices can be connected or can remain connected to a communication link with at least one central coordinating communication device, which can either contact a coordinating device (K) from one of the care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) or contact using the care groups (12, 13, 16, 17), individual, grouped or all care groups (12, 13, 16, 17).

7. Device according to claim 1 characterized by the technical wireless communication devices in each case being formed of radio devices, particularly mobile radio telephone devices and/or using a WLAN.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized by the different care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) sending and receiving on different radio frequencies or in different radio frequency areas, whereby in the case of a coordinating radio device according to claim 6, the device can send and receive over all radio frequencies or radio bands or areas.

9. Device according to claim 7, characterized by the radio devices being operable in intercommunication (half-duplex operation) or in two-way communication (full-duplex operation).

10. Device according to claim 7 characterized by the radio device having in each station or unit a securable headset with earphones and microphone.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the care regions (1 to 6) being operating rooms or theaters in hospitals, doctors offices, examination rooms or the like.

12. Device according to claim 1 characterized by the stationary medical care stations (8, 9) are associated in each care area with a stationary examination or operating area (7), particularly an operating table.

13. Device according to claim 1 characterized by a first care area (1) being associated with at least one stationary anesthesia care station (8) and at least one stationary surgery care station (9), which along with a predefined number of anesthesia care stations (8) and surgery care stations (9) from other care regions (2 to 6) form at least one anesthesia care group (12, 13) and at least a surgery care group (16, 17), each associated with a predefined number of functionally corresponding mobile anesthesia or surgery support units (10, 11, 14, 15) independent from the care groups.

14. Device according to claim 1 characterized by the at least one mobile care station support unit (10, 11, 14, 15) of a care group (12, 13, 16, 17) that is independent from the care groups being associated with at least one monitoring and/or control device (M), which can be called up and/or displayed and/or monitored using the data, particularly data from the associated care regions (1 to 6) specific to patient care from the at least one care station support unit (10, 11, 14, 15) and/or from the care station (8, 9) particularly associated with the care groups and/or using data, particularly data specific to care groups and/or data that can be entered for the at least one stationary care station (8, 9) particularly associated with the care groups in the associated care regions (1 to 6).

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized by the monitoring and/or control device (M) is formed by at least one image display device that displays care data images and/or at least one sound reproducing device that audibly plays back care data.

16. Device according to claim 15, characterized by the monitoring and/or control device (M) being coupled, particularly wireless, with at least a camera and/or at least a microphone in the individual care regions (1 to 6).

17. Device according to claim 14, characterized by the monitoring and/or control device (M) being formed in the area outside of the respective associated care regions (1 to 6) by at least one installed stationary or one mobile device.

18. Device according to claim 14, characterized by the monitoring and/or control device (M) of different care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) being coupled for technical data exchange and/or the monitoring and/or the control device (M) being coupled with a patient care and/or hospital management program.

19. Wireless communication device for a device for coordinating patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors offices or the like, particularly for a device according to claim 1, characterized by the communication device having a radio device, particularly a radio telephone device, which can be assigned to shared medical care units or groups (12, 13, 16, 17) in different care regions (1 to 6), particularly operating theaters, and particularly assigned in such a way that in the case of multiple care groups (12, 13, 16, 17) the radio devices of the individual cross-departmental medical care units or groups (12, 13, 16, 17) can send and receive on different radio frequencies and/or in different frequency bands.

20. Wireless communication device according to claim 18, characterized by the radio devices being adjusted or adjustable to different frequency ranges and/or being a component of a WLAN.

21. Wireless communication device according to claim 19 characterized by the radio devices being operable in intercommunication (half-duplex operation) or in two-way communication (full-duplex communication).

22. Wireless communication device according to claim 19 characterized by the radio device having a securable headset with earphones and microphone in each care station (8, 9) or support unit (10, 11, 14, 15).

23. Method for operating a device according to claim 1 characterized thereby that within a care group (12, 13, 16, 17), by means of the particularly wireless communication with this communication device associated with each care group (12, 13, 16, 17), the mobile care station support units (10, 11, 14, 15), the number thereof being smaller than the number of the stationary medical care stations (8, 9) of said care group (12, 13, 16, 17), can be directed as a function of