HEALTHCARE PROVIDER HYGIENE COMPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120158419A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nuthi, Sridhar
• Application Number:
  US12/970,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158419A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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

In one embodiment, a method for monitoring hygienic compliance in a medical institution includes detecting presence of a healthcare provider in a patient area and identifying the healthcare provider to produce provider identification data. The monitoring method also includes detecting usage of a cleansing medium by the healthcare provider to produce usage data. The method includes transmitting the healthcare provider identification data and the usage data to an institutional information system. The monitoring method also includes associating the healthcare provider identification data and the usage data to provide a record of hygienic compliance for the healthcare provider.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring hygienic compliance in a medical institution, comprising:

detecting presence of a healthcare provider in a patient area and identifying the healthcare provider to produce provider identification data;

detecting usage of a cleansing medium by the healthcare provider to produce usage data;

transmitting the healthcare provider identification data and the usage data to an institutional information system; and

associating the healthcare provider identification data and the usage data to provide a record of hygienic compliance for the healthcare provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting activity of the healthcare provider with respect to a patient in the patient area, and transmitting activity data representative of the detected activity.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising associating the activity data with the hygienic compliance record.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data is produced by one or more sensors disposed in the cleansing medium.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pressure sensitive transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data is produced by one or more sensors disposed in a dispenser of the cleansing medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data is produced by one or more sensors disposed in proximity to a dispenser of the cleansing medium.

8. A system for monitoring hygienic compliance in a medical institution, comprising:

a presence sensor configured to detect presence of a healthcare provider in a patient area and to produce provider identification data;

a usage sensor configured to detect usage of a cleansing medium by the healthcare provider and to produce usage data;

a network receiver configured to receive the provider identification data and the usage data and to transmit the healthcare provider identification data and the usage data to an institutional information system; and

a data processing system configured to associate the healthcare provider identification data and the usage data to provide a record of hygienic compliance for the healthcare provider.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the presence sensor comprises a radiofrequency reader that detects a radiofrequency signal emitted by a tag associated with the healthcare provider.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the presence sensor comprises an infrared reader that detects an infrared signal emitted by a tag associated with the healthcare provider.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising an activity monitor configured to detect activity of the healthcare provider with respect to a patient in the patient area, and transmitting activity data representative of the detected activity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the data processing system is configured to associate the activity data with the hygienic compliance record.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the usage sensor comprises one or more sensors disposed in the cleansing medium.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pressure sensitive transmitter.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the usage sensor comprises one or more sensors disposed in a dispenser of the cleansing medium.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the usage sensor comprises one or more sensors disposed in proximity to a dispenser of the cleansing medium.

17. A system for monitoring hygienic compliance, comprising:

a presence sensor configured to detect presence of an individual in a compliance area and to produce identification data;

a usage sensor configured to detect usage of a cleansing medium by the individual and to produce usage data, wherein the usage sensor comprises one or more sensors disposed in the cleansing medium;

a network receiver configured to receive the identification data and the usage data and to transmit the identification data and the usage data to an institutional information system; and

a data processing system configured to associate the identification data and the usage data to provide a record of hygienic compliance.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the presence sensor comprises a radiofrequency reader that detects a radiofrequency signal emitted by a tag associated with the individual.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the presence sensor comprises an infrared reader that detects an infrared signal emitted by a tag associated with the individual.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pressure sensitive transmitter.