Systems and methods for monitoring caregiver and patient protocolcompliance

• US 20120212582A1
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Deutsch
• Original Assignee: Richard Deutsch
• Inventors: Deutsch, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and methods is provided for facilitating, monitoring and recording caregiver and patient compliance with established hospital hand hygiene protocols. The system comprises a 3-D imaging and monitoring assembly and an optional intelligent programmable monitor/sanitizer. Three dimensional imagery tracks a caregiver'"'"'s movements and location while generating a representative image value. Information acquired by the imaging system determines the proximity of a caregiver to the patient and/or contamination source and determines if the sanitizers provided have been utilized and if so, at an appropriate time and distance from the patient per hospital protocol. While being monitored, a representative Avatar based on physical characteristics derived from three dimensional images of the caregiver and patient may be generated so as to maintain anonymity of both unless a violation of institutional protocol occurs which may be forensically recorded in real-time for analysis.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing three dimensional images of a person and a patient within a room;

tracking the location of the person within the room;

determining whether the person is in close proximity to or in contact with the patient by determining the relative positions of the three dimensional images;

determining whether the person has actuated a sanitizing device, and

determining whether a caution or warning signal should be generated based on whether the person in close proximity or in contact with the patient has actuated the sanitizing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of creating an image value associated with the three dimensional image of the person and associating the person with the sanitizing device by transferring the image value to the sanitizing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of generating a caution or warning signal upon determining that the person has contacted or come in near contact with a contaminated surface subsequent to use of the sanitizing device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the location of the person upon actuation of the sanitizing device, the step of determining whether a caution or warning signal should be generated being based on whether the person in close proximity or in contact with the patent has actuated the sanitizing device in a specific location.

5. A method comprising:

capturing a three dimensional image of a person within a room;

tracking the location of the person within the room;

determining whether the person has come within a first distance of a patient by determining the position of the three dimensional image;

determining whether the person has come within a second distance of a patient that is closer to the patient than the first distance and in close proximity to the patient by determining the position of the three dimensional image;

determining whether the person has caused the actuation of a sanitizing device, and

generating a first selected message following detection of the person sequentially coming within the first and second distances of the patient without having caused the actuation of the sanitizing device.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the step of causing a second selected message to be displayed upon determining that the person has come within the first distance of the patient.

7. The method of claim 5, further including the step of creating an image value associated with the three dimensional image of the person and associating the person with the sanitizing device by transferring the image value to the sanitizing device.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting whether the person has caused the actuation of the sanitizing device in a specific location within the room, wherein the step of generating the first selected message follows detection of the person sequentially coming within the first and second distances of the patent without having caused the actuation of the sanitizing device at the specific location.

9. A method comprising:

providing a sanitizing device including a memory, a transmitter and a receiver to a person;

capturing a three dimensional image of the person within a room;

creating an image value associated with the three dimensional image, and

associating the person with the sanitizing device by transferring the image value to the memory of the sanitizing device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of setting a status reflecting a sanitized condition associated with the image value based on use of the sanitizing device by the person.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of tracking the location of the person, detecting the person when the person enters an area by determining the position of the three dimensional image, and changing the status following detection of the person.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of determining whether the sanitizing device has been used in a selected location and setting the status based on use of the sanitizing device by the person in the selected location.

13. A system comprising:

a three dimensional imaging system operable to generate an image value derived from a three dimensional image of the physical characteristics of a person and track the person within a room;

a portable sanitizer/monitor operable to receive the image value from the three dimensional imaging system, create an identification value reflective of the image value, and wirelessly transmit the identification value upon actuation of the portable sanitizer/monitor for sanitizing purposes;

a processing assembly communicable with the three dimensional imaging system and operable to receive the identification value from the portable sanitizer/monitor, associate the image value with the identification value, determine whether the portable sanitizer/monitor was actuated in a specified location within the room, and transmit a hygienic status signal based on receipt of a transmission from the portable sanitizer/monitor including the identification value and the location of the person associated with the image value within the room at the time of the transmission from the portable sanitizer/monitor.

14. A system comprising:

a sanitizing device;

a three dimensional imaging system operable to detect specific kinematic hand motions at the sanitizing device and transmitting a signal responsive to detected specific kinematic hand motions;

a processing assembly operatively associated with the three dimensional imaging system for receiving the signal and generating an output signal in response thereto, and

a indicator device operatively associated with the processing assembly for displaying a message upon receipt of the output signal.