AMBIENT SENSING OF PATIENT DISCOMFORT

• US 20120323090A1
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: BECHTEL, STEPHANIE PALMER, NOLTE, MARK
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0241 Anaesthetics; Analgesics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 : Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 : by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 : providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 : voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 : for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for monitoring and managing patient discomfort are provided. Inputs are received from ambient sensors located in a clinical care room. Based on a determination that the inputs exceed predetermined thresholds, it is determined that the patient is experiencing discomfort. Various measures are automatically initiated to help diminish the patient'"'"'s discomfort. The measures include aromatherapy, visual relaxation therapy, audio therapy, and automatic administration of pain relief.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable storage media having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of monitoring a patient in a clinical care room, the method comprising:

automatically receiving an input from an ambient sensor in the clinical care room;

determining that the patient is experiencing discomfort by comparing the input to a predetermined threshold;

based on determining that the patient is experiencing discomfort;

(A) notifying one or more clinicians that the patient is experiencing discomfort, and

(B) without human intervention, adjusting settings for components within the clinical care room such that the patient'"'"'s discomfort is diminished.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the ambient sensor is one of a Web camera, a depth camera, an audio sensor, a vital signs monitor, a moisture sensor, and a weight sensor.

3. The media of claim 2, wherein the Web camera is used to monitor facial gestures of the patient.

4. The media of claim 2, wherein the depth camera is used to monitor a location, movement, and position of the patient.

5. The media of claim 2, wherein the audio sensor is used to monitor articulations from the patient indicating that the patient is experiencing discomfort.

6. The media of claim 2, wherein the moisture sensor is integrated with a bed associated with the patient, and wherein the moisture sensor is used to detect increased perspiration of the patient.

7. The media of claim 1, wherein the input is one of:

(A) increased respirations,

(B) increased heart rate,

(C) increased perspiration,

(D) increased movement, or

(E) patient facial gestures indicating discomfort

8. The media of claim 1, further comprising;

determining a severity level of the discomfort based on how much the input exceeds the predetermined threshold.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein notifying the one or more clinicians that the patient is experiencing discomfort comprises communicating a message to a message queue associated with a clinician, wherein the message notifies the clinician that the patient is experiencing discomfort.

10. The media of claim 9, wherein the message is placed higher in the message queue depending on the severity level of the discomfort.

11. The media of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving multiple inputs from multiple ambient sensors in the clinical care room; and

determining that a plurality of the multiple inputs exceeds respective predetermined thresholds.

12. The media of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting the settings for the components within the clinical care room comprises at least one of:

(A) initiating aromatherapy,

(B) initiating audio therapy,

(C) initiating visual therapy, or

(D) configuring a medical device to automatically administer pain relief.

13. The media of claim 12, further comprising,

automatically administering the pain relief after receiving verification and authorization from a clinician.

14. The media of claim 12, further comprising,

automatically administering the pain relief after:

(A) determining that current vital signs of the patient fall within acceptable parameters;

(B) accessing an electronic medical record associated with the patient to;

a) determine that a predetermined period of time has passed since the patient was last administered pain relief,

b) determine that appropriate safety measures are in place, and

c) determine a dosage of pain relief that was last administered to the patient; and

(C) determining that a severity level of the discomfort exceeds a predetermined threshold.

15. The media of claim 12, wherein the aromatherapy, the audio therapy, and the visual therapy are pre-selected by the patient.

16. One or more computer-readable storage media having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for transitioning a clinical care room from a first scene to a second scene in order to facilitate patient pain management, the method comprising:

presenting the first scene in the clinical care room, the clinical care room having one or more zones and the first scene being associated with a first group of settings for components within the one or more zones;

automatically receiving one or more inputs from ambient sensors located in the clinical care room;

determining that a plurality of the one or more inputs exceeds respective predetermined thresholds;

based on determining that the plurality of the one or more inputs exceeds the respective predetermined thresholds, providing the second scene in the clinical care room, the second scene being associated with a second group of settings for the components with the one or more zones;

the second group of settings different from the first group of settings, wherein the second group of settings is optimized to facilitate management of a patient'"'"'s pain.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the one or more components includes at least a patient interactive station component, an interactive room link component, a connectivity engine, a medical device interface, a communication component, and a bed interface.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein the second group of settings comprises at least one of:

(A) adjusting one or more lights in the clinical care room to facilitate management of the patient'"'"'s pain,

(B) displaying on a digital room sign located outside the clinical care room'"'"'s entrance an indication that the patient is experiencing pain,

(C) initiating play of pre-selected music selections,

(D) displaying a pre-selected scene on at least one of a digital window or a digital ceiling, or

(E) establishing a communication path between the patient and a clinician associated with the patient.

19. The media of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an indication from the patient that pain management is successful; and

incident to receiving the indication from the patient that the pain management is successful, automatically providing the first scene in the clinical care room.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for minimizing patient discomfort, the method comprising:

receiving one or more inputs from ambient sensors in a clinical care room, the ambient sensors including one or more of;

(A) a camera,

(B) an audio sensor,

(C) a location sensor, and

(D) a bed, the bed associated with a patient;

determining that a plurality of the one or more inputs exceeds respective predetermined thresholds; and

based on determining that the plurality of the one or more inputs exceeds the respective predetermined thresholds, determining that the patient is experiencing discomfort and, without human intervention, taking one or more of the following actions;

(A) initiating aromatherapy,

(B) initiating audio relaxation therapy, and

(C) initiating visual relaxation therapy.