SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISABLING OR ENABLING AUTOMATED DISPENSERS

• US 20130261795A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proventix Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Proventix Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Long, Avery Dallas, Nix, Harvey Allen, Snow, Erin Melisa, Kelly, Sean Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,443,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• 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

A system and method for disabling or enabling automated dispensers based upon data received by a server or a control unit. In one embodiment, the system disables automated dispensers in a room of a medical facility based upon health condition data of a patient resident in the room. In another embodiment, the system enables automated dispensers upon receipt of data identifying user types authorized to use the dispenser that are associated with wearable tags in proximity to the dispensers. In still another embodiment, the system controls the order in which automated dispensers are enabled in order to facilitate compliance with workflow procedures for a facility.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server in communication with a control unit operable to disable or enable an automated dispenser of hand hygiene products, said server issuing a command to said control unit to disable or enable dispensing of hand hygiene products from said dispenser in response to data received by said server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit is operable to disable or enable said dispenser by controlling a power supply for said dispenser.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit is operable to disable or enable said dispenser by issuing a command to a logical controller inside said dispenser.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein data is health condition data specific to a patient resident at a medical facility.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said dispenser is located in a room in which said patient is resident or within a predetermined proximity of said room.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said server issues said command in response to health condition data confirming said patient as being under contact precautions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said control unit is operable to disable said dispenser while said patient is under contact precautions.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a feedback device associated with said control unit is operable to display a message while said dispenser is disabled.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said message directs individuals to use soap and water for hand hygiene.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said dispenser remains disabled until at least one of the following occurs:

(a) said server confirms said patient has been discharged or transferred from said medical facility; and

(b) said server confirms said room has been sanitized by environmental personnel;

or

(c) said server confirms said patient is no longer under contact precautions.

11. A system comprising:

a control unit operable to disable or enable an automated dispenser of hand hygiene products, said control unit disabling or enabling dispensing of hand hygiene products from said dispenser based upon data received by said control unit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein data is specific to a user type associated with wearable tags within a predetermined proximity of said dispenser.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said control unit enables said dispenser for user types authorized to use said dispenser.

14. A hand hygiene dispensing system comprising:

a server in communication with a database of a medical facility, the server operable to receive health condition data from the database that is specific to patients resident at the medical facility; and

a control unit in communication with the server, the control unit operable to receive commands from the server based on health condition data and disable or enable dispensing of hand sanitizer product from an automated hand sanitizer dispenser associated with the control unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit and the automated hand sanitizer dispenser are located in a room in which a patient is resident.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein upon receiving health condition data confirming the patient is under contact precautions, the server sends a command to the control unit to disable dispensing of hand sanitizer product from the automated hand sanitizer dispenser.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a feedback device associated with the control unit displays a message while said dispenser is disabled to use soap and water for hand hygiene.