TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150123793A1
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patient Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Patient Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Greenberg, Kenneth L., Boutros, Akram
• Application Number:
  US14/533,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0264 at least one of the systems being a non-radio wave positioning system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags that are associated with and configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of medical staff within a medical facility. Position information is generated concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags that are associated with and configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of medical staff within a medical facility; and

generating position information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating time stamp information with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags; and

generating time-based movement information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining a time/proximity based level of performance for at least one medical staff, chosen from the plurality of medical staff.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance is based, at least in part, upon:

the IR-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff;

the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff; and

the time stamp information associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:

the quantity of time that it takes the at least one medical staff to perform one or more required tasks;

the performance level at which the at least one medical staff performs the one or more required tasks;

the performance level at which the at least one medical staff adheres to a schedule;

the overall utilization efficiency of the at least one medical staff;

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff is over-scheduled; and

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff is under-scheduled;

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein:

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional;

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient; and

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical professional;

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical patient; and

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags includes:

receiving IR-based location information from a plurality of IR-based sensors positioned within the medical facility; and

receiving RFID-based location information from a plurality of RFID-based sensors positioned within the medical facility.

9. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags that are associated with and configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of medical staff within a medical facility; and

generating position information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions for:

associating time stamp information with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags; and

generating time-based movement information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising instructions for:

determining a time/proximity based level of performance for at least one medical staff, chosen from the plurality of medical staff.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance is based, at least in part, upon:

the IR-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff;

the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff; and

the time stamp information associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:

the quantity of time that it takes the at least one medical staff to perform one or more required tasks;

the performance level at which the at least one medical staff performs the one or more required tasks;

the performance level at which the at least one medical staff adheres to a schedule;

the overall utilization efficiency of the at least one medical staff;

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff is over-scheduled; and

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff is under-scheduled;

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein:

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional;

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient; and

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical professional;

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical patient; and

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical device.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions for receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags include instructions for:

receiving IR-based location information from a plurality of IR-based sensors positioned within the medical facility; and

receiving RFID-based location information from a plurality of RFID-based sensors positioned within the medical facility.

17. A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags that are associated with and configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of medical staff within a medical facility; and

generating position information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

18. The computing system of claim 17 further configured to perform operations comprising:

associating time stamp information with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for each of the plurality of RFID/IR tags; and

generating time-based movement information concerning each of the RFID/IR tags within the medical facility.

19. The computing system of claim 18 further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining a time/proximity based level of performance for at least one medical staff, chosen from the plurality of medical staff.

20. The computing system of claim 19 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance is based, at least in part, upon:

the IR-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff;

the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff; and

the time stamp information associated with the IR-based location information and the RFID-based location information received for the RFID/IR tag associated with the at least one medical staff.

21. The computing system of claim 20 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:

the quantity of time that it takes the at least one medical staff to perform one or more required tasks;

the performance level at which the at least one medical staff performs the one or more required tasks;

the performance level at which the at least one medical staff adheres to a schedule;

the overall utilization efficiency of the at least one medical staff;

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff is over-scheduled; and

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff is under-scheduled;

22. The computing system of claim 20 wherein:

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical professional;

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be releasably attached to at least one medical patient; and

at least one of the plurality of RFID/IR tags is associated with and configured to be attached to at least one medical device.

23. The computing system of claim 22 wherein the time/proximity based level of performance concerns one or more of:

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical professional;

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical patient; and

the quantity of time that the at least one medical staff interacts with the medical device.

24. The computing system of claim 17 wherein receiving IR-based location information and RFID-based location information for each of a plurality of RFID/IR tags includes:

receiving IR-based location information from a plurality of IR-based sensors positioned within the medical facility; and

receiving RFID-based location information from a plurality of RFID-based sensors positioned within the medical facility.