DISPATCH MANAGEMENT PLATFORM FOR NURSE CALL SYSTEM

• US 20180082573A1
• Filed: 08/08/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nathaniel Robeson, Yair Zuckerman
• Original Assignee: Nathaniel Robeson, Yair Zuckerman
• Inventors: Zuckerman, Yair, Robeson, Nathaniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,157,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• 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: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A dispatch management computer system that integrates with an existing nurse call system for clinical workflow optimization and to create accountability for patient satisfaction and outcomes. The system integrates a “quarterback” (e.g., dispatcher) tablet with a custom dispatch application that presents a floor plan for tracking the RTLS position of staff members and to provide a visual indication of which room and bed the call originated from. When a patient requests assistance, the QB application presents an assessment of the patient needs and, if further assistance is required, provides the dispatcher tools for real time assignment of the appropriate staff member and dispatch to begin the task within a predetermined amount of time required to complete the task allocated. The system enables the prompt assignment of staff personnel and assures that a patient receives prompt staff attention.

Claims

1. A dispatch management system for workflow optimization of the patient-nurse call process, said dispatch management system being integrated with an existing healthcare provider client-server network including a computer network in communication with a medical records database and a nurse call system, the dispatch management system comprising:

a plurality of RTLS tracking tags each identified by a unique identification code, each assigned to a nurse, and each periodically transmitting a message at least including said unique identification code and location information;

an RTLS location server in communication with said healthcare provider client-server network, said RTLS location server comprising a computer having non-transitory computer memory connected to said healthcare provider client-server network, said RTLS location server running application software comprising computer instructions stored on said non-transitory computer memory for tracking a real time position of each of said RTLS tracking tags;

a nurse call server in communication with said healthcare provider client-server network, said nurse call server comprising a computer having non-transitory computer memory connected to said healthcare provider client-server network, said nurse call server running application software comprising computer instructions stored on said non-transitory computer memory for maintaining a database of nurses and associated identification codes, and for querying said RTLS location server to determine a position of said nurses within a facility;

a portable quarterback (QB) computer in communication with said nurse call server, said portable QB computer connected to said healthcare provider client-server network, said portable QB computer running a QB computer application for displaying a QB Call Browser comprising a plurality of screens inclusive of an overview screen presenting a nurse call cancellation button, a task selection screen comprising a listing of categorical tasks selectable for assignment to a designated nurse, and a queued listing of all requested nurse calls including patient room, name, reason for call, said QB Application further comprising a timer for tracking time to completion of at least three stages of each nurse call inclusive of Call Time from when a patient activates a nurses call button until actuation of the nurse call cancellation button, an Assign Time from said cancellation actuation until an assigned nurse begins an assigned task, and Task Time for the assigned nurse to complete the assigned task;

a plurality of mobile devices each identified by a unique identification code and each assigned to a nurse, each mobile device being connected to said nurse call server, and each mobile device comprising a computer running application software comprising a Nurse Browser for remotely displaying a subset of information displayed on said QB Call Browser.

2. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein said Nurse Browser displays an instant notification when said QB assigns a task to the assigned nurse.

3. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein said QB Call Browser deactivates said Call Time timer and activates said Assign Time timer when said QB assigns a task to the assigned nurse.

4. The dispatch management system according to claim 3, wherein said Nurse Browser includes a control for accepting a QB assigned task by the assigned nurse.

5. The dispatch management system according to claim 4, wherein said QB Call Browser displays an instant notification when said assigned nurse actuates said control to accept a QB assigned task.

6. The dispatch management system according to claim 5, wherein said QB Call Browser deactivates said Assign Time timer and activates said Task Time timer when said assigned nurse actuates said control to accept a QB assigned task.

7. The dispatch management system according to claim 6, wherein said Nurse Browser includes a control for indicating completion of a QB assigned task by the assigned nurse.

8. The dispatch management system according to claim 7, wherein said QB Call Browser displays an instant notification when said assigned nurse actuates said control to indicate completion of a QB assigned task.

9. The dispatch management system according to claim 8, wherein said QB Call Browser deactivates said Task Time timer when said assigned nurse actuates said control to indicate completion of a QB assigned task.

10. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein said QB Call Browser displays an assignment page listing only qualified candidates for completion of a selected task.

10-1. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, further comprising a portable Room Door computer in communication with said nurse call server, said portable QB computer connected to said healthcare provider client-server network, said portable Room Door computer running a Room Door computer application for displaying patient information in real time.

11. The dispatch management system according to claim 10, wherein said patient information at least includes Room Number, Patient Name, Patient Isolation Flag, Patient Fall Risk Flag, Discharged, Deep Clean Required Flag, Ready For Inspection Flag, Room has Been Inspected Flag, and Room Change in Progress Flag.

12. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein said QB Call Browser displays a floorplan page comprising a map of a facility and a real time position of a plurality of nurses determined from said RTLS location server.

13. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of RTLS tracking tags each identified by a unique identification code, each assigned to an asset, and each periodically transmitting a message at least including said unique identification code.

14. The dispatch management system according to claim 13, wherein said QB Call Browser displays an asset page comprising real time position of a each assigned asset determined from said RTLS location server.

15. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said RTLS tracking tags periodically transmits temperature.

16. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein said RTLS location server application software comprises computer instructions stored on said non-transitory computer memory for tracking a real time position of each of said RTLS tracking tags by at least two from the group consisting of trilateration, fingerprinting and proximity sensing.

17. The dispatch management system according to claim 1, wherein said RTLS tracking tags periodically transmit Bluetooth low energy beacons.

18. In combination with a legacy nurse call system in communication with a hospital computer network for allowing healthcare patients to summon healthcare staff, a system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization, comprising:

a nurse call server computer;

an interface to said legacy nurse call system configured to notify said nurse call server computer when a patient makes a nurse call to said legacy nurse call system;

a real-time location service (RTLS) computer server in communication with a plurality of tracking tags, some of said plurality of tracking tags being worn by said healthcare staff;

a plurality of personal digital assistants (PDAs) each being worn by a respective member of said healthcare staff, each in communication with said nurse call server computer, and each PDA having non-transitory computer memory running a staff wear application comprising computer instructions stored on the non-transitory computer memory for executing the treatment plan;

a portable quarterback (QB) computing tablet assigned to a supervisory member of said healthcare staff, said QB tablet being in communication with said nurse call server and all of said plurality of PDAs, and said QB tablet having non-transitory computer memory running a QB application comprising computer instructions stored on the non-transitory computer memory for compiling an assessment of patient needs when said interface notifies said nurse call server computer when a patient makes a nurse call to said legacy nurse call system and display the assessment on the QB tablet inclusive of room and bed number, timestamp, and time elapsed for attending the call.

19. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 18, wherein said QB application displays a QB browser with a control to deactivate the nurse call.

20. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 19, wherein said QB application displays a timer to track lapsed time between initiation and deactivation of the nurse call.

21. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 20, wherein said QB application provides an alarm if said lapsed time between initiation and deactivation of the nurse call exceeds a predetermined threshold.

22. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 21, wherein said QB browser provides a dispatch screen with controls allowing said supervisory staff member to assign said nurse call to any one of said plurality of healthcare staff members.

23. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 22, wherein said QB application is configured to send an alert to that PDA in custody of a staff member to whom a nurse call is assigned via said QB browser.

24. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 23, wherein said staff wear application is configured to emit an alert to said assigned staff member upon receipt of said alert.

25. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 24, wherein said QB application displays a timer to track lapsed time between QB cancellation of said nurse call and staff assignment.

26. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 25, wherein said QB application provides an alarm if said lapsed time between QB cancellation and staff assignment exceeds a predetermined threshold.

27. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 26, wherein said QB application and said staff wear application display a timer to track lapsed time between assignment of said initiation and deactivation of the nurse call.

28. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 27, wherein said staff wear application comprises a control for allowing said assigned staff member to cancel said nurse call upon visiting said patient'"'"'s room.

29. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 28, wherein said QB application and said staff wear application display a timer to track lapsed time between staff assignment and cancellation of said nurse call.

30. The system for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 29, wherein said QB application provides an alarm if said lapsed time between staff assignment and cancellation of said nurse call exceeds a predetermined threshold.

31. A method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization, comprising the steps of:

providing a nurse call server computer;

providing an interface to a legacy nurse call system configured to notify said nurse call server computer when a patient makes a nurse call to said legacy nurse call system;

providing a real-time location service (RTLS) computer server in communication with a plurality of tracking tags, and assigning each said tracking tag to be worn by one of said healthcare staff;

providing each of said healthcare staff with a personal digital assistant (PDA) in communication with said nurse call server computer, and each PDA having non-transitory computer memory running a staff wear application comprising computer instructions stored on the non-transitory computer memory for executing the treatment plan;

providing a supervisory staff member with a portable quarterback (QB) computer tablet in communication with said nurse call server and all of said plurality of PDAs, said QB tablet having non-transitory computer memory running a QB application comprising computer instructions stored on the non-transitory computer memory for compiling an assessment of patient needs when said interface notifies said nurse call server computer when a patient makes a nurse call to said legacy nurse call system

displaying the assessment on the QB tablet inclusive of room and bed number, timestamp, and time elapsed for attending the call;

displaying a control to deactivate the nurse call; and

displaying a timer to track lapsed time between initiation and deactivation of the nurse call.

32. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 31, further comprising a step of emitting an alarm if said lapsed time between initiation and deactivation of the nurse call exceeds a predetermined threshold.

33. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 32, further comprising a step of displaying a dispatch screen with controls allowing said supervisory staff member to assign said nurse call to any one of said plurality of healthcare staff members.

33-1. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 33, further comprising a step of sending an alert to that PDA in custody of a staff member to whom a nurse call is assigned via said QB browser.

34. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 33, further comprising a step of tracking lapsed time between QB cancellation of said nurse call and staff assignment, and emitting an alarm if said lapsed time between QB cancellation and staff assignment exceeds a predetermined threshold.

35. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 34, further comprising a step of tracking lapsed time between assignment of said initiation and deactivation of the nurse call, and emitting an alarm if said lapsed time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

36. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 35, wherein said staff wear application comprises a control for allowing said assigned staff member to cancel said nurse call upon visiting said patient'"'"'s room.

37. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 36, further comprising a step of tracking lapsed time between staff assignment and cancellation of said nurse call, and emitting an alarm if said lapsed time between staff assignment and cancellation of said nurse call exceeds a predetermined threshold.

38. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 37, further comprising a step of displaying a listing of all staff members wearing one of said tracking tags and in range of said RTLS computer server.

39. The method for nurse call dispatch workflow optimization according to claim 38, further comprising a step of displaying a floorplan indicating location of all staff members wearing one of said tracking tags and in range of said RTLS computer server.