SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY INDICATING A UNIT STATUS AT A PLURALITY OF STATIONS

• US 3,599,199 A
• Filed: 12/06/1968
• Issued: 08/10/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Earl L. Bunting
• Original Assignee: Earl L. Bunting
• Inventors: Bunting, Earl L.
• Application Number:
  US04/781,864
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• US Class Current: 340/286.07
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A system for indicating to a plurality of administrative stations, by signal means, the status of the individual unit. Preferably, the administrative station adjacent the unit has means controlling the signals to energize the signaling means in all stations simultaneously to indicate the status of the unit. For example, in a hospital the system would indicate the status of a patient-bed unit. It would be controlled at the nurses'"'"''"'"' station to supply the proper signals to energize the signal means and alert the cashier, admitting office, housekeeper, dietician and other desired administrative stations that the bed is occupied, the patient is to be discharged, the patient has left the bed and it should be made up, and that the bed is ready for occupancy so that each administrative station can be ready to perform its required function. Heretofore in a hospital, for example, the records for each patient-bed unit were filed in filing cabinets at each administrative station and the status of each unit was not readily discernible. When there was any change in the unit status, it was necessary for the nurse or someone to advise each station individually. The record was then removed from the file and acted upon accordingly.

Claims

1. A system for automatically indicating to a plurality of stations the patient-bed status of an individual bed unit in a hospital, comprising a nurses'"'"''"'"' station adjacent said unit and a plurality of administrative stations, each station having signaling means, and single conductor means for each unit electrically connecting all of the signaling means in series, said single conductor means having one terminal connected to a source of power, said nurses'"'"''"'"' station having switching means for connecting the other terminal of the single conductor means to ground for turning on the system and for selectively applying one of a plurality of signals to the system to energize the signaling means in each station to denote the patient-bed status of the unit.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the administrative stations is the cashier'"'"''"'"'s station, and wherein means is provided at said station for altering the character of the signaling means at the nurses'"'"''"'"' station and cashier'"'"''"'"'s station to indicate the status of the patient'"'"''"'"'s account.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said administrative stations is the admitting office and wherein means is provided at said station for altering the character of the signaling means at said station to provide additional information with respect to said bed unit.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the signaling means comprises electric lights.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said lights can be selectively energized by switch means at said nurses'"'"''"'"' station to provide a steady, slow flashing or fast flashing light, and extinguished to provide said plurality of signals.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the signaling means at the nurses'"'"''"'"' station comprises a pair of differently colored lights and wherein the signal means in the cashier'"'"''"'"'s station comprises a pair of similar differently colored lights, and switch means at said cashier'"'"''"'"'s station for selectively energizing similarly colored lights in each station.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein the signaling means at the admitting office comprises differently colored lights and switch means at said station for selecting the color of the light to be energized.