Patient care and communication system
First Claim
1. A patient care and communication system which comprises:
- a central station having means for facilitating visual and data communications relating to patient care; and
a plurality of remote stations linked to said central station and having a processor for facilitating visual and data communications relating to patient care and having a display for displaying said visual communications; and
a private branch exchange connected to a telephone exchange and to a plurality of telephones for facilitating telephone communication between said telephones and said telephone exchange;
wherein said central station facilitates said visual and data communications between said plurality of remote stations, and includes means for determining which of said plurality of remote stations are transmitting said visual and data communications and which of said plurality of remote stations are to receive said visual and data communications, and wherein said central station further includes means for establishing a communication link between said transmitting stations and said receiving stations;
wherein each of said plurality of remote stations includes telephone circuitry connected to said private-branch exchange for facilitating telephone communication, each of said plurality of remote stations further includes a sensor for sensing energy radiated from portable transmitter units, the radiated energy includes respective identification signals associated with each of said transmitter units wherein at least a portion of said plurality of remote stations are configured and adapted for association in a group network such that predefined visual and data signal communications are transmitted to each remote station in the group by said central station and audio communications are transmitted by said private-branch exchange.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a patient care and communication system which utilizes a central processing system and a plurality of remote stations electrically connected to the central processing system to facilitate visual and data communications. Each remote station includes telephone circuitry which is connected to a private branch exchange for telephone communications between stations. In addition, the private branch exchange is connected to a telephone exchange and a plurality of telephones for facilitating telephone communication therebetween. The central processing system facilitates the visual and data communications between the plurality of remote stations, and includes a system for determining which of the plurality of remote stations are transmitting the visual and data communications and which of the plurality of remote stations are to receive the visual and data communications. The central processing system also includes a system which establishes a communication link between the transmitting stations and the receiving stations. The remote stations include a processing system which also facilitates the visual, data and telephone communications and a display for displaying the visual communications. The present invention also includes a staff and/or patient locator system, in which each remote station includes an infrared receiver that receives infrared transmissions from a portable transmitter worn by a staff member or patient. The infrared transmissions include identity information associated with the person wearing the transmitter. The identity information is then transferred to the central processing system which determines the identity and location of each person wearing a portable transmitter.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A patient care and communication system which comprises:
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a central station having means for facilitating visual and data communications relating to patient care; and a plurality of remote stations linked to said central station and having a processor for facilitating visual and data communications relating to patient care and having a display for displaying said visual communications; and a private branch exchange connected to a telephone exchange and to a plurality of telephones for facilitating telephone communication between said telephones and said telephone exchange; wherein said central station facilitates said visual and data communications between said plurality of remote stations, and includes means for determining which of said plurality of remote stations are transmitting said visual and data communications and which of said plurality of remote stations are to receive said visual and data communications, and wherein said central station further includes means for establishing a communication link between said transmitting stations and said receiving stations;
wherein each of said plurality of remote stations includes telephone circuitry connected to said private-branch exchange for facilitating telephone communication, each of said plurality of remote stations further includes a sensor for sensing energy radiated from portable transmitter units, the radiated energy includes respective identification signals associated with each of said transmitter units wherein at least a portion of said plurality of remote stations are configured and adapted for association in a group network such that predefined visual and data signal communications are transmitted to each remote station in the group by said central station and audio communications are transmitted by said private-branch exchange. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A patient care and communication system which comprises:
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a central station having means for facilitating visual and data communications relating to patient care; and a plurality of remote stations linked to said central station and having a processor for facilitating visual and data communications relating to patient care and having a display for displaying said visual communications; and a private branch exchange connected to a telephone exchange and to a plurality of telephones for facilitating telephone communication between said telephones and said telephone exchange; wherein said central station facilitates said visual and data communications between said plurality of remote stations, and includes means for determining which of said plurality of remote stations are transmitting said visual and data communications and which of said plurality of remote stations are to receive said visual and data communications, and wherein said central station further includes means for establishing a communication link between said transmitting stations and said receiving stations;
wherein each of said plurality of remote stations includes telephone circuitry connected to said private-branch exchange for facilitating telephone communication, each of said plurality of remote stations further includes a sensor for sensing energy radiated from portable transmitter units, the radiated energy includes respective identification signals associated with each of said transmitter units wherein each of said transmitter units include a housing and a processor within said housing and a patient select member connected to said processor to permit persons within a room to control environmental facilities within the room. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for monitoring and controlling environmental facilities within at least one room of a health care facility, which comprises:
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at least one nurse control station located at a nurse station and a plurality of remote stations, at least one remote station located in said at least one room, said remote stations connected to a central processor to facilitate visual and data communications therebetween, said plurality of remote stations having processing means for facilitating said visual and data communications and having display means for displaying said visual and data communications, and said central processor having means for determining which of said plurality of remote stations are transmitting said visual and data communications and which of said plurality of remote stations are to receive said visual and data communications, and having means for establishing a communication link between said transmitting stations and said receiving stations; a wireless receiver positioned within said at least one room having environmental facilities therewithin; a wireless transmitter located within said at least one room, said wireless transmitter having a housing, a processor within said housing and a patient select member connected to said processor, such that activation of said patient select member causes said wireless transmitter to transmit control data to said wireless receiver associated with the patient select member; and a controller connected to said wireless receiver and said environmental facilities, said controller being configured to receive said control data from said wireless receiver and to control said environmental facilities in response to said control data, wherein said control data is transmitted to said at least one nurse control station for monitoring said environmental facilities at said at least one remote station. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for monitoring and controlling environmental facilities within at least one room of a health care facility, comprising:
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connecting a plurality of remote stations to at least one nurse control station located at a nurse station, at least one of said remote stations located in said at least one room, a central processor to facilitate visual and data communications therebetween, said plurality of remote stations having processing means for facilitating said visual and data communications and having display means for displaying said visual and data communications, and said central processor having means for determining which of said plurality of remote stations are transmitting said visual and data communications and which of said plurality of remote stations are to receive said visual and data communications, and having means for establishing a communication link between said transmitting stations and said receiving stations; positioning a wireless receiver within said at least one room having environmental facilities therewithin; positioning a portable wireless transmitter within said at least one room; connecting said wireless receiver and said environmental facilities to a controller, said controller being configured to receive control data from said wireless receiver and to control said environmental facilities in response to said control data, wherein said control data is transmitted to said at least one nurse control station for monitoring said environmental facilities at said at least one remote station; and activating said wireless transmitter to transmit said control data. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification