Patient discharge system and method for self-care of a post-surgery drain

• US 6,579,271 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Communication Science
• Original Assignee: Careguide Systems , Inc.
• Inventors: Aruffo, Sylvia D., Grey, Shirley P., Franks-Farah, Judith, Outland, Carol A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruhl, Dennis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bogart, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US09/779,796
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 604/541, 604/317, 604/327, 604/328, 604/332, 604/345, 604/355, 206/570, 206/440
• US Class Current: 604/355
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/31 Carrying cases or bags, e.g. doctors' bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/312 Doctors' or nurses' bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 17/00 First-aid kits

Abstract

A patient discharge system and method for self-care of a post-surgical drain site by a patient are revealed. The system contains apparatus for at least one dressing change and includes non-latex gloves, measuring cups, gauze pads, adhesive tape remover pads, a pencil, antibacterial soap, tape, belt bags, numbered drain labels, split gauze pads with foam support bars, drainage record cards, a set of step-by-step instructions and a box having a ruler on an inside of the box top. The system includes one set of step-by-step instructions for a medical professional to instruct a patient in the use of the patient discharge system. A copy of the step-by-step instructions is included for acknowledgment by the user and retained by the medical professional for medical records.

Claims

1. A system for care of a post-surgical drain site by a patient, said system comprising:

(a) at least one pair of gloves;

(b) at least one measuring cup;

(c) at least one gauze pad;

(d) at least one tape remover;

(e) antibacterial soap;

(f) at least one securing device;

(g) at least one belt bag;

(h) at least one drain label;

(i) at least one split gauze pad with foam support bar;

(j) at least one drainage record card;

(k) at least one set of step-by-step instructions; and

(l) at least one container for holding apparatus (a) to (k).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is a box and wherein items (a) through (k) are positioned inside the box according to a contents map.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said system contains apparatus for a plurality of self-care procedures.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the antibacterial soap is in liquid form.

5. The system of claim 3, which includes at least one waste bag.

6. The system of claim 3, further including a tape within a roll.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the measuring cup is calibrated.

8. The system of claim 3, which includes at least one set of clinician step-by-step instructions for documenting instructions provided to the patient in the use of the system.

9. A method for self-care of a post-surgical drain site by a patient comprising caring for a post-surgical drain site with the system of claim 1.

10. The method of claim 9, which includes caring for the post-surgical drain site by following said step-by-step instructions.

11. The method of claim 9, which includes preparing for self-care of a post-surgical drain.

12. The method of claim 9, which includes draining the post-surgical drain site.

13. A system for at least 30 self-care procedures for a post-surgical drain site by a patient, said system comprising:

(a) 20 pairs of gloves;

(b) 30 calibrated measuring cups;

(c) 30 gauze pads;

(d) 30 adhesive tape remover pads;

(e) a writing instrument;

(f) antibacterial liquid soap;

(g) a roll of tape;

(h) 4 belt bags;

(i) 4 numbered drain labels;

(j) 30 split gauze pads with foam support bars;

(k) 4 drainage record cards;

(l) a set of step-by-step instructions; and

(m) a box adapted to hold apparatus (a) through (l).

14. The system of claim 13, which includes at least one set of clinician step-by-step instructions for documenting instructions provided to the patient in the use of the system.