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

• US 6,740,068 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• 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): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOGART, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/420,093
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 604/541, 604/327, 604/328, 604/355, 206/440, 206/570
• 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 patient discharge system for care of a post-surgical drain site by a user, said system comprising:

a plurality of infection prevention devices for preventing infection to the drain site;

at least one securing device for securing a bulb connected to the drain site;

at least one measuring and labeling device for measuring and labeling fluid drained from the bulb; and

at least one information device for informing the user of the use of the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said infection prevention devices include at least one pair of gloves, at least one gauze pad and antibacterial soap.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said securing device includes at least one piece of tape and at least one belt bag.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring and labeling device includes at least one measuring cup, at least one numbered drain label and at least one drainage record card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said information device includes step-by-step instructions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said information device includes at least one contents map.

7. The system of claim 1, which includes at least one adhesive tape remover pad and at least one split gauze pad with foam support bar.

8. The system of claim 1, which includes at least one set of clinician step-by-step instructions for documenting instructions provided to the user in the use of the system.

9. A method for self-care of a post-surgical drain site by a patient, said method comprising:

preparing for self-care according to step-by-step instructions provided in and using the apparatus provided in a patient discharge system, wherein the system comprises;

(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) at least one securing device;

(f) at least one belt bag;

(g) at least one drain label;

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

(i) at least one drainage record card;

(j) said step-by-step instructions; and

at least one container for holding apparatus (a) to (j);

draining the incision according to the step-by-step instructions provided in and using the apparatus provided in the patient discharge system; and

removing the old dressing according to the step-by-step instructions provided in and using the apparatus provided in the patient discharge system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the container is a box and wherein items (a) through (j) are positioned inside the box according to a contents map.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said system contains apparatus for a plurality of self-care procedures.

12. The method of claim 9, which includes at least one set of clinician step-by-step instructions for documenting instructions provided to a patient in the use of the system.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the system includes apparatus 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 removal pads;

(e) antibacterial liquid soap;

(f) a roll of tape;

(g) 4 belt bags;

(h) 4 numbered drain labels;

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

(j) 4 drainage record cards;

(k) said step-by-step instructions; and

(l) a container adapted to hold apparatus (a) through (k).