Systems and methods for measuring hand hygiene compliance

• US 7,372,367 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amron Corp. (Amron Group)
• Original Assignee: Amron Corp. (Amron Group)
• Inventors: Strauss, Kevin, Lane, Stephen, Coyne, Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/169,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.23, 340/545.3, 340/556, 340/567, 340/611, 340/614, 340/691.6, 430/0, 442/0
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A method of measuring hand hygiene compliance includes the steps of maintaining a computer database, and determining whether any person entered a first area independent of whether the any person includes a sensor. The method also includes the steps of determining whether the any person left the first area and entered a second area, and determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area. Moreover, the method includes the step of sending information associated with whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area to the computer database.

Claims

1. A method of measuring hand hygiene compliance, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining a computer database;

(b) determining whether any person entered a first area independent of whether the any person includes a sensor;

(c) determining whether the any person left the first area and entered a second area;

(d) determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area; and

(e) sending information collected in step (d) to the computer database without reminding the any person to perform hand hygiene, if it is determined that the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area, and upon reminding the any person to perform hand hygiene if it is determined that the any person did not perform hand hygiene before leaving the first area,

wherein the step of determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene comprises pressing a pressure actuated switch to dispense foam, thereby closing at least one microswitch connected to a status switch that transmits a signal indicating foam use to the computer database.

2. A method of measuring hand hygiene compliance, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining a computer database;

(b) determining whether any person entered a first area independent of whether the any person includes a sensor;

(c) determining whether the any person left the first area and entered a second area;

(d) determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area;

(e) if it is determined that the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area, sending this information to the computer database;

(f) if it is determined that the any person did not perform hand hygiene before leaving the first area, determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene in the second area;

(g) if it is determined that the any person performed hand hygiene in the second area, sending this information to the computer database;

(h) if it is determined that the any person did not perform hand hygiene after entering the second area, sending this information to the computer database upon reminding the any person to perform hand hygiene,

wherein the step of determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene comprises pressing a pressure actuated switch to dispense foam, thereby closing at least one microswitch connected to a status switch that transmits a signal indicating foam use to the computer database.

3. A method of measuring hand hygiene compliance, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining a computer database;

(b) determining whether any person flushed a restroom toilet included in a restroom;

(c) if the any person flushed the restroom toilet, determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the restroom; and

(d) sending information collected in step (c) to the computer database,

wherein the step of determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene comprises pressing a pressure actuated switch to dispense foam, thereby closing at least one microswitch connected to a status switch that transmits a signal indicating foam use to the computer database.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of determining whether the any person entered an area containing the restroom toilet.

5. A method of measuring hand hygiene compliance, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining a computer database;

(b) determining whether any person flushed a restroom toilet included in a restroom;

(c) if the any person flushed the restroom toilet, determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene within a predetermined amount of time after flushing the restroom toilet; and

(d) sending information collected in step (c) to the computer databases,

wherein the step of determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene comprises pressing a pressure actuated switch to dispense foam, thereby closing at least one microswitch connected to a status switch that transmits a signal indicating foam use to the computer database.

6. An apparatus for measuring hand hygiene compliance, comprising:

means for detecting, wherein the means for detecting is configured to detect each of;

whether any person entered a first area independent of whether the any person includes means for communicating with the means for detecting; and

whether the any person left the first area and entered a second area independent of whether the any person includes means for communicating with the means for detecting;

means for determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area;

means for determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene in the second area after leaving the first area; and

means for transmitting information associated with whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area and whether the any person performed hand hygiene in the second area after leaving the first area to a computer database without reminding the any person to perform hand hygiene, if it is determined that the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area, and upon reminding the any person to perform hand hygiene if it is determined that the any person did not perform hand hygiene before leaving the first areas;

wherein the means for determining whether the any person performed hand hygiene before leaving the first area comprises a pressure actuated switch that dispenses foam, thereby closing at least one microswitch connected to a status switch that transmits a signal indicating foam use to the computer database.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting comprises an IR beam breaker switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting comprises a passive infra red motion detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting comprises an IR proximity detector.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting comprises a pressure sensitive floor pad switch.