System, method and implementation for increasing a likelihood of improved hand hygiene in a desirably sanitary environment

• US 7,375,640 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Debra Plost, Gerald N. Plost
• Original Assignee: Gerald N. Plost
• Inventors: Plost, Gerald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US10/963,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/870.16, 340/500, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 423/6, 466/1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A desirably sanitary environment such as a hospital will have hand hygiene stations dispersed in some of the patient rooms, hallways, common areas, staff bathrooms and the like. Workers entering and exiting these rooms and areas should comply with proper hand hygiene protocols as they move from contact with one patient to another. A system, method and implementation are provided for increasing the likelihood of proper hand hygiene protocols. Identifying credentials unique to each worker, sensors tracking the room entry and exit activities of each credential, electronic hand hygiene substance dispensers responsive to the credentials and a computerized network are combined to count completed hand hygiene protocol cycles to the credit of each credential for use in a compliance awards program to encourage proper hand hygiene. Each credential may include green, yellow and red LED'"'"'s to alert as to “hands clean,” please sanitize” and “hands dirty” conditions.

Claims

1. A method for encouraging an exercise of hand hygiene by a worker in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to the worker a unique credential to be transported with the worker;

equipping a hand hygiene station serving the desirably sanitary environment to dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by a worker transporting the unique credential;

monitoring a passageway of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of the unique credential into and from a room of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance to the worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from the room of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential.

2. A method for encouraging an exercise of hand hygiene by a worker in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to the worker a unique credential to be transported with the worker;

equipping a hand hygiene station serving the desirably sanitary environment to dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by a worker transporting the unique credential;

monitoring a passageway of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of the unique credential into and from a room of the desirably sanitary environment, the hand hygiene station being inside the room; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance to the worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from the room of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of an entry, a first dispensing, a second dispensing and an exit.

3. A method according to claim 2, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the exit.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with the unique credential.

5. A method for encouraging an exercise of hand hygiene by a worker in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to the worker a unique credential to be transported with the worker;

equipping a hand hygiene station serving the desirably sanitary environment to dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by a worker transporting the unique credential;

monitoring a passageway of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of the unique credential into and from a room of the desirably sanitary environment, the hand hygiene station being outside the room; and

determining completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance to the worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from the room of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of a first dispensing, an entry, an exit and a second dispensing.

6. A method according to claim 5, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the exit.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with the unique credential.

8. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential.

9. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of an entry, a first dispensing, a second dispensing and an exit for hand hygiene stations located inside a room of the desirably sanitary environment.

10. A method according to claim 9, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the exit.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with each unique credential.

12. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of a first dispensing, an entry, an exit and a second dispensing for hand hygiene stations located outside rooms of the desirably sanitary environment.

13. A method according to claim 12, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the exit.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with each unique credential.

15. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of an entry, a post-entry dispensing, a pre-exit dispensing and an exit for hand hygiene stations located inside a room of the desirably sanitary environment and a sequential occurrence of a pre-entry dispensing, an entry, an exit and a post exit dispensing for hand hygiene stations located outside a room of the desirably sanitary environment.

16. A method according to claim 15, the pre-entry dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the entry, the post-exit dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the exit, the post-entry dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the entry and the pre-exit dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the exit.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with each unique credential.

18. A method for encouraging exercise of hand hygiene by a worker in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to the worker a unique credential to be transported with the worker;

equipping a hand hygiene station serving the desirably sanitary environment to dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by a worker transporting the unique credential;

monitoring a passageway of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of the unique credential into and from a room of the desirably sanitary environment, the hand hygiene station being inside the room; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance to the worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from the room of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of an entry, a first dispensing, an exit and a second dispensing.

19. A method according to claim 18, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the exit.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with the unique credential.

21. A method for encouraging an exercise of hand hygiene by a worker in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to the worker a unique credential to be transported with the worker;

equipping a hand hygiene station serving the desirably sanitary environment to dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by a worker transporting the unique credential;

monitoring a passageway of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of the unique credential into and from a room of the desirably sanitary environment, the hand hygiene station being outside the room; and

determining completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance to the worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from the room of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of a first dispensing, an entry, a second dispensing and an exit.

22. A method according to claim 21, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the exit.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with the unique credential.

24. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of an entry, a first dispensing, an exit and a second dispensing for hand hygiene stations located inside a room of the desirably sanitary environment.

25. A method according to claim 24, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the exit.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with each unique credential.

27. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of a first dispensing, an entry, a second dispensing and an exit for hand hygiene stations located outside rooms of the desirably sanitary environment.

28. A method according to claim 27, the first dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the entry and the second dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the exit.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with each unique credential.

30. A method for encouraging exercises of hand hygiene by workers in a desirably sanitary environment comprising the steps of:

issuing to each of the workers a unique credential to be transported with the workers;

equipping hand hygiene stations serving the desirably sanitary environment to individually dispense a hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting one of the issued unique credentials;

monitoring the passageways of the desirably sanitary environment to sense the entry and exit of any issued unique credential into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment; and

determining a completion of a protocol cycle indicative of a dispensation of the hand hygiene substance upon demand by any worker transporting the unique credential for each entry and exit into and from rooms of the desirably sanitary environment by the worker transporting the same unique credential, the protocol cycle comprising a sequential occurrence of an entry, a post-entry dispensing, an exit and a post-exit dispensing for hand hygiene stations located inside a room of the desirably sanitary environment and a sequential occurrence of a pre-entry dispensing, an entry, a pre exit dispensing and an exit for hand hygiene stations located outside a room of the desirably sanitary environment.

31. A method according to claim 30, the post-entry dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the entry, the post-exit dispensing occurring within a predetermined time after the exit, the pre-entry dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the entry and the pre-exit dispensing occurring within a predetermined time prior to the exit.

32. A method according to claim 31 further comprising the step of counting completed protocol cycles associated with each unique credential.