Caregiver personal alert device

• US 8,094,521 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nightingale Product, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nightingale Products LLC
• Inventors: Levy, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit
• Application Number:
  US12/072,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20090010106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/41, 368 72- 74, 368250-251, 705/2, 705/3, 705/9
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable caregiver personal alert device to facilitate the improvement in the delivery of bedside patient care. The device assists caregivers in ensuring time-sensitive tasks are performed within a specific time frame and in a specific sequence to ensure efficiency, compliance with standard of care or regulation and patient comfort. The device of the present invention comprises a display, a microprocessor that monitors various tasks for multiple patients, and at least one user input feature and at least one alarm, capable of alerting a caregiver when it is time to perform the task. The device preferably includes various functions such as a bed assignment mode, a task mode for choosing applicable tasks associated with the needs of one or more bed numbers, and at least one clock for coordinating a plurality of alarms to one or more corresponding bed number and associated task.

Claims

1. A portable device for coordinating a plurality of time-sensitive tasks with corresponding alarms to alert a caregiver, said device comprising:

a display,

a microprocessor capable of monitoring a plurality of functions dedicated to assist said caregiver in managing a plurality of tasks for multiple patients,

at least one user input feature, and

at least one alarm capable of alerting said caregiver upon time to perform said task, wherein said device includes a bed assignment mode for programming and updating said caregiver'"'"'s current bed assignments, a task mode for programming and updating time-sensitive tasks and associating said tasks with at least one current bed assignment, and at least one time clock capable of coordinating a plurality of alarms to one or more bed assignments and associated tasks, wherein one or more of said tasks are custom selected and entered into said device by said caregiver.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said time-sensitive tasks are pre-programmed into the microprocessor under one or more alert categories, said categories comprising activities of daily living, airway, assessment/act, preventative, and restoratives.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said bed assignment mode is capable of tracking up to ten (10) separate alerts, respectively for 1 to 4 time sensitive tasks, on up to fifteen (15) bed locations.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said time-sensitive tasks include , one or more of:

ambulate, oxygen assessment, meals, ROM, toileting, aerosol, suctioning, tracheal care, phoning a doctor, blood transfusion, fever checks, medicine adjustment, general protocol, vital signs, change dressing, neuro check, pulse check, safety round, service round, skin//turn, and splints.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one alarm may be set according to:

a particular time of day using a real-time clock, or

a specific length of time set forth in time intervals.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein activation of said alarm prompts a display of the protocol required at said bed assignment corresponding to said alarm.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said default prompt shows “

wash hands” and

“

check patient D.”

across said display.

8. The device of claim 1, further including at least one USB port to allow interfacing with said microprocessor.

9. A portable device adapted for use by a nursing team, capable of coordinating a plurality of time-sensitive tasks with corresponding alarms to alert a nursing team member, said device comprising:

a display,

an microprocessor core capable of monitoring a plurality of functions dedicated to assist said nursing team member in managing a plurality of time-sensitive tasks for multiple patients,

at least one user input feature, and

at least one alarm capable of alerting said caregiver upon time to perform said task,

wherein said device is configured to receive assigned duties from a nursing team leader, said duties including bed assignments and one or more time-sensitive tasks pre-programmed into said microprocessor core under one or more alert categories, said categories comprising activities of daily living, airway, assessment/act, preventative and restoratives, and wherein said device includes a task mode for programming and updating said time sensitive tasks and associating said tasks with at least one current bed assignment.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said team leader assigns team members tasks by inputting assignments directly onto said team member devices.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said team member tasks may be downloaded from at least one central site to said team member device.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of functions include:

a bed assignment mode, wherein said team member can designate and update bed numbers,

a task mode comprising at least one pre-programmed task, wherein said task may be associated with one or more of said bed numbers and continuously updated, and

at least one time clock capable of coordinating a plurality of alarms to one or more corresponding bed number and associated task.

13. The device of claim 12, said bed assignment mode is capable of tracking up to ten (10) separate alerts, respectively for 1 to 4 time sensitive tasks, on up to fifteen (15) bed locations.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said tasks, include:

ambulate, oxygen assessment, meals, ROM, toileting, aerosol, suctioning, tracheal care, phoning a doctor, blood transfusion, fever checks, medicine adjustment, general protocol, vital signs, change dressing, nero check, pulse check, safety round, service round, skin/turn, and splints.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein said at least one alarm may be set according to:

a particular time of day using a real-time clock, or

to a specific length of time set forth in time intervals.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein one or more of said tasks are custom selected and entered into said device by said nursing team.

17. The device of claim 9, further including at least one USB port to allow interfacing with said microprocessor.

18. The device of claim 9 wherein activation of said alarm prompts a display of the required protocol required at said bed assignment corresponding to said alarm.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said default prompt shows “

wash hands” and

“

check patient I.D.”

across said display.