Context-aware method and system for facilitating the delivery of healthcare to patients within a clinical environment monitored by real-time locating apparatus
First Claim
1. A context-aware system for facilitating the delivery of healthcare to patients within a clinical environment monitored by real-time locating apparatus including auto-ID patient tags wherein patients having tags are located within the environment in real time by the apparatus, the system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of kiosks wherein at least one of the kiosks is a dispensing kiosk configured to store a plurality of reusable, auto-ID patient tags, including previously dispensed reusable tags, each of the stored, reusable tags being capable of transmitting signals used by the apparatus to establish real-time location of patients having the tags, each of the tags being capable of transmitting a wireless identification signal including ID information upon actuation and wherein the dispensing kiosk includes a dispensing mechanism to dispense stored tags and to actuate tags during dispensing of the tags by depressing a push button switch disposed on the tag so that each of the dispensed tags transmits the wireless identification signal upon depression of the push button switch; and
(b) a control computer subsystem including a workstation coupled to the dispensing mechanism and including at least one user interface, the workstation being configured to send a first signal to the dispensing mechanism to dispense a stored tag and to actuate the stored tag during dispensing of the stored tag via the push button switch so that the dispensed tag transmits the wireless identification signal wherein the dispensing kiosk includes a first receiver coupled to the workstation to receive the wireless identification signal including its associated ID information and provide the ID information to the workstation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A context-aware method and system for facilitating the delivery of healthcare to patients within a clinical environment monitored by real-time locating apparatus including auto-ID patient tags where patients having tags are located within the environment in real time by the apparatus are provided. The system includes a plurality of self-service units where one or more of the units is configured to store a plurality of auto-ID patient tags and where the one or more of the units includes a dispensing mechanism to dispense stored tags. The system further includes a control computer subsystem coupled to the at least one of the units and including at least one user interface. The subsystem still further includes a processor operable to execute software instructions and a memory operable to store software instructions accessible by the processor. The subsystem still further includes a set of software instructions stored in the memory to at least partially perform the steps of: identifying an incoming patient; assigning a stored auto-ID patient tag to the identified patient to obtain a tag assignment; transmitting a signal over a communication channel to an electronic medical record subsystem to link the tag assignment to a medical record of the patient whereby the patient becomes a linked patient; and controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense a stored tag to the linked patient.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A context-aware system for facilitating the delivery of healthcare to patients within a clinical environment monitored by real-time locating apparatus including auto-ID patient tags wherein patients having tags are located within the environment in real time by the apparatus, the system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of kiosks wherein at least one of the kiosks is a dispensing kiosk configured to store a plurality of reusable, auto-ID patient tags, including previously dispensed reusable tags, each of the stored, reusable tags being capable of transmitting signals used by the apparatus to establish real-time location of patients having the tags, each of the tags being capable of transmitting a wireless identification signal including ID information upon actuation and wherein the dispensing kiosk includes a dispensing mechanism to dispense stored tags and to actuate tags during dispensing of the tags by depressing a push button switch disposed on the tag so that each of the dispensed tags transmits the wireless identification signal upon depression of the push button switch; and (b) a control computer subsystem including a workstation coupled to the dispensing mechanism and including at least one user interface, the workstation being configured to send a first signal to the dispensing mechanism to dispense a stored tag and to actuate the stored tag during dispensing of the stored tag via the push button switch so that the dispensed tag transmits the wireless identification signal wherein the dispensing kiosk includes a first receiver coupled to the workstation to receive the wireless identification signal including its associated ID information and provide the ID information to the workstation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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(a) a tag comprising; (i) a push button switch, wherein the push button switch is movable between an undepressed position and a depressed position, wherein the tag has a thickness when the push button switch is in the depressed position; (ii) an infrared signal generator, wherein the infrared signal generator is operably coupled with the push button switch, wherein the infrared signal generator is configured to generate an infrared signal when the push button switch is in the depressed position; and (b) a kiosk comprising; (i) a keyboard; (ii) a display screen; (iii) a storage magazine, wherein the storage magazine defines an ejection slot, wherein the storage magazine is sized to receive the tag therein, wherein the ejection slot is sized to allow the tag to move therethrough; (iv) a push rod, wherein the push rod is movable between a first position and a second position to push the tag out of the ejection slot; (v) a first drive roller disposed proximate the ejection slot, wherein the first drive roller is operably connected to the push rod; (vi) a dispensing motor, wherein the dispensing motor is operably connected to the first drive roller, wherein the dispensing motor is configured to rotate the first drive roller and simultaneously move the push rod from the first position to the second position; (vii) a second drive roller disposed proximate the ejection slot, wherein the second drive roller is spaced a distance apart from the first drive roller, wherein the distance is equal to the thickness of the tag when the push button switch is in the depressed position, wherein the first drive roller and the second drive roller are configured to receive the tag as the tag passes out of the ejection slot and move the push button switch into the depressed position as the tag passes therethrough; and (viii) an infrared signal receiver, wherein the infrared signal receiver is oriented to receive the infrared signal generated by the tag. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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(a) authenticating a user of a kiosk, wherein the kiosk includes a housing; (b) in response to authenticating the user of the kiosk, retrieving a record associated with the user; and (c) ejecting a tag from a storage magazine disposed inside the housing into a storage tray accessible by the user, the ejecting comprising; (i) pressing the tag into a pair of rollers; (ii) rolling the tag through the pair of rollers; (iii) depressing a push button switch disposed on the tag as the tag rolls through the pair of rollers; (iv) in response to depressing the push button switch, generating an identification signal from a signal generator of the tag, wherein the identification signal is associated with the tag; (v) sensing the identification signal with a signal receiver disposed in the housing; and (vi) in response to sensing the identification signal;
associating the record with the tag. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification