System and Method for Managing Point of Care Assignments

• US 20070267475A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linksense Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Linksense Incorporated
• Inventors: McAlpine, Brian, Gentry, Eric, Almy, Christopher, Hoglund, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• 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

A portable, battery-powered per-patient device automatically detects and logs patient encounters with items, such as medical equipment, drug containers, caregivers, visitors and other patients, in a healthcare facility. A separate per-patient device is assigned to each patient in the facility. The per-patient device is intended to remain with the patient during the patient'"'"'s stay. The device may be attached to the patient'"'"'s bed, wheelchair, walker or the like. If the patient is ambulatory, the patient may carry the device. RF-ID or other suitable tags are attached to items that a patient may encounter. Each per-patient device automatically detects and logs RF-ID-tagged items, including the patient, that come within a range of the device. The device also detects and longs when an item is no longer within range of the device, such as because a caregiver leaves the patient'"'"'s room or a medical device is removed from the patient'"'"'s room. The per-patient device also detects and logs when an item is reunited with a patient. Information, such as a time and date on which an RF-ID tag is detected or ceases to be detected, may be included in the log. The logged information may be used to obtain status or location information about the items. In addition, if an item or a patient is found to be infected, all the people or items that encountered the item or patient can be listed by querying the log.

Claims

1. A per-patient device for automatically logging items that a patient encounters, comprising:

a reader; and

a portable housing containing;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and to the reader, the processor being programmed to;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter is within a range of the reader;

automatically receive an identification signal transmitted by the identification transmitter and store, in the memory, information about an item that corresponds to the identification transmitter;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient ceases to be within the range; and

automatically determine when the identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient is again within the range.

2. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to automatically associate the per-patient device with the patient by storing data, indicative of a received identification signal, in the memory.

3. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification transmitter comprises a transmitter in an identification tag.

4. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification transmitter comprises an active radio frequency identification (RF-ID) tag.

5. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification transmitter comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

6. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the identification transmitter comprises a transponder in an identification tag;

the per-patient device further comprising;

a transmitter operative to trigger the transponder.

7. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the identification transmitter comprises a passive radio frequency identification (RF-ID) tag;

the per-patient device further comprising;

a transmitter operative to interrogate the passive RF-ID tag.

8. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the information about the item comprises data received from the identification transmitter that corresponds to the item.

9. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the information about the item comprises data obtained as a result of a query that involves data received from the identification transmitter.

10. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a medical device.

11. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises an infusion pump.

12. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises a ventilator.

13. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises a patient monitor.

14. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises a pulse oximeter.

15. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises a surgical device.

16. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises a surgical instrument.

17. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a drug container.

18. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the item comprises a dialysis machine.

19. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises another patient.

20. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a caregiver.

21. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a person, other than the patient, a caregiver and another patient.

22. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a radio-frequency identification (RF-ID) smartcard.

23. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the item comprises a fixed structure within a healthcare facility.

24. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the information about the item comprises information about a location of the item.

25. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 24, wherein the item comprises a fixed structure within a healthcare facility.

26. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to ascertain a location of the per-patient device, based on information about the identification transmitter.

27. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 26, wherein the item comprises a fixed structure within a healthcare facility.

28. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to provide, based on information about the identification transmitter, information about a location of a second item that corresponds to a previously detected identification transmitter.

29. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 28, wherein the item comprises a fixed structure within a healthcare facility.

30. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to store the information about the item in the memory if the identification transmitter is within a predetermined distance of the reader.

31. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to:

automatically determine when an identification transmitter ceases to be within the range; and

modify the information about the item that corresponds to the identification transmitter.

32. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 31, wherein:

the housing further contains a wireless network link for coupling the processor to a server; and

the processor is programmed to send information to the server when an identification transmitter ceases to be within the range.

33. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 32, wherein the information sent to the server comprises a location of the identification transmitter.

34. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the information about the item comprises data indicative of a time at which the identification transmitter was detected; and

the processor is programmed to;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter ceases to be within the range; and

store, in the memory, data indicative of a time at which the identification transmitter ceased to be within the range.

35. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the information about the item comprises data indicative of a location of the identification transmitter; and

the processor is programmed to;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter ceases to be within the range; and

store, in the memory, data indicative of a location at which the previously detected identification transmitter ceased to be within the range.

36. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface; and

wherein the processor is programmed to;

when the processor determines the identification transmitter is within the range, display on the user interface;

information about the item that corresponds to the identification transmitter; and

a prompt asking if the item is to be associated with the patient; and

if an affirmative response to the prompt is received, store data in the memory to associate the item with the patient according to a first association type.

37. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 36, wherein the processor is programmed to, if a negative response to the prompt is received, store data in the memory to associate the item with the patient according to a second association type.

38. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 36, wherein the processor is programmed to, if no response to the prompt is received within a predetermined amount of time, store data in the memory to associate the item with the patient according to a third association type.

39. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reader is operative to continuously scan for identification transmitters.

40. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reader is operative to intermittently scan for identification transmitters.

41. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reader is operative to repetitively scan for identification transmitters.

42. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reader is operative to periodically scan for identification transmitters.

43. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reader is operative to scan for identification transmitters according to a duty cycle.

44. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the housing further contains a wireless network link for coupling the processor to a network; and

the processor is programmed to;

send information, via the network, when the processor determines an identification transmitter is within the range; and

send information, via the network, when an identification transmitter ceases to be within the range.

45. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the housing further contains a wireless network link for coupling the processor to a server; and

the processor is programmed to;

send information to the server when the processor determines an identification transmitter is within the range; and

send information to the server when an identification transmitter ceases to be within the range.

46. A per-patient device, as defined in claim 45, wherein the wireless network link is operative to forward communications from another per-patient device.

47. A system for automatically logging items that a patient encounters, the system comprising:

a server; and

a plurality of portable per-patient devices, each per-patient device being communicably linked to the server over an at least partially wireless link, each per-patient device comprising;

a wireless port for communicating with the server via the at least partially wireless link;

a reader; and

a processor coupled to the wireless port and to the reader, the processor being programmed to;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter is within a range of the reader;

automatically receive an identification signal transmitted by the identification transmitter;

send data related to the identification transmitter, via the wireless port, to the server;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient ceases to be within the range; and

automatically determine when the identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient is again within the range;

wherein the server is programmed to store information about items that correspond to identification transmitters that are determined to be within the range.

48. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to correlate the information about each item with a patient.

49. A system, as defined in claim 48, wherein the processor in each per-patient device is programmed to send data to the server, the data associating the per-patient device with a particular patient.

50. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein:

the information about each item comprises data indicative of a time at which the corresponding identification transmitter was detected;

the processor in each per-patient device is programmed to send information to the server when a previously detected identification transmitter ceases to be detected within the range; and

the server is programmed to store data indicative of a time at which the previously detected identification transmitter ceased to be detected.

51. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to produce a list of items that correspond to identification transmitters that were detected by a selected per-patient device.

52. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to produce a list of items that correspond to identification transmitters that were detected by a per-patient device associated with a selected patient.

53. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to produce a list of per-patient devices that detected a selected identification transmitter.

54. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to produce a list of per-patient devices that detected an identification transmitter that corresponds to a selected item.

55. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to produce a list of patients associated with per-patient devices that detected a selected identification transmitter.

56. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to produce a list of patients associated with per-patient devices that detected a selected item.

57. A system, as defined in claim 47, wherein the server is programmed to send a message when a previously detected identification transmitter ceases to be detected.

58. A method for automatically logging items that a patient encounters, comprising:

associating a reader with the patient;

listening, with the associated reader, for a signal from an information transmitter;

automatically detecting an information transmitter when the information transmitter is within a range of the reader;

storing information about an item that corresponds to the detected information transmitter;

automatically determining when an identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient ceases to be within the range; and

then automatically determining when the identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient is again within the range.

59. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein the transmitter comprises a transponder.

60. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein associating the reader with the patient comprises detecting a transmitter that corresponds to the patient.

61. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to a medical device.

62. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to an infusion pump.

63. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to a ventilator.

64. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to a patient monitor.

65. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to a drug container.

66. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to another patient.

67. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to a caregiver.

68. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein automatically detecting the information transmitter comprises automatically detecting an information transmitter that corresponds to a fixed structure within a healthcare facility.

69. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein storing the information about the item comprises storing the information if the detected information transmitter is within a predetermined distance.

70. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising sending information to a server when the information transmitter is detected.

71. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising sending information to a server when a previously detected information transmitter ceases to be detected within the range.

72. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein listening for the signal from the information transmitter comprises continuously transmitting a trigger signal.

73. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein listening for the signal from the information transmitter comprises intermittently transmitting a trigger signal.

74. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein listening for the signal from the information transmitter comprises repetitively transmitting a trigger signal.

75. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein listening for the signal from the information transmitter comprises periodically transmitting a trigger signal.

76. A method, as defined in claim 58, wherein listening for the signal from the information transmitter comprises transmitting a trigger signal according to a duty cycle.

77. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising producing a list of items that correspond to information transmitters that were detected by a selected reader.

78. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising producing a list of items that correspond to information transmitters that were detected by a reader associated with a selected patient.

79. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising producing a list of readers that detected a selected information transmitter.

80. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising producing a list of readers that detected an information transmitter that corresponds to a selected item.

81. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising producing a list of patients associated with readers that detected a selected information transmitter.

82. A method, as defined in claim 58, further comprising producing a list of patients associated with readers that detected an information transmitter that corresponds to a selected item.

83. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium on which is stored computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter is within a range of a reader;

automatically receive an identification signal transmitted by the identification transmitter and store, in a memory, information about an item that corresponds to the identification transmitter;

automatically determine when an identification transmitter that corresponds to a patient ceases to be within the range; and

automatically determine when the identification transmitter that corresponds to the patient is again within the range.