System and methods for monitoring caregiver performance

• US 7,541,935 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proacticare LLC
• Original Assignee: Proacticare LLC
• Inventors: Ross, John, Dring, Barton
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/133,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.7, 340/561, 340/562, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539.1, 340/539.16, 340/665, 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• 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

Systems and methods for monitoring the performance of a caregiver are disclosed. The systems may be configured to monitor the movement of each caregiver in a network of caregivers. One such system includes a plurality of strips adhered in spaced-apart relation on a mattress pad, upon which a subject is positioned. One or more transmitter is provided coupled to the plurality of strips. A processor in connected to the one or more transmitter. The processor is provided with operating software to record and report caregiver activity or both caregiver activity and subject activity.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring performance of a caregiver, the system comprising:

a mattress pad;

an active capacitance sensor attached to said mattress pad, each said active capacitance sensor capable of sensing movement of a subject and capable of generating a signal resultant from the movement of the subject, wherein said sensor includes a plurality of fabric strips manufactured from a conductive material;

a processor in communication with said active capacitance sensor, said processor being provided with computer readable code for tracking information relative to the caregiver and generating a report related to the performance of the caregiver.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said mattress pads, each said mattress pad having one or more of said sensor attached thereto.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor includes a plurality of sensors longitudinally adhered to said mattress pad in spaced apart intervals.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fasteners, each fastener engaging a respective one of said plurality of sensors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is capable of detecting a change of orientation or position of the subject.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said mattress pad is a urethane foam pad.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting signals generated by said sensor and conveying said signals to said processor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said transmitter is wireless.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said transmitter is further configured to collect signal data prior to transmitting said signal data.

10. A system for monitoring the performance of a caregiver, the system comprising:

a plurality of mattress pads;

a plurality of strips configured to adhere to each of said plurality of mattress pads, each of said plurality of strips comprises a conductive fabric material having an active capacitance electrical field sensitivity and capable of creating signals based on the electrical field sensed, wherein said electrical field sensed is directly received from a subject positioned on one of said plurality of mattress pads;

a plurality of transmitters, each of said plurality of transmitters being coupled with said plurality of strips adhered to one of said plurality of mattress pads; and

a processor in communication with said plurality of transmitters;

said processor being provided with computer readable code for tracking information relative to the caregiver and generating a report related to the performance of the caregiver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said strips is longitudinally adhered to each of said mattress pads in spaced apart intervals.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said strips extends from a head end of each of said mattress pads toward a longitudinally central portion of each of said mattress pads.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said strips is capable of detecting a change of orientation or position.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor receives signals from said transmitters at a frequency of at least two signals per second.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor is configured to provide a customized report relating to movement sensed by said plurality of strips.

16. A method of monitoring the performance of a caregiver, comprising the steps of:

providing spaced-apart active capacitance electronic sensors along a portion of a subject support device, wherein the sensors are flexible fabric strips;

periodically querying the active capacitance sensors for signals drawn directly from the subject;

converting the signals drawn directly from the subject to data related to the position of the subject;

transmitting the data to a processor;

processing the data to determine whether significant subject movement has occurred;

tracking information relative to the caregiver; and

outputting the data and information in a user-selected manner related to performance of the caregiver.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic sensors are positioned in a mattress pad.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic sensors are adhesively secured to the mattress pad.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic sensors are queried approximately twice per second.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting step occurs through at least one protocol selected from the group comprising LAN-based data transmission, wireless data transmission, infrared transmission, Bluetooth™

transmission, and RF transmission.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said processing step includes time and date stamping of the data.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said processing step includes formatting the data for output on a caregiver-by-caregiver basis.