Hygiene monitoring system

• US 9,349,267 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wildman, Timothy D., Gallant, Dennis J., Hausman, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US14/049,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20140035744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A system and method is provided for monitoring hygiene compliance.

Claims

1. A system comprising

locating and tracking equipment to track the whereabouts of caregivers in a healthcare facility, the locating and tracking equipment including a plurality of badges, each badge being transported by an associated caregiver in the healthcare facility, each badge being operable to emit badge information,

a plurality of handwashing equipment sensors, each handwashing equipment sensor of the plurality of handwashing equipment sensors being associated with respective handwashing equipment, each handwashing equipment sensor receiving the badge information emitted by each badge when the associated caregiver is near the handwashing equipment, and

at least one remote computer device that receives the badge information emitted from the plurality of badges, the badge information being sent by the plurality of handwashing equipment sensors for receipt by the remote computer device, the at least one remote computer device operating to determine compliance with a handwashing protocol of the healthcare facility based on processing of the badge information sent by the handwashing equipment sensors, the at least one remote computer device calculating statistics regarding compliance with the handwashing protocol for each of the caregivers transporting the badges, wherein each badge includes a first receiver to receive wireless signals, wherein the first receiver receives wireless signals of a type different than those that are emitted by the badge, and

a plurality of indicators, each indicator of the plurality of indicators being located in a respective room of the healthcare facility, each indicator being spaced from the plurality of badges and being operable to display textual messages regarding compliance with the handwashing protocol in response to at least one signal sent from the at least one remote computer device which is outside the respective room.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handwashing protocol comprises caregivers washing their hands within a threshold amount of time after the locating and tracking equipment detects presence of the caregiver in a patient room.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the handwashing protocol comprises caregivers washing their hands within a threshold amount of time after the locating and tracking equipment detects that the caregiver has exited the patient room.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the handwashing protocol comprises caregivers washing their hands within a threshold amount of time after the locating and tracking equipment detects that the caregiver has exited a patient room.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each badge emits radio frequency (RF) signals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each badge emits infrared (IR) signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each badge emits radio frequency (RF) signals and infrared (IR) signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the handwashing equipment comprises one or more handwashing agents dispensers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the handwashing agents include soap, alcohol or gel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of handwashing equipment sensors is coupled to the at least one remote computer device via a hardwired connection.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of alert indicators that remind associated caregivers to wash their hands.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each alert indicator of the plurality of alert indicators is incorporated into a respective badge of the plurality of badges.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each alert indicator is located in a respective room of a plurality of patient rooms.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein each alert indicator of the plurality of alert indicators is signaled by the at least one remote computer device to activate when a handwashing condition exists for the associated caregiver.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of alert indicators comprise lights.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of alert indicators comprise audible indicators.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of alert indicators comprise tactile indicators.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the locating and tracking equipment includes a plurality of infrared communication units, each infrared communication unit being located in a respective patient room of the healthcare facility, each infrared communication unit being associated with the respective patient room in a database of the at least one remote computer device, and each infrared communication unit communicating wirelessly with each of the plurality of badges that are located in the associated patient room.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computer device receives maintenance information relating to the handwashing equipment.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the maintenance information includes information indicating that a dispenser is low on a cleaning agent.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators are each located on a respective patient bed of a plurality of patient beds.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators are each located on a wall of the respective room.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators are incorporated into a respective lighting fixture of a plurality of lighting fixtures.

21. A system comprising

locating and tracking equipment to track the whereabouts of caregivers in a healthcare facility, the locating and tracking equipment including a plurality of badges, each badge being transported by an associated caregiver in the healthcare facility, each badge being operable to emit badge information, each badge including a first receiver to receive wireless signals, the first receiver receiving wireless signals of a type different than those that are emitted by the badge,

a plurality of handwashing equipment sensors, each handwashing equipment sensor of the plurality of handwashing equipment sensors being associated with respective handwashing equipment, each handwashing equipment sensor receiving the badge information emitted by each badge when the associated caregiver is near the handwashing equipment,

at least one remote computer device that receives the badge information emitted from the plurality of badges, the badge information being sent by the plurality of handwashing equipment sensors for receipt by the remote computer device, the at least one remote computer device operating to determine compliance with a handwashing protocol of the healthcare facility based on processing of the badge information sent by the handwashing equipment sensors, and

a plurality of indicators, each indicator of the plurality of indicators being located in a respective room of the healthcare facility, each indicator being spaced from the plurality of badges and being operable to display textual messages regarding compliance with the handwashing protocol in response to at least one signal sent from the at least one remote computer device which is outside the respective room.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of indicators are each located on a respective patient bed of a plurality of patient beds.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of indicators are each located on a wall of the respective room.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of indicators are incorporated into a respective lighting fixture of a plurality of lighting fixtures.