Patent Application
20230371815
The present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, or the like. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system for assisting caregivers with both the management of such patient support apparatuses and the performance of other tasks, such as, but not limited to, their rounding tasks.
Hospitals typically expect nurses and/or other caregivers to perform a variety of different duties when caring for patients. These duties include administering medications and/or therapies, taking vital sign readings, installing and removing IV drips, taking blood samples, ensuring patient compliance with prescribed activities and/or medications, assisting the patient into and out of bed, regularly visiting the patient, configuring the patient's bed to be in a desired state, documenting one or more of these activities, and generally being responsive to the patient's needs. One of these duties including performing what are customarily known as patient rounds. Such rounding duties involve the caregiver personally checking on the wellbeing of the patient at certain specified intervals. Hospital administrators typically specify a minimum frequency at which the caregivers are to perform these rounding duties, such as, for example, at least once every two hours. In some situations, the rounding frequencies may vary based on the medical condition of the patient, the wing or section of the hospital, and/or other factors.
Hospitals also typically expect nurses and/or other caregivers to help reduce the risk of a patient developing, or aggravating, bed sores. If a patient develops bed sores, caregivers may be asked to document the location, the size, and/or the progress of the bed sore. Such documentation tasks add to the duties of the caregivers, which may already be quite extensive.
In addition to the foregoing tasks, hospitals also typically expect the nurses to ensure that the patient's bed is configured properly. The proper configuration may involve any one or more of the following: ensuring the bed is plugged into an electrical outlet; ensuring the bed is properly connected to a nurse call system; ensuring an exit detection system is armed; ensuring a monitoring system on the bed is armed; and/or other ensuring one or more other aspects of the bed are in a desired state.
The tasks and responsibilities of nurses and other caregivers are therefore manifold and substantial, and technology that assists these caregivers in meeting their responsibilities and providing quality healthcare to their patients is desirable.
According to various embodiments, a tool for assisting caregivers in carrying out multiple ones of their patient care responsibilities is provided herein. According to some embodiments, a tool is specifically provided for facilitating one of more of the following: carrying out bed sore risk reduction and/or documentation duties, carrying out fall risk reduction duties, carrying out bed configuration duties, carrying out rounding duties, and carrying out other periodic duties for which a reminder may be set. The tool may assist with the caregiver's duties by displaying screens that show various status data regarding the bed, as well as notifications and reminders associated with one or more duties of the caregiver. The tool may also be configured to allow caregivers to easily report service needs for particular beds. Still further, the tool may be configured to allow the caregivers to perform their duties without requiring the caregiver to manually enter any information identifying a specific bed and/or a specific patient. Thus, caregivers can use the tool to document patient care and/or bed status data and the tool is configured to automatically associate the documentation and/or bed status data with a specific patient and/or a specific bed. Still other features and functions of the tool are included, as discussed in greater detail below.
A caregiver assistance system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of patient support apparatuses and a caregiver assistance application executed on a server. Each of the patient support apparatuses include a litter frame, a support deck supported on the litter frame and adapted to support a patient thereon, a memory, a transceiver, and a controller. The memory contains a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the patient support apparatus. The controller is adapted to transmit that particular patient support apparatus's unique identifier to an offboard device. The caregiver assistance application is adapted to perform the following: (i) communicate with a mobile electronic device comprising a display, a camera, and a user input; (ii) receive from the mobile electronic device a digital image of a particular patient's skin captured by the camera; (iii) identify a particular patient support apparatus to which the particular patient is assigned utilizing correlation data associating the digital image with the particular patient support apparatus; and (iv) send a message to an electronic medical records server in communication with the server. The message includes the digital image and a patient identifier uniquely identifying the particular patient.
According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the caregiver assistance application may be further be adapted to receive the correlation data from the particular patient support apparatus and/or the mobile electronic device.
When the caregiver assistance application is adapted to receive the correlation data from a patient support apparatus, the patient support apparatus may further be adapted to generate the correlation data based on location data received directly from the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is positioned in a common room with that particular patient support apparatus. The uniquely identifies the mobile electronic device and indicates that the digital image was captured while the mobile electronic device was positioned in the common room. The mobile electronic device may also be adapted to automatically transmit the location data to that particular patient support apparatus using wireless communication, wherein the automatic transmission occurs without requiring a user of the mobile electronic device to manually enter any of the location data into the mobile electronic device.
When the caregiver assistance application is adapted to receive the correlation data from the mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device may further be adapted to wirelessly receive the unique identifier of the particular patient support apparatus while the mobile electronic device is positioned within a common room with a particular patient support apparatus. In such cases, the mobile electronic device is further adapted to generate the correlation data based on the digital image being captured by the mobile electronic device while the mobile electronic device is positioned in the common room with the particular patient support apparatus. In some embodiments, the particular patient support apparatus is adapted to automatically transmit its unique identifier directly to the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is positioned in the common room with the particular patient support apparatus. The automatic transmission occurs without requiring a user of the mobile electronic device to manually manipulate any controls on the particular patient support apparatus. The automatic transmission, in some embodiments, takes place using ultrasonic waves.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is adapted to not transmit to the caregiver assistance application any personal identification data that identifies the particular patient. The mobile electronic device may further be adapted to automatically delete the digital image after transmitting the message to the caregiver assistance application.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is further adapted to measure a physical dimension of a damaged area of the particular patient's skin, such as, but not limited to, a bed sore on the patient's skin. The mobile electronic device may further be adapted to measure the physical dimension by measuring a distance between the particular patient's skin and the mobile electronic device.
In some embodiments, the patient support apparatuses are further adapted to issue an audible alert in response to a triggering condition, and to automatically reduce a volume of the audible alert when the mobile electronic device is moved into the same room as the patient support apparatuses.
In some embodiments, the patient support apparatuses are further adapted to periodically emit a short range transmission of an identification message that contains the unique identifier of the corresponding patient support apparatus. The short range transmission is adapted to not travel outside of a room in which the particular patient support apparatus is positioned. In such embodiments, the mobile electronic device is adapted to detect the short range transmission when the mobile electronic device is positioned within the same room as the emitting patient support apparatus. The mobile electronic device is adapted to forward the unique identifier of the emitting patient support apparatus to the caregiver assistance application while the mobile electronic device is positioned within that room. The short range transmission may be made using ultrasonic waves.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is further adapted to present a service request option on the display that is adapted to allow a user of the mobile electronic device to make a service request for a particular patient support apparatus to the caregiver assistance application. The caregiver assistance application is adapted to forward the service request to a service server that then forwards the service request to at least one service person. The caregiver assistance application may further be adapted to identify the particular patient support apparatus to which the service request pertains by utilizing service correlation data associating the service request with the particular patient support apparatus. The caregiver assistance application is further adapted to receive the service correlation data from the particular patient support apparatus and/or from the mobile electronic device.
When the caregiver assistance application receives the service correlation data from a patient support apparatus, that patient support apparatus may be adapted to generate the service correlation data based on colocation data received directly from the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is positioned in a common room with the particular patient support apparatus. The colocation data uniquely identifies the mobile electronic device and indicates that the service request was made while the mobile electronic device was positioned in the common room. The mobile electronic device may be adapted to automatically transmit the colocation data using wireless communication without requiring a user of the mobile electronic device to manually enter any of the colocation data into the mobile electronic device.
When the caregiver assistance application receives the service correlation data from the mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device may be adapted to wirelessly receive the unique identifier of a particular patient support apparatus while the mobile electronic device is positioned within a common room with the particular patient support apparatus. In such embodiments, the mobile electronic device is further adapted to generate the service correlation data based on the service request being made while the mobile electronic device is positioned in the common room with the particular patient support apparatus. The particular patient support apparatus may be adapted to automatically transmit its unique identifier directly to the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is positioned in the common room with the particular patient support apparatus. The automatic transmission occurs without requiring a user of the mobile electronic device to manually manipulate any controls on the particular patient support apparatus.
The caregiver assistance application may further be adapted to instruct the mobile electronic device to display rounding data thereon that indicates at least one of: an amount of time since a caregiver last completed a rounding task associated with the particular patient, or an amount of time until the caregiver is supposed to complete a future rounding task associated with the particular patient.
A caregiver assistance system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of patient support apparatuses and a caregiver assistance application executed on a server. Each of the patient support apparatuses include a litter frame, a support deck supported on the litter frame and adapted to support a patient thereon, a memory, a transceiver, and a controller. The memory contains a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the patient support apparatus. The controller is adapted to transmit that particular patient support apparatus's unique identifier to an offboard device. The caregiver assistance application is adapted to perform the following: (i) communicate with a mobile electronic device comprising a display, a camera, and a user input, wherein the mobile electronic device is adapted to present a service request option on the display that allows a user of the mobile electronic device to make a service request for a particular patient support apparatus; (ii) receive from the mobile electronic device the service request; (iii) identify the particular patient support apparatus utilizing service correlation data associating the service request with the particular patient support apparatus; and (iv) send a message to a service server in communication with the server. The message includes data identifying both the service request and the particular patient support apparatus.
According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the mobile electronic device may be adapted to automatically transmit the service request to the caregiver assistance application without requiring a user of the mobile electronic device to manually enter any data uniquely identifying the particular patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to receive a digital image of at least a portion of the particular patient support apparatus from the mobile electronic device, and to forward the digital image to the service server.
In some embodiments, the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to receive the service correlation data from the particular patient support apparatus and/or mobile electronic device.
The caregiver assistance application may further be adapted to instruct the mobile electronic device to display rounding data thereon. The rounding data indicates at least one of: an amount of time since a caregiver last completed a rounding task associated with the particular patient, or an amount of time until the caregiver is supposed to complete a future rounding task associated with the particular patient.
In some embodiments, the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to perform the following: (i) receive from the mobile electronic device a digital image of a particular patient's skin captured by a camera onboard the mobile electronic device; (ii) identify a patient support apparatus to which the particular patient is assigned utilizing correlation data associating the digital image with the assigned patient support apparatus; and (iii) send a health records message to an electronic medical records server in communication with the server. The health records message includes the digital image and a patient identifier uniquely identifying the particular patient.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is adapted to not transmit to the caregiver assistance application any personal identification data that identifies the particular patient. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile electronic device may be further adapted to automatically delete the digital image after transmitting the message to the caregiver assistance application.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is further adapted to measure a physical dimension of a damaged area of the particular patient's skin.
The patient support apparatuses may further be adapted to issue audible alerts in response to a triggering condition, and to automatically reduce a volume of their audible alert when the mobile electronic device is moved into the same room as the patient support apparatuses.
In some embodiments, the patient support apparatuses are further adapted to periodically emit a short range transmission of an identification message that contains the unique identifier of the corresponding patient support apparatus. The short range transmission is adapted to not travel outside of a room in which the emitting patient support apparatus is positioned.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a caregiver assistance system is provided that includes a plurality of patient support apparatuses and a caregiver assistance application adapted to be executed on a server hosted on a local area network of a healthcare facility. Each of the patient support apparatuses includes a litter frame, a support deck supported on the litter frame and adapted to support a patient thereon, a memory, a network transceiver, a short range transmitter, and a controller. The memory contains a unique identifier uniquely identifying the respective patient support apparatus. The network transceiver is adapted to communicate with a local area network. The short range transmitter is adapted to periodically transmit a short range wireless signal that includes the unique identifier and that is adapted to be received by a mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is positioned in the same room as the respective patient support apparatus. The controller is adapted to transmit the unique identifier off the respective patient support apparatus via the network transceiver. The caregiver assistance application is adapted to perform the following: (i) receive from the mobile electronic device data regarding at least one of the particular patient support apparatus or a patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus; (ii) receive from the mobile electronic device the unique identifier of the particular patient support apparatus; and (iii) use the unique identifier of the particular patient support apparatus received from the mobile electronic device to correlate the data with at least one of the particular patient support apparatus or the patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is adapted to automatically transmit the data to the caregiver assistance application without requiring a user of the mobile electronic device to manually enter any information uniquely identifying the particular patient support apparatus or the patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the data relates to a skin condition of the patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus, and the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to send a message to an electronic medical records server in communication with the server that includes the data and a patient identifier uniquely identifying the patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to receive from the mobile electronic device a digital image of the skin of the patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus, wherein the digital image is captured by the camera. The message may include the digital image.
In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device is adapted to not transmit to the caregiver assistance application any personal identification data that identifies the patient assigned to the particular patient support apparatus. The mobile electronic device may further be adapted to automatically delete the digital image after transmitting the message to the caregiver assistance application.
In some embodiments, the data relates to a service request for the particular patient support apparatus, and the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to send a message to a service server in communication with the server. The message includes information identifying both the service request and the particular patient support apparatus. The caregiver assistance application may further be adapted to receive a digital image of at least a portion of the particular patient support apparatus from the mobile electronic device and to forward the digital image to the service server. The digital image may visually capture information relevant to the service request.
In some embodiments, the short range transmitter is an ultrasonic transmitter.
In some embodiments, the particular patient support apparatus is further adapted to issue an audible alert in response to a triggering condition, and to automatically reduce a volume of the audible alert when the mobile electronic device is moved into a common room with the particular patient support apparatus. The particular patient support apparatus may be adapted to detect the presence of the mobile electronic device in the common room by receiving a wireless signal directly from the mobile electronic device. The wireless signal may contain the unique identifier of the particular patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the caregiver assistance application is further adapted to instruct the mobile electronic device to display rounding data thereon that indicates at least one of: an amount of time since a caregiver last completed a rounding task associated with the particular patient, or an amount of time until the caregiver is supposed to complete a future rounding task associated with the particular patient.
In still other embodiments, a mobile electronic device and caregiver assistance application are provided that perform any one or more of the functions described herein.
Before the various embodiments disclosed herein are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the claims are not to be limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments described herein are capable of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the claims to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the claims any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
An illustrative patient support apparatus 20 usable in a caregiver assistance system according to the present disclosure is shown in
In general, patient support apparatus 20 includes a base 22 having a plurality of wheels 24, a lift subsystem comprising a pair of lifts 26 supported on the base, a litter frame 28 supported on the lifts 26, and a support deck 30 supported on the litter frame 28. Patient support apparatus 20 further includes a headboard 32, a footboard 34, and a plurality of siderails 36. Siderails 36 are all shown in a raised position in
Lifts 26 are configured to raise and lower litter frame 28 with respect to base 22. Lifts 26 may be hydraulic actuators, electric actuators, or any other suitable device for raising and lowering litter frame 28 with respect to base 22. In the illustrated embodiment, lifts 26 are operable independently so that the tilting of litter frame 28 with respect to base 22 can also be adjusted. That is, litter frame 28 includes a head end and a foot end, each of whose height can be independently adjusted by the nearest lift 26. Patient support apparatus 20 is designed so that when an occupant lies thereon, his or her head will be positioned adjacent the head end and his or her feet will be positioned adjacent the foot end.
Litter frame 28 provides a structure for supporting support deck 30, the headboard 32, footboard 34, and siderails 36. Support deck 30 provides a support surface for a mattress 38, or other soft cushion, so that a person may lie and/or sit thereon. Support deck 30 is made of a plurality of sections, some of which are pivotable about generally horizontal pivot axes. In the embodiment shown in
Patient support apparatus 20 further includes a plurality of control panels 42 that enable a user of patient support apparatus 20, such as a patient and/or an associated caregiver, to control one or more aspects of patient support apparatus 20. In the embodiment shown in
Control panels 42a and/or 42c may include controls for allowing a user to do one or more of the following: activate and deactivate a brake for wheels 24, arm an exit detection system 46, take a weight reading of the patient, activate and deactivate a propulsion system, and communicate with a healthcare facility computer network installed in the healthcare facility in which patient support apparatus 20 is positioned. Inner siderail control panels 42b may also include a nurse call control that enables a patient to call a nurse. A speaker and microphone are included on, or adjacent to, inner siderail control panel 42b in order to allow the patient to aurally communicate with the remotely positioned nurse.
Footboard control panel 42a is implemented in the embodiment shown in
The mechanical construction of those aspects of patient support apparatus 20 not explicitly described herein may be the same as, or nearly the same as, the mechanical construction of the Model FL27 InTouch Critical Care bed manufactured and sold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan. This mechanical construction is described in greater detail in the Stryker Maintenance Manual for the Model FL27 InTouch Critical Care Bed (Version 2.4; 2131-409-002 REV B), published by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that those aspects of patient support apparatus 20 not explicitly described herein can alternatively be designed with other types of mechanical constructions, such as, but not limited to, those described in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,059 issued to Lemire et al., and entitled HOSPITAL BED; and/or commonly assigned U.S. Pat. publication No. 2007/0163045 filed by Becker et al. and entitled PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE INCLUDING LOCAL STATUS INDICATION, ONE-TOUCH FOWLER ANGLE ADJUSTMENT, AND POWER-ON ALARM CONFIGURATION, the complete disclosures of both of which are also hereby incorporated herein by reference. The mechanical construction of those aspects of patient support apparatus 20 not explicitly described herein may also take on forms different from what is disclosed in the aforementioned references.
Controller 48 (
When controller 48 is implemented to communicate using an on-board Ethernet, the on-board Ethernet may be designed in accordance with any of the Ethernet-carrying patient support apparatuses disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/622,221 filed Feb. 13, 2015, by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled COMMUNICATION METHODS FOR PATIENT HANDLING DEVICES, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, controller 48 may be implemented to include multiple nodes that communicate with each other utilizing different communication protocols. In such embodiments, controller 48 may be implemented in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/903,477 filed Feb. 23, 2018, by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled PATIENT CARE DEVICES WITH ON-BOARD NETWORK COMMUNICATION, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Controller 48 is shown in
In at least one embodiment, usage monitor 77 includes a data logger that keeps track of the number of times each of the serviceable components (e.g. any component that moves, such as siderails 36, actuators 52, etc.) are moved, activated, or otherwise used. Once the number reaches a threshold—without having been serviced—controller 48 issues a notification and/or alert. The notification/alert may be sent to an electronic device 104 so that caregivers are apprised of the need for servicing one or more components of the patient support apparatus 20. As is also discussed below with respect to
In some embodiments, usage monitor 77 is implemented to perform the functions of the data logger disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,059 issued Apr. 6, 2017, to Lemire et al. and entitled HOSPITAL BED, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, usage monitor 77 may alternatively, or additionally, perform any of the functions of the diagnostic and control system disclosed in the aforementioned '059 patent. In some embodiments, usage monitor 77 may perform, either alone or in addition to other structures, any of the servicing, monitoring, and/or event detection functions of the equipment management system disclosed in commonly assigned PCT patent publication WO 2018/013666 filed Jul. 12, 2017, by inventors David Becker et al. and entitled EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Usage monitor 77 may alternatively or additionally perform still other usage and/or diagnostic monitoring.
First and second lift actuators 52a and 52b (
Each lift actuator 52a and 52b includes a corresponding lift sensor 66a and 66b, respectively. Each of the sensors 66a, 66b detects a position and/or angle of its associated actuator 52a, 52b and feeds the sensed position/angle to controller 48. Controller 48 uses the outputs from sensors 66 as inputs into a closed-loop feedback system for controlling the motion of the actuators 52a, 52b and the litter deck. Controller 48 also uses the outputs from sensors 66a, 66b to determine the height H of litter frame 28 above the floor. In some embodiments, actuators 52 are constructed in any of the same manners as the actuators 34 disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/449,277 filed Mar. 3, 2017, by inventors Anish Paul et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH ACTUATOR FEEDBACK, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In such embodiments, sensors 66a and 66b may be constructed to include any of the encoders and/or switch sensors disclosed in the aforementioned '277 application.
Scale/exit detection system 46 is configured to determine a weight of a patient positioned on support deck 30 and/or when the patient is moving and is likely to exit patient support apparatus 20. The particular structural details of the exit detection system can vary widely. In some embodiments, scale/exit detection system 46 includes a plurality of load cells arranged to detect the weight exerted on litter frame 28. By summing the outputs from each of the load cells, the total weight of the patient is determined (after subtracting the tare weight). Further, by using the known position of each of the load cells, controller 48 determines a center of gravity of the patient and monitors the center of gravity for movement beyond one or more thresholds. One method of computing the patient's center of gravity from the output of such load cells is described in more detail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,432 issued to Travis and entitled PATIENT EXIT DETECTION MECHANISM FOR HOSPITAL BED, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other methods for determining a patient's weight and/or the weight of non-patient objects supported on litter frame 28 are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/776,842, filed Sep. 15, 2015, by inventors Michael Hayes et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH PATIENT INFORMATION SENSORS, and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/873,734 filed Oct. 2, 2015, by inventors Marko Kostic et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH MOTION MONITORING, the complete disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other systems for determining a patient's weight and/or detecting a patient's exit from patient support apparatus 20 may alternatively be used.
Mattress 38 is an inflatable mattress in many embodiments. In some embodiments, mattress 38 includes its own internal controller (not shown) that controls the inflation and deflation of various bladders contained within mattress under the instructions of controller 48. It will therefore be understood that the control of mattress 38 carried out by controller 48 may include both the direct control over the blower(s), pump(s), valve(s), and other components of mattress 38, or an indirect control over on onboard mattress controller that itself carries out the direct controls of the blower(s), pump(s), valve(s), and other components of mattress 38. In either situation, controller 48 may communicate with mattress 38 using a serial cable, or other cable, that extends between patient support apparatus 20 and mattress 38. In at least one alternative embodiment, the communication between patient support apparatus 20 and mattress 38 may be carried out wirelessly, such as in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,289,336 issued to Lambarth et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT WITH ENERGY TRANSFER, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other manners for wireless communication may, of course, be used.
In some embodiments, mattress 38 is constructed in accordance with any of the mattresses disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,307 issued to Lafleche et al. and entitled INFLATABLE MATTRESS AND CONTROL METHODS, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, mattress 38 is constructed in accordance with any of the mattresses disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,413,271 issued to Blanchard and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS, the complete disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference. Other mattresses may also be used. Regardless of the specific construction of mattress 38, mattress 38 may be configured to carry out one or more different therapy procedures for the patient supported thereon. Such therapy procedures may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: rotation, percussion, vibration, maximum inflation, and turn assistance. Mattress 38 may also be able to be inflated to different states, thereby changing the distribution of pressure on the patient's skin while supported thereon. These various therapies and/or states are often used in order to reduce the likelihood of a patient developing a bed sore, or exacerbating an already existing bed sore. Caregiver assistance system 106 is adapted to suggest, encourage, and/or enforce the utilization of one or more of these therapies and/or states if a patient's skin assessment score is higher than a threshold.
Controller 48 communicates with network transceiver 60 (
Regardless of the specific structure included with network transceiver 60, controller 48 is able to communicate with the local area network 74 (
When network transceiver 60 is implemented as a wireless transceiver, it may include a signal strength detector 75 that detects the signal strength of the wireless signals it is receiving from the wireless access point 76 with which it is in communication. In some embodiments, such as ones in which network transceiver 60 is a WiFi transceiver, the signal strength detector 75 may be part of the conventional WiFi circuitry that determines the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), in which case the signal strength may be measured as an RSSI value. In other embodiments, the signal strength may be measured as an actual value in milliwatts (or other units), and signal strength detector 75 may be comprised of any conventional circuitry configured to measure the signal strength in this manner. In still other embodiments, signal strength detector 75 and/or patient support apparatus 20 may have any of the spectrum analysis functionality built into either or both of them that is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/236,452 filed Sep. 29, 2016, by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH COMMUNICATION CHANNEL MONITORING, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Regardless of whether signal strength detector 75 measures signals using a relative RSSI value or an actual milliwatt value (e.g. —dBm), signal strength detector 75 is configured to forward its results to controller 48 which then displays the value on display 70 and also forwards the value to caregiver assistance application 124 via network transceiver 60. Caregiver assistance application 124 may forward this signal strength value to one or more electronic devices 104 for display thereon.
Nurse call cable interface 62 is an interface adapted to couple to one end of a nurse call cable 78 (
In other embodiments, nurse call cable interface 62 may be replaced with a wireless nurse call communication system that wirelessly communicates with nurse call outlet 82. For example, in some embodiments, nurse call cable interface 62 is replaced with a radio module, such as the radio module 60 disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/819,844 filed Aug. 6, 2015, by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH WIRELESS HEADWALL COMMUNICATION, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In such wireless headwall embodiments, a headwall module, such as headwall module 38 disclosed in the aforementioned '844 application, is included and coupled to nurse call outlet 82. Such a headwall module may replace and/or supplement the functions of location beacon 84, described below. Still other types of wireless communication between the patient support apparatus and nurse call outlet 82 may be implemented.
Regardless of whether nurse call interface 62 uses a wired cable connection to a nurse call outlet on the headwall of the hospital room or it uses a wireless connection, nurse call interface 62 may also, or alternatively, perform any of the functions of the nurse call interfaces disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/833,943 filed Apr. 15, 2019, by inventors Alexander Bodurka et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH NURSE CALL AUDIO MANAGEMENT, the complete disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
Siderail sensors 63, which may be conventional siderail sensors, are configured to detect when the siderails 36 are in a raised or lowered position. In most embodiments, a single siderail sensor 63 is included for each of the siderails 36. Therefore, in the embodiment of
Location transceiver 64 (
When location transceiver 64 receives a signal from an adjacent location beacon 84, controller 48 forwards the received signal, including the unique ID of the beacon 84, to a patient support apparatus server 86 (
In some embodiments, location beacons 84 (
Location beacon 84 also includes, in at least some embodiments, a beacon battery 79 and a beacon battery monitor 81. Beacon battery 79 provide electrical power to location beacon 84, either exclusively or, in at least some embodiments, when location beacon 84 is unplugged, or electrical power is otherwise unavailable from an electrical outlet. Beacon battery monitor 81 monitors the charge state of beacon battery 79 and reports measurements of this charge to patient support apparatus 20. That is, the measurements taken by beacon battery monitor 81 are forwarded wirelessly by locator beacon 84 to patient support apparatus 20 via the built-in transmitter of location beacon 84. These measurements are received by location transceiver 64 onboard patient support apparatus 20 and forwarded to controller 48. Controller 48 then displays these measurements on display 70 and/or forwards them to caregiver assistance application 124 via network transceiver 60. Caregiver assistance application 124 may forward these battery charge measurements to one or more electronic devices 104.
In some embodiments, beacon battery monitor 81 may monitor one or more additional factors regarding beacon battery 79, such as, but not limited to, the overall health of beacon battery 79. Such overall health may be measured in terms of the charge capacity of the battery, the number of times the battery has been recharged, the rate at which the battery discharges, the rate at which the battery re-charges, and/or in other manners. In some embodiments, beacon battery monitor 81 may be implemented in the same manner as, and/or configured to monitor and measure any one or more of the same battery parameters as, the battery monitors disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent publication 2016/0331614 published Nov. 17, 2016, and filed by inventors Aaron Furman et al. and entitled BATTERY MANAGEMENT FOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In some embodiments, locator beacon 84 may be incorporated into a wireless headwall module that communicates with patient support apparatus 20 over multiple communication channels. In such embodiments, the first communication channel between location beacon 84 and patient support apparatus 20 may be a short range channel (e.g. infrared) and the second one may be a longer range channel (e.g. Bluetooth). In such embodiments, the transmission of the data from beacon battery monitor 81 to patient support apparatus 20, as well as the transmission of the location identifier of locator beacon 84 to patient support apparatus 20, may occur over either or both of the two communication channels.
Controller 48 of patient support apparatus 20 (
Controller 48 also communicates with brake sensor 54 (
Controller 48 also communicates with head of bed angle sensor 69. Head of bed angle sensor 69 measure the angular orientation of head section 40 of patient support apparatus 20, either with respect to horizontal or with respect to the general plane of litter frame 28. In some embodiments, head of bed angle sensor 69 is implemented as one or more accelerometers that are mounted to head section 40. In other embodiments, head of bed angle sensor 69 may be implemented as an encoder counter, or other type of counter, that monitors the extension and retraction of the actuator that pivots head section 40. Still other types of sensors may be used to measure the angle of head section 40.
Regardless of the specific type of sensor used for HOB sensor 69, HOB sensor 69 reports its readings to controller 48, which in turn displays them on display 70 and/or forwards them to caregiver assistance application 124 via network transceiver 60. Caregiver assistance application 124 may forward the HOB angle reading to one or more electronic devices 104 for display thereon, thereby enabling caregivers to remotely view the current angle of head section 40 of patient support apparatus 20.
In some embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 may include one or more batteries 71 that are used to provide power to patient support apparatus 20, or certain components thereof, when patient support apparatus 20 is not electrically coupled to a conventional electrical power outlet. For example, in some embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 may include a first battery (or first set of batteries) that are used for all functions on the bed except for powering an onboard propulsion system, and a second battery (or second set of batteries) that are used for powering the onboard propulsion system. One example of such a patient support apparatus 20 is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/823,324 filed Mar. 25, 2019, by inventors Zane Shami et al. and entitled PATIENT CARE SYSTEM WITH POWER MANAGEMENT, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 includes only a single battery 71 (or a single set of batteries 71) that are used for powering all of the electrical functions of patient support apparatus 20. In many instances, whether one or more batteries 71 are included, such batteries 71 are typically rechargeable batteries 71.
In the embodiment shown in
Regardless of which specific criteria battery monitor 73 monitors for one or more of the batteries 71 of patient support apparatus 20, battery monitor 73 reports the results to controller 48. Controller 48, in turn, displays one or more of the results on display 70 and/or forwards one or more of the results to caregiver assistance application 124. Caregiver assistance application 124 then forwards these results to one or more mobile electronic devices 104a, as discussed in more detail below. The electronic devices 104 include a display and are adapted to display information about the monitored state(s) of battery(ies) 71. If patient support apparatus 20 contains more than one battery, controller 48 forwards the monitored data for each battery (or set of batteries) to caregiver assistance application 124, which in turn forwards this data to one or more electronic devices 104. The recipient electronic device 104 displays the received data separately for each set of batteries. In this manner, caregivers who are remote from patient support apparatus 20 are able to review the status of each of the batteries onboard patient support apparatus 20.
Each of the control panels 42 includes one or more controls 72 that are used to control various functions of the patient support apparatus 20 (
Patient support apparatus 20 communicates with the caregiver assistance server 90 of local area network 74 (
Caregiver assistance server 90 includes a memory 91 storing various data used by the caregiver assistance application 124 (as well as, in some cases, storing the executable instructions of caregiver assistance application 124). Memory 91 stores such items as, but not limited to, a fall risk reduction protocol 93 and a bed sore risk reduction protocol 95. Memory 91 may be physically included within server 90 and/or it may be distributed across one or more other physical locations that are accessible to server 90.
Caregiver assistance application 124 uses the fall risk reduction protocol 93 when application 124 executes the patient fall risk reduction algorithm 143, as will be discussed in greater detail below. In general, patient fall risk reduction algorithm 143 enables a caregiver to utilize one or more of the electronic devices 104 to assess the fall risk of a patient and to subsequently ensure that the patient support apparatus 20 is in a state specified by the healthcare facility for that patient's particular fall risk. Fall risk reduction protocol 93 specifies the desired state of patient support apparatus 20 for one or more fall risk levels. Fall risk reduction algorithm 143 is discussed in more detail below.
Caregiver assistance application 124 uses the bed sore risk reduction protocol 95 when application 124 executes the patient bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141. In general, patient bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141 enables a caregiver to utilize the same electronic devices used with the fall risk reduction algorithm 143 (and other algorithms discussed herein) to assess the bed sore risk of a patient and to carry out monitoring, compliance, documentation, and implementation of appropriate bed sore risk reductions steps. The particular bed sore risk reduction steps for a particular patient are, in some cases, automatically suggested by caregiver assistance application 124 based upon a bed sore risk score determined for that particular patient. Bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141 is discussed in greater detail below.
Screen selection algorithm 139 automatically selects a type of screen to display on one or more of the mobile electronic devices 104a based upon the location of the caregiver and his/her associated mobile electronic device.
Caregiver rounding algorithm 140 assists a caregiver in performing his or her rounding duties, as well as assisting the caregiver to ensure that patient support apparatuses 20 are properly configured in accordance with the policies of the particular healthcare facility that employs the caregivers and operates the patient support apparatuses 20. In general, caregiver rounding algorithm 140 allows a caregiver to document his or her individual rounding actions while simultaneously reminding the caregiver of any actions that need to be taken to configure the patient support apparatus 20 properly. Such patient support apparatus configurations include, but are not limited to, setting a brake, moving the litter frame to its lowest height (or within a specified range of its lowest height), positioning the siderails in a correct position, arming the exit detection system, plugging in the nurse call cable, plugging in the A/C power cable, and/or arming a patient support apparatus monitoring system.
Bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141 assists the caregiver in assessing a particular patient's risk of developing bed sores and/or in managing the care of a patient's existing bed sores, including documenting both the caregiver's actions and the progress of any bed sores, or other injuries, on the patient. Fall risk reduction algorithm 143 assists the caregiver in assessing the fall risk of a particular patient and/or in ensuring that patient support apparatus 20 is placed in a desired state for reducing the risk of a patient falling. Reminder algorithm 145 assists the caregiver by keeping track of any or all tasks that the caregiver is to complete that have time deadlines, including issuing reminders to the caregiver of when those tasks are due and/or are approaching their deadlines. Status/command algorithm 147 functions to provide the caregivers with up-to-date information of the status of each of the patient support apparatuses 20 having a patient to which that caregiver is assigned, as well as to allow the caregiver to remotely control one or more aspects of those patient support apparatuses 20. Alerting algorithm 149 provides alerts to caregivers when a status of a patient support apparatus 20 is changed to an out-of-compliance state, when a reminder deadline approaches or is reached, and/or whenever any information from any of the other algorithms 140, 141, 143, 145, and/or 147 yields information to which the caregivers should be alerted.
Manual task list modification algorithm 151 allows a caregiver to manually add tasks to, and/or remove tasks from, a task list maintained by caregiver assistance application 124, as well as to change the reminders (timing, frequency, recipients, etc.) that are associated with any of those tasks. Many of the tasks on the task list are automatically populated by one or more of the other algorithms executed by caregiver assistance application 124 (e.g. bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141, fall risk reduction algorithm 143, etc.), but algorithm 151 allows the caregiver to manually modify the list, including tasks on the list that have been automatically populated by caregiver assistance application 124.
Access algorithm 153 controls which individuals are allowed to use caregiver assistance system 106, as well as what information is viewable to the authorized users of caregiver assistance system 106.
Sharing algorithm 175 allows caregivers to share and unshare their responsibilities with each other so that, for example, while a first caregiver is temporarily unavailable, a second caregiver will receive alerts, updates, and other information on his or her mobile electronic device 104a regarding the patient(s) whose first caregiver is temporarily unavailable.
Mattress control algorithm 700 allows a caregiver to remotely control one or more aspects of the mattress 38, including, but not limited to, sending mattress parameters to the mattress 38 that are thereafter stored and utilized by the mattress 38 during a mattress therapy session, or utilized at other times. In some embodiments, mattress control algorithm 700 is also configured to ensure that the mattress settings and/or therapies utilized by a caregiver conform to the healthcare facility's bed sore reduction protocol.
Documentation algorithm 800 allows a caregiver to utilize caregiver assistance application 124 to document various tasks and/or patient data to the patient's corresponding electronic medical record. Such tasks and data include, but are not limited to, tasks and data that relate to the patient's bed sore risks, existing bed sores, and/or other information related to condition and/or treatment of the patient's skin.
Wireless disconnection detection algorithm 990 is adapted to detect when one or more of the patient support apparatuses 20 lose their communication connection to local area network 74 and/or caregiver assistance application 124. In some embodiments, wireless disconnection detection algorithm 990 is adapted to determine not only which patient support apparatuses 20 are not in communication with caregiver assistance application 124, but which ones of those uncommunicative patient support apparatuses 20, if any, are assigned to patients and which ones, if any, are not assigned to patients. By determining this information, wireless disconnection detection algorithm 990 can avoid sending an alert or notification regarding disconnected patient support apparatuses 20 that may be in storage, may be unused, or that otherwise do not have patients assigned to them. This helps reduce alert fatigue for the caregivers by avoiding alerts and/or notifications that do not relate to relevant safety conditions.
Further details regarding the content and operation of screen selection algorithm 139, caregiver rounding algorithm 140, bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141, fall risk reduction algorithm 143, reminder algorithm 145, status/command algorithm 147, alerting algorithm 149, manual task list modification algorithm 151, access algorithm 153, sharing algorithm 175, mattress control algorithm 700, skin documentation algorithm 800, and wireless disconnection detection algorithm 990 are provided in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/868,947 filed Jun. 30, 2019, by inventors Thomas Durlach et al. and entitled CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition to the foregoing algorithms, caregiver assistance application 124 also includes a set of local rules 126, a data repository 128, a communication interface 130, and a web Application Programming Interface 132 (
Local rules 126 (
Local rules 126 (
Data repository 128 (
Communication interface 130 (
When communicating with other servers within the healthcare facility, communication interface 130 may utilize different communication protocols, such as, but not limited to, Link Layer Protocol (LLP), Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), and/or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), etc. In order to facilitate the communication between caregiver assistance server 90 and the other servers of local area network 74, communication interface 130 may utilize a conventional interface engine, such as, but not limited to, the Redox cloud platform that is commercially available from Redox, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin. Alternatively, or additionally, communication interface 130 may utilize a conventional iGUANA interface engine (HL-7 or otherwise) available from iNTERFACEWARE, Inc. of Toronto, Ontario. Such interfaces allow caregiver assistance application 124 to communicate with different types and/or brands of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, such as, but not limited to, those marketed by Cerner corporation, Epic Corporation, Allscripts, etc.
Web API 132 (
Web API 132 may be configured to communicate with the electronic devices 104 using the conventional GET, POST, DELETE, and UPDATE verbs of the Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). These are used for providing RESTful service (i.e. Representational State Transfers) between web API and the electronic devices 104. For those aspects of caregiver assistance application 124 that utilize two way interactive communication, conventional web socket protocols (e.g. IETF RFC 6455, or the WebSocket API in Web IDL (Interface Description Language) that is standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)) may be used for communication between web API 132 and the electronic devices 104. Alternatively, or additionally, conventional pull and push requests may be used for this communication, as well as, but not limited to, server-sent events and/or long polling. Still other communication techniques may be used. In some embodiments, such communications are encrypted such that at least those messages containing patient data are secured against interception. Such encryption takes place, in at least one embodiment, as part of a RESTuIf Web service (RWS).
Web API 132 may also be utilized for carrying out additional communications with any of the servers on network 74 and/or for communicating with other software applications that are cloud-based (e.g. equipment management system 918, discussed below) and/or unrelated to caregiver assistance application 124.
In general, caregiver rounding algorithm 140, status/command algorithm 147, and alerting algorithm 149 of caregiver assistance application 124 performs the following functions: gather data from patient support apparatuses 20 about their current states; communicate the patient support apparatus data to electronic devices 104 that are remote from caregiver assistance server 90; cause the electronic devices 104 to display the patient support apparatus status data thereon; cause the electronic devices 104 to display reminders and/or other information on their displays to assist caregivers in performing their rounding tasks, fall prevention tasks, skin care tasks, and other tasks; receive patient data (rounding, skin, fall, etc.) that is input into electronic devices 104 by caregivers during or after the performance of their various tasks; communicate alerts to the caregivers if the patient support apparatus status data indicates the patient support apparatus 20 is not in a desired state or if a timer associated with the patient or the patient support apparatus 20 has expired; forward patient support apparatus commands received from caregivers (via electronic devices 104) to patient support apparatuses 20; receive verification data from electronic devices 104 and/or patient support apparatuses 20 verifying the caregivers' presence adjacent the patient support apparatus 20 when performing the rounding tasks; document to an Electronic Medical Record server 98 (
Patient support apparatus 20 is shown in
As shown in
ADT server 94 stores patient information, including the identity of patients and the corresponding rooms 92 and/or bays within rooms to which the patients are assigned. That is, ADT server 94 includes a patient-room assignment table 114, or functional equivalent to such a table. The patient-room assignment table correlates rooms, as well as bays within multi-patient rooms, to the names of individual patients within the healthcare facility. The patient's names are entered into the ADT server 94 by one or more healthcare facility staff whenever a patient checks into the healthcare facility and the patient is assigned to a particular room within the healthcare facility. If and/or when a patient is transferred to a different room and/or discharged from the healthcare facility, the staff of the healthcare facility update ADT server 94. ADT server 94 therefore maintains an up-to-date table 114 that correlates patient names with their assigned rooms. ADT server 94 may be a conventional server marketed by Cerner Corporation of North Kansas City, Missouri; EPIC Systems of Madison, Wisconsin; Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois; and/or by other companies. Still other types of ADT servers 94 may, of course, be used.
EMR server 98 (
RTLS server 100 (
Nurse call server 96 is shown in
Regardless of whether caregiver assignment table 122 is stored within nurse call server 96 or some other server on network 74, nurse call system server 96 is configured to communicate with caregivers and patients. That is, whenever a patient on a patient support apparatus 20 presses, or otherwise activates, a nurse call, the nurse call signals pass through nurse call cable 78 to nurse call outlet 82. Nurse call outlet 82 is coupled via wire to nurse call server 96 and/or to another structure of nurse call system 80 that then routes the call to the appropriate nurse. The nurse is thereby able to communicate with the patient from a remote location. In some nurse call systems 80, nurse call server 96 is also able to forward alerts and/or other communications to portable wireless devices carried by caregivers and/or to audio stations positioned within patient rooms 92. Such portable wireless devices are the same as mobile electronic devices 104a discussed herein, in at least one embodiment.
Local area network 74 may include additional structures not shown in
Wireless access points 76 are configured, in at least some embodiments, to operate in accordance with any one or more of the IEEE 802.11 standards (e.g. 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ah, etc.). As such, patient support apparatuses 20 and electronic devices 104a, 104b that are equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, and that have the proper authorization credentials (e.g. password, SSID, etc.), can access local area network 74 and the servers hosted thereon. This allows patient support apparatus 20 to send messages to, and receive messages from, patient support apparatus server 86 and/or caregiver assistance server 90. This also allows electronic devices 104 to send messages to, and receive messages from, patient support apparatus server 86 and/or caregiver assistance server 90. As noted previously, alternatively, or additionally, patient support apparatuses 20 may include a wired port for coupling a wired cable (e.g. a Category 5, Category 5e, etc.) between the patient support apparatus 20 and one or more routers/gateways/switches, etc. of network 74, thereby allowing patient support apparatuses 20 to communicate via wired communications with servers 86 and/or 90.
In still other embodiments, one or more of the patient support apparatuses 20 are equipped with alternative wireless transceivers enabling them to communicate directly with patient support apparatus server 86 and/or caregiver assistance server 90 via an antenna and transceiver that is directly coupled to servers 86 and/or 90 and that is separate from LAN 74, thereby allowing patient support apparatuses 20 to bypass LAN 74 in their communications with servers 86 and/or 90. One example of patient support apparatuses equipped to communicate directly with a server on a healthcare facility's local area network without utilizing the LAN is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/831,466 filed Dec. 5, 2017, by inventors Michael Hayes and entitled NETWORK COMMUNICATION FOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, patient support apparatuses 20 include communication modules, such as the communication modules 66 disclosed in the aforementioned '466 application, and servers 86 and/or 90 are coupled directly to a receiver, such as the enterprise receiver 90 disclosed in the aforementioned '466 application. In such embodiments, patient support apparatuses 20 are able to both send and receive messages directly to and from servers 86 and/or 90 without utilizing access points 76 or any of the hardware of network 74 (other than servers 86 and/or 90).
Caregiver assistance server 90 constructs a table 218 (
In some embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to determine patient-to-room, patient-to-bed, patient-to-bed-bay, patient-to-caregiver, caregiver-to-room, caregiver-to-patient-support-apparatus, and/or caregiver-to-bed-bay correlations in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/826,097, filed Mar. 29, 2019 by inventors Thomas Durlach et al. and entitled PATIENT CARE SYSTEM, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 may further be modified to carry out any of the staffing errors, and other error-notification functions, disclosed in the aforementioned '097 application.
Initial step 142 is carried out by a user by manipulating one of the electronic devices 104 that are used in conjunction with caregiver assistance application 124. Caregiver assistance system 106 includes one or more electronic devices 104 that communicate with caregiver assistance server 90 and its caregiver assistance application 124. These electronic devices 104 utilize caregiver assistance application 124 to receive status data from patient support apparatuses 20 and to send and receive caregiver assistance data. In other words, caregiver assistance application 124 functions as an intermediary between the electronic devices 104 and the patient support apparatuses 20, as well as an intermediary between the electronic devices 104 and other servers, such as EMR server 98 and/or the nurse call server 96. Caregiver assistance application 124 also performs other functions, as described below.
Electronic devices 104 come in a variety of different forms. As shown in
In some embodiments, in order for a caregiver associated with an electronic device 104 to access caregiver assistance system 106, the caregiver utilizes the web-browsing application contained within the electronic device 104 to go to a particular web page, or other URL, associated with caregiver assistance application 124. Any conventional web-browsing software may be used for this purpose, including, but not limited to, Microsoft's Bing or Internet Explorer web browsers, Google's Chrome web browser, Apple's Safari web browser, Mozilla's Firefox web browser, etc. The particular URL accessed with the web browser may vary for different healthcare facilities and can be customized by authorized IT personnel at the healthcare facility. In some embodiments, a domain name may be associated with caregiver assistance application 124 that is resolved by a local DNS server to the IP address of caregiver assistance server 90 (e.g. www.caregiver-assistance-app.com). In other embodiments, electronic devices 104 may include their own native software applications that are programmed to interact with caregiver assistance application 124, thereby avoiding the usage of a web browser to access caregiver assistance application 124. Access to caregiver assistance application 124 may be achieved in other manners. The following description will focus primarily on using a conventional web browser onboard electronic devices 104 to access the caregiver assistance application, but it will be understood that electronic devices 104 may include their own software apps that are specifically tailored to interact with caregiver assistance application 124.
Once at an initial screen, such as a web page corresponding to caregiver assistance application 124, caregiver assistance application 124 instructs the web browser of the electronic device 104 to display a login screen on the display of the electronic device 104.
Login screen 144 includes a username field 146 in which a user is asked to input his or her username, as well as a password field 148 in which the user is asked to input his or her password. In order for the user to input this information, he or she utilizes the conventional input features of the electronic device 104. Thus, for example, when the electronic device 104 includes a touch screen display and the user touches or otherwise selects either of the fields 146, 148, the electronic device 104 shows on its display, in some embodiments, an image of an alphanumeric keyboard that can be used by the user to input his or her username and password. After this information is typed into fields 146, 148, the user either presses the “enter” or “return” button, or touches the login icon 150 shown on login screen 144. If electronic device 104 does not include a touch screen display, the user may enter the username and login information using a conventional keyboard, a mouse or other pointer, or other methods.
Caregiver assistance application 124 receives the users username and password at step 152 of main algorithm 226 (
If the users username and password match an authorized entry within local rules repository 126, caregiver assistance application 124 determines at step 171 (via algorithm 153) what level of access to grant the user. For purposes of the following description of main algorithm 226, it will be assumed that the user is a caregiver, although the user might alternatively be an administrator or a technician (and still other categories are possible). After determining that the user is an authorized caregiver, algorithm 226 proceeds to step 173 where it determines what screen to display on the users electronic device 104. The selection of a screen to display at step 173 is carried out, in some embodiments, in accordance with screen selection algorithm 139 which, as noted, is described further below with respect to
As can be seen from
Caregiver assistance application 124 automatically determines which rooms a particular caregiver has been assigned by communicating with a server on local area network 74 that maintains room assignments for caregivers. In the example illustrated in
In some healthcare facilities, caregivers may be assigned to specific patients instead of specific rooms. In such instances, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured in at least two alternative manners. In a first manner, caregiver assistance application 124 continues to display a room listing, such as the room listing screen 156 of
For example, if caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to display room listing screen 156 (
In those embodiments where caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to display rows of the patients assigned to a particular caregiver, rather than the patient room listing screen 156, caregiver assistance application 124 need not send the first request message mentioned above. Instead, it can send a single request message to the particular server that stores the table (or other data structure) that correlates caregivers to particular patients. Caregiver assistance application 124 then displays on the display screen of the electronic device used by that particular caregiver the listing of those patients who are assigned to that particular caregiver.
Still further, in some embodiments, a particular healthcare facility may assign rooms to particular caregivers but may desire to have room listing screen 156 replaced by a patient listing screen that identifies the particular patients assigned to a particular caregiver. Caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to accommodate this desire. In order to do so, caregiver assistance application 124 sends a message to nurse call server 96 requesting the room assignments for a particular caregiver and also sends a message to ADT server 94 requesting the patient assignments to particular rooms. By using the data from both of these requests, caregiver assistance application 124 is able to determine which patients have been assigned to which caregivers, and is therefore able to display a patient listing screen instead of, or in addition to, room listing screen 156. This is configurable by an authorized individual 136 and is stored in rule repository 126.
It should be noted that, although most electronic devices 104 are associated with a particular caregiver, this is not always the case, particularly for stationary electronic devices 104b. Stationary electronic devices 104b, which may include large screen smart televisions, may be associated with a particular unit of a healthcare facility, a particular nurse's station, wing, floor, and/or other section of the healthcare facility. For these devices, the login credentials may be tailored to the particular location and/or intended function of that particular electronic device 104b. For example, a stationary electronic device 104b may be associated with an oncology unit, an east wing, nurse's station XYZ, the second floor, or rooms A through G, or something else. In such instances, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to assign a username and password to each such electronic device 104 that is custom tailored to that specific device. Thus, for example, if a particular electronic device 104 is positioned at a nurse's station within a pediatric oncology unit, the device 104 may be assigned a username of “pediatric oncology display” and have its own specific password. Once an authorized user has logged into caregiver assistance application 124 via that device, caregiver assistance application displays the rooms and/or patient data corresponding to the pediatric oncology unit on that particular device. The room and/or patient data may include rooms and/or patients that are assigned to multiple caregivers, thereby allowing the electronic device 104 to display information beyond that associated with a single caregiver.
Regardless of whether caregiver assistance application 124 displays room listing screen 156 at step 154 or a patient listing screen at step 154 (
Caregiver assistance application 124 receives the data necessary for displaying status summaries 160 by communicating with one or more of the servers on local area network 74. In some embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 receives all of the patient support apparatus data from patient support apparatus server 86, which may be a commercially available bed status server, such as, but not limited to, the iBed server available from Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Further details of the iBed server are found in the Stryker Installation/Configuration Manual for the iBed Server 2.0 (document 5212-209-001 REV A), published in May of 2016 by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to receive the patient support apparatus status data directly from the patient support apparatuses 20 themselves, rather than through an intermediary server, such as the above-noted iBed server.
Caregiver assistance application 124 receives the patient data and protocol data from EMR server 98 and/or ADT server 94. ADT server 94 may contain, in addition to patient room assignments, requirements data identifying one or more protocols that the healthcare facility requires its caregivers to follow when caring for one or more patients. Such requirements data, for example, may specify what assessments are to be performed on a patient, such as an assessment of the patient's fall risk and/or bed sore risk. Alternatively, such requirements data may be stored elsewhere, such as, but not limited to, local rules repository 126. In some embodiments, the requirements data that specifies which assessments (fall, skin, etc.) are to be performed for a given patient may depend upon the location of the patient within the healthcare facility. For example, some healthcare facilities may configure local rules repository 126 such that all patients within a particular wing, floor, or other section, receive both a fall risk assessment and a skin assessment, while patients within a different location are to receive only one or none of these assessments. Caregiver assistance application 124 automatically checks these local rules when a new patient is admitted to the healthcare facility (as determined from communication with ADT server 94) and, if no assessment is recorded in EMR server 98 (which may be sent there either by caregiver assistance application 124 itself or another device), it displays a reminder on various screens associated with that patient that such an assessment needs to be performed.
Thus, when a new patient enters the healthcare facility, caregiver assistance application 124 automatically determines from server 94 and/or rules repository 126 (or another location) if a particular patient is supposed to have a fall assessment, bed sore assessment, or other assessment performed. If so, caregiver assistance application 124 further sends an inquiry to EMR server 98 to determine if such an assessment has been completed for that particular patient. If it has not, caregiver assistance application 124 displays this lack of completion in the status indicator 160 (
Turning more particularly to the examples shown in
As was noted previously, caregiver assistance application 124 determines if a patient in a particular room needs to have an assessment performed by checking EMR server 98, data repository 128, and/or one or more other servers on the local area network that define what assessments are to be performed, when they are to be performed, and if they are to be re-performed (and, if so, when). In some embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 records the completion of one or more of these assessments in data repository 128 in addition to, or in lieu of, sending this data to EMR server 98. As will be discussed in more detail below, one or more of these assessments may be completed, in at least some embodiments, using electronic devices 104 and/or patient support apparatuses 20, and sent to EMR server 98 from either or both of these devices. Alternatively, such assessments may be performed by other devices who forward their results to EMR server 98. In the particular example shown in
Similarly, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to display in the status indicator 160 the results of any patient assessments that a caregiver should be aware of. Thus, in the example of
Caregiver assistance application 124 is also configured to display in the status indicator 160 whether or not a patient support apparatus 20 is currently occupied by a patient or not. This information is obtained from the weight sensors, such as load cells, that are included within the scale/exit detection system 46 of each patient support apparatus 20. Each patient support apparatus 20 periodically transmits its weight readings to patient support apparatus server 86. Those weight readings are forwarded to caregiver assistance server 90. If the weight readings are less than a threshold (e.g. 50 pounds), caregiver assistance application 124 concludes that the patient support apparatus 20 is unoccupied and may display this information in status indicator 160 (or it may display other information that is configured to have a higher priority, such as, but not limited to, any assessments that need to be performed for that particular patient). Such information may be displayed in status indicator 160 with the words “weight not detected,” or “patient out of bed,” or some other text that indicates that the patient support apparatus 20 is not detecting the patient.
In the example shown in
It will be understood that the examples of information displayed in the status indicators 160 shown in
Returning to main algorithm 226 of caregiver assistance system 106 (
Regardless of whether caregiver assistance application 124 arrives at step 157 from step 155 or step 173, caregiver assistance application 124 displays on the screen of electronic device 104 a room overview screen 162, such as the room overview screen 162 of
Room overview screen 162 (
Room overview screen 162 (or a similar bay overview screen) includes a bed icon 164, an exit detection system status indicator 166, a bed monitoring status indicator 168, a bed status bar 170, a summary area 172, and a task menu 174 (
Exit detection system status indicator 166 (
Bed monitoring status indicator 168 (
For example, if the bed monitoring system is activated and includes the monitoring of the siderails 36 of the patient support apparatus 20, controller 48 of patient support apparatus 20 will issue an alert if one or more of the siderails are lowered, or otherwise moved to an undesired state. Generally speaking, when the bed monitoring system is incorporated into a particular patient support apparatus 20, the bed monitoring system will monitor and issue an alert—when armed—if any of the following changes on the patient support apparatus 20 are detected: the exit detection system 46 is disarmed, a siderail 36 is lowered, the patient exits the patient support apparatus 20, the brake is deactivated, the height of the bed is raised beyond a specified level, the A/C power cord 102 is unplugged, and/or the nurse call cable 78 is unplugged. The particular components of the patient support apparatus 20 that are monitored by the bed monitoring system and that, when changed, trigger an alert can be selected by an authorized user, such as authorized individual 136. This selection may take place via one of the control panels 42 of the patient support apparatus 20, one of electronic devices 104, and/or via a computer in communication with caregiver assistance server 90. The alert issued by patient support apparatus 20 in response to the bed monitoring system detecting an undesired state may be a local alert (at patient support apparatus 20), a remote alert (e.g. sent to patient support apparatus server 86 and/or to caregiver assistance application 124), or a combination of both a local and a remote alert. The user may select from these different types of alerts via patient support apparatus 20, electronic devices 104, and/or a computer in communication with server 90.
Bed status bar 170 provides additional information about the current status of patient support apparatus 20 (
The data displayed in bed status bar 170 (
Summary area 172 of room overview screen 162 (
Summary area 172 also includes an entry re-iterating the fact that the nurse call cable 78 has been disconnected. Still further, summary area 172 includes an entry reminding the caregiver of any upcoming tasks that are scheduled for this particular patient, room, and/or patient support apparatus 20. In the specific example of
Task menu 174 of room overview screen 162 (
If a caregiver selects one of the task icons 174-182 at step 159, caregiver assistance application 124 begins execution of a corresponding algorithm 140, 141, 143, and 151 at step 161 (
The selection of these various icons and their associated algorithms cause caregiver assistance application 124 to bring up different screens corresponding to the selected task. The different screens enable a user to perform one or more tasks with respect to that particular patient. If the user selects the fall task icon 178, caregiver assistance application 124 begins execution of fall risk reduction algorithm 143 and causes the display of electronic device 104 to display one or more screens allowing a caregiver to perform one or more fall risk reduction steps associated with reducing the likelihood of a patient falling. These steps include, but are not limited to, performing a fall risk assessment and configuring the patient support apparatus 20 according to a fall risk reduction protocol (e.g. in a manner that helps to reduce or minimize a patient's fall risk). The particular screen that is displayed by caregiver assistance application 124 in response to a user selecting the fall task icon 178 (or any of the other task icons of task menu 174) may be an initial screen that is part of a larger set of screens that are displayable by caregiver assistance application 124 in order to assist the caregiver with the selected task.
If a caregiver selects skin task 182 (
If a caregiver selects reminder task icon 184 step 159 (
During the performance of any of the tasks identified in task menu 174, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to continue to display task menu 174 on the screens that are specifically associated with those tasks. If the user selects a task icon corresponding to a task different from the one currently being executed, caregiver assistance application 124 switches to performing the algorithm associated with that particular task.
If the caregiver does not select any of the tasks from task menu 174, main algorithm 226 (
After both steps 163 and 165 of main algorithm 226 (
It should be noted that the display of different screens within caregiver assistance application 124 is not only controlled by the area that a user presses/selects on a particular screen, but also by the caregiver's use of the conventional “back” and “forward” functions of the web browser that the caregiver is using to access caregiver assistance application 124. Thus, for example, if a user is viewing room overview screen 162 of
It should also be noted that main algorithm 226 may be modified substantially from what is shown in
During the execution of patient bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141, caregiver assistance application 124 may be programmed to automatically execute skin documentation algorithm 800, or it may be programmed to present an option to the caregiver to manually begin execution of the skin documentation algorithm 800. Regardless of how it is started, skin documentation algorithm 800 starts at step 802 where caregiver assistance application 124 determines which room or bed bay the patient is located in whose skin condition is to be reviewed and/or documented. In most instances, this information is already known from the room number and/or bed bay number displayed in room identifier location 198. Therefore, the caregiver doesn't have to do anything for step 802 unless the caregiver wishes to document a skin condition of a patient who is located in a room or bed bay different from the one that is currently identified on the electronic device 104 being used by the caregiver, or unless the caregiver starts algorithm 800 from a screen that doesn't have a room, bed bay, and/or patient identifier associated with it.
After step 802 of skin documentation algorithm 800 (
At step 808 (
After completing step 812, caregiver assistance application 124 proceeds to step 814 where it inquires whether the caregiver wishes to add any other data regarding the patient' skin conditions. Such other data may include measurements, notes, or other information that is not captured, or is otherwise not easily seen from, the image data captured at step 810. If the caregiver wishes to add such additional data, application 124 proceeds to step 816 where the caregiver enters the additional data. After step 816, application 124 returns to step 812 and sends the additional data to EMR server 98 and/or data repository 128.
After the caregiver has added image data and/or other data to the medical record of the patient at steps 810 and 816, caregiver assistance application 124 proceeds to step 818 where it inquires of the caregiver whether he or she is finished adding such data. If the caregiver is not finished, application 124 returns to step 806 and proceeds in the manner previously described. If the caregiver is finished, application 124 proceeds to step 820 where it returns back to executing main algorithm 226, bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141, and/or mattress control algorithm 700.
It will be understood that second skin care data input screen is only functional for those electronic devices 104 that include built-in cameras, which is typically the case for smart phones 104a, tablets 104a, and/or laptops 104a. Stationary electronic devices 104b and certain other mobile electronic devices 104a, however, might not include such a camera. For such electronic devices 104, screen 830 is either not functional or caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to not display screen 830 at all (as well as any other screens associated with step 810).
The automatic measurement feature utilized with capture screen 830a typically involves the electronic device making distance measurements (e.g. through IR emissions or reflections) to the object that is being photographed. As shown in
In some embodiments, electronic device 104 may be an iPhone sold by Apple Corporation, that includes the iOS12 update, or later, in which case the Apple ARKit technology is inherently included within the iPhone, and this technology allows a user to use the camera of the iPhone to take automatic distance measurements of the kind illustrated in
Screen 830a provides all of the same functionality of screen 830, but also adds the additional automatic measurement feature. That is, screen 830a includes a capture icon 834 that the caregiver touches when he or she wishes to take and save a picture corresponding to the image currently shown in window 832. After the user touches the capture icon 834, the captured image is sent at step 812 of algorithm 800 to the EMR server 98 and/or data repository 128.
It will be understood that screens 822, 830, 830a, 838, 844, 850, and/or 856 may be modified in a variety of different manners. For example, any one or more of these screens may include additional control icons allowing the caregiver to navigate from one of these screens to another. In such embodiments, when the caregiver is finished making his or her selections on a first one of these screens, he or she can easily navigate to another one of these screens if he or she wishes to input additional data or images, review previously input images or data, or edit previously input images or data. Once the caregiver has completed his or her data input, touching the save icon, such as “save” icon 855 of
In some embodiments, mobile electronic device 104a may be configured to automatically delete any such image data from its memory after it has been transmitted to caregiver assistance application 124 (and/or uploaded to an electronic medical records server). In some cases, the digital image may be retained on mobile electronic device 104a until it receives an acknowledgement of the receipt of the digital image by caregiver assistance application 124 and/or by the EMR. In still other embodiments, mobile electronic device 104a may be configured to automatically delete the digital image from its memory after either an acknowledgement receipt is received or a predetermined amount of time passes since the digital image was transmitted, whichever is sooner.
In some embodiments, any time mobile electronic device 104a sends a digital image, or other patient data, it is configured to do so without transmitting any information that uniquely identifies the patient associated with that image or data. Mobile electronic device 104a is able to send digital images and other data regarding a patient to caregiver assistance application 124 without any patient identification information because the data sent by mobile electronic device 104a is correlated with either a particular patient support apparatus 20, 20a, or a particular room (or bay within the room), not with a particular patient. Caregiver assistance application 124 is able to associate the data with a particular patient, if needed, because it maintains access to data tables that correlate specific patients to specific rooms, room bays, and/or patient support apparatuses. Electronic devices 104 therefore can operate without storing any patient identification data in their memories.
After determining the caregiver's assigned set of patients at step 660, caregiver assistance application 124 proceeds to step 662 where it determines if the caregiver's mobile electronic device 104b has detected any short range signals from a patient support apparatus 20. As described below with respect to caregiver assistance systems 106a, 106b, and/or 106c, patient support apparatuses 20 may be modified to include a short range transceiver 320 that sends out short range signals that are detectable by mobile electronic devices 104a when the mobile electronic device 104a is positioned in proximity to such a modified patient support apparatus 20. Such proximity may refer to being in the same room as, or positioned next to, the particular patient support apparatus 20 that is equipped with such a short range transceiver 320. Step 662 therefore is only executed in those embodiments of caregiver assistance system 106 in which at least one patient support apparatus 20 is equipped with such a short range transceiver 320.
If the mobile electronic device 104a detects a short range signal from a patient support apparatus 20 at step 662, it notifies caregiver assistance application 124 and proceeds to step 664. At step 664, caregiver assistance application 124 checks to see if the short range signal received at step 662 was from a patient support apparatus 20 whose patient is one of the patient's on the caregiver's assigned set of patients. This is accomplished, in at least some embodiments, by configuring patient support apparatuses 20 to send out a unique identifier (e.g. identifier 186) via the short range transceiver 320 that uniquely identifies that particular patient support apparatus 20. When/if mobile electronic device 104a detects this short range signal, it is evidence that mobile electronic device 104a is currently collocated in the same room, or same bay area of a room, as the patient support apparatus 20 whose short range signal it detected. This is because, due to the short range of the signal, the mobile electronic device 104a is only able to detect that signal when it is in close proximity to the patient support apparatus.
The unique patient support apparatus identifier that mobile electronic device 104a receives via the short range signal is forwarded by the mobile electronic device 104a to caregiver assistance application 124 upon receipt, or shortly thereafter, by mobile electronic device 104a. The fact that mobile electronic device 104a forwards this information upon receipt, or shortly thereafter (e.g. within several seconds and up to a minute or so), along with the fact that the unique identifier is only detected when mobile electronic device 104a is in close proximity to patient support apparatus 20, indicates to caregiver assistance application 124 that the mobile electronic device 104a should currently be associated with the particular patient support apparatus 20 whose unique identifier mobile electronic device 104a just received and forwarded to caregiver assistance application 124. In other words, the combination of the unique patient support apparatus identifier forwarded by the mobile electronic device 104a to caregiver assistance application 124 with the fact that this identifier is forwarded upon receipt, or shortly thereafter, serve as correlation data allowing caregiver assistance application 124 to temporarily correlate that particular mobile electronic device 104a with a particular patient support apparatus 20 and/or a particular patient.
Returning back to algorithm 139 (
At step 668 (
Returning to step 662 of screen selection algorithm 139 (
If the user captures an image of such a visual identifier, caregiver assistance application 124 proceeds to step 664 where it analyzes the image. The analysis of the image is carried out at step 664 to determine if that particular patient support apparatus 20 corresponds to a patient to whom the caregiver is assigned. That is, step 664 is carried out in the same manner previously described except, instead of utilizing identifier 186 received via short range transceiver 320, caregiver assistance application 124 uses a visual identifier (which may visually identify identifier 186) to determine if the patient support apparatus 20 has been assigned to one of the caregiver's patients. If it has been, caregiver assistance application 124 proceeds to step 668 where it displays the corresponding room overview screen for that particular room. If it has not, caregiver assistance application 124 proceeds to step 670.
The effect of steps 666, 664, and 668 is to allow the caregiver to control what room overview screen 162, 162a is displayed on his or her mobile electronic device 104a by taking a picture of a visually unique identifier on a particular patient support apparatus 20. If the unique visual identifier corresponds to a patient support apparatus 20 for one of his or her assigned patients, then application 124 automatically displays the room overview screen 162 for that particular room. If it does not, application 124 proceeds to step 670.
At step 670 of algorithm 139 (
Turning first to step 672, caregiver assistance application 124 determines the current location of the caregiver at step 672. Step 672 is only included in those embodiments of caregiver assistance application 124 that utilize a real time locating server 100 (
If the real time locating server 100 indicates that the caregiver's current location is within a room (as determined at step 674 of algorithm 139;
Returning back to step 670 of screen selection algorithm 139 (
The effect of all of the steps of screen selection algorithm 139 is that caregiver assistance application 124 will display the room overview screen of a patient assigned to that particular caregiver whenever the caregiver enters the room of that patient. This will be done either automatically (via step 662, 666, or 672) or manually (via step 670). Further, in those embodiments in which caregiver assistance application 124 communicates with real time locating server 100 and/or patient support apparatuses 20 include a short range transceiver 320, caregiver assistance application 124 will automatically switch to displaying a room listing screen whenever the caregiver leaves the room, or otherwise is positioned outside of a patient's room. In these embodiments, the caregiver is therefore automatically presented with a screen listing all of the rooms he or she is responsible for when he or she is positioned outside of a room, and automatically presented with the room overview screen when he or she enters a room.
An additional effect of screen selection algorithm 139 is that any data that the caregiver inputs into mobile electronic device 104a after he or she enters a room of one of his or her assigned patients is that such data will automatically be correlated to the correct patient and/or patient support apparatus 20 by caregiver assistance application 124. Thus, for example, if the caregiver inputs data into mobile electronic device 104a regarding the patient's skin condition (e.g. captures an image of a bed sore), caregiver assistance application 124 will automatically associate this image with the correct patient support apparatus 20 and correct patient due to the data being input while the mobile electronic device 104a is collocated with that particular patient and/or patient support apparatus 20. The same is true for other types of data entered by the caregiver, such as, but not limited to, a service request, fall-risk data, rounding data, etc. The caregiver therefore doesn't have manually identify either the particular patient or the particular patient support apparatus 20 to which the entered data applies. Instead, this is handled automatically by caregiver assistance application 124.
It will be understood that screen selection algorithm 139 (
Still further, caregiver may also pause for a predetermined period of time before making any automatic change to the screen displayed on mobile electronic device 104a. During the pause, caregiver assistance application 124 monitors mobile electronic device 104a for any inputs by the caregiver. If any inputs are detected, the automatic screen switch is delayed or cancelled. If no user inputs are detected during the pause period, then caregiver assistance application 124 automatically switches the screen after the pause period time has expired. The inclusion of such a pause period helps reduce or eliminate interrupting the displayed screen while the caregiver is using caregiver assistance application 124. In other words, caregiver assistance application 124 only changes the screen automatically if the mobile electronic device 104a has been idle for predetermined amount of time.
In another modified embodiment of screen selection algorithm 139, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to prompt the caregiver to allow the change of the displayed screen before making such a change. The prompt may include a popup window, or some other message, that asks the caregiver for permission to change the displayed screen. In such embodiments, only if the user accepts the screen change (or, in some embodiments, if no response is received within a predetermined time period), does caregiver assistance application 124 automatically change the screen displayed on the corresponding mobile electronic device 104a.
It will be understood that still other modifications may be made to screen selection algorithm 139. Such modifications include, but are not limited to, omitting step 662 completely (particularly if patient support apparatuses 20 do not include a short range transceiver 320), omitting step 666 (particularly if patient support apparatuses 20 are not configured to visually display a unique identifier), and/or omitting step 672 completely if caregiver assistance application 124 is not configured to communicate with a real time locating server 100 (or the particular healthcare facility does not have a real time locating server 100). Still further, it will be understood that the order in which the steps of algorithm 139 are executed may be varied from what is shown in
It will be understood that in all of the embodiments of screen selection algorithm 139, the screen automatically selected by algorithm 139 is only the initial screen that is initially displayed when the caregiver enters a room (or selects a particular patient support apparatus) and/or leaves a room. That is, the caregiver is still free to select different screens after caregiver assistance application 124 has initially selected a room overview screen or a room listing screen at steps 668, 678, and/or 680. Thus, for example, if a caregiver initially walks into a patient's room and caregiver assistance application 124 initially displays a room overview screen for that particular room, the caregiver is free to press on any of the task icons 178, 180, 182, and/or 184 to bring up other screens for carrying out these tasks, or to manually change the room overview screen to a room listing screen (or vice versa), or to make still other manual changes to the screen displayed. Algorithm 139 is therefore included to help reduce the amount of work required by the caregiver in selecting a particular initial screen, but not to limit the screens that are available to the caregiver.
It will also be understood that caregiver assistance application 124 is configured, in some embodiments, to automatically utilize the short range signal received by electronic device 106 from short range transmitter 320 (
The automatic alert silencing feature operates in the following manner. Whenever a patient support apparatus 20 emits an alert, it communicates this information to caregiver assistance application 124. Whenever the patient support apparatus 20 stops emitting the alert, it also communicates this information to caregiver assistance application 124. Whenever caregiver assistance application 124 receives information from a mobile electronic device 104a that that mobile electronic device 104a is currently collocated in the same room as a patient support apparatus that is currently emitting an alert, caregiver assistance application 124 sends a command (via wireless access point 76 and network transceiver 60) to that particular patient support apparatus instructing it to either silence or reduce the volume of its audible alert. Similarly, if the caregiver does not manually disable the alert, or otherwise rectify its cause while he or she is in the room, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to send—when it detects the caregiver is no longer collocated in the same room—another command to that patient support apparatus instructing it to un-silence, or increase the volume of, its alarm.
In some embodiments, the automatic alert silencing feature is configured to only silence, or reduce the volume of, the audible portion of a patient support apparatus alert. Thus, for example, if the patient support apparatus 20, 20a is also configured to flash one or more lights, display a particular screen on its display, or otherwise take one or more actions that change a visual characteristic of the patient support apparatus 20, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to not instruct the patient support apparatus 20 to stop producing these visual changes when a caregiver walks into the same room as that patient support apparatus. In still other embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 is configurable by authorized personnel to choose whether the automatic alert silencing feature applies to both the visual and audible portions of an alert, or to only the audible portion.
A variety of structural modifications may be made to caregiver assistance system 106 beyond those previously discussed herein. For example, although caregiver assistance system 106 has been described herein as utilizing a caregiver assistance application 124 executed on caregiver assistance server 90 and accessed by electronic devices 104 having conventional web-browser applications stored thereon, caregiver assistance system 106 may be modified to include one or more native applications that execute on the electronic devices 104a orb themselves. In some of these modified embodiments, the caregiver does not need to open up the web-browser to access caregiver assistance application 124, but instead opens up a local caregiver assistance software application on the electronic device 104 that interacts with the caregiver assistance application 124 being executed on caregiver assistance server 90. In such embodiments, it may be easier to provide alerts to the caregiver by having the electronic device vibrate, emit an audible sound, and/or illuminate one or more lights on the device. Such alerts may be more difficult to communicate to a caregiver when caregiver assistance system 106 is implemented using browser-connected electronic devices 104, particularly if the caregiver has the browser application closed and/or running in the background and/or is not looking at the information currently being displayed on the screen of the electronic device 104. Such native applications may be programmed for execution with the Android or iOS operating systems, or still other operating systems utilized by the electronic device 104.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, although caregiver assistance application 124 has been primarily described herein with reference to a single caregiver using a single electronic device 104, caregiver assistance application 124 is not limited to use by only a single caregiver and/or a single electronic device 104. Further, caregiver assistance application 124 is not limited to use with only a single patient support apparatus 20 or a single patient. Instead, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to be used, if desired, with all of the patient support apparatuses 20 within the healthcare facility, as well any or all of the caregivers within the healthcare facility. Such use of caregiver assistance application 124 by multiple caregivers can occur simultaneously. That is, multiple caregivers may be logged into caregiver assistance application 124 at the same time. In such cases, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to display the room, patient, and/or patient support apparatus information discussed above for the set of rooms, patients, and/or patient support apparatuses 20 assigned to that particular caregiver. In other words, each caregiver (other than those with administrative access) is only able to view the room, patient, and patient support apparatus information for the rooms and/or patients assigned to that particular caregiver. Unless otherwise configured by an authorized individual, alerts associated with those patients, rooms, and/or patient support apparatuses 20 are only communicated by caregiver assistance application 124 to the mobile electronic device 104a associated with that caregiver (and, in some cases, to the stationary electronic device 104b that is associated with that particular room or patient).
Stationary electronic devices 104b are typically not used to perform rounding tasks and/or patient risk assessments because they cannot be carried with the caregiver to a patient's room, and thus are difficult to use for capturing images or assessment information and/or performing other tasks in the patient's presence. Nevertheless, stationary electronic devices 104b are capable of displaying all of the screens previously described and associated with caregiver assistance application 124, and receiving all of the data that is input on these screens, including not only answers to rounding and/or assessment questions, but also commands to change components on the patient support apparatuses 20. Further, authorized individuals 136 can configure caregiver assistance application 124 as they see fit with respect to what, if any, alerts are displayed on the stationary electronic devices 104b. For example, if a particular stationary electronic device 104b is associated with a particular wing of the healthcare facility, then the authorized individual 136 may configure caregiver assistance application 124 to notify the stationary electronic device 104b whenever any alert from any room or patient support apparatus 20 within that wing is issued. This can be configured even if the different rooms and/or patient support apparatuses 20 are assigned to different caregivers. As a result, caregiver A may receive alerts on his or her mobile electronic device 104a for a first set of rooms in that particular wing; caregiver B may receive alerts on his or her mobile electronic device 104a for a second set of rooms in that particular wing; and the stationary electronic device 104b associated with that wing may receive alerts for both the first and the second sets of rooms (and any other rooms in that particular wing). Still other variations are possible.
The data flows of caregiver assistance system 106 between caregiver assistance server 90, patient support apparatuses 20, and electronic devices 104 are illustrated in greater detail in
Caregiver assistance server 90, after receiving the data in these messages, transmits outbound messages 312 to selected ones of the electronic device 104 (
Caregiver assistance server 90 receives inbound message 314 from the electronic devices 104 in which it is in communication (
Inbound messages 314 may also include verification data, which is data gathered by mobile electronic device 104a that verifies the actual physical presence of the caregiver adjacent the patient support apparatus whose patient the caregiver is performing rounding duties for. More specifically, the verification data includes the images of a QR code, bar code, patient support apparatus, and/or caregivers that may be captured by the mobile electronic device 104a and sent to caregiver assistance application 124 as part of rounding algorithm 140.
It will be understood that the data flows illustrated in
Patient support apparatuses 20a of caregiver assistance system 106a include all of the same components of patient support apparatuses 20 of caregiver assistance system 106. Those common components have been labeled with common numbers in
Short range transceiver 320 (
Regardless of the specific short range transceiver 320 utilized by patient support apparatus 20a, controller 48 of patient support apparatus 20a is configured to transmit one or more patient support apparatus messages 322 using transceiver 320 to a nearby mobile electronic device 104a (
Mobile electronic device 104a receives message(s) 322 when it is positioned within the vicinity of patient support apparatus 20a (
With respect to patient rounding, in some embodiments, messages 322 are sent and captured by mobile electronic device 104a as part of algorithm 140. Mobile electronic device 104a uses the messages 322, particularly the patient support apparatus ID and/or time, to verify that it was physically present adjacent patient support apparatus 20a (i.e. collocated with patient support apparatus 20a) when the rounding occurred. This verification is handled, in some embodiments, internally via the programming of caregiver assistance application 124 such that the caregiver does not need to enter any information, or take any manual steps (other than positioning mobile electronic device 104a within range of transceiver 320) for this verification data to be received by mobile electronic device 104a and forwarded to caregiver assistance application 124. In other embodiments, in order to prevent a user (or electronic device 104a) from modifying the data contained within messages 322, the data is encrypted with an encryption algorithm that caregiver assistance application 124 is able to decrypt, but not mobile electronic device 104a. In still other embodiments, patient support apparatus 20a may be further modified to send a second message to caregiver assistance application 124 via network transceiver 60 whenever it transmits message 322 via short range transceiver 320. This second message confirms to caregiver assistance application 124 that message 322 was sent and, in some embodiments, contains the same information. If caregiver assistance application 124 does not receive this second message, it does not accept the verification data sent from mobile electronic device 104a.
With respect to bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141 and fall risk reduction algorithm 143, patient support apparatus messages 322 may identify the particular patient support apparatus 20 to mobile electronic device 104a (and thus caregiver assistance application 124) that the caregiver is currently positioned next to. This allows caregiver assistance application 124 to automatically, in at least some embodiments, bring up a screen that corresponds to that particular patient support apparatus 20 and the patient assigned thereto. This automatic screen selection may be part of the screen selection algorithm 139 described previously. If the caregiver wishes to perform a risk assessment (bed sore and/or fall) for a particular patient, he or she merely needs to walk within range of messages 322 and press the fall task icon 178. In response to pressing fall task icon 178, caregiver assistance application 124 automatically displays the appropriate screen with full knowledge of which patient (and/or which patient support apparatus 20) the risk assessment pertains to. The caregiver therefore is relieved of the task of manually identifying a specific room or a specific patient before proceeding to the risk assessment process of algorithms 141 and/or 143, as well as before proceeding to other tasks that involve data that is to be associated with a specific patient and/or patient support apparatus 20. Instead, caregiver assistance application 124 uses the specific patient support apparatus identifier 186 received within message 322 to determine which patient the subsequent risk assessment or other data applies to. Risk reduction algorithms 141 and/or 43 may also use data from messages 322 for other aspects.
Regardless of whether they are used by rounding algorithm 140, bed sore risk reduction algorithm 141, fall risk reduction algorithm 143, or another algorithm, messages 322 (
In some embodiments, message 322 may also include the current time. If included, this time information is also forwarded to caregiver assistance application 124. Caregiver assistance application 124 uses this time information to confirm the time that the caregiver was actually present at the patient's bedside when a rounding or other task was completed (or when data was entered). This time information is sent to EMR server 98 in some embodiments so that the time at which the rounding task, or other task, is recorded in the patient's electronic medical record. In other embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 may skip transmitting a time in message 322 and mobile electronic device 104a may append a time of receipt of message 322 in the data it sends to caregiver assistance application 124. As yet another alternative, both patient support apparatus 20 and mobile electronic device 104a may omit sending any time information and caregiver assistance application 124 can instead record the time at which it receives the inbound messages 314 from mobile electronic device 104a. In any of these embodiments (which may be wholly or partially combined), the time is used by caregiver assistance application 124 to determine and/or record when the caregiver completed his or her rounding task (or other task) for the particular patient assigned to the patient support apparatus 20 that sent message 322.
As shown more clearly in
The content of electronic device message 324 includes a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the mobile electronic device 104a. This may be a serial number of the device 104a, a MAC address, or some other identifier that distinguishes that particular mobile electronic device 104a from other mobile or stationary electronic devices 104a, 104b that are part of system 106b, and/or other electronic devices that are not part of system 106b but which may utilize the same protocol and/or communication channel as transceiver 320.
As with patient support apparatus message 322 (
Upon receipt, or shortly thereafter, of receiving the electronic device message 324, controller 48 of patient support apparatus 20a forwards a message to caregiver assistance application 124 informing application 124 of the receipt of the message 324, including the mobile ID contained within the message 324. Caregiver assistance application 124 uses the receipt of this information to conclude that, at that moment, the mobile electronic device is collocated in the same room as that particular patient support apparatus 20. When this collocation information is used with rounding algorithm 140, caregiver assistance application 124 waits for receipt of this message from patient support apparatus 20a after the caregiver has indicated he or she has completed a rounding task and, if it does not receive it, it concludes that there has been no verification of the caregiver's presence beside the patient when performing his or her rounding task. If the caregiver assistance application 124 receives the message, then it concludes that there has been verification of the task being completed.
In the caregiver assistance system 106b of
In the caregiver assistance system 106b of
Caregiver assistance system 106b of
Regardless of how the input to patient support apparatus 20 is implemented, when the caregiver physically or wirelessly activates the input on patient support apparatus 20a, controller 48 sends a message 310 to caregiver assistance application 124 that includes collocation data indicating that the caregiver was present adjacent patient support apparatus 20a. The message 310 may include a time at which the input was activated by the caregiver. In this modified embodiment of system 106b, short range transceiver 320 of patient support apparatus 20a may be omitted and/or modified, and mobile electronic device 104a need not include a transceiver that is compatible with transceiver 320.
It will be noted that, as shown in
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the caregiver assistance system 106c of
In such embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 or 20a may be configured to send a message 310 whenever a button or control is activated on one of the caregiver control panels 42a or 42c. For example, if the scale controls are used to weigh the patient, or a therapy control is used to implement a mattress therapy, or the exit detection system is armed, controller 48 of patient support apparatus 20 or 20a sends a message 310 to caregiver assistance server indicating that a caregiver has activated a control on patient support apparatus 20 or 20a. The message 310 is sent because system 106c assumes that such button or control activations are the result of a caregiver's actions, not the patient's actions. As a result, the message 310 includes data indicating that a caregiver is present in the room. The message 310 may include data identifying the specific control that has been activated and/or a time at which the control was activated. Alternatively, message 310 may simply indicate that a caregiver control was activated without specifying which one and/or without specifying a time.
In some embodiments of system 106c, the caregiver carries a card (an RF ID card, a card with a magnetic strip, a near field communication card, or another type of card) that is detected by a corresponding sensor on the patient support apparatus 20 or 20a when the caregiver is within relatively close proximity to the patient support apparatus 20 or 20a (e.g. within the same room, or closer). In response to detecting the card, patient support apparatus 20 or 20a sends a message 310 to caregiver assistance application 124 indicating the presence of the caregiver, and caregiver assistance application 124 treats that message 310 as collocation data. As noted, the collocation data may be used for a number of different purposes including, but not limited to, proof that the caregiver has completed a round with the patient. The message 310 may also include patient support apparatus data that caregiver assistance application 124 uses to determine if the patient support apparatus 20 or 20a is in a compliant or non-compliant state. This data (the compliancy data and rounding completion data) is then sent to EMR server 98 as part of algorithm 140.
As shown in
Each patient support apparatus 20 that is part of remote equipment management system 918 is configured to send its data to patient support apparatus server 86. Patient support apparatus server 86 is configured to allow one or more services to subscribe to the patient support apparatus data that it receives. In the embodiment shown in
It will be understood that the subscriptions 924 and 926 may be for the same sets of patient support apparatus data, or they may include subscriptions to different data sets. Still further, it will be understood that, in some embodiments, patient support apparatuses 20 may be configured to send their patient support apparatus data to remote equipment management system server 920 directly (i.e. without passing through server 86).
In the embodiment shown in
Thus, for a user to access the equipment management data stored at server 920 (the contents of which are described in greater detail in the aforementioned PCT patent publication WO 2018-013666), the user enters valid login information (e.g. username and password) into the electronic device 104c and that information is communicated directly (via access point 76, gateway 108, and Internet 110) to server(s) 920. If the login information is valid, the user is able to view the equipment management data stored at server 920 on his or her electronic device 104c. This data is communicated to the electronic device 104c via a fourth path. As shown in
Because remote equipment management system 918 is a separate system that utilizes different users with different login information, and because it stores different sets of data than caregiver assistance application 124, a user who directly accesses server 920 via electronic device 104c is not able to access any of the data of caregiver assistance application 124. Similarly, a user of caregiver assistance application 124 is not able to send his or her caregiver assistance system login information to server 920 in order to gain access to the data stored therein. However, as will now be discussed, caregiver assistance server 90 of system 106d is constructed so that users of caregiver assistance application 124 are able to gain access to the data of remote equipment management system 918.
In order for a user of caregiver assistance application 124 to access the data of remote equipment management system 918, he or she must be validly logged into caregiver assistance application 124. Once logged in there, he or she may send a request for patient support apparatus data to caregiver assistance application 124. Caregiver assistance application 124 receives this request and uses remote equipment management communication interface 922 to communicate the request to remote equipment management server 920. Interface 922 is configured with a list of authorized users who are permitted to access remote equipment management system 918, as well as the communication protocols used to communicate with remote equipment management server 920. Further, interface 922 includes, or has access to, the IP address(es) and/or URL(s) of remote equipment management server(s) 920. Caregiver assistance application 124 is therefore able to act as an authorized user of remote equipment management system 918 for all of, or a set of, the users of caregiver assistance application 124. This allows those user to access data from remote equipment management server 920. Further, in some embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to allow an authorized user of caregiver assistance application 124 to upload data, such as, but not limited to, servicing data to remote equipment management server(s) 920.
The data communicated between caregiver assistance server 90 and remote equipment management server 920 follows a fifth path 936. As a result, if a user of caregiver assistance application 124 is logged into caregiver assistance application 124 on a mobile electronic device 104a (see
Interface 922 of caregiver assistance application 124 therefore allows users of caregiver assistance application 124 to utilize one or more electronic devices 104a or 104b to access data stored at remote equipment management system 918 without having to separately log into system 918, or to manually input any other data necessary for viewing this data. As a result, a single user interface of electronic devices 104a, 104b is able to provide the user with the functionality of both caregiver assistance application 124 and remote equipment management system 918. The user therefore does not need to download separate applications to utilize both systems, log into separate systems, and/or direct their web browser to separate URL's in order to enjoy the advantages of both systems.
As an alternative to the access method shown in
In addition, screen 950 may also include a “document” icon 954 and a “service request” icon 956. The “document” icon 954 is touched when the user has performed a particular service on the patient support apparatus 20. Pressing this icon causes caregiver assistance application 124 to send information to remote equipment management server 920 indicating that that particular patient support apparatus 20 was serviced. This information includes, but is not limited to, the type of service performed, the person who performed the server, and the date (and time) of the service.
The “service request” icon 956 allows caregivers to request service and/or report errors or damage to hospital equipment, such as, but not limited to, patient support apparatuses. Such reports and/or requests are automatically forwarded to the remote equipment management server 920, which is in communication with one or more appropriate service personnel. In some embodiments, “service request” icon 956 also allows the caregiver to send digital images of, and/or textual information regarding, the equipment that is in need of service. This image data and/or textual data is forwarded to server 920 for communication to appropriate service personnel.
More specifically, if the user selects the “service request” icon 956, caregiver assistance application 124 sends a message to remote equipment management server 920 indicating that service has been requested for that particular patient support apparatus 20. Server 920 forwards this message to appropriate personnel, as described in more detail in the aforementioned PCT patent publication WO 2018-013666).
In some embodiments, the activation of the “service request” icon 956 causes caregiver assistance application 124 to display a first service request screen 400, such as that shown in
If the user selects camera icon 404 of first service request screen 400, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to display a second service request screen 410, such as is shown in
After the user has captured one or more images of the patient support apparatus (or a portion thereof), caregiver assistance application is configured, in at least one embodiment, to display a third service request screen 420, such as is shown in
The message may also include, or be accompanied by, collocation data sent from mobile electronic device 104a so that caregiver assistance application 124 can automatically associate the image and/or text with a particular patient support apparatus 20, 20a. Alternatively, such collocation data may be sent to caregiver assistance application 124 via the patient support apparatus 20, 20a. As described previously, the collocation data indicates which specific patient support apparatus 20, 20a the mobile electronic device 104a was collocated with at, or near, the time the image was captured, and/or at, or near, the time the send icon 424 was activated by the user. As another alternative, such collocation data may be omitted, and caregiver assistance application 124 may automatically associated the message with the particular patient support apparatus in the room that was identified in the room identifier location 198 on screen 440 (and/or screens 400, 410, 420, and/or 430) at the time the message was sent.
The message may also include an identification of the person making the request, which caregiver assistance application 124 may automatically append to the message based on its knowledge of which mobile electronic devices 104a are associated with which persons. Still further, the message may include a time stamp indicating when the service request was made, as well as a current location of the patient support apparatus 20, 20a to which the service request pertains. Still other information may be included in the message.
If the user selects the push error icon 406 of first service request screen 400, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to display a fourth service request screen 430, such as is shown in
If the user selects the message icon 402 of first service request screen 400, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to display a fifth service request screen 440, such as is shown in
It will be noted that screens 400, 410, 420, 430, and 440 all include a service task icon 450 contained within their task menu 174. In some embodiments, this service task icon 450 is added to the task icons 178, 180, 182, and 184 (see, e.g.
In addition to, or in lieu of, interfacing caregiver assistance system 106d with a remote equipment management system 918, any of the caregiver assistance systems 106, 106a, 106b, 106c, and/or 106d described herein may be further modified to interface with a patient support apparatus configuration system. In such systems, the mobile electronic device 104a may be used as a configuration tool that enables the user to change configuration settings onboard one or more of the patient support apparatuses 20. In such embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 allows the user of a mobile electronic device 104a to use the mobile electronic device 104a as a configuration tool in any of the same manners as the configuration tools are used in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/057,928 filed Aug. 8, 2018, by inventors Marco Constant et al. and entitled FIELD CONFIGURABLE PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
For example, in this modified embodiment, caregiver assistance application 124 may be configured to interface with the information system 174 disclosed in the aforementioned '928 application. Interfacing with system 174 enables mobile electronic device 104a to receive configuration settings for a particular patient support apparatus 20 and to transfer those to the particular patient support apparatus 20. Further, this interfacing with a configuration system allows a user of caregiver assistance application 124 to use his or her mobile electronic device 104a to configure the patient support apparatus 20 to communicate with a specific type of nurse call system; and/or input desired presets into the patient support apparatus 20 (e.g. default transfer height, default bed monitoring system settings, default bed locking/unlocking settings, etc.). Indeed, in some of these embodiments, caregiver assistance application 124 is configured to allow a user to send messages to a patient support apparatus 20 that enables the patient support apparatus 20 to carry out any of the configuration changes that are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/272,332 filed Feb. 11, 2019, by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH RECONFIGURABLE COMMUNICATION, and/or any of the remote control commands or configuration changes disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/026,937 filed May 19, 2020, by inventors Alexander Bodurka et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH HEADWALL COMMUNICATION, the complete disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any of the components, functions, and/or features of the different embodiments of caregiver assistance systems 106, 106a, 106b, 106c and 106d may be combined together, substituted, and/or mixed in any manner. As but one non-limited example, system 106 may be modified to omit the display of any rounding questions of algorithm 140, similar to modified system 106c, and the patient support apparatuses 20 of system 106 may be modified to display a code that identifies the bed and the current time. In this modified system, the caregiver is assumed to ask the desired rounding questions and take care of the desired rounding tasks, and the modified system merely verifies the caregiver's presence in the patient's rooms. This presence is verified by the modified patient support apparatus displaying the code and the caregiver capturing an image of this code using his or her mobile electronic device 104a that sends the captured image to caregiver assistance server 90. In some embodiments, the code includes both the bed ID and time, while in other embodiments the code includes only the bed ID. In still other embodiments, the bed ID and/or time are not coded at all, but merely displayed so that an image of them can be captured by the caregiver's mobile electronic device 104a. In a variation on this embodiment, the patient support apparatus 20 may be configured to not display the ID and/or time (or the code) or the patient support apparatus ID if the patient support apparatus is not currently in a compliant state, or it may simultaneously display the fact that it is not in a compliant state along with the ID and/or time (or a code with such information).
It will also be understood that, in any of the embodiments discussed above that utilize one or more near field transceivers incorporated into any of the patient support apparatuses 20 or 20a, such patient support apparatuses 20 or 20a may be constructed to include such near field transceivers and/or utilize the near field transceivers in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,966,997 issued May 8, 2018, to inventors Michael Hayes et al. and entitled COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Still further, it will be understood that any of the embodiments of the caregiver assistance system may omit one or more of the algorithms shown in
Still further, in any of the embodiments discussed above, caregiver assistance application 124 may be modified to prevent rounding data, or other patient data, to be entered until an overdue task is completed, such as, but not limited to, one or both of the fall risk and bed sore risk assessments. Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the embodiments discussed above, any of the data that is shown on the screens of electronic devices 104 may alternatively or additionally be shown on the screen of the display 70 of patient support apparatus 20. Thus, for example, if a patient is determined to be a fall risk, that fall risk category may be added to the display of the corresponding patient support apparatus 20 so that the caregiver is reminded of the patient being a fall risk whenever he or she uses the control panel 42 of the patient support apparatus. Still further, indicators may be added to the screens of mobile electronic devices 104a and/or patient support apparatuses 20a whenever they are in sufficient proximity to communicate with each other using short range transceiver 320.
It will also be understood that any of the embodiments of caregiver assistance system 106, 106a-d may be further modified to display additional screens beyond those described above, and/or that the screens described herein may be modified and/or replaced with other screens.
Various additional alterations and changes beyond those already mentioned herein can be made to the above-described embodiments. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described embodiments may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2021/033408 | 5/20/2021 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63031975 | May 2020 | US |
