The present disclosure relates to the use of an electronic sensor in conjunction with a hand hygiene compliance (HHC) system to monitor use of a dispenser of hand hygiene products, such as, but not limited to, a soap or hand sanitizer dispenser.
The issue of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is well known within and outside the healthcare community. To date, many studies have been conducted in an effort to ascertain effective ways to reduce the occurrence of HAIs, and the clear majority finds a thorough cleansing of one's hands upon entering and exiting a patient's room as the single most effective way to prevent the spread of HAIs. As a result, in an attempt to improve patient care, many hospitals have installed HHC systems to monitor healthcare workers' compliance with hand hygiene protocols.
While state-of-the-art HHC systems can monitor healthcare workers' use of a hand hygiene dispenser, such systems currently lack the ability to accurately monitor the volume of soap or hand sanitizer product in a dispenser based upon use thereof. As an example, certain HHC systems use a mechanical switch to detect a hand hygiene event (that is, a person moving a lever on the dispenser to dispense a soap or hand sanitizer product). More specifically, these HHC systems determine whether or not a dispenser is running low or out of soap or hand sanitizer based upon the switch detecting a predefined number of hand hygiene events. However, the mechanical switch only detects hand hygiene events when a person moves the lever a predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is an angle the lever must rotate through in order to trigger the switch. This provides an inaccurate representation of the volume of soap or hand sanitizer product in a dispenser, because it is possible to dispense soap or hand sanitizer without moving the lever the predetermined amount. As follows, since the mechanical switch only detects a limited number of hand hygiene events, the dispenser may, in some instances, run out of soap or hand sanitizer product before the mechanical switch detects the predefined number of hand hygiene events.
As such, due to the limitations of current HHC systems, environmental services workers must periodically check the level of soap or hand sanitizer for each dispenser in order to prevent one or more dispensers from becoming inoperable due to a lack of soap or hand sanitizer product. As follows, depending on the size of a facility and the number of dispensers located therein, this can become a rather burdensome task. Further, in order to check soap or hand sanitizer levels for a dispenser, environmental services workers must open or remove an enclosure that provides a housing for internal components of the dispenser, such as, without limitation, a reservoir (that is, a device configured to hold soap or hand sanitizer product and dispense said product each time the dispenser is used). Thus, in order to determine whether or not a dispenser is out of soap or hand sanitizer, environmental services workers must open or remove the enclosure and check the reservoir. Still further, on some dispensers, the enclosure includes a lock that prevents one from tapering with the internal components of the dispenser. Thus, in order to open the enclosure for such a dispenser, one must use a key manufactured by the vendor. Further, if a facility uses more than one vendor for dispensers that utilize the key and lock method, an already burdensome process becomes even more burdensome because, now environmental services worker must search for the appropriate key to use in order to unlock the enclosure. This process inherently consumes a significant amount of an environmental services' worker's time, which could be spent responding to more noteworthy tasks such as, without limitation, cleaning up a spill in a hallway or removing material from a patient's room.
As such, there is a need for systems and methods for automatically monitoring soap or hand sanitizer levels for a dispenser.
The present disclosure may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the present disclosure should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed above.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for monitoring use of a dispenser such as, without limitation, a hand hygiene dispenser. More specifically, systems and methods disclosed herein relate to the use of an electronic sensor in conjunction with a HHC system to monitor use of a dispenser, wherein the electronic sensor attaches to the dispenser and includes one or more motion sensing devices that include, without limitation, a gyroscope or an accelerometer. The HHC system includes a communications network capable of detecting the presence of a person with a wearable tag, preferably a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. Further, the HHC system also includes a plurality of control units, wherein each control unit is in proximity to a dispenser and includes at least the following: one or more communications devices, a feedback device in the form of a display screen, and necessary hardware to detect wearable tags and communicate with a communications network, such as a wireless computer network.
In preferred embodiments, the electronic sensor attaches to a component of the dispenser that a person must move in order to dispense a product. As an example, if the dispenser is a hand hygiene dispenser, then the sensor preferably attaches to a lever or other similar component of the dispenser that a person must move in order to dispense soap or hand sanitizer. As will be discussed in more detail below, via the one or more motion sensing devices, the sensor provides data, in the form of an electric signal, that indicates not only when the dispenser is used but also how much product (e.g. soap or hand sanitizer) was dispensed during use thereof.
In one embodiment, the sensor monitors use of a hand hygiene dispenser. In particular, the sensor monitors use of the dispenser, wherein the term “use” includes at least the following: opening an enclosure for the dispenser; closing said enclosure; or moving a lever on the dispenser to dispense a soap or hand sanitizer product. Further, although the sensor preferably attaches to a lever on the dispenser, it is understood the sensor may be attached to other components of the dispenser. Still further, the sensor receives power from and communicates with a control unit of the HHC system, wherein the control unit is mounted to a wall or similar surface in proximity to the dispenser. More specifically, the sensor includes one or more wires configured to connect to one or more General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) ports of an expansion port on the control unit. Alternatively, in a separate embodiment, the sensor includes a rechargeable power supply and a communications device such as, without limitation, a RF transceiver, wherein the sensor communicates wirelessly with the control unit, a server associated with the HHC system, or any other device on a wireless communications network.
Through the one or more motion sensing devices, the sensor collects data relating to use of the dispenser. As a non-limiting example, if the one or more motion sensing devices include an accelerometer, then the sensor, via data measured by the accelerometer, can detect when a person opens or closes an enclosure for the dispenser. Further, in response to data from the sensor indicating the enclosure has been opened or closed, use of a menu of icons displayed on the feedback device of the control unit may be enabled, wherein a person can select one or more icons to enter, communicate, or update workflow information, such as the replacement of a reservoir of soap or hand sanitizer product associated with the dispenser.
In another embodiment, one of the motion sensing devices is a gyroscope, and the sensor, via data from the gyroscope, detects not only when a person moves the lever but also how far the person moves the lever relative to its initial position. Further, a processor associated with the sensor or the HHC system compares data from the gyroscope against a predefined value (that is, an angle the lever must rotate through in order to dispense a predetermined volume of soap or hand sanitizer) and, based upon said comparison, records movement of the lever as being related to at least one of the following: a partial dispense or a full dispense. The processor may also be programmed to, based upon data from the sensor, monitor the volume of soap or hand sanitizer in a reservoir associated with the dispenser. Further, once the processor determines the volume of soap or hand sanitizer is equal to or below a predetermined amount, the processor may be programmed to alert environmental services workers via a message displayed on the feedback device of the control unit that is in proximity to the dispenser. Still further, using data collected by the control unit (i.e. identity of a person with a wearable tag that is within a predetermined proximity of the dispenser) and data from the sensor indicating use thereof, HHC scores amongst healthcare workers may be calculated based upon, among other things, how much soap or hand sanitizer product a health care worker used (i.e. how far the lever rotated) during a hand hygiene event.
In yet another embodiment, the sensor may include an orientation sensing device such as, without limitation, a magnetometer to monitor orientation (e.g. North, South, East or West) of the dispenser. As such, via the magnetometer, the sensor can detect when an enclosure for the dispenser is opened or closed based upon a change in the dispenser's orientation.
These and other embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the disclosure not to be limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages may be understood by referring to
Referring now to
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The sensor (200) may also include an orientation sensing device such as, without limitation, a magnetometer (225). The motion sensing device(s) as well as the orientation sensing device(s) are components on a circuit board (205) associated with the sensor (200). One of ordinary skill in the art should understand that other embodiments of the sensor (200) are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in a separate embodiment, the sensor (200) may monitor use of the dispenser (130) using only an accelerometer (215) and a gyroscope (220). Furthermore, although the embodiment shown in
In addition to motion and orientation sensing devices, the circuit board (205) also includes a microcontroller (210) configured to communicate with each of these devices over a communications interface such as, but not limited to, an I2C interface, a serial peripheral interface (SPI), a universal synchronous asynchronous receive transmit (USART) interface, or any other like communications interface now existing or hereinafter developed. Still further, a connector (230) on the microcontroller (210) provides an interface between the sensor (200) and the control unit (110). In particular, the sensor (200) connects to expansion port (116) via at least one wire (not shown) having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end connects to the expansion port (116) and the second end connects to a port on the connector (230). As follows, via the one or more wires, the sensor (200) receives power from the control unit (110) and communicates with the control unit (110) over a communications interface.
Alternatively, the sensor (200), namely the circuit board (205), may include its own separate power supply such as, without limitation, a lithium ion battery. The sensor (200) may also include a communications device (not shown) such as, without limitation, an RF transceiver, wherein the sensor (200) communicates with the control unit (110) or any other device (e.g., a server, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet, a laptop or desktop computer) over a wireless network. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the communications device may be based upon any one of the IEEE standards, such as, but not limited to, 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, or any like standard now existing or hereinafter developed.
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As an alternative to the method shown in
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Also, since a known volume of soap or hand sanitizer is dispensed each time a full dispense occurs, the signal transmitted by the microcontroller (210) may be used to monitor volume of soap or hand sanitizer product in a reservoir associated with the dispenser (130). More specifically, if the signal represents a half-dispense, then, assuming a linear relationship between displacement of the lever (136) from its initial position and the amount of soap or hand sanitizer dispensed, the volume of soap or hand sanitizer dispensed during a half-dispense must be equal to 50% of the volume dispensed during a full dispense. Still further, assuming the relationship is non-linear, weighted values that are the result of various tests performed on the dispenser may be used to more accurately monitor the volume of soap or hand sanitizer in the reservoir. For example, if, after a series of tests, the volume of soap or hand sanitizer dispensed during a half dispense is determined to be equal to 40% of that dispensed during a full dispense, then the sensor (200) may be programmed to utilize the following formula to calculate the volume soap or hand sanitizer dispensed each time a half-dispense is detected:
Half Dispense=(0.4)*(Volume of soap/hand sanitizer dispensed during a full dispense)
As follows, the weighted value used in the formula to calculate the volume of soap or hand sanitizer dispensed during a quarter dispense must be less than 0.4. Likewise, the weighted value for a three-quarters dispense must be greater than 0.4. One of ordinary skill in the art should understand that these weighted values vary amongst dispensers due to a plurality of factors related to, amongst other things, the design of a dispenser.
Further, the signal from the microcontroller (210) may be used by the control unit (110) or a server (not shown) associated with the HHC system (100) to calculate hand hygiene compliance scores amongst healthcare workers. In particular, HHC scores may be calculated based upon how far the lever (136) moved during a hand hygiene event (that is, when a person moves the lever (136) to dispense soap or hand sanitizer). As an example, if the signal from the microcontroller (210) represents a partial dispense, then the healthcare worker credited for the hand hygiene event may receive a score that is commensurate with a partial dispense. In other words, if a full dispense receives a score of 5.0, then a partial dispense may receive a 2.5. One of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the two states (i.e. full dispense and partial dispense) shown in
Still further, upon detecting use of a dispenser (130), a score calculated based upon the signal from the microcontroller (210) may be displayed on a feedback device (120) associated with a control unit (110) that is in proximity to the dispenser (130). In addition, the control unit (110) may be programmed to communicate at least the following information to a server: 1) identity of the healthcare worker (that is, a unique identification code associated with a wearable tag worn by the healthcare worker); 2) data from the sensor (200); and 3) a location identifier associated with the control unit (110). Information may also be published on an intranet website or other media that may be accessed by authorized users, such as a nurse manager or hospital administrator, to monitor compliance scores for one or more healthcare workers. As follows, using the published information, nurse managers and hospital administrators can more accurately monitor healthcare workers' compliance with hand hygiene protocols.
Referring now to
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The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the present disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by the context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. Also, no language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to practicing the present disclosure.
Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of approaches for communicating workflow information with a HHC system may be employed without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. Therefore, the foregoing description is considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 61/862,174 filed on Aug. 5, 2013, and entitled, “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A DISPENSER OF HAND HYGIENE PRODUCTS,” the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61862174 | Aug 2013 | US |