초록 ▼

A portable, three-way wireless communication system provides a patient with a direct link to a caregiver, as well as a central facility such as a nurse's station. The system is comprised of a patient unit, a caregiver unit and a central station. The patient unit is designed to be small and portable,

A portable, three-way wireless communication system provides a patient with a direct link to a caregiver, as well as a central facility such as a nurse's station. The system is comprised of a patient unit, a caregiver unit and a central station. The patient unit is designed to be small and portable, and can be worn on the patient's wrist or the like. The unit permits a patient to send a request for assistance directly to an assigned caregiver, and provides for two-way voice communications between the patient and the caregiver. The unit stores information associated with the patient, such as identification, medications, attending physician, and the like. The caregiver unit is also portable, and provides two-way voice communications with patients and other caregivers. The unit displays information about each patient to whom the caregiver is assigned. The central station functions as a backup, in the event that a caregiver is not able to timely respond to a call from a patient. In addition, it stores more detailed information regarding patients, which can be accessed by the caregiver via their individual units. It also functions as a management quality control facility, by recording all transmissions that take place via any unit in the communication system, and providing reports that indicate the calls for assistance, times of the calls, times of the responses by caregivers, and the like. The system functions to indicate the locations of respective patients by means of a distributed network of sensors throughout an area of interest, such as the buildings and grounds of a healthcare facility.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A wireless communication system for healthcare facilities, comprising:a portable patient communication unit that is adapted to be worn on the body of a patient, said patient communication unit including (a) means for transmitting a signal which indicates a request for ass

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A wireless communication system for healthcare facilities, comprising:a portable patient communication unit that is adapted to be worn on the body of a patient, said patient communication unit including (a) means for transmitting a signal which indicates a request for assistance, (b) means for conducting wireless two-way voice communication, and (c) a memory and display device for storing and displaying information about a patient which is useful to a caregiver in providing assistance to the patient;a portable caregiver communication unit that is adapted to be carried by a caregiver, said caregiver communication unit including (a) means for receiving assistance signals transmitted by the patient communication unit and alerting a caregiver of the receipt of such a signal, (b) means for conducting wireless two-way voice communications with the patient communication unit, and (c) means for storing and displaying information about individual patients;a base unit for monitoring and recording assistance signals transmitted from the patient communication unit and for conducting wireless two-way voice communications with each of said patient communication unit and said caregiver communication unit; anda plurality of transmit/receive units distributed throughout an area of interest for relaying assistance signals and two-way voice communications between each of said patient communication unit, said caregiver communication unit and said base unit, and for monitoring the location of said patient communication unit within said area of interest.