SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PATIENT SAFETY SUITED FOR DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH HAND HYGIENE GUIDELINES

• Main Authors: LYNAM DONALD S, TWEED ROBERT B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.12.2010
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

An exemplary method and system monitors patient safety to, for example, minimize disease transmission from healthcare providers with unclean hands to patients and their surroundings. Signals (for example, infrared and radio frequency) among an area monitor, identification badge, and cleaning agent dispenser help locate and identify objects (persons and equipment). Objects may be identified and monitored using object recognition and motion tracking, zones (around the objects) are defined based on proximity to the object, and subzones are defined within zones to enhance monitoring of compliance with hygiene guidelines. The movements of objects may be monitored using motion tracking, and the objects may be identified by detecting a signal pulse in the object's silhouette. A caretaker entering a zone, moving between subzones, or contacting objects without dispensing cleaning agent from a dispenser can be alerted that they have unclean hands. Observations can be automatically recorded for real-time alerting and auditing purposes.