Central monitoring station warm spare

1. A method for preparing a first and a second computers for use as a first and a second central monitoring station among a plurality of central monitoring stations, the method comprising:

connecting the first computer to a network of the plurality of central monitoring stations, with each of the central monitoring stations being programmed to display vital signs for a plurality of patients;

installing an operating system on the first computer;

installing anti-virus software on the first computer;

installing licensing information on the first computer;

storing first configuration information on the first computer, the first configuration information including a plurality of subsets of configuration information for the first computer and the plurality of central monitoring stations;

determining that the first computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the first computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station, configuring the first computer according to a first subset of the first configuration information, the first subset of the first configuration information corresponding to configuration information specific to the first central monitoring station;

determining that the second computer is to be activated as the second central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the second computer is to be activated as the second central monitoring station, configure the second computer according to a second subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information being different than the first subset of the first configuration information;

querying a central database to obtain additional configuration information for the first and second central monitoring stations, the additional configuration information including: names of the first and second central monitoring stations, locations for the first and second central monitoring stations, a list of patient rooms and beds covered by the first and second central monitoring stations, and user configuration information for patients covered by the first and second central monitoring stations; and

activating the first computer on the network as the first central monitoring station, and the second computer on the network as the second central monitoring station.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station comprises receiving a selection of the first central monitoring station from a menu of central monitoring stations displayed on a user interface of the first computer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein when the selection of the first central monitoring station is received, the first computer is automatically configured to be the first central monitoring station.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically updating the first computer with operating system updates.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically updating the first computer with anti-virus software updates.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically updating the first computer with configuration information updates.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a log-on request to a user interface of the second computer;

displaying a menu of available central monitoring stations on the user interface;

receiving a selection of the second central monitoring station; and

after receiving the selection of the second central monitoring station, automatically configuring the second computer to be the second central monitoring station.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: when a determination is made that the second computer is to be activated as the second central monitoring station, activating licensing information for the second central monitoring station.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the the plurality of central monitoring stations includes a third computer, the third computer including the first configuration information.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining that the third computer is to be configured as a third central monitoring station;

and

when a determination is made that the third computer is to be configured as the third central monitoring station, configuring the third computer according to a third subset of the first configuration information,

wherein the first subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information and the third subset of the first configuration information are different.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving the first configuration information from the central database connected to the network.

12. A system comprising:

at least one processing unit, the at least one processing unit including at least one processor; and

system memory, the system memory including instructions that when executed by the at least one processing unit cause a first and a second electronic computing device to:

connect the first electronic computing device to a network of a plurality of central monitoring stations, with each of the central monitoring stations being programmed to display vital signs for a plurality of patients;

install an operating system on the first electronic computing device;

install anti-virus software on the first electronic computing device;

install licensing information on the first computing device;

store first configuration information on the first electronic computing device, the first configuration information including a plurality of subsets of configuration information for the first electronic computing device the plurality of central monitoring stations;

determine that the first electronic computing device is to be activated as a first central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the first electronic computing device is to be activated as the first central monitoring station, configure the first electronic computing device according to a first subset of the first configuration information, the first subset of the first configuration information corresponding to configuration information specific to the first central monitoring station;

determine that the second electronic computing device is to be activated as a second central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the second electronic computing device is to be activated as the second central monitoring station, configure the second electronic computing device according to a second subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information being different than the first subset of the first configuration information;

query a central database to obtain additional configuration information for the first and second central monitoring stations, the additional configuration information including: names of the first and second central monitoring stations, locations for the first and second central monitoring stations, a list of patient rooms and beds covered by the first and second central monitoring stations, and user configuration information for patients covered by the first and second central monitoring stations; and

activate the first electronic computing device on the network as the first central monitoring station, and the second electronic computing device on the network as the second central monitoring station.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein determine that the first electronic computing device is to be activated as the first central monitoring station comprises: receive a selection of the first central monitoring station from a menu of available central monitoring stations.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein when the selection of the first central monitoring station is received, the first electronic computing device is automatically configured to be the first central monitoring station.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

determine that a third electronic computing device is to be configured as a third central monitoring station;

and

when a determination is made that the third electronic computing device is to be configured as the third central monitoring station, configure the third electronic computing device according to a third subset of the first configuration information,

wherein the first subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information and the third subset of the first configuration information are different.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

periodically update the first electronic computing device with operating system updates;

periodically update the first electronic computing device with anti-virus software updates; and

periodically update the first electronic computing device with configuration information updates.