Healthcare communication method having configurable alarm rules
A system that monitors various conditions of a plurality of hospital beds located in different rooms of a healthcare facility is provided. Alternatively or additionally, other types of equipment may be monitored by the system. Various configurations of network interface units that are coupleable to or integrated into a hospital bed are also disclosed. The system receives data from the hospital beds and/or other equipment and initiates a communication to a wireless communication device of at least one designated caregiver in response to the received data being indicative of an alarm condition.
1. A method of alerting caregivers carrying wireless communication devices of alarm conditions associated with pieces of equipment in a healthcare facility, the method comprising
providing the pieces of equipment,
providing a computer device that is remote from the pieces of equipment,
receiving data from the pieces of equipment at the computer device, wherein the data pertains to a medical condition of a patient as sensed by at least one of the pieces of equipment or to an operational status of at least one of the pieces of equipment,
displaying on a display screen of the computer device at least one alarm selection screen,
receiving at the computer device at least one respective boundary condition for the data received from at least two of the pieces of equipment such that the respective boundary conditions for the data of each of the at least two of the pieces of equipment must be violated before an alarm condition is considered to exist, wherein receiving at the computer device at least one respective boundary condition for at least two of the pieces of equipment comprises receiving a user selection pertaining to each of the following: an angle at which a head section of a patient bed is raised, a height at which an upper frame of the patient bed is raised a position of a siderail of the patient bed, and a patient position with respect to the patient bed, and
operating the computer device to initiate a communication to the wireless communication device of at least one of the designated caregivers in response to the alarm condition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the pieces of equipment comprises providing the patient bed and at least one of the following: an IV pump, a sequential compression device, a therapy device, and a device that measures a patient physiological parameter.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the pieces of equipment comprises providing the patient bed and at least one of the following: a blood pressure measurement device, a respiration rate measurement device, a temperature measurement device, a blood oxygen level measurement device, a heart rate measurement device, and an air mattress.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer device also receives a patient weight as measured by a weigh scale system of the patient bed.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at the computer device at least one respective boundary condition for at least two of the pieces of equipment comprises receiving a user selection pertaining to at least one of the following: blood pressure, respiration rate, temperature, blood oxygen level, and heart rate.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at the computer device at least one respective boundary condition for at least two of the pieces of equipment comprises receiving a boundary condition that is assigned automatically based on patient acuity level.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the computer device to change at least one of the boundary conditions from a first value to a second value after an elapsed amount of time.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elapsed amount of time is selectable using the computer device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the computer device to change at least one of the boundary conditions from a first value to a second value at a preprogrammed time.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the computer device to initiate the communication to the wireless communication device of at least one of the designated caregivers in response to the alarm condition comprises operating the computer device to send an alphanumeric message that is destined for receipt by the wireless communication device of the at least one caregiver.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the computer device to initiate the communication to the wireless communication device of at least one of the designated caregivers in response to the alarm condition comprises operating the computer device to send an audio message that is destined for receipt by the wireless communication device of the at least one caregiver.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer device is operable to initiate communications with pagers, wireless badges, and wireless handsets.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer device is operable to communicate via a network of the healthcare facility with at least one of the following: an electronic medical records database, a nurse call badge, a nurse location badge, a workflow process system, a personal data assistant (PDA), a voice communication badge, a badge having text message capability, and a pager.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the computer device to cause at least a portion of an image to flash on the display screen in response to the data received from at least one of the pieces of equipment being indicative that at least one of the boundary conditions is violated.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the computer device to designate a first set of boundary conditions as corresponding to the alarm condition during a first period of time and to designate a second set of boundary conditions as corresponding to the alarm condition during a second period of time.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first period of time and the second period of time partially overlap.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second period of time begins upon the expiration of the first time period or after an interim period of time.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second periods of time begins or ends in response to detection by the at least one computer device of a predetermined condition.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein some of the boundary conditions of the first set are also included in the second set.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising operating the computer device to communicate a reminder to at least one designated caregiver a preset amount of time before the expiration of the first period of time, the second period of time, or both.