Electronic ecosystem for medical examination room
A system comprises a storage device, a piece of medical equipment, a portable computing device, and a hub portal. The piece of medical equipment has at least one electrically powered feature and comprises either a medical examination table or a storage cabinet. The storage device is operable to store data and is remotely located relative to the first piece of medical equipment and relative to the portable computing device. The hub portal is operable to provide communication of one or both of data or commands between the storage device, the piece of medical equipment, and the portable computing device. A method includes enablement or activation of an electrically powered feature of medical equipment upon entry of a portable computing device into a medical examination room. The method also includes disablement or further activation of the electrically powered feature upon exit of the portable computing device from the medical examination room.
1. A method comprising:
(a) emanating a wireless signal from a communication hub assembly located in an examination room, wherein the communication hub assembly is in communication with a remote server;
(b) sensing, by a proximity sensor located in the examination room, the presence or absence of a portable computing device in the examination room;
(c) forming a wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly via the wireless signal in response to the proximity sensor sensing the presence of the portable computing device in the examination room;
(d) collecting patient data from a patient with a medical device located in the examination room;
(e) transmitting the patient data from the medical device to the communication hub assembly;
(f) transmitting the patient data from the communication hub assembly to the portable computing device via the wireless connection; and
wherein the communication hub assembly maintains communication with the remote server in the absence of the portable computing device in the examination room.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) terminating the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly in response to the proximity sensor sensing the absence of the portable computing device in the examination room; and
(b) in response to terminating the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly, prompting a user to transmit the patient data from the portable computing device to the remote server.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to the proximity sensor sensing the presence of the portable computing device in the examination room, enabling an electronic feature of the medical device.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
actuating the medical device via the portable computing device over the wireless connection.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to forming the wireless connection, enabling an electronic feature of the medical device.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
(a) terminating the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly; and
(b) in response to terminating the wireless connection, disabling the electronic feature of the medical device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to forming the wireless connection, unlocking a medical cabinet located within the examination room.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
(a) terminating the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly; and
(b) in response to terminating the wireless connection, locking the medical cabinet.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication hub assembly is statically located in the examination room.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
integrating the communication hub assembly into a vital signs monitor.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) terminating the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly in response to the proximity sensor sensing the absence of the portable computing device in the examination room; and
(b) in response to terminating the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly, automatically transmitting the patient data from the portable computing device to the remote server.
12. A method comprising:
(a) moving a portable computing device into a range of a communication hub assembly, wherein the communication hub assembly is in communication with a remote server via a communication link;
(b) in response to moving the portable computing device into the range of the communication hub assembly, enabling a wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly;
(c) in response to enabling the wireless connection between the portable computing device and the communication hub assembly, unlocking a cabinet located within the range of the communication hub assembly;
(d) collecting patient data from a patient with a medical device;
(e) transmitting the patient data from the medical device to the communication hub assembly;
(f) transmitting the patient data from the communication hub assembly to the portable computing device via the wireless connection;
(g) moving the portable computing device out of the range of the communication hub assembly;
(h) in response to moving the portable computing device out of the range of the communication hub assembly, disabling the wireless connection and locking the cabinet;
(i) in response to an event, prompting a user to transmit the patient data from the portable computing device to the remote server; and
wherein the communication link is free of the portable computing device and is maintained when the portable computing device is out of the range of the communication hub assembly.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the event comprises disabling the wireless connection.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the event comprises moving the portable computing device out of the range of the communication hub assembly.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
actuating a feature of the medical device via the portable computing device.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the medical device comprises a medical examination table having a patient weight sensor, wherein the patient data is a weight measurement collected by the patient weight sensor, and further comprising:
(a) in response to enabling the wireless connection, enabling the weight sensor of the medical examination table; and
(b) in response to disabling the wireless connection, disabling the weight sensor of the medical examination table.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the medical device comprises a medical examination table having an electronic arm rest, and further comprising:
(a) in response to enabling the wireless connection, retrieving a patient specific configuration from the remote server and communicating it to the medical examination table; and
(b) in response to receiving the patient specific communication, automatically adjusting the arm rest to an arm rest position associated with the patient specific configuration.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the medical device comprises a medical examination table having an adjustable base, and further comprising:
(a) in response to enabling the wireless connection, retrieving a patient specific configuration from the remote server and communicating it to the medical examination table; and
(b) in response to receiving the patient specific communication, automatically adjusting the adjustable base to a base position associated with the patient specific configuration.