Patient monitoring system

Abstract

The invention relates to a patient monitoring system (1) comprising a patient monitoring device (5) for monitoring a patient (2) wherein the patient monitoring device is adapted to generate patient monitoring data. An output device (9) provides a control interface (10) adapted to allow a user to control the patient monitoring device according to the provided user-specific control rules. For example, a setting of the patient monitoring device may be modified via a provided control interface, where an option to set the patient monitoring device may depend on a respective user. This may ensure that a respective user can only modify the respective settings that allow the user to modify, thereby reducing the risk of improper settings of the patient monitoring device. Furthermore, by providing only control options associated with the respective user, the user may not be distracted by irrelevant control information.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application with the application number 201780045932.X and the invention name "Patient Monitoring System" filed on January 24, 2019. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system, method, and computer program, wherein the patient monitoring system includes an output device. The present invention also relates to an output device for use as an output device of a patient monitoring system. Background Art

[0003] US2008 / 0106374 A1 discloses a point-of-care device that includes an identification system for automatically identifying the role of one or more persons in a room. The point-of-care device also includes a processor for determining information related to the role of the identified person and a display for displaying the information. The information displayed on the display may be clinical information about a patient, particularly in the case where the person is a nurse or a physician. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved patient monitoring system, method, and computer program, wherein the patient monitoring system includes an output device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved output device for use as an output device of the patient monitoring system.

[0005] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patient monitoring system, wherein the patient monitoring system includes:

[0006] - A patient monitoring device for monitoring a patient to generate patient monitoring data,

[0007] - A user identification unit for identifying a user,

[0008] - A rule providing unit for providing a control rule according to the identified user, the control rule defining the provision of a control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device,

[0009] - An output device for providing a control interface to the user according to provided control rules, the control interface being adapted to allow the user to control the patient monitoring device, wherein the output device is a mobile device, separate from the patient monitoring device and including a detector having a detection area, wherein the detector is adapted to detect an identity indication of the patient monitoring device when the identity indication is within the detection area, wherein the patient monitoring device is adapted to provide the identity indication, and wherein the output device and the patient monitoring device are adapted such that when the detector detects the identity indication within the detection area, the output device provides a control interface to the user according to the provided control rules for controlling the patient monitoring device.

[0010] Since the output device provides a control interface according to the provided control rules, and the control rules are provided depending on the identified user, a user-specific control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device can be provided. For example, the settings of the patient monitoring device can be modified through the control interface provided by the output device, wherein the options for setting the patient monitoring device can depend on the corresponding user. For example, if the user is a physician, the control interface can allow modification of many settings of the patient monitoring device, and if the user is a nurse, the control interface can allow modification of only a few settings of the patient monitoring device. This can ensure that the corresponding user can only modify the corresponding settings that the user is allowed to modify, thereby reducing the risk of inappropriate settings of the patient monitoring device. In addition, by only providing control options relevant to the corresponding user, the user is not distracted by irrelevant control information.

[0011] The patient monitoring device is preferably adapted to measure vital signs, i.e., the patient monitoring data preferably includes vital sign measurements, and is preferably a bedside patient monitoring device. The output device is a mobile device, such as a tablet computer having a touch-sensitive display.

[0012] The output device and the patient monitoring device are preferably adapted to establish a direct data connection. Additionally, the patient monitoring device preferably includes a display for displaying patient monitoring data, wherein, in one embodiment, the patient monitoring device may be adapted not to display patient monitoring data on the display in the case where a direct data connection has not been established between the output device and the patient monitoring device. Further, in one embodiment, the patient monitoring device may be adapted to display data that is not patient monitoring data in the case where a direct data connection has not been established between the output device and the patient monitoring device. The data that is not patient monitoring data may be data having a relaxing sedative effect, such as relaxing sedative images or family photos, in order to put the patient in a positive and recovery-facilitating mood. If a direct data connection has not been established between the output device and the patient monitoring device, it may be assumed that the user (preferably a caregiver) is not close to the patient monitoring device and thus not close to the patient, wherein, in such a case, data that is not patient monitoring data and may be relaxing sedative data may be displayed on the display of the patient monitoring device. This may improve the patient's healing process.

[0013] The output device includes a detector having a detection area, wherein the detector is adapted to detect the identity indication when the identity indication of the patient monitoring device is within the detection area, wherein the patient monitoring device is adapted to provide the identity indication, and wherein the output device and the patient monitoring device are adapted to cause the output device to provide a control interface to the user for controlling the patient monitoring device according to the provided control rules when the detector detects the identity indication within the detection area. Thus, when the detector detects the identity indication within the detection area, the output device provides a control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device according to the provided control rules. The identity indication can be any indication detectable by the detector when the identity indication is within the detection area of the detector. Thus, the identity indication is a physical element that indicates the identity of the patient monitoring device and can be detected by the detector when the physical element is within the spatial detection area. Different patient monitoring devices may have different identity indications for providing different identities. The detector is preferably an optical detector, such as a camera, having a field of view defining the detection area, and the identity indication is preferably a visual indication, i.e., for example, a visual sign or marker, a flashing light, etc., where the identity indication corresponds to the respective patient monitoring device. Thus, the identity information can be encoded in the identity indication. If there are multiple patient monitoring devices in a room, where each patient monitoring device includes a corresponding identity indication, the output device can be selected to which patient monitoring device it should be connected so as to allow the output device to provide a control interface to the user for controlling the selected patient monitoring device by keeping the output device such that the identity indication of the patient monitoring device to be selected is within the detection area. This allows the user to relatively easily select the patient monitoring device that should be connected to the output device by simply holding the output device accordingly.

[0014] The output device and the patient monitoring device may be adapted to establish a data connection by using at least one of visible light communication (VLC) and near field communication (NFC). Establishing a data connection using VLC or NFC allows for a reliable and fast direct data connection, thus further improving the patient monitoring system.

[0015] The data connection between the output device and the patient monitoring device is preferably a two-way data connection. This can allow for a complete functional remote access to the patient monitoring device via the output device.

[0016] In an embodiment, the output device and the patient monitoring device are adapted to establish a data connection via a data network. For example, the data network is a wired or wireless local area network. This allows the patient monitoring device to be controlled via the output device, even if, for example, the user holding the output device is not in the patient room where the patient and the patient monitoring device may be located but in another room. Thus, a user-specific remote controller for the patient monitoring device can be provided, which allows the patient monitoring device to be controlled even if the user is in another room that is not the room where the patient is located.

[0017] The output device is preferably adapted to provide a user interface to allow the user to input user-specific data, wherein the user identification unit is adapted to identify the user based on the input user-specific data. Thus, for example, it is not necessary to use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, but only for the user to input user-specific data, such as his name and password, in order to identify the user. The input user-specific data can also be biometric data, such as fingerprints, retinal blood vessels, etc.

[0018] Preferably, the rule providing unit is further adapted to provide visualization rules that define the provision of visualization of the patient monitoring data according to the identified user, wherein the output device is adapted to provide the visualization of the patient monitoring data according to the provided visualization rules. Thus, the patient monitoring system can also be adapted to provide user-specific patient monitoring data. For example, the patient monitoring data shown to a physician can be more than that shown to a nurse. With this more focused visualization of the patient monitoring data, the user can be less distracted by irrelevant patient monitoring data, thereby further improving the patient monitoring system.

[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a patient monitoring method is proposed, wherein the patient monitoring method includes:

[0020] - Monitoring a patient by a patient monitoring device to generate patient monitoring data,

[0021] - Identifying a user by a user identification unit,

[0022] - Providing control rules that define a control interface provided to the user to control the patient monitoring device according to the user identified by the rule providing unit,

[0023] - An output device provides a control interface according to the provided control rules. The control interface is adapted to allow a user to control the patient monitoring device. The output device is a mobile device separate from the patient monitoring device and includes a detector having a detection area. The detector detects the identity indication when the identity indication of the patient monitoring device is within the detection area. The patient monitoring device provides the identity indication. When the detector detects the identity indication within the detection area, the output device provides the control interface to the user according to the provided control rules for controlling the patient monitoring device.

[0024] In another aspect of the present invention, an output device is provided for use as the output device of the patient monitoring system according to claim 1. The output device includes: a) the user identification unit of the patient monitoring system for identifying the user; b) the rule providing unit of the patient monitoring system for providing the control rules, the control rules defining the provision of a control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device of the patient monitoring system according to the identified user, and c) the detector having the detection area. The detector is adapted to detect the identity indication when the identity indication of the patient monitoring device is within the detection area. The output device is adapted to provide a control interface to the user according to the provided control rules. The control interface is adapted to allow the user to control the patient monitoring device. The output device is a mobile device separate from the patient monitoring device. The output device is adapted to cause, when the detector detects the identity indication within the detection area, the output device to provide a control interface to the user according to the provided control rules for controlling the patient monitoring device.

[0025] Thus, in this aspect of the present invention, the output device is adapted to be used as the output device of the patient monitoring system according to claim 1, including a user identification unit and a rule providing unit.

[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, a computer program for controlling the patient monitoring system according to claim 1 is provided. The computer program includes program code modules for causing the patient monitoring system to perform the patient monitoring method according to claim 13 when the computer program runs on the patient monitoring system according to claim 1.

[0027] It should be understood that the patient monitoring system according to claim 1, the output device according to claim 12, the patient monitoring method according to claim 13, and the computer program for controlling the patient monitoring system according to claim 14 have similar and / or identical preferred embodiments, in particular, as defined in the dependent claims.

[0028] It should be understood that the preferred embodiments of the present invention may also be any combination of the dependent claims or the above embodiments and their respective independent claims.

[0029] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described hereinafter and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 Embodiments of the patient monitoring system are schematically and exemplarily shown,

[0032] Figure 2 Embodiments of the output device of the patient monitoring system are schematically and exemplarily shown, and

[0033] Figure 3 A flowchart exemplarily showing an embodiment of the patient monitoring method is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In Figure 1 an embodiment of the patient monitoring system 1 is schematically and exemplarily shown. The patient monitoring system 1 includes a patient monitoring device 5 for monitoring a patient 2 lying on a hospital bed 3, wherein the patient monitoring device 5 is adapted to generate patient monitoring data. In particular, the patient monitoring device 5 includes a measurement unit 6 connected to a sensor 4 attached to the patient 2, wherein the measurement unit 6 and the sensor 4 are adapted to measure vital signs in order to monitor the patient 2 and generate patient monitoring data. For example, the measurement unit 6 and the sensor 4 may be adapted to measure heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, body temperature, blood pressure, etc. The patient monitoring device 5 further includes a display 7 for displaying at least a part of the patient monitoring data and also for displaying data that is not patient monitoring data, such as relaxation sedation images or family photos, in order to set the patient in a positive and recovery - conducive mood.

[0035] The patient monitoring system 1 further includes an output device 9, which is used to provide a control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device 5. In this embodiment, the patient monitoring device 5 is a bedside device, and the output device 9 is a mobile tablet computer with a touch-sensitive display, which is used to provide the control interface and receive input from the user 10, who is preferably a caregiver, such as a nurse or a physician. The output device 9 is also adapted to provide visualization of the patient monitoring data. Therefore, the patient monitoring device 5 can be controlled via the output device 9 and the patient monitoring data can be displayed to the user 10.

[0036] The output device 9 is schematically and exemplarily shown in Figure 2 . The output device 9 includes a user identification unit 11 for identifying the user 10 and a rule providing unit 12 for providing control rules, which define the provision of the control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device 5 according to the identified user 10. In this embodiment, the rule providing unit 12 is adapted to provide visualization rules, which define the provision of the visualization of the patient monitoring data according to the identified user 10. The output device 9 is adapted to provide a control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device according to the provided control rules and provide visualization of the patient monitoring data according to the provided visualization rules. The visualization rules preferably define which patient monitoring data should be displayed on the output device 9, wherein the selection of the patient monitoring data to be displayed depends on the identified user 10. The control rules preferably define which settings of the patient monitoring device are allowed to be modified by the user 10, that is, the control rules can define the selection of the controls available to the user 10.

[0037] The output device 9 includes a touch-sensitive display 13 for displaying information and receiving input. It should be noted that Figure 2 this is of course only schematic, that is, the touch-sensitive display 13 preferably covers the entire side of the output device 9, and the user identification unit 11, the rule providing unit 12 and the detector 14 described below are integrated in the housing of the output device 9.

[0038] In this embodiment, the output device and the patient monitoring device 5 are adapted to establish a direct data connection 8, wherein preferably, the direct data connection 8 is established by using VLC or NFC technology. The direct data connection 8 is a two-way data connection, so that for example, the patient monitoring data can be sent from the patient monitoring device 5 to the output device 9, and the control information for controlling the patient monitoring device 5 can be sent from the output device 9 to the patient monitoring device 5.

[0039] The patient monitoring device 5 includes an identity indication 15 indicating the identity of the patient monitoring device 5. The identity indication 15 is an optically detectable marker. The optically detectable marker can be a series of symbols, such as a sequence of numbers and / or letters, a barcode, etc. The output device 9 includes a detector 14 having a detection area, wherein if the identity indication 15 is within the detection area, the detector 14 is adapted to detect the identity indication 15 of the patient monitoring device 5. In this embodiment, the detector 14 is a camera of the tablet computer 9, wherein the detection area is the field of view of the camera 14. If the identity indication 15 is within the field of view of the camera 14, the tablet computer 9 and the patient monitoring device 5 are adapted to establish a data connection 8 between the tablet computer 9 and the patient monitoring device 5. Thus, the tablet computer 9 is adapted to detect the identity indication 15 within the image captured by the camera 14, wherein if the identity indication 15 is detected in the image, the data connection 8 is established. If multiple patient monitoring devices are in the same ward, the user 10 can select the desired patient monitoring device to be connected to the tablet computer 9 by pointing the tablet computer 9 at the patient monitoring device to be selected. If identity indications of several patient monitoring devices are within the detection area of the detector of the output device, the output device can provide a graphical user interface that indicates the patient monitoring devices having the identity indications within the detection area and allows the user to select one of these patient monitoring devices. Then a data connection can be established between the selected patient monitoring device and the output device.

[0040] If a direct data connection 8 has not been established between the output device 9 and the patient monitoring device 5, the patient monitoring device 5 can be adapted to display data other than patient monitoring data, such as an image of relaxation sedation or a family picture. Thus, if the caregiver carrying the output device 9 is not near the patient 2, the patient monitoring device 5 can automatically display information of relaxation sedation on its display 7.

[0041] The output device 9 is preferably adapted to provide a user interface to allow the user 10 to input user-specific data, wherein the user identification unit 11 is adapted to identify the user 10 based on the input user-specific data. The user-specific data can be, for example, login data such as a username and a password, wherein the user identification unit 11 can be adapted to identify the user based on the username and the password. The user-specific data can also be other types of data, such as biometric data.

[0042] In the following, embodiments of the patient monitoring method will be exemplarily described with reference to Figure 3 the flowchart shown in

[0043] While continuously monitoring patient 2 with patient monitoring device 5, in order to generate patient monitoring data, in step 101, user identification unit 11 identifies user 10. In step 102, rule providing unit 12 provides a control rule according to the identified user 10, which defines the provision of a control interface for controlling patient monitoring device 5. In addition, rule providing unit 12 provides a visualization rule according to the identified user 10, and the visualization rule defines the provision of visualization of patient monitoring data. In step 103, output device 9 provides a control interface for controlling patient monitoring device according to the provided control rule and displays patient monitoring data according to the provided visualization rule. In step 104, patient monitoring device 5 is controlled according to the control information input by user 10 via the provided control interface. Steps 101 and 102 can be exchanged, that is, step 102 can also be executed first and then step 101.

[0044] Although in the above embodiment, VLC or NFC is used to establish a data connection between the output device and the patient monitoring device, a data connection can also be established by using another data connection technology such as Bluetooth.

[0045] Although in the above embodiment, a direct data connection is established between the patient monitoring device and the output device via NFC or VLC, the output device and the patient monitoring device can also be adapted to establish a data connection via a data network such as a wired or wireless local area network. This can allow the patient monitoring device to be controlled and patient monitoring data to be provided via the output device even when the user with the output device is not in the patient room where the patient monitoring device is located.

[0046] In medicine, monitoring can be regarded as observing a disease, a condition, or one or more medical parameters over time. It can be performed by continuously measuring certain parameters using a medical monitor, i.e., a patient monitoring device that can be adapted to continuously measure vital signs at the bedside. If the patient monitoring device always shows the same fixed patient monitoring data to all types of users, this is not always useful because different types of users, such as physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners, nurses, patients, etc., have different requirements for displaying patient monitoring data, such as different parameters, more details or fewer details, etc., and require different levels of control over the patient monitoring device. Therefore, the above patient monitoring system and method can allow the caregiver to see what he / she likes to see on the display and where he / she likes to see the corresponding information on the display, where this is not necessarily near the patient, and thus the information is displayed on an additional display of the output device. Depending on the person holding and viewing the output device, different patient monitoring data from the patient monitoring device can be displayed on the display of the output device. A user-dependent level of control over the patient monitoring device is also provided. Thus, one source of patient monitoring data can be associated with different visualizations, i.e., in particular visibility and different controls depending on the corresponding user. This allows, for example, a caregiver-centered display rather than a patient-centered display.

[0047] Preferably, the patient monitoring device is located next to the patient and collects many vital signs of the patient, but only limited information is displayed on the small display of the patient monitoring device, where this limited information may include blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiratory rate, and especially initiated alarms if the measured values are not within the expected acceptable predetermined range. Each caregiver has his / her own monitor, i.e., an output device such as a tablet computer, for extracting the information he / she needs from the patient monitoring device. For example, for a nurse, only limited information may be displayed, while for a physician, the history of previous measurements and additional information may also be provided. For example, each caregiver can have different controls on his / her own monitor to set different levels of different alarms at the patient monitoring device. Depending on the corresponding person, i.e., for example, a nurse or a physician, different types of patient monitoring data at different levels of detail, such as vital signs, electrocardiogram data, etc., can be seen on the monitor.

[0048] By using only one patient data source, i.e., the patient monitoring device, but different visualizations and controls depending on the corresponding user, the released privacy can be addressed. In addition, the data connection between the patient monitoring device and the output device is preferably a secure data connection such that the transmitted data can only be accessed by the intended personnel.

[0049] If a caregiver, such as a nurse or a physician, is not near the patient monitoring device, the patient monitoring device can be adapted to display a certain standby screen to hide privacy-related data. The empty screen can be filled with patient-related data. For example, if the patient monitoring device is used for a pediatric station, the display of the patient monitoring device can show an image of relaxation and sedation or a family photo to set a positive and recovery-facilitating mood. If the caregiver enters the ward, the display of the patient monitoring device can be activated to show patient monitoring data, wherein the entry of the room can be detected by establishing a data connection between the mobile output device carried by the caregiver and the patient monitoring device, and wherein then, the display of the patient monitoring device and / or the display of the output device can obtain a customized screen.

[0050] Although in the above embodiment the output device is a tablet computer, in other embodiments, it can be another output device, such as a wearable device, for example, an optical head-mounted display device.

[0051] Although in the above embodiment, the user identification unit and the rule providing unit are integrated in the output device, in other embodiments, one or both of these units can also be integrated in the patient monitoring device or in another device where the output device is located, and optionally, the patient monitoring device can also be connected via a data connection.

[0052] Those skilled in the art can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments when practicing the claimed invention by studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the claims.

[0053] In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality.

[0054] A single unit or device can perform the functions of several items recited in the claims. Although specific measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims, this does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used advantageously.

[0055] Operations such as user identification, rule provision, control interface provision, etc., performed by one or more units or devices can be performed by any other number of units or devices. These operations and / or the control of the patient monitoring system according to the patient monitoring method can be implemented as program code modules of a computer program and / or dedicated hardware.

[0056] The computer program can be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium provided together with or as part of other hardware, but the computer program can also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0057] Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0058] The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system, the patient monitoring system comprising a patient monitoring device for monitoring a patient, wherein the patient monitoring device is adapted to generate patient monitoring data. An output device provides a control interface which is adapted to allow a user to control the patient monitoring device according to user-specific control rules provided. For example, the settings of the patient monitoring device can be modified via the provided control interface, wherein the options for setting the patient monitoring device can depend on the respective user. This can ensure that the respective user can only modify the respective settings that the user is permitted to modify, thereby reducing the risk of inappropriate settings of the patient monitoring device. Furthermore, by only providing control options relevant to the respective user, the user can be kept from being distracted by irrelevant control information.

Claims

1. A patient monitoring system, comprising: - a patient monitoring device (5) for monitoring a patient (2) to generate patient monitoring data, - an output device (9) for providing a user-specific control interface to the user (10) according to user-specific control rules provided, the user-specific control interface being adapted to allow the user to control the patient monitoring device (5), wherein the user-specific control interface is adapted to provide different user interfaces to different users, and wherein the output device (9) is a mobile device separate from the patient monitoring device (5) and comprises: - a user identification unit (11) for identifying the user (10), - a rule providing unit (12) for providing the user-specific control rules according to the identified user (10), the user-specific control rules defining the provision of the user-specific control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device (5), and - a detector (14) having a detection area, wherein the detector (14) is adapted to detect an identity indication (15) of the patient monitoring device (5) indicating the identity of the patient monitoring device when the identity indication (15) is within the detection area, and wherein the patient monitoring device (5) is adapted to provide the identity indication (15), and wherein the output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5) are adapted such that when the detector (14) detects the identity indication (15) within the detection area, the output device (9) provides the user-specific control interface to the user (10) for controlling the patient monitoring device (5) according to the provided user-specific control rules.

2. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5) are adapted to establish a direct data connection (8).

3. The patient monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein, The patient monitoring device (5) includes a display (7) for displaying the patient monitoring data, wherein the patient monitoring device (5) is adapted not to display the patient monitoring data on the display (7) when the direct data connection (8) has not been established between the output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5).

4. The patient monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein, The patient monitoring device (5) includes a display (7) and is adapted to display data other than the patient monitoring data on the display (7) when the direct data connection (8) has not been established between the output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5).

5. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The detector (14) is an optical detector having a field of view defining the detection area, and the identity indication (15) is a visual indication.

6. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5) are adapted to establish a data connection by using at least one of visible light communication (VLC) and near field communication (NFC).

7. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5) are adapted to establish a two-way data connection.

8. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The output device (9) and the patient monitoring device (5) are adapted to establish a data connection via a data network.

9. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The output device (9) is adapted to provide a user interface to allow the user (10) to input user-specific data, wherein the user identification unit (11) is adapted to identify the user (10) based on the input user-specific data.

10. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The mobile device is a tablet computer.

11. The patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The rule providing unit (12) is adapted to provide a visualization rule according to the identified user (10), the visualization rule defining the provision of visualization of the patient monitoring data, wherein the output device (9) is adapted to provide the visualization of the patient monitoring data according to the provided visualization rule.

12. An output device for use as the output device (9) of the patient monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The output device (9) includes: - the user identification unit (11) of the patient monitoring system, which is used to identify the user (10), - the rule providing unit (12) of the patient monitoring system, which is used to provide the user-specific control rule, the user-specific control rule defining the provision of a user-specific control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device (5) of the patient monitoring system, and - the detector (14), which has the detection area, wherein the detector (14) is adapted to detect the identity indication (15) when the identity indication (15) of the patient monitoring device (5) indicating the identity of the patient monitoring device is within the detection area. Wherein the output device (9) is adapted to provide a user-specific control interface to the user (10) according to the provided user-specific control rule, the user-specific control interface being adapted to allow the user to control the patient monitoring device (5). Wherein the output device (9) is a mobile device separated from the patient monitoring device (5). Wherein the output device (9) is adapted to cause, when the detector (14) detects the identity indication (15) within the detection area, the output device (9) to provide the user-specific control interface to the user (10) according to the provided user-specific control rule for controlling the patient monitoring device (5).

13. A patient monitoring method, comprising: - monitoring a patient (2) by a patient monitoring device (5) to generate patient monitoring data, - identifying a user (10) by a user identification unit (11), - providing a user-specific control rule by a rule providing unit (12) according to the identified user (10), the user-specific control rule defining the provision of a user-specific control interface for controlling the patient monitoring device (5), - providing a user-specific control interface to the user (10) by an output device (9) according to the provided user-specific control rule, the control interface being adapted to allow the user to control the patient monitoring device (5), the output device being a mobile device separated from the patient monitoring device (5) and including a detector (14) having a detection area, wherein the user-specific control interface is adapted to provide different user interfaces to different users. Wherein, when an identity indication (15) of the patient monitoring device (5) indicating the identity of the patient monitoring device is within the detection area, the detector (14) detects the identity indication (15). Wherein, the patient monitoring device (5) provides the identity indication (15). Wherein, when the detector (14) detects the identity indication (15) within the detection area, the output device (9) provides the user-specific control interface to the user (10) according to the provided user-specific control rules for controlling the patient monitoring device (5).

14. A computer program for controlling the patient monitoring system according to claim 1, the computer program comprising program code modules which, when the computer program runs on the patient monitoring system according to claim 1, are for causing the patient monitoring system to perform the patient monitoring method according to claim 13.

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