Nurse call system

Abstract

To appropriately grasp whether or not a patient is present in a sickroom.SOLUTION: A nurse call system 100 includes: a nurse call master unit 3 installed in a nurse station for responding to a call from a patient; a corridor lamp 2 installed at an entrance of each sickroom having unique identification information; a camera 29 mounted on the corridor lamp 2 which is capable of imaging a common area of a hospital; and a corridor lamp CPU 21 for transmitting object person information for identifying the object person and identification information on the corridor lamp to the nurse call master unit 3 upon detection of the object person in an image captured with the camera 29. The nurse call master unit 3 notifies the object person information and the identification information, the object person being a patient associated with a sickroom.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a nurse call system. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a monitoring system in which a motion sensor is installed in a hospital room to detect if a patient falls from a bed in the hospital room (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-86286 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Since a motion sensor detects human movement, it is difficult to determine whether a patient is motionless in their hospital room or has moved from their room to a common area.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a nurse call system that can appropriately determine whether a patient is in a hospital room. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the nurse call system of the present invention comprises: A nurse call base unit installed in a nurse station to respond to calls from patients; a corridor light having unique identification information, the corridor light being installed at the entrance of each patient room; a camera mounted on the corridor light that can photograph common areas of the hospital; a control unit that, when a subject is detected in an image captured by the camera, transmits subject information for identifying the subject and the identification information of the corridor light to the nurse call master unit; The nurse call master unit notifies the target person information and the identification information, The subject is a patient associated with the room. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a nurse call system that can appropriately determine whether a patient is in a hospital room. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a nurse call system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a hallway light provided in the nurse call system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of corridor lights provided in the nurse call system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of the operation of the nurse call system. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed on a display unit of a hallway light. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of the operation of the nurse call system. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of the operation of the nurse call system. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth operational example of the nurse call system. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth example of the operation of the nurse call system. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth operational example of the nurse call system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A nurse call system 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a nurse call system 100 according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the nurse call system 100 includes a nurse call handset 1 installed for each bed in a hospital room, a hallway light 2 installed at the entrance and exit of each hospital room, a nurse call master unit 3 installed at the nurse's station, and a controller 4 that controls communication between the devices. The nurse call system 100 also includes a hospital room camera 5 installed for each bed, a mobile terminal 6 carried by a nurse, and a switchboard 7 that manages communication between the mobile terminals 6 via a base station 8.

[0011] Nurse call handset 1 is a device that allows patients to call and talk to a nurse, and has a call button 1a and a plate handset 1b installed on the wall. Plate handset 1b has a connection part to which the call button is connected and a communication part for talking to the nurse.

[0012] The nurse call base unit 3 is a device for receiving and responding to calls from patients, and includes an intercom unit 3a and a display unit 3b. The intercom unit 3a includes a handset for communicating with patients and an audio unit such as a speaker for making in-hospital announcements. The display unit 3b displays various information about the patient. This information includes patient information, identification information such as the corridor light ID received from the corridor light 2, and images captured by the hospital room camera 5. The display unit 3b may be, for example, an LCD monitor.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the corridor light 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the corridor light 2 has a corridor light CPU (central processing unit) 21, an indicator light 22, a monitor 23, a speaker 24, a memory unit 25, an operation button 26, a recovery button 27, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 28, and a camera 29. The corridor light 2 has unique identification information. The unique identification information includes a corridor light ID and information about the installation location where the corridor light 2 is installed.

[0014] The corridor light CPU 21 is configured to execute various functions of the corridor light 2, such as the operation of the monitor 23, speaker 24, and camera 29. The corridor light CPU 21 is configured, for example, by an electronic control unit (ECU). The electronic control unit includes a microcontroller including a processor and other electronic circuits (e.g., transistors, etc.). The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), and / or a graphics processing unit (GPU). The storage unit 25 is equipped with a memory. The memory includes a read-only memory (ROM) in which various control programs (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI) programs, etc.) are stored, and a random access memory (RAM) in which various control data are temporarily stored. The processor is configured to load a program specified from the various control programs stored in the ROM onto the RAM and execute various processes in cooperation with the RAM. Programs related to the control and processing of the corridor light 2 are stored in the memory. The corridor light CPU 21 executes each step shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 to Fig. 10 by having the processor execute a program read from the memory of the storage unit 25. The corridor light CPU 21 is also configured to accept operations input from the operation button 26 and the recovery button 27, and to perform control according to the input operations. The corridor light CPU 21 is an example of a control unit.

[0015] The hallway light 2 includes, as a notification unit, an indicator light 22 that notifies the patient of a call by flashing or lighting up. The hallway light 2 also includes, as a notification unit, a monitor 23 that displays text information and a speaker 24 that outputs audio. The indicator light 22 is, for example, a lamp, and is configured to light up or flash to indicate that there is a call from the nurse call handset 1 in the hospital room where the corridor light 2 is installed. The monitor 23 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and is configured to display various information such as the name of the hospital room and the name of the patient. The various information includes a message encouraging disinfection. The monitor 23 is an example of the display unit of the corridor light 2. The speaker 24 is configured to sound the notification content output from the corridor light CPU 21. The speaker 24 is mounted on the corridor light 2. The speaker 24 is an example of the sound notification unit of the corridor light 2.

[0016] The storage unit 25 stores the images captured by the camera 29 in addition to the programs related to the control and processing of the corridor light 2 . The operation button 26 is a button for displaying / hiding various types of information. The recovery button 27 is a button for stopping the notification operation and the like. The hallway light 2 receives a call from the nurse call handset 1 via the communication IF 28 and line L1. The hallway light 2 is also connected to the nurse call master unit 3, the control unit 4, and the patient room camera 5 via the communication IF 28 and HUB 9.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a corridor light 2. As shown in Fig. 3, a disinfectant container 10 is arranged near the corridor light 2. The disinfectant container 10 includes a head 10a that is manually pressed and a nozzle 10b that sprays the disinfectant inside when the head 10a is pressed, and contains disinfectant for disinfecting hands. The disinfectant container 10 is arranged, for example, under the corridor light 2 near the entrance door 11 of a patient room.

[0018] The corridor light 2 is equipped with a camera 29. The camera 29 captures images of common areas such as the corridor outside the patient room. The camera 29 is capable of capturing video and still images. The camera 29 may capture images continuously, or may detect the approach of a person such as a patient or an object such as a movable shelf to the corridor light 2 and begin capturing images. The images captured by the camera 29 are stored in the memory unit 25.

[0019] Camera 29 captures an image of a predetermined range from corridor light 2 in the common area. For example, camera 29 of corridor light 2 installed at the entrance to hospital room 101 can capture an image of the corridor within a range of several meters centered on corridor light 2, as well as the entrance to the stairs (not shown) leading from the floor including Room 101 to other floors. When a visitor approaches hospital room 101 by climbing the stairs (not shown) from another floor, camera 29 of corridor light 2 of Room 101 begins capturing an image of the visitor from the moment the visitor finishes climbing the stairs and appears on the floor where Room 101 is located, and captures an image of the visitor moving in front of corridor light 2 of Room 101. The captured image is transmitted to corridor light CPU 21.

[0020] When a disinfectant container 10 is placed near the corridor light 2, it is preferable that a predetermined range including this disinfectant container be included in the predetermined range that can be imaged by the camera 29. This allows the camera 29 to capture, for example, whether or not a person is pressing the head 10a of the disinfectant container 10, whether or not an amount of disinfectant sufficient to disinfect hands is being dispensed from the nozzle 10b, and whether or not a person is disinfecting their hands. This allows the corridor light CPU 21, which receives the image captured by the camera 29, to detect the actions of visitors and nurses who pass near the disinfectant container 10 and enter the patient room without using the disinfectant container 10.

[0021] The patient room camera 5 is installed in the patient room and captures images of the patient himself / herself and the surrounding area related to the patient in the room. The patient room camera 5 is connected to the hallway light 2 via the HUB 9 via a LAN. The images captured by the patient room camera 5 are sent to the hallway light CPU 21 via the HUB 9 and the LAN.

[0022] The mobile terminal 6 is a terminal for responding to calls from patients, such as a smartphone, etc. The mobile terminal 6 has a display unit 6a that can display the contents of the nurse's call, and an audio unit 6b such as a speaker that can announce the contents of the nurse's call.

[0023] The corridor light 2, nurse call base unit 3, control unit 4, and hospital room camera 5 are each connected to a LAN via a hub 9. The nurse call handset 1 is connected to the corridor light 2 via a transmission line L1 for each hospital room. The exchange 7 is connected to the control unit 4 via a transmission line L2. The exchange 7 manages communication with the mobile terminals 6 via a base station 8.

[0024] [Example 1] Hereinafter, a first operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the first operational example of the nurse call system 100.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, first, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 starts capturing an image (step S101). For example, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 installed at the entrance of room 101 of the hospital starts capturing an image of the disinfectant container 10 placed near the corridor light 2 of room 101 and a target person included in a range of several meters centered on the disinfectant container 10. In this operation example, the target person is a person whose hands should be disinfected (such as a visitor or a nurse). The image captured by the camera 29 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21.

[0026] Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the imaged visitor has disinfected their hands or fingers, based on the image received from the camera 29 (step S102). For example, if a visitor coming to Room 101 disinfects their hands with the disinfectant that comes out of the nozzle 10b by pressing the head 10a of the disinfectant container 10 placed under the corridor light 2 in Room 101, the corridor light CPU 21 detects, based on the image from the camera 29, whether the head 10a moves up and down, whether the disinfectant is sprayed from the nozzle 10b, and whether the visitor applies the disinfectant to their hands and rubs them together, and determines whether the visitor has disinfected their hands or fingers. If it is determined that the hands have been disinfected (YES in step S102), the corridor light CPU 21 waits until it receives an image for making a determination in the next step S102.

[0027] On the other hand, if it is determined based on the image received from camera 29 that the hands have not been disinfected (NO in S102), hallway light CPU 21 displays a message encouraging disinfection on monitor 23 of hallway light 2 (step S103). The message displayed on monitor 23 is, for example, the text "Please disinfect your hands" displayed on monitor 23 as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, it may be the text "We cannot detect that your hands have been disinfected. Please disinfect your hands," or an illustration of a disinfectant spray being sprayed from a disinfectant container. By displaying such a message encouraging disinfection on monitor 23, it is possible to encourage those (subjects) who have not disinfected their hands at the entrance to the patient's room to disinfect their hands, thereby improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

[0028] Next, the hallway light CPU 21 generates non-disinfection information including information that the subject in the captured image has not disinfected their hands and information for identifying the subject in the captured image. The hallway light CPU 21 transmits the generated non-disinfection information to the nurse call master unit 3 via the communication IF 28 and the LAN (step S104).

[0029] Upon receiving the non-disinfection information, the nurse call base unit 3 reports the non-disinfection information (step S105). The non-disinfection information may be reported by displaying the corridor light ID and non-disinfection information in text on the display unit 3b, by audio from the speaker, or by audio from the speaker and displaying the corridor light ID and non-disinfection information on the display unit 3b. The non-disinfection information reported by the nurse call base unit 3 is confirmed by a nurse at the nurse's station. By reporting the non-disinfection information from the nurse call base unit 3 in this way, it is possible to identify individuals who have not disinfected their hands. If the individual who has not disinfected their hands is a visitor, the head nurse or other person who has confirmed the non-disinfection information can directly ask the visitor to disinfect their hands. If the individual who has not disinfected their hands is a nurse, the head nurse can instruct the nurse to disinfect their hands. This ensures that individuals entering a patient room thoroughly disinfect their hands, improving hand hygiene.

[0030] [Example 2] Next, a second operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the second operational example.

[0031] In Operation Example 2, as shown in FIG. 6 , the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 starts capturing an image of a predetermined range centered on the corridor light 2 (step S201). The predetermined range centered on the corridor light 2 in Operation Example 2 is, for example, a range in which a target person (visitor, nurse, etc.) approaching a hospital room can be detected. Specifically, the predetermined range is a range that includes the disinfectant solution container 10 placed near the corridor light 2, as well as the door 11 at the entrance / exit to the hospital room and part of the common area such as the corridor. The predetermined range centered on the corridor light 2 is, for example, a range several meters away from the corridor light 2, centered on the corridor light 2. The image captured by the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21.

[0032] Based on the image received from camera 29, corridor light CPU 21 determines whether or not the captured image contains a target person (such as a visitor who should disinfect their hands or a nurse). The determination of whether or not the target person is included in the image can be made by various image processing methods or by methods similar to those used to detect the presence or absence of motion in Operation Example 1. If the captured image does not contain a target person, corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person is not within a predetermined range (NO in step S202), and waits until it receives an image for use in the determination of the next step S202.

[0033] On the other hand, if the image received from the camera 29 does not include the target person, but the next image received from the camera 29 includes the target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that there is a target person approaching the corridor light 2. Furthermore, if the image received from the camera 29 includes the target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has entered a predetermined range (YES in step S202). If it is determined that the target person has entered the predetermined range, the corridor light CPU 21 issues a message encouraging hand disinfection via the corridor light 2 (step S203). The message encouraging hand disinfection may be, for example, a text message displayed on the monitor 23 of the corridor light 2 saying, "There is disinfectant at the entrance to the patient's room. Please disinfect your hands," or an audio message from the speaker 24 of the corridor light 2 saying, "Please disinfect your hands with the disinfectant at the entrance before entering the patient's room." In this way, by detecting a target person approaching the entrance to the patient's room and informing the target person in advance via the corridor light 2 that there is a disinfectant container 10 near the corridor light 2, the target person can be encouraged to disinfect their hands.

[0034] Next, the corridor light CPU21 determines whether or not the subject who entered the predetermined range disinfected their hands (step S204). The determination in step S204 is the same as step S102 shown in Fig. 4, and if it is determined that the hands were not disinfected (NO in S204), steps S205 to S207 are the same as steps S103 to S105 in Fig. 4, so detailed description will be omitted.

[0035] As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to the first and second operation examples includes the nurse call handset 1, which is used by patients to call a nurse, the nurse call base unit 3, which is installed at a nurse's station to respond to calls from patients, the hallway light 2, which is installed at the entrance to the patient's room or the like, the camera 29, which is mounted on the hallway light 2, and which captures an image of a predetermined area including the disinfectant container 10 located outside the patient's room near the hallway light 2, and the hallway light CPU 21, which causes the hallway light 2 to issue a message encouraging hand disinfection if a subject in an image captured by the camera 29 has not disinfected their hands using the disinfectant container 10. With this configuration, by having the hallway light issue a message encouraging disinfection to those (subjects) who have not disinfected their hands, it is possible to encourage subjects, such as visitors and nurses, who should disinfect their hands to do so, thereby improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

[0036] Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operation examples 1 and 2, the corridor light CPU 21 may cause the monitor 23 or speaker 24 of the corridor light 2 to issue a message when a target person in the image captured by the camera 29 enters a predetermined range. With this configuration, by detecting a person approaching a hospital room and notifying in advance that a disinfectant container 10 is near the corridor light 2, it is possible to prompt targets such as visitors and nurses who need to disinfect their hands to do so.

[0037] Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operational examples 1 and 2, the corridor light 2 may have a monitor 23, and a message encouraging hand disinfection may be displayed on the monitor 23. With this configuration, by displaying a message encouraging disinfection on the monitor 23 of the corridor light 2 to those who have not disinfected their hands, it is possible to more effectively encourage visitors, nurses, and other people who should disinfect their hands to do so.

[0038] Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operational examples 1 and 2, the hallway light 2 may have a speaker 24 that sounds a message encouraging hand disinfection. With this configuration, by issuing a warning from the speaker 24 of the hallway light 2 to those who have not disinfected their hands, it is possible to more effectively encourage visitors, nurses, and other people who should disinfect their hands to do so.

[0039] Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operational examples 1 and 2, the corridor light CPU 21 may transmit non-disinfection information to the nurse call base unit 3, including information on the subject in the captured image that the subject has not disinfected their hands and for identifying the subject, and the nurse call base unit 3 may then report the non-disinfection information. With this configuration, subjects who have not disinfected their hands can be identified, so if the subject who has not disinfected their hands is a visitor, a nurse can directly request that the subject disinfect their hands, or if the subject who has not disinfected their hands is a nurse, the head nurse can instruct the subject to disinfect their hands, thereby thoroughly improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

[0040] [Example 3] Next, a third operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 7. Figure 7 is a flowchart for explaining the third operational example.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 starts capturing an image of a common area such as a hospital corridor (step S301). The common area captured by the camera 29 also includes the door 11 at the entrance to the hospital room where the corridor light 2 is placed. The camera 29 transmits the captured image to the corridor light CPU 21. The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether or not a target person has been detected in the common area based on the received image (step S302). The target person in the operation example 3 is a patient associated with the hospital room in which the corridor light 2 is installed, i.e., a patient who belongs to the hospital room in which the corridor light 2 is installed. If the target person is not detected in the captured image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has not been detected in the common area (NO in step S302) and waits until it receives an image for making the determination in the next step S302.

[0042] On the other hand, if a target person is detected in the captured image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has been detected in the common area (YES in step S302). Detecting a target person in the common area includes, for example, a case where a target person (patient) moving from their own hospital room to the common area is captured by the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 of their own hospital room, and a case where the same target person moving down the corridor is captured by the cameras 29 of the corridor lights 2 of multiple hospital rooms.

[0043] When it is determined that a target person has been detected in the common area, the corridor light CPU 21 generates target person information regarding the detected target person. The target person information includes person authentication information of the target person identified by the corridor light CPU 21. The target person authentication information may be patient information identified by a transmitter ID acquired by the corridor light CPU 21 from a transmitter (not shown) carried by each patient, or may be patient information identified by performing face authentication on an image captured by the camera 29. Person authentication and face authentication can be performed using conventional methods. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated target person information and the identification information of the corridor light 2 to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S303). The identification information of the corridor light 2 transmitted to the nurse call master unit 3 includes the corridor light ID and installation location information where the corridor light 2 is installed.

[0044] The nurse call master unit 3, which has received the patient information and identification information, reports the patient information and identification information (step S304). The patient information and identification information may be reported as text on the display unit 3b or as audio from a speaker. The text displayed on the display unit 3b may include the patient's name (an example of patient information), the patient's disease name (an example of patient information), the hallway light ID (an example of identification information), and the location of the hallway light (an example of identification information). In this way, the hallway light CPU 21 can identify a patient who has moved from their room to a common area, and the nurse call master unit 3 can report that a patient who should have remained in their room has moved to a common area and is no longer in their room.

[0045] [Example 4] Next, a fourth operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart for explaining the fourth operational example.

[0046] 8, first, the hospital room camera 5 starts capturing an image of the inside of the hospital room (step S401). The image of the inside of the hospital room captured by the hospital room camera 5 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21 via the HUB 9.

[0047] The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the subject (patient) is in the hospital room based on whether the received image includes the subject (patient) (step S402). If the captured image includes the subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is in the hospital room (YES in step S402), stores the captured image, information on the date and time when the image was captured, and information that the subject is in the hospital room in the storage unit 25, and waits until it receives an image for use in the determination of the next step S402.

[0048] On the other hand, if the captured image does not include the subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is not in the hospital room (NO in step S402) and stores the captured image, the date and time information when the image was captured, and information that the subject is not in the hospital room in the storage unit 25. Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room (step S403). The determination of whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room is made using the information that the subject is not in the hospital room and the date and time information when the image was captured, which are stored in the storage unit 25. The certain amount of time is a certain amount of time required to search for and appropriately monitor the patient if the patient is absent from the hospital room, and may be, for example, five minutes. If the certain amount of time has not passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room (NO in step S403), the corridor light CPU 21 returns to step S402.

[0049] If the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a certain time has passed since it was determined that the subject was not in the hospital room (YES in step S403), the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 starts capturing images of the common area (step S404). The common areas captured by the camera 29 include the entrance and exit of the hospital room, the hospital room door 11, and the ward corridor. The image captured by the camera 29 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21. The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the subject (patient) is present in the common area based on whether the subject (patient) is included in the image received from the camera 29 (step S405). If the subject is included in the received image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is present in the common area (YES in step S405), stores the captured image, date and time information when the image was captured, and information that the subject is included in the image in the storage unit 25, and returns to step S405.

[0050] If the received image does not include the target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person is not in the common area (NO in step S405), and stores the captured image, information on the date and time the image was captured, and information that the image does not include the target person in the storage unit 25. Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the target person is not in the common area (step S406). The determination of whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the target person is not in the common area can be made in the same manner as the determination of whether a certain amount of time has passed in step S403. If the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a certain amount of time has not passed since it determined that the target person is not in the common area (NO in step S406), the process returns to step S405.

[0051] On the other hand, if a certain time has passed since the corridor light CPU 21 determined that the target person is not in the common area (YES in step S406), the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person is not in either the hospital room or the common area. For example, a case in which the target person is determined to be not in either the hospital room or the common area occurs when the patient leaves the hospital room, passes through the hallway, and moves to the stairs leading to another floor. When the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person is not in either the hospital room or the common area, it generates absence information including information about the target person, such as the target person's name, and information that the target person is not in either the hospital room or the common area. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated absence information to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S407). Upon receiving the absence information, the nurse call master unit 3 notifies the absence information (step S408). The absence information may be notified by voice from a speaker or displayed on the display unit 3b. This allows a nurse to confirm the notification from the nurse call master unit 3 and search for the patient who has left the hospital room or the common area, thereby enabling appropriate monitoring of the patient.

[0052] Although the example in which camera 29 starts capturing images of the common area when corridor light CPU 21 determines that a certain time has passed since it was determined that the subject is not in the hospital room has been described, the timing at which camera 29 starts capturing images in this operation example is not limited to the example described above. Camera 29 may start capturing images at the same timing as hospital room camera 5 starts capturing images, or may capture images continuously.

[0053] [Example 5] Next, a fifth operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the fifth operational example.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 9 , the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 starts capturing images of the common area (step S501). As in Operation Example 4, the common area includes the entrances and exits of the patient's rooms, the patient's room doors 11, and the corridors. In this operation example, the corridor light 2 is also installed at the entrances and exits of the patient's rooms near the no-entry area. The no-entry area can be an area where there is a risk of a patient falling, an area where the distance exceeds the walking limit for a patient with walking difficulties, or a staircase leading to another floor and the entrance to the staircase for a patient who has a tendency to escape from the hospital. The no-entry area is determined based on the individual patient's medical condition, behavioral characteristics such as a tendency to escape, etc. For example, it can be the entrance to a staircase leading to another floor of the ward, or a distance from the patient's room that exceeds the walking limit (e.g., 10 m). The vicinity of the no-entry area is, for example, 1 m before the no-entry area (a position 1 m closer to the corridor light 2 of the target patient than the no-entry area). Information about the no-entry area and information about the patient for whom the no-entry area is determined are stored, for example, in the memory unit 25. The image captured by the camera 29 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21.

[0055] The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether or not a subject (patient) is detected in the common area based on whether or not the subject (patient) is included in the image received from the camera 29 (step S502). If the subject is not included in the image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is not detected in the common area (NO in step S502), and waits until it receives an image for making the determination in the next step S502.

[0056] On the other hand, if the received image includes a target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has been detected in the common area (YES in step S502). Subsequently, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether or not the target person has been detected near the target person's no-entry area (step S503). Whether or not the target person has been detected near the target person's no-entry area is determined based on whether or not the target person detected in step 502 has been imaged by the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 installed near the target person's no-entry area. If the target person is not detected near the no-entry area (NO in step S503), the process returns to step S502.

[0057] On the other hand, if a target person is detected near the restricted area (YES in step S503), the hallway light CPU 21 generates entry information including target person information, such as the name of the target person detected near the restricted area, identification information of the hallway light 2, and detection information that the target person was detected near the restricted area. The identification information of the hallway light 2 includes the hallway light ID and installation location information of the hallway light 2. The hallway light CPU 21 transmits the generated entry information to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S504). Upon receiving the entry information, the nurse call master unit 3 notifies the patient of the entry information (step S505). The entry information may be output as audio from a speaker or displayed as text on the display unit 3b. This notification from the nurse call master unit 3 allows the nurse to quickly learn that a patient has approached the restricted area.

[0058] As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to the above-described operational examples 3 to 5 includes a nurse call base unit 3 installed in a nurse's station to respond to calls from patients; a hallway light 2 installed at the entrance to each hospital room and having unique identification information; a camera 29 mounted on the hallway light 2, capable of capturing images of the common areas of the hospital; and a hallway light CPU 21 that, when detecting a target person in an image captured by the camera 29, transmits target person information for identifying the target person and identification information of the hallway light 2 to the nurse call base unit 3. The nurse call base unit 3 then reports the target person information and identification information. The target person is a patient associated with the hospital room. This configuration allows the hallway light CPU 21 to identify a patient who has moved from a hospital room to a common area, allowing the nurse call base unit 3 to report that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has moved to the common area and is no longer in the hospital room. This allows early notification that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has left the room.

[0059] Furthermore, the nurse call system 100 of the above operational examples 3 to 5 may further include a hospital room camera 5 capable of capturing images of the inside of the hospital room, and if the hospital room camera 5 does not detect the target person for a certain period of time and the camera 29 does not detect the target person for a certain period of time, the corridor light CPU 21 may send information about the target person's absence to the nurse call master unit 3. With this configuration, if the patient's whereabouts are unknown for a certain period of time or longer, the nurse call master unit 3 can be notified, and the patient can be located away from the hospital room and common areas and properly monitored.

[0060] Furthermore, in the nurse call systems of the above operational examples 3 to 5, when a camera mounted on a corridor light 2 located near a restricted area for the patient in a common area detects the patient, the corridor light CPU 21 may transmit information about the patient's entry to the nurse call master unit 3. This configuration allows for early detection of a patient approaching a restricted area. This makes it possible, for example, to prevent escapes by patients with a tendency to escape, or to respond quickly to a patient approaching stairs or other areas where there is a risk of falling.

[0061] Furthermore, in the nurse call systems of the above operational examples 3 to 5, the identification information may include installation location information of the corridor light 2. With this configuration, the nurse can check the patient's movement route from the installation location information reported by the nurse call base unit 3, making it easier to find the patient moving through the common area.

[0062] [Example 6] Next, a sixth operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 10. Figure 10 is a flowchart for explaining the sixth operational example.

[0063] 10, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 starts capturing an image of the common area (step S601). The common area captured by the camera 29 includes the corridor near the corridor light 2. The image captured by the camera 29 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21 of the corridor light 2.

[0064] The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a target person has been detected in the common area based on whether the received image includes a target person (step S602). In this operation example, the target person is a patient in a hospital room where the corridor light 2 is installed. If the received image does not include a target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a target person has not been detected in the common area (NO in step S602), and waits until it receives the next image from the camera 29 for the determination in step S602.

[0065] On the other hand, if the received image includes a target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has been detected in the common area (YES in step S602), and determines whether the posture or movement of the target person included in the image is a specific posture or movement (step S603). A specific posture is a typical posture that is taken when there is a sudden change in condition, such as a collapsed posture, a crouching posture, or a posture holding one's chest. A specific movement is a typical movement that is seen when there is a sudden change in condition, such as a collapsed posture, a crouching posture, or a posture holding one's chest. If the corridor light CPU 21 does not detect a specific posture or movement of the target person from the received image (NO in step S603), it waits until it receives the next image from the camera 29 to perform the detection in step S602.

[0066] When the corridor light CPU 21 detects a specific posture or a specific movement of the subject from the received image (YES in step S603), it generates subject information such as the subject's name and identification information of the corridor light 2 that detected the specific posture or movement. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated subject information and identification information to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S604). The identification information of the corridor light 2 includes the corridor light ID of the corridor light 2 and installation location information where the corridor light 2 is installed. The nurse call base unit 3, which has received the target person information and identification information, reports the target person information and identification information (step S605). The target person information and identification information may be reported as audio output from a speaker or as text on the display unit 3b. The report from the nurse call base unit 3 allows nurses to quickly learn that a patient whose condition has suddenly changed is in a common area, allowing them to protect the patient early.

[0067] Next, the corridor light CPU 21 notifies the target person information and the identification information from the notification unit of the corridor light 2 (step S606). The notification of the target person information and the identification information may be displayed as text on the monitor 23 or may be output as audio from the speaker 24. Furthermore, the corridor light 2 may notify a sudden change in the patient's condition along with the notification of the target person information and the identification information. The notification of a sudden change in the patient's condition may be made visually by, for example, flashing the indicator light 22 at shorter intervals than the lighting time for a normal call from a patient (nurse call), visually by displaying the text "Someone has collapsed nearby" on the monitor 23, or audibly by outputting the audio message "Someone has collapsed in the corridor" from the speaker 24.

[0068] As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to the sixth example includes a nurse call master unit 3 installed at a nurse's station to respond to calls from patients; a hallway light 2 installed at the entrance to each hospital room and having unique identification information; a camera 29 mounted on the hallway light 2 that can capture images of the common areas of the hospital; and a hallway light CPU 21 that detects the posture or movement of a subject in the image captured by the camera 29. When the hallway light CPU 21 detects a specific posture or movement of a subject, it transmits subject information and identification information for identifying the subject to the nurse call master unit 3, and the nurse call master unit 3 reports the subject information and identification information. This configuration allows early notification that a patient in the common areas has suddenly changed in condition, enabling early protection of the patient.

[0069] Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above-described operational example 6, the specific posture or specific movement may be at least one of the posture or movement of the subject falling, the posture or movement of the subject crouching, and the posture or movement of the subject clutching their chest. With this configuration, these postures and movements can be reported as sudden changes in the subject.

[0070] Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above-described operational example 6, the corridor light 2 includes an indicator light 22 that notifies of a call from a patient, a monitor 23, and a speaker 24, and the corridor light CPU 21 may cause the monitor 23 and the speaker 24 to notify the target person information and identification information. With this configuration, a sudden change in the condition of a patient in a common area is notified by the notification unit of the corridor light, allowing a nurse near the corridor light that issued the notification to rush to the target person's aid quickly.

[0071] In the above-described operational example 6, the nurse call master unit 3 reports the target person information and identification information (step S605), and then the notification unit of the corridor light 2 reports the target person information and identification information (step S606). However, the timing of reporting the target person information and identification information is not limited to the above example. For example, the notification by the nurse call master unit 3 and the notification unit of the corridor light 2 may be made simultaneously, or the notification by the notification unit of the corridor light 2 may be made after the notification by the nurse call master unit 3.

[0072] In the above-described operational example, the corridor light CPU 21 judges the image captured by the hospital room camera 5, but the configuration for judging the image is not limited to the above example. For example, the hospital room camera 5 may be provided with a CPU for judging the image captured by the hospital room camera 5.

[0073] In the above operational example, an example of an alert being sent from the nurse call master unit 3 has been described, but the alert is not limited to this. For example, a message may be sent from the corridor light CPU 21 to the mobile terminal 6, and displayed as text on the display unit 6a of the mobile terminal 6, or output as audio from the speaker that serves as the alert sound unit 6b.

[0074] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be freely modified, improved, etc. The material, shape, dimensions, numerical values, form, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0075] As described above, the present specification discloses the following: (1) A nurse call base unit installed in a nurse station to respond to calls from patients; a corridor light having unique identification information, the corridor light being installed at the entrance of each patient room; a camera mounted on the corridor light that can photograph common areas of the hospital; a control unit that, when a subject is detected in an image captured by the camera, transmits subject information for identifying the subject and the identification information of the corridor light to the nurse call master unit; The nurse call master unit notifies the target person information and the identification information, A nurse call system, wherein the subject is a patient associated with the hospital room. With this configuration, the control unit can identify patients who have moved from their hospital room to the common area, and the nurse call master unit can notify the patient that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has moved to the common area and is no longer in the hospital room. This allows early notification that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has left the room.

[0076] (2) further comprising a hospital room camera capable of capturing images of the interior of the hospital room; The control unit transmits information about the absence of the subject to the nurse call master unit when the hospital room camera does not detect the subject for a certain period of time and the camera does not detect the subject for a certain period of time. With this configuration, if a patient's whereabouts are unknown for a certain period of time or longer, the nurse call master unit can be notified, and the patient can be located away from the hospital room and common areas, allowing the patient to be properly monitored.

[0077] (3) A nurse call system as described in (1) or (2), wherein the control unit transmits information about the subject's entry to the nurse call master unit when a camera mounted on the corridor light located near a restricted area for the subject in the common area detects the subject. This configuration makes it possible to quickly detect when a patient approaches a restricted area, which can prevent a patient with a tendency to escape from escaping, or allows for early response when a patient approaches stairs or other areas where there is a risk of falling.

[0078] (4) A nurse call system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the identification information includes information about the location of the corridor light. With this configuration, nurses can check the patient's movement route from the installation location information reported by the nurse call base unit, making it easier to find patients moving around in common areas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 nurse call handset, 2 corridor light, 3 nurse call base unit, 3a call unit, 3b display unit, 4 control unit, 5 patient room camera, 6 mobile terminal, 7 exchange, 8 base station, 10 disinfectant container, 10a head, 10b nozzle, 11 door, 22 indicator light, 23 monitor, 24 speaker, 25 memory unit, 26 operation button, 27 recovery button, 28 communication interface, 29 camera, 100 nurse call system

Claims

1. A nurse call base unit installed in a nurse station to respond to calls from patients; a corridor light having unique identification information, the corridor light being installed at the entrance of each patient room; a camera mounted on the corridor light that can photograph common areas of the hospital; a control unit that, when a subject is detected in each of a plurality of captured images taken by the camera, transmits subject information for identifying the detected subject and the identification information of the corridor light equipped with the camera that captured the captured image in which the subject was detected to the nurse call master unit for each captured image; The identification information includes installation location information of the corridor light, The nurse call master unit notifies the target person information and the identification information, A nurse call system, wherein the subject is a patient associated with the hospital room.

2. Each hospital room further includes a hospital room camera capable of capturing images of the interior of the hospital room; 2. The nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits absence information of the subject to the nurse call master unit when the hospital room camera does not detect the subject for a certain period of time and the camera does not detect the subject for a certain period of time.

3. 2. The nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits information about the subject's entry to the nurse call master unit when the camera mounted on the corridor light located near the no-entry area for the subject in the common area detects the subject.

Images