Patient information display system and method

Abstract

A method for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system. The method includes tracking (12), by means of a position tracking system (40), a position of at least one clinical staff member (82); detecting (14) a trigger event; obtaining (16) information from a patient information system (50) in response to the trigger event, wherein the patient information system is configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients; identifying (18) one or more output devices (62_n) from a plurality of output devices (62_1,...,62_N) based on a detected position of the at least one clinical staff member (82), wherein each of the plurality of output devices is operable to output clinical information to a user; and causing (20) the obtained information to be communicated to the identified one or more output devices.

Description

[0001] PATIENT INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to patient information display systems in healthcare environments.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One challenge faced in modem healthcare settings is the efficient delivery of relevant patient information to clinical staff members at appropriate times and locations. Traditional patient monitoring systems rely on fixed display locations, which may not always be convenient or accessible to staff as they move throughout a facility. Additionally, the volume of data generated by patient monitoring systems can lead to information overload, making it difficult for clinical staff to quickly identify and respond to important events or changes in patient status.

[0006] Another issue in current patient monitoring environments is the potential for missed or delayed responses to critical patient events. A clinical staff member may be responsible for the care of multiple patients and each patient may be monitored by multiple devices, each of which may generate alerts. A clinical staff member may not always be in the optimal position to receive and act on important information in a timely manner. This can lead to delays in patient care and potentially impact patient outcomes.

[0007] Mobile touch points (such as smartphones) are increasingly used in patient care. An advantage is that alarms and patient data can be forwarded to caregivers, having patient information at hand at any moment and at any place. A limitation of the use of mobile devices is that the information that can be displayed is limited to the size of the screen. For certain situations, the screen size is too small to display enough information to make a clinical judgement and a caregiver must therefore move to a point-of-care device in the patient room, potentially disturbing the patient.

[0008] In addition, in some cases, use of a mobile device is impractical. A nurse or other caregiver may be busy at the moment of an alarm or event, or may be in a sterile situation, and therefore not able to pick up the mobile device and look at the screen to obtain more information or react to the alarm. In addition, a nurse might require more information after an alarm or an intervention.

[0009] An improved system for interfacing between a patient information and monitoring system and clinical staff members would therefore be of advantage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0011] An aspect of the invention provides a method for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system.

[0012] The method comprises tracking, by means of a position tracking system, a position of at least one clinical staff member. The method further comprises detecting a trigger event. The method further comprises obtaining information from a patient information system in response to the trigger event, wherein the patient information system is configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients. The method further comprises identifying one or more output devices from a plurality of output devices based on a detected position of the at least one clinical staff member, wherein each of the plurality of output devices is operable to output clinical information to a user. The method further comprises causing the obtained information to be communicated to the identified one or more output devices.

[0013] The identifying the one or more output devices may comprise identifying the one or more output devices from the plurality of output devices based on a detected position of the at least one clinical staff member relative to positions of each of the one or more output devices.

[0014] Embodiments of the invention are based on the concept of utilizing real-time location tracking of clinical staff members to selectively deliver relevant patient information to appropriate output devices. By continuously monitoring the positions of healthcare professionals within a facility, the method permits identifying the most suitable display devices for presenting patient data, alarms, or other pertinent information at any given time.

[0015] The patient information system may include an electronic medical record (EMR) system.

[0016] The patient information system may include a patient monitoring system or network comprising or connected to one or more point-of-care monitoring devices which acquire patient monitoring information in real time.

[0017] The obtained information may be communicated to at least one of the identified one or more output devices as a push notification, for example wherein said at least one of the identified one or more output devices is a mobile computing device.

[0018] In the context of this disclosure, the ‘position’ of a clinical staff member detected and tracked by the position tracking system refers at minimum to a location of the clinical staff member, i.e. where they are located within a relevant area which is trackable by the tracking system. This may for example comprise a co-ordinate location within the area which is trackable by the position tracking system. Optionally, the position tracking system may be configured such that the ‘position’ of each clinical staff member detected by the position tracking system further includes an orientation and / or pose of each clinical staff member, e.g. which direction they are facing (orientation), and / or one or more features of their pose, e.g. a placement or pose of one or more body parts, e.g. a direction a hand or arm is pointing etc. Therefore in this disclosure, ‘position’ should be interpreted broadly, to include, at minimum, a location of the tracked clinical staff members, and optionally may include further position- related information, such as pose or orientation information.

[0019] The trigger event may comprise an alarm generated by the patient information system responsive to detection of a predetermined clinical event related to patient status. This ensures that staff are promptly alerted to significant changes in patient condition, potentially improving patient outcomes.

[0020] The trigger event may comprise a user-initiated query. This allows staff to actively seek information when needed, providing flexibility in information access.

[0021] The plurality of output devices may comprise output devices located at different positions, for example different positions in a healthcare facility or site.

[0022] Identifying the one or more output devices may comprise selecting one or more output devices based on proximity of the output devices to the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member. This proximity-based selection ensures that information is displayed on the most convenient device for the staff member. For example, the one or more output devices may be display devices, each having a display screen with a size larger than a typical smartphone screen. This allows a clinical staff member to obtain clinical information quickly and efficiently at any of a range of locations, and using a display which is large enough to view and display a large amount of information at one time.

[0023] The method may comprise identifying the one or more output devices based on a distance between the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member and positions of the plurality of output devices.

[0024] Identifying the one or more output devices may comprise determining a nearest output device to the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member. This ensures that information is always displayed on the most accessible device for the staff member.

[0025] The positions of the plurality of output devices may be stored in a database, and wherein the method comprises accessing the database to determine a distance or proximity between the at least one clinical staff member and each of the output devices, to thereby identify a nearest output device. Additionally or alternatively, the position tracking system may be configured to track the positions of each of the plurality of output devices.

[0026] The position tracking system may be configured to track a position of each of a plurality of clinical staff members, wherein each trigger event is associated with one of the plurality of clinical staff members, and wherein identifying the one or more output devices from the plurality of output devices is based on a detected position of the clinical staff member associated with the trigger event which has been detected. T

[0027] In some embodiments, the method may comprise identifying, based on the trigger event, at least one of the plurality of clinical staff members associated with the trigger event.

[0028] In some cases, the method may comprise performing a clinical staff member selection operation comprising selecting one or more clinical staff members from a plurality of clinical staff members based on the trigger event and associating the selected one or more clinical staff members with the trigger event.

[0029] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise forwarding each trigger event to a device associated with the at least one clinical staff member who is associated with the trigger event. This ensures that staff members receive immediate notifications of relevant events. The staff member may then move to a nearest output device, and wherein the system automatically controls communication of information relevant to the event to the output device to which the clinical staff member has moved. For example, the device may be a mobile device associated with the at least one clinical staff member. For example, the trigger event may be an alarm event.

[0030] In some embodiments, obtaining information from the patient information system may comprise performing an information selection operation comprising determining a subset of information available at the patient information system which is relevant to the trigger event, and extracting the determined relevant information. This enables output of information which is most clinically relevant, reducing information overload and improving clinical decision-making.

[0031] In some cases, the relevant information may be information indicative of at least one of: patient vital signs, medication information, laboratory results, alarm details.

[0032] In some embodiments, the information selection operation may comprise determining a subset of information available at the patient information system which is relevant to the trigger event and which is relevant to the at least one clinical staff member, for example relevant to the clinical role or specialty of the clinical staff member. For example, different information may be communicated to a nurse as compared with a clinician and / or to a respiratory nurse as compared with an ER nurse.

[0033] The method may further comprise: detecting two or more trigger events; determining a clinical priority order between the two or more trigger events; and causing the identified one or more output devices to selectively output the information relevant to the two or more trigger events based on the clinical priority order.

[0034] Prioritizing output of information may comprise prioritizing allocation of display space on a display in accordance with the clinical priority order. The priority order may be determined based on a pre -determined set of clinical priority rules.

[0035] In some embodiments, each trigger event may be associated with one of a plurality of clinical staff members. The method may further comprise: detecting at least a first trigger event and a second trigger event, the first trigger event associated with a first clinical staff member, and the second trigger event associated with a second clinical staff member. Responsive to detecting both the first clinical staff member and the second clinical staff member in proximity to a same identified one of the plurality of output devices, the method may further comprise: determining a clinical priority order between the first trigger event and the second trigger event; and causing the identified one of the plurality of output devices to selectively output information relevant to the first and second trigger events based on the clinical priority order. In other words, the method comprises prioritizing the information relevant to the trigger events to be output by the identified one of the output devices based on the clinical priority order. In this context, ‘in proximity’ may be understood to mean being within a threshold distance of the given output device.

[0036] In accordance with one or more embodiments, the method comprises: detecting at least a first trigger event and a second trigger event, the first trigger event associated with a first clinical staff member, and the second trigger event associated with a second clinical staff member. Responsive to detecting both the first clinical staff member and the second clinical staff member in proximity to a same identified one of the plurality of output devices: causing the identified one of the plurality of output devices to display information relevant to both the first and second trigger events simultaneously in different portions of a display of the identified output device. In this context, ‘in proximity’ may be understood to mean being within a threshold distance of the given output device.

[0037] In some examples, the method may comprise determining relative positions of the first and second clinical staff members with respect to the identified output device. In some cases, the method may comprise causing information relevant to the first trigger event to be displayed in a first portion of the display closer to the detected position of the first clinical staff member, and information relevant to the second trigger event to be displayed in a second portion of the display closer to the detected position of the second clinical staff member.

[0038] In some embodiments, the method may comprise adjusting the relative sizes or level of detail of the information displayed in the first and second portions based on the detected positions of the first and second clinical staff members.

[0039] In some embodiments, the method may comprise causing the obtained information to be communicated to the identified one or more output devices only if the at least one clinical staff member is within a pre-determined distance from the identified one or more output devices. For example, a display may be controlled to display the relevant information only if the clinical staff member is within a threshold distance of the display. In other words, even once the method has detected a closest one of the output devices, it may comprise controlling the output device to output the information only if and when the user has reached a threshold distance from the display device. For example, if the user walks up to an output device, the output device activates output of information only once the user gets to a threshold proximity to the device. This avoids displaying information when the clinician is too far away for the display to be useful, thus avoiding confusion by presenting information at locations where it is not required.

[0040] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise: determining when to communicate the information relevant to the trigger event to the identified one or more output devices based on movement information of the at least one clinical staff member derived from the position tracking system; and / or altering the information to be communicated based on the movement information. Altering the information can refer to selecting which information is communicated, and / or may refer to how the information is communicated. For instance using a patient avatar, or using waveforms and numerics.

[0041] The method may comprise causing the identified one or more output devices to output the information relevant to the trigger event when the at least one clinical staff member is determined to be positioned within a pre-determined proximity of the identified one or more output devices for a time period exceeding a pre-determined threshold time period. For example, this may correspond to a time when the at least one clinical staff member is determined to be standing still in front of the identified one or more output devices. This feature ensures that information is only displayed when staff members are likely to be actively engaging with the output device.

[0042] Each of the plurality of output devices may include user input functionality permitting the at least one clinical staff member to input information related to the trigger event via the identified one or more output devices. This bidirectional information flow enables staff to respond to alerts, update patient information, and interact with the system directly at the point of information display, potentially improving workflow efficiency and data accuracy. By way of example, each of the plurality of output devices may include user input functionality permitting the at least one clinical staff member to acknowledge or respond to the alarm.

[0043] In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of output devices comprises a touchscreen configured to display information and further configured to receive user input.

[0044] For example, the device may permit a user to input a response to communicated information, for example a response to the trigger event, for example a response to an alarm event.

[0045] In some embodiments, the patient information system may comprise a plurality of point- of-care devices, optionally including one or more of: a patient monitor, a ventilator, and an infusion pump.

[0046] The patient information system is not limited to point-of-care devices. It may additionally or alternatively comprise a central monitoring system, and / or an electronic medical records system for example.

[0047] In some embodiments, the plurality of output devices may include at least one standalone display, and / or at least one point-of-care device comprising a display. This flexibility in display options allows for optimal information presentation in various clinical settings. For example, the point-of-care device may be a point-of-care device comprising an integrated display.

[0048] Another aspect of the invention is a computer program product comprising computer program code configured, when run on a processor, to cause the processor to perform a method in accordance with any embodiment described in this disclosure or in accordance with any claim.

[0049] A further aspect of the invention is a processing device for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system. The processing device comprises: one or more processors; and a communication module, wherein the communication module is operatively coupled with the one or more processors; wherein the communication module is communicatively coupled with a position tracking system, the position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one clinical staff member; wherein the communication module is communicatively coupled with a patient information system configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients; wherein the communication module is communicatively coupled with a plurality of output devices, each operable to output clinical information to a user; wherein the processing device is configured to perform a method in accordance with any embodiment described in this disclosure or in accordance with any claim.

[0050] The processing device may be further communicatively coupled with a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device associated with one of the plurality of clinical staff members.

[0051] A further aspect of the invention provides a system. The system comprises: a position tracking system, the position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one clinical staff member; a patient information system configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients; a plurality of output devices, each configured to output clinical information to a user; a processing device in accordance with any embodiment detailed in this disclosure or in accordance with any claim, the processing device communicatively coupled with each of the position tracking system, patient information system, and the plurality of output devices.

[0052] In some embodiments, the position tracking system may comprise a real-time location system configured to track locations of the clinical staff, and optionally also medical equipment and / or patients.

[0053] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

[0054] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a system for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a further block diagram of the system for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system, including an alarm module, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates a further block diagram of an example system, comprising a plurality of point-of-care medical devices, in accordance with one or more embodiments; and

[0060] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate control of output of information to an output device having closest proximity to an example clinical staff member, in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0061] The invention will be described with reference to the Figures.

[0062] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0063] Embodiments of the invention provide a patient information display system and method configured to track locations of clinical staff members within a facility and dynamically select which of a set of available output devices to use to output information to a given clinician based on the location of that clinician relative to the different available output devices.

[0064] In accordance with one particularly advantageous set of embodiments, the system may include one or more of the following features:

[0065] • A tracking subsystem: tracking technology utilized by a tracking subsystem outputs a real-time location of clinical staff, and optionally of medical equipment, and / or patients, for example within a healthcare facility, for example an ICU. This allows for keeping track of where nurses or other clinical staff are located and potentially information about the activity of the clinical staff.

[0066] • A control module implemented by a processing device. This may be configured to extract or select or identify a set of clinically relevant information to be shown for a given alarm event or other clinical event. This component is also configured to identify which of a set of available output devices, e.g. which of a set of available display devices (having screens), to use to show or otherwise present the information. This component may have functionality for prioritizing which information or data to show or present using one or more given output devices when multiple clinical staff members are in proximity to the given one or more output devices.

[0067] • A set of output devices. This preferably includes a plurality of display devices. These may be located at different places in the healthcare facility, e.g. different locations in an ICU.

[0068] • Set of point-of-care devices. These may include for example one or more patient monitors, ventilators, and infusion pumps. These may be configured to generate alarms when changes in condition occur. Each may comprise a local display having a screen.

[0069] • A set of mobile devices. These may be carried on the person of clinical staff members. Alarms may be forwarded to the mobile devices.

[0070] In accordance with one or more advantageous embodiments, the system may include one or more of the following features or functions.

[0071] In the case of an alarm being generated by a point-of-care device, the alarm may be forwarded to a mobile device of a clinical staff member, for example an acoustic output is generated by the mobile device to alert the clinical staff member to the occurrence of the alarm (e.g. the mobile device rings). The system is configured to track a location of the clinical staff member at the time of the alarm. The clinical staff member is able to approach one of the output devices, e.g. a display device, to obtain more information. Optionally the display device may include functionality permitting the clinical staff member to accept or acknowledge the alarm. The control module may be configured to detect that a clinical staff member is approaching a given output device, e.g. a given display device, and when the staff member is standing within a short distance may cause the output device to output information related to the alarm, e.g. display the information on the screen. To determine when to output the information, the system may be configured to take into account movement information of the clinical staff member (derived from the tracking subsystem). For example, the system may be configured to only output the information, e.g. display the information, when the clinical staff member is determined to be standing still in front of the display (or another movement condition). In some cases, a clinical staff member may desire more information about a patient condition even in the absence of an alarm. The system may include functionality wherein the system detects a clinical staff member moving to a given output device, e.g. a display device, and responsive to this is configured to output all current information relevant to one or more patients. The system may include functionality wherein, if two or more clinical staff members are detected as approaching a same given output device, e.g. a same display device, the system is configured to take into account the priority of the event to which each clinical staff member is responding, and to show more information relevant to the higher priority event. The relevant information extracted or identified by the control module may be output using one or more standalone display devices, and / or may be output using one or more output devices, e.g. one or more displays, comprised by one or more point- of-care medical devices (e.g. patient monitors).

[0072] FIG. 1 outlines steps of an example method 10 for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system.

[0073] The method comprises tracking 12 the position of at least one clinical staff member using a position tracking system. For example, it may comprise tracking the position of at least one clinical staff member within a healthcare facility.

[0074] In some embodiments, the tracking of the at least one clinical staff member may comprise tracking, by means of a position tracking system, a position of at least one tracking device associated with a clinical staff member. The tracking device may be carried on the person of the clinical staff member. In some embodiments, the tracking device may be provided by a mobile computing device, for example a smartphone device. In other words, the system may comprise at least one mobile computing device carried on the person of the at least one clinical staff member, and wherein the tracking of the at least one clinical staff member comprises tracking a position of the mobile computing device carried by the at least one clinical staff member. The position tracking system may utilize any of various technologies such as Wi-Fi triangulation, radio sensor technology, use of RFID tags, or camera-based tracking technology to determine and track the location of clinical staff within a healthcare facility.

[0075] The position tracking system may be configured to track the locations of each of a plurality of clinical staff members.

[0076] The method further comprises detecting 14 a trigger event. The trigger event may be an alarm condition related to a patient clinical status. For example, the trigger event may comprise an alarm generated by a patient information system responsive to detection of a predetermined clinical event related to patient status. The detecting the trigger event may therefore comprise receiving alarm data or information, or an alarm message, from the patient information system. The trigger event could be an alert or reminder generated by a patient information system, for example for alerting a need for a scheduled medication administration. The detecting the trigger event could therefore comprise receiving an alert or reminder message from the patient information system. The trigger event may be a user- initiated event in some examples. This may for example comprise a query for patient information generated by the user. It may comprise one of a set of pre -determined user-system interaction events. For example, it may comprise detection of one of a set of pre -determined user inputs at a user interface, e.g. a user pressing a button, or touching a screen. It may comprise one of a set of pre-determined use movement patterns or sequences, for example moving toward one of the output devices, or moving a hand or other body part in a predetermined way. It may be a detected vocal output of the user. In these cases, the detecting the trigger event may comprise receiving a message or data from a user interface, one or more output devices, the position tracking system or any other system or module configured to detect the relevant event.

[0077] The method further comprises obtaining 16 information from a patient information system in response to the trigger event. The obtaining 16 information may comprise performing an information selection operation to determine and extract relevant information. This operation may consider factors such as the clinical staff member's role, the nature of the trigger event, and the capabilities of the available output devices.

[0078] The obtained information may be clinical information related to or relevant to or associated with the trigger. For example, if the trigger event is an alarm event, the obtained information may be clinical information relevant to the alarm event. If the trigger is a user-generated or user-initiated event, such as a query for information, the obtained information may be clinical information relevant to the query. If the trigger is a more generic user-initiated event, e.g. not particular to any alarm or clinical occurrence, the relevant information may comprise a pre -determined set of clinical information, e.g. a general or generic or standard set of information. The method may utilize a pre-determined rule set or algorithm or lookup table or program to determine which information to obtain responsive to different possible trigger events. For example, the system may have pre -determined rules to indicate at least which information to obtain responsive to different types of alarm event. The rule set or algorithm or lookup table or program may be stored in a data store locally or in the cloud.

[0079] With regard to the patient information system, this may for example encompass a realtime patient monitoring network or system as well as a patient medical record system. For example, the patient information system may comprise, or may be communicatively linked with a set of bed-side or point-of-care medical devices. The patient information system may comprise or be communicatively linked with an electronic health record system storing medical information, e.g. medical history information, about each of a set of patients. The patient information system may additionally include any other sources of patient clinical information. With regard to the one or more point-of-care medical devices, these may include patient monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps, and / or any other medical devices that collect and output patient data. These may be configured to output patient clinical information in real time, and this may be collected and recorded by the patient information system.

[0080] The method 10 further comprises identifying 18 one or more output devices from a plurality of output devices based on the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member. This may comprise identifying the one or more output devices from the plurality of output devices based on a detected position of the at least one clinical staff member and based on positions of each of the plurality of output devices. This may comprise identifying the one or more output devices from the plurality of output devices based on a detected position of the at least one clinical staff member relative to positions of each of the plurality of output devices.

[0081] Each of the plurality of output devices may be for communicating information to a user. Each is configured to generate user-perceptible outputs for communicating information to a user. The output devices may include, by way of example, one or more display devices (where these may be freestanding or integrated in a medical device), mobile computing devices, patient monitoring devices, audio output devices, or any other type of user output device. The plurality of output devices may be positioned at different positions or locations. For example, each may be positioned at a different location within a healthcare facility.

[0082] An itinerary of the available plurality of output devices may be stored in a database, and identifying the one or more output devices may comprise accessing the database and may comprise performing an output device selection operation to select one or more output devices from the plurality listed in the database. The database may record locations or positions of the plurality of output devices and this information may be used as part of the output device selection operation.

[0083] The method further comprises causing 20 the obtained information to be communicated to the identified one or more output devices. This step can be implemented in different ways depending upon the system architecture. It may involve communicating or forwarding the information as a message or push notification to the identified one or more output devices. It may comprise directly or indirectly controlling the identified one or more output devices to generate one or more user perceptible outputs for communicating the obtained information to a user within communicable range of the output device. It may comprise sending control instructions to an interface subsystem which is configured to interface with the plurality of output devices and control information output by each of them.

[0084] The method 10 may be implemented as a computer program product comprising computer program code configured to be executed by one or more processors. The computer program code may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and may include instructions for performing each step of the method 10.

[0085] The identifying 18 one or more output devices may comprise an output device selection operation for selecting one or more of the output devices. This selection is based at least in part on a current location of the at least one clinical staff member. However, the selection may also be based on other additional factors. For example, in some embodiments, the processing device may utilize contextual information in selecting the one or more output devices to use to communicate the obtained clinical information. For example, the selection may be based in part on one or more of: the clinical staff member's current task, the clinical staff member’s patient assignment, and / or the clinical staff member’s shift schedule.

[0086] In some embodiments, the method may comprise identifying, based on the trigger event, at least one of the plurality of clinical staff members associated with the trigger event. In some cases, the method may comprise performing a clinical staff member selection operation comprising selecting one or more clinical staff members from a plurality of clinical staff members based on the trigger event and associating the selected one or more clinical staff members with the trigger event.

[0087] The association between trigger events and clinical staff members may be based on which patient the trigger event relates to and / or based on the type of clinical information requested. For example, a subset of one or more of the plurality of clinical staff members may be assigned to each patient (e.g. one nurse), and wherein each trigger event is associated with the clinical staff member assigned to the patient to which the trigger event relates. Alternatively, a subset of two or more of the clinical staff members may be assigned to each patient, each of the subset associated with a different clinical specialty, and wherein each trigger event is associated with the clinical staff member assigned to the patient to which the trigger event relates and associated with the clinical specialty with which the clinical staff member is associated.

[0088] The assignments of clinical staff members to patients may be stored in an assignment database, and the identifying the clinical staff member may comprise accessing the database and applying the clinical staff member selection operation to look up the assigned one or more clinical staff members based on knowledge of the patient to which the trigger event relates.

[0089] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a system 30 for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system in accordance with the method of FIG. 1. The system 30 includes a processing device 32 (which might otherwise be referred to as a control module), a position tracking system 40, a patient information system 50, and a set 60 of N output devices, where N is preferably a value greater than 1. By way of illustration, FIG. 2 shows a set 60 of output devices having a first output device 62 1, up to an Nth output device 62_N. Reference to any nth output device of the set will be made using the generic reference 62_n. Each output device is a user output device. Each is configured to generate human- perceptible outputs for communicating information to users.

[0090] The patient information system 50 is configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients. The patient information system 50 has been described above.

[0091] The processing device 32 is communicatively coupled with each of the position tracking system 40, patient information system 50, and the set of output devices 60. The processing device may be a single processing unit, or may be a distributed processing system, implemented using a plurality of processing components which may located at the same or different physical locations. The processing device may be implemented by a cloud-based system, for example a cloud-based server. The processing functionality of the processing device could be implemented in a distributed manner by a plurality of disparate computing devices, for example by a plurality of mobile computing devices. The processing device may perform the function of a central control module.

[0092] The processing device 32 comprises a communication module 34, one or more processors 36, and a memory module 38. The communication module 34 is operatively coupled with the one or more processors 36, enabling data exchange and coordination between these components.

[0093] The one or more processors 36 of the processing device 32 may execute instructions stored in the memory module 38. For example, the memory module 38 may store program instructions, data, and other information necessary for the operation of the processing device 32 to implement the method outlined in FIG. 1.

[0094] With regard to the position tracking system 40, this is configured to track a position or location of one or more clinical staff members. The processing device 32 may be configured to receive real-time position tracking data 42 from the position tracking system 40 which may comprise real-time location information indicative of real time locations of each of one or more clinical staff members.

[0095] In the context of this disclosure, ‘position’ refers to, at minimum, a location of the clinical staff member, i.e. a location within a relevant area which is trackable by the tracking system. This may for example comprise a co-ordinate location within the area which is trackable by the position tracking system, e.g. a healthcare facility. Optionally, the position tracking system may be configured to track position information about each clinical staff member which further includes orientation and / or pose information about each clinical staff member, e.g. which direction they are facing (orientation), and / or one or more features of their pose, e.g. a placement or pose of one or more body parts, e.g. a direction a hand or arm is pointing. Therefore in this disclosure, ‘position’ should be interpreted broadly to include, at minimum, a location of the tracked clinical staff members, and optionally may include further position- related information, such as pose or orientation information.

[0096] The position tracking system 40 may utilize any of various technologies such as Wi-Fi triangulation, radio sensor technology, use of RFID tags, or camera-based tracking technology to determine and track the location of clinical staff within a healthcare facility. By way of example, one means for implementing the position tracking system 40 is by use of real-time location system (RTLS) technology to track the location of clinical staff members within a healthcare facility. In some embodiments, the position tracking subsystem 40 may utilize an infrared (IR) based system for indoor positioning.

[0097] In implementations using an IR-based tracking system, clinical staff members may wear badges equipped with IR receivers. These badges may be designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive, allowing staff to carry them comfortably throughout their shifts. A system of IR beacons may be mounted at a series of locations in the healthcare facility. These locations may include for example patient rooms, nursing stations, medication rooms, ICU units, and other areas relevant to patient care and staff activities.

[0098] The IR beacons may be configured to broadcast a unique Location ID corresponding to their specific position within the facility. As clinical staff members move through the facility, their badges may receive these Location ID broadcasts from nearby IR beacons. Upon receiving a Location ID, the badge may combine this information with its own unique Badge ID and transmit this data package to a central RTLS server using radio frequency (RF) communication.

[0099] The RF communication used for transmitting the combined Badge ID and Location ID information may be implemented using various wireless technologies. In some cases, the system may utilize a 900 MHz frequency band for this communication. Alternatively, the system may leverage existing Wi-Fi infrastructure within the healthcare facility or employ Bluetooth technology for data transmission.

[0100] The central RTLS server may receive and process the data transmitted by the badges, allowing the system to maintain real-time tracking of each staff member's location. This location data may then be communicated to the processing device 32.

[0101] The position tracking system 40 may encompass the central RTLS server, the IR beacons and the IR receivers carried by the clinical staff members. Of course, the IR receivers could be integrated in forms other than badges, example other wearable units, e.g. neck-worn units or head-worn units, or integrated in clothing.

[0102] Additionally or alternatively to the IR-based system, Near Field Communication (NFC) technology may be used for precise location tracking at specific checkpoints or stations within the facility. Bluetooth-based positioning, particularly using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, may offer another alternative for indoor location tracking.

[0103] In some embodiments, the position tracking system 40 may further be configured to track locations of each the set 60 of output devices 62_n. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the position tracking system 40 may further be configured to track locations of one or more items of medical equipment. The one or more items of medical equipment may include any one or more of: one or more patient monitoring devices, and / or one or more point-of-care medical devices. In certain implementations, the position tracking system 40 may be further configured to track locations of patients. The position tracking data 42 generated by the position tracking system 40 may in some embodiments be continuously transmitted, or transmitted at regular intervals, to the processing device 32. The one or more processors 36 may be configured analyze this data to determine a most appropriate output device 62_n from the set 60 of output devices for displaying the obtained relevant clinical information.

[0104] With regard to the set 60 of output devices 62_n, in some examples, the set of output devices includes at least one standalone display. The standalone display may be dedicated screen for presenting patient information. Additionally or alternatively, the set of output devices 60 may include at least one point-of-care medical device comprising a display. For instance, a patient monitor or ventilator may have an integrated display that can be utilized by the system 30 to present relevant clinical information.

[0105] In some embodiments, at least a subset of the set 60 of output devices 62_n may include user input functionality, allowing clinical staff members to input information related to trigger events. For example, at least a subset of the output devices 62_n may comprise a touchscreen configured to both display information and receive user input. This functionality enables clinical staff members to acknowledge alarms, input patient data, or respond to clinical events directly through the output device.

[0106] In certain implementations, the obtained information may be communicated to at least one of the identified output devices as a push notification. For example, when a trigger event occurs, the processing device 32 may send a push notification to a mobile computing device that is part of the set 60 of output devices 62_n and associated with a clinical staff member.

[0107] With regard to the patient information system 50, this may be configured to exchange information with the processing device 32, for example through the communication module 34. This information exchange allows the processing device 32 to retrieve relevant patient data and send updates or queries back to the patient information system 50.

[0108] As noted above, in some embodiments, the patient information system is configured to generate alarms or alerts responsive to occurrence of any one or more pre -determined clinical events associated with a clinical status of a patient, or associated with a planned care workflow for a patient. These alarms or events may be raised by the patient information system and may be forwarded to the processing device 32, for example via the communication module 34. These may act as trigger events, responsive to which the processing device 32 is configured to select one or more of the set 60 of output devices 62_n to which to communicate information related to the alarm or alert.

[0109] With reference to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the patient information system may include an alarm module 56 for generating alarms responsive to detection of predetermined clinical events related to patient status. These alarms may serve as trigger events for the system 30 to initiate information retrieval and display processes. An example implementation in which the patient information system 50 comprises an alarm module 56 is shown in FIG. 3. The patient information system 50 may also respond to user-initiated queries, which can serve as additional trigger events for information retrieval and display. These queries may be initiated by clinical staff members through various interfaces connected to the system 30.

[0110] With reference to FIG. 4, the patient information system 50 may comprise a plurality of point-of-care devices 72. These point-of-care devices 72 may include one or more patient monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps, and / or other medical devices that collect and transmit patient data.

[0111] The one or more patient monitors connected to the patient information system 50 may acquire and transmit real-time physiological data related to patients. This data may include vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. The one or more ventilators may provide information about patient respiratory status, including tidal volume, respiratory rate, and airway pressure. The one or more infusion pumps may transmit data related to medication administration, including drug types, dosages, and infusion rates.

[0112] The point-of-care devices 72 contribute to the real-time acquisition of patient monitoring information, which is then made available through the patient information system 50.

[0113] The obtained information from the patient information system 50 may include real-time waveforms and / or numerical data. For example, the patient monitors may transmit continuous electrocardiogram waveforms and corresponding heart rate values. The ventilators may provide real-time pressure-volume loops and respiratory rate numerical data. The real-time waveforms and numerical data allow for continuous monitoring of patient status.

[0114] The patient information system 50 may also incorporate information inferred or extracted from the data output by the point-of-care medical devices 72, for example by one or more algorithms executed by the patient information system 50 or by a cloud-based system. For example, one or more algorithms may be configured to analyze the data output by the medical devices 72 to provide additional insights or predictions. For instance, an algorithm may process real-time vital signs data to predict the likelihood of clinical deterioration. Another algorithm may analyze medication administration data from infusion pumps to detect potential drug interactions or dosing errors.

[0115] The alarm module 56 of the patient information system 50 may generate alarms based on data received from the medical devices 72. For example, an alarm may be triggered if a patient's vital signs fall outside predetermined ranges or if a ventilator detects a problem with a patient's breathing.

[0116] As has been briefly mentioned above, the method 10 comprises identifying or selecting one or more of the output devices 62_n of the set 60 of output devices to use to communicate clinical information to a clinical staff member. The method 10 comprises selecting one or more output devices based on a current location of a clinical staff member. For example, the method may comprise selection based on proximity of the output devices to the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member. Implementation details relating to this functionality will now be discussed.

[0117] As noted above, the method comprises detecting a trigger event. Responsive to the trigger event, the method may comprise identifying or selecting one or more of a plurality of clinical staff members who are associated with the trigger event. If the trigger event relates to a clinical event associated with a particular patient, the method may comprise identifying one or more of the clinical staff members who are assigned to that patient, for example by reference to an assignment database. If the trigger event is a user-initiated trigger event, e.g. a query submitted by a user, the method may identify the clinical staff member who initiated the trigger event as being associated with the trigger event.

[0118] The method may subsequently comprise determining a current location of the identified at least one clinical staff member associated with the trigger event.

[0119] The method subsequently comprises determining one or more of the output devices to use to output obtained clinical information related to the trigger event based on the location of the identified clinical staff member.

[0120] FIG. 5 illustrates an example implementation of the system in accordance with one or more embodiments, demonstrating the principle of selecting output devices based on proximity of an identified clinical staff member to different available output devices 62_n.

[0121] FIG. 5 schematically depicts a scenario where a clinical staff member 82 identified as being associated with the trigger event is positioned relative to output devices. In this case, a first output device 62 1 and a second output device 62_2 are shown. The clinical staff member 82 is located at a first distance A=D1 from the first output device 62 1 and a second distance A=D2 from the second output device 62_2. The figure demonstrates a situation where DI is less than a pre -determined threshold distance D_thresh, and DI is also less than D2. In this scenario, the processing device 32 causes the obtained information to be communicated to the first output device 62 1 , as the clinical staff member 82 is closest to this device and is within the threshold distance of this device.

[0122] FIG. 6 depicts a different scenario where the clinical staff member 82 has moved to a new position. In this case, the second distance D2 between the clinical staff member 82 and the second output device 62_2 is less than both the pre-determined threshold distance D_thresh and the first distance D 1 to the first output device 62 1. Consequently, the processing device 32 causes the obtained information to be communicated to the second output device 62_2.

[0123] The position tracking system 40 may track positions of multiple clinical staff members simultaneously. In examples where trigger events are associated with specific staff members, the processing device 32 identifies output devices based on the position of the associated staff member. This allows for personalized information delivery to the most relevant output device for each clinical staff member.

[0124] The processing device 32 may be configured to communicate information to an identified output device only if the associated clinical staff member is within the pre-determined threshold distance, D thresh, from the output device. This approach helps ensure that information is displayed only when a clinical staff member is likely to view and act upon the information.

[0125] The processing device 32 may be configured to output information when the clinical staff member is positioned within proximity of an output device (e.g. within the pre-determined threshold distance, D thresh, from the output device) for a minimum threshold time period. This feature helps prevent unnecessary information display when a clinical staff member briefly passes by an output device.

[0126] In examples where a clinical staff member is moving, the processing device 32 may display different parts of the information on multiple output devices along the movement path of the clinical staff member. The one or more processors 36 may estimate the movement trajectory and speed of the clinical staff member based on the position tracking data 42. Using this information, the processing device 32 can distribute relevant information across multiple output devices, allowing the clinical staff member to receive a continuous flow of information while moving through the healthcare facility.

[0127] The processing device 32 may determine when to communicate information or alter the information based on movement information of the clinical staff member. For example, the processing device 32 may delay displaying information until the clinical staff member's movement indicates they have stopped in front of an output device. By way of further example, the system may be configured to detect a speed of movement of a clinical staff member, and to adjust a content or format of displayed information based on this. For example, if the staff member is moving at a speed greater than a predetermined threshold speed, the display of the information may be adjusted to be more easily readable at a glance. For example, text size may be increased and / or an amount of information displayed may be reduced. Conversely, if a staff member remains stationary near an output device, more information may be presented, and optionally the font size may be made smaller.

[0128] In some embodiments, the processing device 32 may be configured to detect interaction with or engagement with an output device by a clinical staff member, and to communicate information to a given output device only if interaction or engagement is detected. This might be detected for example based on movement information of the clinical staff member relative to the output device. For example, this might be detected based on detecting a pre-determined movement pattern. For example, the clinical staff member may move toward a device and then stop for a pre-determined minimum time duration. If full body tracking is available, the clinical staff member may be detected to move their head to face a given display device. Interaction might be detected based on detecting a user touch or other user input at the output device.

[0129] Optionally, one or more output devices 62_n in the set 60 of output devices may comprise one or more sensors for detecting interaction of clinical staff members. For example, an output device may include a camera or radar sensor to determine when a clinical staff member is viewing or interacting with the display. This information can be used by the processing device 32 to refine the timing and content of information presented on the output device.

[0130] The processing device 32 may be communicatively coupled with a plurality of mobile devices, each associated with one of the plurality of clinical staff members. This connection allows for direct communication of alerts and information to individual clinical staff members, complementing the fixed output devices. In some embodiments, the processing device 32 may be configured to forward each trigger event to a mobile device associated with the clinical staff member who is associated with the trigger event. This feature ensures that clinical staff members receive important notifications even when not in proximity to a fixed output device.

[0131] In some cases, a scenario may occur in which more than one trigger event occurs simultaneously, or these occur in overlapping time periods. In this scenario, optionally the processing device 32 may be configured to determine a clinical priority order between them and cause selective output based on this priority order. This prioritization ensures that the most critical information is displayed prominently when multiple events compete for attention. In some examples, the processing device 32 may be configured to allocate different portions of a display to show information relevant to each clinical staff member, or alternate the display of information based on priority.

[0132] To state this more explicitly, in some embodiments, the method may further comprise: detecting two or more trigger events; determining a clinical priority order between the two or more trigger events; and causing the identified one or more output devices 62_n to selectively output the information relevant to the two or more trigger events based on the clinical priority order.

[0133] A clinical priority order of the events may in some embodiments be determined based on a clinical priority order of the relevant clinical information with which the event is associated. For example, it may be determined based on a time-criticality or time -sensitivity of the event or of relevant clinical information with which the event is associated.

[0134] In some embodiments, the selective output of the information may comprise prioritizing output of information relevant to at least one trigger event ranked as a higher priority in the priority order than at least a second trigger event.

[0135] Prioritizing output of information may comprise prioritizing allocation of display space on a display in accordance with the clinical priority order.

[0136] The priority order may be determined based on a pre -determined set of clinical priority rules. These may be stored in a data store locally or in the cloud for example.

[0137] By way of more detailed explanation, in some embodiments, the method may further comprise: detecting at least a first trigger event and a second trigger event, where the first trigger event is associated with a first clinical staff member, and the second trigger event is associated with a second clinical staff member. If the system detects both the first clinical staff member and the second clinical staff member in proximity to a same identified one of the plurality of output devices 62_n, the method may further comprise: determining a clinical priority order between the first trigger event and the second trigger event; and causing the identified one of the plurality of output devices 62_n to selectively output information relevant to the first and second trigger events based on the clinical priority order. In this context, ‘in proximity’ may be understood to mean being within a threshold distance of the given output device 62_n.

[0138] For example, the selective output of the clinical information may comprise prioritizing output of information relevant to either the first or second trigger event dependent on whether the first trigger event or second trigger event is ranked as a higher priority in the priority order than the other trigger event.

[0139] In some embodiments, responsive to detecting both the first clinical staff member and the second clinical staff member in proximity to a same identified one of the plurality of output devices 62_n, the method may comprise causing the identified one of the plurality of output devices 62_n to display information relevant to both the first and second trigger events simultaneously in different portions of a display of the identified output device 62_n.

[0140] In some examples, the method may comprise determining relative positions of the first and second clinical staff members with respect to the identified output device 62_n. In some cases, the method may comprise causing information relevant to the first trigger event to be displayed in a first portion of the display closer to the detected position of the first clinical staff member, and information relevant to the second trigger event to be displayed in a second portion of the display closer to the detected position of the second clinical staff member.

[0141] In some embodiments, the method may comprise adjusting the relative sizes or level of detail of the information displayed in the first and second portions based on the detected positions of the first and second clinical staff members.

[0142] Thus, the system is capable of handling output of information to multiple users pertaining to multiple events or patients simultaneously and in a dynamic manner.

[0143] Embodiments of the invention described above employ a processing device. The processing device may in general comprise a single processor or a plurality of processors. It may be located in a single containing device, structure or unit, or it may be distributed between a plurality of different devices, structures or units. Reference therefore to the processing device being adapted or configured to perform a particular step or task may correspond to that step or task being performed by any one or more of a plurality of processing components, either alone or in combination. The skilled person will understand how such a distributed processing device can be implemented. The processing device includes a communication module or input / output for receiving data and outputting data to further components.

[0144] The one or more processors of the processing device can be implemented in numerous ways, with software and / or hardware, to perform the various functions required. A processor typically employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform the required functions. The processor may be implemented as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry to perform other functions.

[0145] Examples of circuitry that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In various implementations, the processor may be associated with one or more storage media such as volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM. The storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and / or controllers, perform the required functions. Various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor.

[0146] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0147] A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims.

[0148] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0149] A computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0150] If the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term "adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to".

[0151] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system, the method comprising: tracking (12), by means of a position tracking system (40), a position of at least one clinical staff member (82); detecting (14) a trigger event, obtaining (16) information from a patient information system (50) in response to the trigger event, wherein the patient information system is configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients; identifying (18) one or more output devices (62_n) from a plurality of output devices(62 1,.. . ,62_N) based on a detected position of the at least one clinical staff member (82), wherein each of the plurality of output devices is operable to output clinical information to a user; and causing (20) the obtained information to be communicated to the identified one or more output devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger event comprises an alarm generated by the patient information system responsive to detection of a predetermined clinical event related to patient status; and / or wherein the trigger event comprises a user-initiated query.

3. The method of any preceding claim, wherein identifying the one or more output devices comprises selecting one or more output devices based on proximity of the output devices to the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member.

4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises identifying the one or more output devices based on a distance (A) between the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member and positions of the plurality of output devices.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein identifying the one or more output devices comprises determining a nearest output device to the detected position of the at least one clinical staff member.

6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the position tracking system is configured to track a position of each of a plurality of clinical staff members; wherein each trigger event is associated with one of the plurality of clinical staff members; and wherein identifying the one or more output devices from the plurality of output devices is based on a detected position of the clinical staff member associated with the trigger event which has been detected; and optionally wherein the method further comprises forwarding each trigger event to a device associated with the at least one clinical staff member who is associated with the trigger event.

7. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising: detecting two or more trigger events; determining a clinical priority order between the two or more trigger events; and causing the identified one or more output devices to selectively output the information relevant to the two or more trigger events based on the clinical priority order.

8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein each trigger event is associated with one of a plurality of clinical staff members; wherein the method further comprises: detecting at least a first trigger event and a second trigger event, the first trigger event associated with a first clinical staff member, and the second trigger event associated with a second clinical staff member, responsive to detecting both the first clinical staff member and the second clinical staff member in proximity to a same identified one of the plurality of output devices, determining a clinical priority order between the first trigger event and the second trigger event; and causing the identified one of the plurality of output devices to selectively output information relevant to the first and second trigger events based on the clinical priority order.

9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises causing the obtained information to be communicated to the identified one or more output devices only if the at least one clinical staff member is within a pre-determined distance (D thresh) from the identified one or more output devices.

10. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising: determining when to communicate the information relevant to the trigger event to the identified one or more output devices based on movement information of the at least one clinical staff member derived from the position tracking system; and / or altering the information to be communicated based on the movement information.11 . The method of any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises causing the identified one or more output devices to output the information relevant to the trigger event when the at least one clinical staff member is determined to be positioned with a pre-determined proximity of the identified one or more output devices for a time period exceeding a pre -determined threshold time period.

12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein each of the plurality of output devices includes user input functionality permitting the at least one clinical staff member to input information related to the trigger event via the identified one or more output devices.

13. A computer program product comprising computer program code configured, when run on a processor, to cause the processor to perform a method in accordance with any preceding claim.

14. A processing device (32) for controlling user interfacing with a patient information system, the processing device comprising: one or more processors (36); and a communication module (34), wherein the communication module is operatively coupled with the one or more processors; wherein the communication module (34) is communicatively coupled with a position tracking system (40), the position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one clinical staff member; wherein the communication module (34) is communicatively coupled with a patient information system (50) configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients; wherein the communication module (34) is communicatively coupled with a plurality of output devices (62 1,.. . ,62_N), each operable to output clinical information to a user; wherein the processing device (32) is configured to perform a method in accordance with any of claims 1-18.

15. A system (30), comprising: a position tracking system (40), the position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one clinical staff member;a patient information system (50) configured to provide access to information related to a plurality of patients; a plurality of output devices (62 1,.. . 62_N), each configured to output clinical information to a user; a processing device (32) in accordance with claim 14, communicatively coupled with each of the position tracking system (40), patient information system (50), and the plurality of output devices (62_1,... ,62_N).

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