The present invention relates to a
patient care and communication
system which utilizes a central
processing system and a plurality of remote stations electrically connected to the central
processing system to facilitate visual and data communications. Each remote
station includes telephone circuitry which is connected to a private
branch exchange for telephone communications between stations. In addition, the private
branch exchange is connected to a
telephone exchange and a plurality of telephones for facilitating
telephone communication therebetween. The central
processing system facilitates the visual and data communications between the plurality of remote stations, and includes a system for determining which of the plurality of remote stations are transmitting the visual and data communications and which of the plurality of remote stations are to receive the visual and data communications. The central processing system also includes a system which establishes a
communication link between the transmitting stations and the receiving stations. The remote stations include a processing system which also facilitates the visual, data and telephone communications and a display for displaying the visual communications. The present invention also includes a staff and / or patient locator system, in which each remote
station includes an
infrared receiver that receives
infrared transmissions from a portable
transmitter worn by a staff member or patient. The
infrared transmissions include identity information associated with the person wearing the
transmitter. The identity information is then transferred to the central processing system which determines the identity and location of each person wearing a portable
transmitter.