Dual-Indicator Incontinence Alert System for Patient Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient support apparatuses in healthcare facilities face challenges in effectively alerting caregivers to incontinence states without causing unnecessary distress to non-medical personnel or delaying necessary actions due to immediate alerts for non-urgent situations.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with an incontinence detection pad and a dual-indicator system, where a first indicator is located near the bed and a second indicator is remotely located, displaying different iconic representations to indicate the presence or absence of moisture, allowing caregivers to control the alert visibility and urgency through a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If an immediate alert system is used to notify caregivers of incontinence detection, then the response time to address the situation is improved, but non-medical personnel in the vicinity may become unnecessarily distressed
Solution Approach 1:
The alert system is segmented into two distinct notification channels: a visual indicator on the bed frame that is always visible to all persons, and a discrete audible alert that is directed only to the nursing station. This segmentation allows the visual component to serve as a constant status indicator without causing distress, while the audible component provides urgent notification to caregivers only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different types of information are delivered with different levels of urgency and visibility. The visual indicator provides continuous local information about incontinence status that is visible to everyone but does not trigger an emergency response. The audible alert provides remote notification to caregivers with higher urgency. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by making the information delivery context-dependent.
2Loss of information
If a visual indicator is always displayed to show incontinence status, then information availability is improved, but non-medical personnel may become upset due to constant alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the notification behavior based on the detected incontinence status. When moisture is detected, the visual indicator changes state (e.g., illuminates or changes color) to convey the status information. When no moisture is detected, the visual indicator remains inactive or shows a normal state. This dynamic behavior ensures information is communicated without causing unnecessary distress during normal conditions.
3Ease of operation
If remote notification to nursing station is implemented, then caregivers can be alerted without immediate presence at the bed, but the urgency and immediacy of the alert may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is segmented into local visual indication and remote audible notification. The local visual indicator provides immediate information at the bedside that does not require caregiver presence, while the remote audible alert notifies the nursing station of the incontinence event. This segmentation allows caregivers to respond at their own pace without feeling pressured by an immediate alarm, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining timely response.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.