Patient Risk Notification System for Bed Configuration Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current healthcare systems do not proactively alert healthcare workers to unsatisfactory hospital bed configurations that may pose risks to patients based on their condition or risk factors.
Innovation Solution
A notification system that includes a patient support monitoring system, which detects and monitors the configuration of patient supports (such as hospital beds) and generates notifications when the configuration is unsuitable for a patient's condition or risk factor, using sensors and network interfaces to compare actual configurations against predefined criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If healthcare systems manually monitor patient bed configurations, then system complexity is reduced, but patient safety and response time to adverse conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system performs self-service by automatically detecting patient bed configurations through integrated sensors and generating notifications without requiring manual healthcare worker intervention. The system autonomously compares actual configurations against appropriate criteria and alerts staff to unsatisfactory conditions, eliminating the need for continuous manual monitoring while maintaining high patient safety standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an automated electronic monitoring system that uses sensors, network interfaces, and processing logic to detect bed configurations and generate notifications. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with electronic automation resolves the contradiction by improving patient safety through continuous monitoring while managing system complexity through integrated smart bed technology.
2Reliability
If automated sensors and network interfaces are implemented to monitor patient configurations, then patient safety improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart bed system integrates multiple functions into a single platform: it monitors patient configuration, detects adverse conditions, communicates with healthcare networks, and generates notifications. This multi-functionality approach improves patient safety through comprehensive monitoring while managing complexity by consolidating multiple monitoring functions into one integrated system rather than separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the bed structure, sensors, network interface, and notification system into an integrated smart bed unit. By combining these previously separate components into a unified system, the patent improves patient safety through continuous automated monitoring while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent systems working in parallel.
3Loss of time
If continuous monitoring of patient configurations is implemented, then adverse health events are detected earlier, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system employs periodic action by continuously detecting patient bed configurations and automatically generating notifications when unsatisfactory conditions are identified. This continuous periodic monitoring enables early detection of adverse health events while managing energy consumption through event-driven notification generation rather than constant high-power operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a healthcare system for capturing and maintaining patient healthcare records and employing information in the records to proactively alert hospital workers to a condition that places patient health at risk.