Proxy Caregiver Interface for Multi-Bed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospital beds without graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are more cost-effective but lack the advanced data display and control functionalities offered by GUI-equipped beds, necessitating a solution to reduce costs while maintaining functionality across multiple beds in healthcare facilities.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a graphical user interface (GUI) that can display and control features of multiple beds, including a bed data server for remote communication, allowing visual indicia to differentiate between local and remote data, and enabling control of active features within line of sight, while allowing passive feature control across different rooms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a GUI is installed on each hospital bed to provide data display and control functions, then the functionality and ease of operation are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single GUI on one hospital bed is designed to control multiple beds through network communication. The GUI provides universal control capabilities for various bed functions including position adjustment, alarm settings, and patient monitoring across several beds, eliminating the need for separate GUIs on each bed while maintaining comprehensive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
A communication network acts as an intermediary between the single GUI and multiple beds. The network transmits control signals and data between the GUI and the beds it controls, enabling remote operation of multiple beds from one interface without requiring direct physical connection to each bed
2Productivity
If remote control of beds outside line of sight is permitted, then the productivity and efficiency are improved, but the safety and reliability deteriorate due to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides different control modes based on spatial context: when the caregiver is within line of sight of the bed, full control functionality is available; when outside line of sight, only passive monitoring is permitted. This localized adaptation of control permissions maintains safety while enabling efficient remote monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus for use in a healthcare facility has associated therewith a graphical user interface (GUI) that is operable to display information pertaining to features of the patient support apparatus and to display information pertaining to features of other patient support apparatuses. Under some circumstances, the GUI may also be used to control functions of some of the other patient support apparatuses. A bed data server is communicatively coupled to the patient support apparatus and to the other patient support apparatuses to control information flow to the GUI from the other patient support apparatuses.