Synchronized Visual Indicators for Patient ID Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caregivers in healthcare facilities face challenges in efficiently confirming patient information due to time-consuming tasks, leading to stress and potential errors in patient care operations.
Innovation Solution
A patient care system utilizing a power line network to communicate patient IDs through a modulated carrier signal, enabling synchronized flashing patterns between patient support devices and care apparatuses to ensure accurate identification and association, reducing the burden on caregivers by providing a visual cue for correct information correlation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If caregivers manually confirm patient information through time-consuming tasks, then information accuracy can be verified, but caregiver burden and stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having patient care devices automatically transmit and confirm patient information through the power line network without requiring manual verification by caregivers. The synchronized visual indicators automatically confirm information correspondence, freeing caregivers from time-consuming manual confirmation tasks while maintaining information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through synchronized visual indicators that provide immediate confirmation when patient information is accurately transmitted between devices. The visual feedback loop allows caregivers to quickly verify information correspondence at a glance, maintaining reliability while reducing the time and effort required for verification.
2Device complexity
If patient information is transmitted through existing power line infrastructure, then device interconnection is simplified, but signal communication reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by using the existing power line infrastructure for dual purposes: delivering electrical power to patient care devices and transmitting patient identification information. This eliminates the need for separate communication wiring, simplifying interconnection while leveraging the already-deployed power infrastructure for reliable data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the power line network as an intermediary that simultaneously carries both power and data signals. The modulated carrier signals embedded in the power lines enable reliable communication of patient information through the existing electrical infrastructure, bridging the gap between power distribution and data communication functions.
3Loss of time
If visual indicators are added to patient care devices, then information correspondence can be quickly confirmed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual indicators that change their optical state (flashing patterns, illumination) to communicate patient information correspondence. The synchronized visual indicators provide immediate, intuitive confirmation that patient information is accurately transmitted between devices, reducing confirmation time while using simple optical signaling rather than complex display interfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution streamlines patient information confirmation, reducing errors and caregiver stress by creating a synchronized visual indicator system that ensures accurate association of patient IDs with their corresponding care devices, enhancing operational efficiency and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
the ID source device may communicate the patient ID throughout the power line network through a modulated carrier signal embedded within the electrical power provided by the electrical power distribution circuit
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present disclosure, a system includes a patient support device and a power line network for communicating data, such as patient identifying information. The patient support device locally indicates information about an assigned patient. A patient care apparatus is communicatively connected to the power line network to receive data and to provide a local indication of the data received. The local indication of the device and the apparatus includes respective lights that flash substantially synchronously.