Caregiver locating tag having advanced functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020185087-A1
Application number	US-201916678568-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2019
Priority date	Dec 5, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A caregiver badge system includes a caregiver badge configured to be worn by a caregiver and having a cavity defined therein. An identification badge is configured to be positioned within the cavity. The identification badge is removable from the caregiver badge. A transceiver is positioned within the caregiver badge and configured to communicate with a positioning system to identify a location of the caregiver. A battery is positioned within the caregiver badge to power the transceiver.

First claim

1 . A locating tag for use with a real time locating system (RTLS) of a healthcare facility that is operable to determine locations of caregivers in the healthcare facility, each caregiver having an employee identification badge, the locating tag comprising:
a housing having a cavity that is sized and configured to receive the employee identification badge therein, a coupler attached to the housing and configured to permit the housing to be worn by the caregiver; tag circuitry positioned within the housing and configured to communicate wirelessly with the RTLS, and a battery positioned within the housing to power the tag circuitry.

2 . The locating tag of claim 1 , wherein the battery is rechargeable, the battery being removable from the housing to recharge.

3 . The locating tag of claim 2 , further comprising an indicator to notify the caregiver when the battery is low on charge.

4 . The locating tag of claim 3 , wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a visual or audible alert.

5 . The locating tag of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of batteries, wherein a first battery is positioned within the housing to power the tag circuitry while at least one second battery is recharged.

6 . The locating tag of claim 5 , wherein the RTLS includes a charging station to charge the at least one second battery.

7 . The locating tag of claim 1 , wherein the RTLS includes a charging station and the housing is configured to couple to the charging station to recharge the battery.

8 . The locating tag of claim 1 , wherein the RTLS includes a docking station, the housing is configured to couple to the docking station, and the docking station monitoring which locating tag is coupled thereto to track which caregivers are off duty.

9 . The locating tag of claim 8 , wherein the docking station further comprises a battery recharger to recharge the battery when the housing is coupled thereto.

10 . The locating tag of claim 1 , wherein the RTLS is configured to track movement of the locating tag through communication with the tag circuitry, wherein the RTLS identifies duress movement of the caregiver and sends a duress signal to a nurse's station.

11 . The locating tag of claim 10 , wherein the duress movement comprises at least one of rapid movement and non-linear movement.

12 . The locating tag of claim 10 , further comprising a duress button positioned on the housing, the duress button configured to be activated by the caregiver during duress, and the tag circuitry sending a duress signal to a nurse's station when the duress button is activated.

13 . A caregiver tracking system comprising:
a positioning system, a caregiver badge configured to be worn by a caregiver, the caregiver badge having a transceiver that communicates with the positioning system to identify a location of the caregiver, and a duress button positioned on the caregiver badge, wherein the positioning system tracks movement of the caregiver badge through communication with the transceiver, wherein the positioning system identifies duress movement of the caregiver, a duress signal is transmitted to a nurse's station when at least one of duress movement is detected or the duress button is activated.

14 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 13 , wherein the duress movement comprises at least one of rapid movement and non-linear movement.

15 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 13 , wherein the caregiver badge further comprises a cavity defined therein and an identification badge configured to be positioned within the cavity, the identification badge being removable from the casing.

16 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 13 , wherein the caregiver badge further comprises a battery to power the transceiver.

17 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 16 , wherein the battery is rechargeable, the battery being removable from the caregiver badge to recharge.

18 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 16 , further comprising an indicator to notify the caregiver when the battery is low on charge.

19 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 18 , wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a visual or audible alert.

20 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of batteries, wherein a first battery is positioned within the caregiver badge to power the transceiver while at least one second battery is recharged.

21 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 20 , further comprising a charging station to charge the at least one second battery.

22 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 16 , further comprising a charging station, the caregiver badge configured to couple to the charging station to recharge the battery.

23 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 13 , further comprising a docking station, the caregiver badge configured to couple to the docking station, the docking station monitoring which caregiver badge is coupled thereto to track which caregivers are off duty.

24 . The caregiver tracking system of claim 23 , wherein the docking station further comprises a battery charger to charge a battery of the caregiver badge.

25 . A caregiver badge system comprising:
a caregiver badge configured to be worn by a caregiver, a transceiver positioned within the caregiver badge and configured to communicate with a positioning system to identify a location of the caregiver, a battery positioned within the caregiver badge to power the transceiver, and a docking station, the caregiver badge configured to couple to the docking station, the docking station monitoring which caregiver badge is coupled thereto to track which caregivers are off duty, the docking station comprising a battery recharger to recharge the battery when the caregiver badge is coupled thereto.

26 . The caregiver badge system of claim 25 , wherein the caregiver badge comprises:
a cavity defined therein, and an identification badge configured to be positioned within the cavity, the identification badge being removable from the casing.

27 . The caregiver badge system of claim 25 , wherein the caregiver badge comprises an indicator to notify the caregiver when the battery is low on charge.

28 . The caregiver badge system of claim 27 , wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a visual or audible alert.

29 . The caregiver badge of system claim 25 , further comprising a positioning system to track movement of the caregiver badge through communication with the transceiver, wherein the positioning system identifies duress movement of the caregiver and sends a duress signal to a nurse's station.

30 . The caregiver badge of system claim 29 , wherein duress movement comprises at least one of rapid movement and non-linear movement.

31 . The caregiver badge of system claim 25 , wherein the caregiver badge further comprises a duress button, the duress button configured to be activated by the caregiver during duress, the transceiver sending a duress signal to a nurse's station when the duress button is activated.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Smith Bradley T
• Robinson Andrew S
• Baker Steven D
• Wells Pamela
• Schroder John S
• Dezelon Kiana M
• Hassey Laura A
• Myers Thomas A
• Agdeppa Eric D
• Srivastava Varad N

Classifications

• G01C21/005

  with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching (G01C21/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01S13/74 Primary

  Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems · CPC title

• G08B21/02

  Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons · CPC title

• G07C9/29

  the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title