Methods, devices and systems for identifying an individual to a pre-defined group

Abstract

Methods for identifying one or more individuals as members of one or more pre-defined group based on a defining characteristic or name of the group include providing a garment including a material having fabric stitching that includes externally visible repeating source identifying indicia viewable from substantially all elevation perspectives when the garment is worn. Garments, methods and systems for using same, for example, in a multi-group environment, are also described.

1 . A method for identifying an individual as a member of a pre-defined group, comprising:
 selecting a pre-defined group having at least one defining characteristic; and   causing an individual in said group to wear a garment including a material having fabric stitching that includes a set of externally visible repeating source identifying indicia;   wherein said set of indicia comprises a representation associated with a name of said group or at least one of said defining characteristic of said group; and   wherein at least one of said indicia is visible from substantially all elevation perspectives when the garment is worn by said individual.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said set of indicia is formed into the fabric stitching of said material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said garment is made substantially entirely from said material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said garment comprises at least one discreet portion composed of said material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said discreet portion is selected from the group consisting of an arm portion, a collar portion, a torso portion, a waist portion, a leg portion and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said set of externally visible repeating source identifying indicia comprises a pattern of characters. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising informing a viewer of the set of repeating source identifying indicia and its meaning. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said viewer is an unassociated party and wherein said set of indicia aids said unassociated party in correlating said individual in said group with said defining characteristic of said group. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said defining characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: job position, level of training, authority, responsibility, level of experience and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising prohibiting said individual in said group from engaging in at least one activity of said group without wearing said garment. 
     
     
         11 . A garment effective to aid an unassociated party in identifying an individual to a group having a defining characteristic, comprising:
 a material having fabric stitching visible from an external position; and   a set of repeating source identifying indicia formed by said fabric stitching;   wherein the garment is effective, when worn, to display said indicia in a manner whereby at least one of said indicia is visible from substantially all elevation perspectives.   
     
     
         12 . A method for visually identifying a plurality of individuals in a multi-group environment into distinct groups having distinct roles, comprising:
 selecting a plurality of pre-defined groups in a multi-group environment, each pre-defined group having at least one distinct defining characteristic and at least one defined role;   causing each member of each of said plurality of pre-defined groups to wear a role identifying garment when engaging in activities associated with said role in said multi-group environment, each garment including a material that includes a set of externally visible repeating source identifying indicia, and each garment identifying said individual wearing said garment to the proper group; and   prohibiting all individuals of each of said plurality of pre-defined groups from engaging in any activity associated with said role in said multi-group environment without wearing said garment;   wherein said set of indicia comprises a representation associated with a name of said group or at least one of said defining characteristic of said group; and   wherein at least one of said indicia is visible from substantially all elevation perspectives when the garment is worn by said individual.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said multi-group environment is an environment selected from a hospital environment, a medical office environment, a dental office environment, a veterinary hospital environment and a veterinary office environment. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of groups of individuals, each of said groups having at least one distinct defining characteristic and performing at least one distinct role; and   a set of rules applicable to said plurality of groups, said set of rules governing role identification apparel to be worn by said individuals when undertaking activities associated with said roles;   wherein said set of rules requires each of said individuals in said plurality of groups to wear a garment including material that includes a set of externally visible repeating source identifying indicia identifying the individual as a member of the proper group; and   wherein said set of rules prohibits any one of said individuals from undertaking at least one activity associated with said group without wearing the garment.   
     
     
         15 . A method of identifying an individual as a member of a pre-defined group in a multi-group setting of a hospital, comprising:
 selecting a plurality of pre-defined medical care provider groups in a multi-group hospital environment, each pre-defined group having at least one distinct defining characteristic and at least one defined role;   causing each member of each of said plurality of pre-defined groups to wear a role identifying garment when engaging in medical care activities associated with said role in said multi-group environment, each garment including a material that includes a set of externally visible repeating source identifying indicia, and each garment identifying said individual wearing said garment to the proper group; and   prohibiting all individuals of each of said plurality of pre-defined groups from engaging in any medical care activity associated with said role in said multi-group environment without wearing said garment;   wherein said set of indicia comprises a representation associated with a name of said group or at least one of said defining characteristic of said group;   wherein at least one of said indicia is visible to a viewer from substantially all elevation perspectives when the garment is worn by said individual.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said garment is part of a medical staff uniform. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said garment aids said viewer in correlating said individual in one of said plurality of groups with said defining characteristic of said one of said plurality of groups. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said set of externally visible repeating source identifying indicia comprises a pattern of characters. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said material is positioned on said garment at a position selected from the group consisting of an arm portion, a collar portion, a torso portion, a waist portion, a leg portion and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said defining characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a job position, a level of training, a level of authority, a level of responsibility, a level of experience and a combination thereof.