Patient point-of-care garment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a point-of-care garment configured for providing more efficient, effective, and accurate care to patients. Embodiments may include a point-of-care garment that includes an image sensing apparatus disposed proximate a cuff of a sleeve of the garment and at least one storage pocket, where each of the at least one storage pocket including identifying indicia. The point-of-care garment may further include a display disposed on a sleeve of the garment. The garment may further include a communications apparatus including a microphone and a speaker. The image sensing apparatus may be a barcode scanning apparatus. The identifying indicia of example embodiments may include a removable tag with at least one patient name, a barcode identifying a patient, or a patient location.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A point-of-care garment comprising:
 an image sensing apparatus disposed on the garment;   a communications apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with a network; and   at least one storage pocket, each of the at least one storage pocket comprising an identifying indicia.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a primary display disposed on a sleeve of the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the communications apparatus comprises a microphone and a speaker. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensing apparatus is disposed on a sleeve of the garment and comprises a barcode scanning apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying indicia comprises a removable tag with at least one of a patient name, a barcode identifying a patient, or a patient location. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary display disposed proximate each of the at least one storage pocket wherein the identifying indicia of each of the at least one storage pockets is presented on a said display. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the communications apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the microphone and speaker are integrally attached to the garment, and wherein a housing comprising the transmitter and the receiver are removable from the garment. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery, wherein the battery is removably received within the garment. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising an identification tag configured to track a location of the garment. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensing apparatus comprises a light source. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensing apparatus is configured to detect a biometric identifier. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a point-of-care garment, comprising:
 receiving identifying indicia from an image sensing apparatus disposed on the garment;   providing for transmission of the identifying indicia to a network entity;   receiving information related to the identifying indicia in response to providing for transmission of the identifying indicia; and   providing for display of at least a portion of the information received on a display disposed on a sleeve of the garment.   
     
     
         14 . A point-of-care garment, comprising:
 a sleeve comprising an image sensing apparatus;   at least one storage pocket comprising identifying indicia;   a communications apparatus;   a processing unit; and   a battery.   
     
     
         15 . The point-of-care garment of  claim 14 , further comprising a display disposed on the sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The point-of-care garment of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is configured to receive patient identifying indicia from said image sensing apparatus and wherein the display is configured to present patient information in response to the processing unit receiving patient-identifying indicia from said image sensing apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The point-of-care garment of  claim 14 , further comprising a communications apparatus configured for transmitting and receiving information wirelessly. 
     
     
         18 . The point-of-care garment of  claim 14 , wherein the communications apparatus comprises a microphone and a speaker, wherein the microphone and the speaker are configured to be non-removably attached to said garment. 
     
     
         19 . The point-of-care garment of  claim 14 , wherein said battery is configured to be removably received within said garment. 
     
     
         20 . The point-of-care garment of  claim 14 , further comprising a garment identification tag, wherein said garment identification tag is configured to provide a location of the garment.