Sanitization Protocol Adherence Monitoring/Compliance Systems, Methods and Software

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software for monitoring compliance of sanitizees (e.g., health care workers, food service workers, sanitization/janitorial workers etc.) with sanitization protocols to be followed for encounters with sanitization-protocol targets (e.g., patients, food-preparation areas, health care facilities/appurtenances, restrooms, etc.). In one example, a system includes sanitization verification systems located close to the targets and mobile node devices issued to the sanitizees. Each verification system can be configured to test the efficacy of sanitization procedures performed by the sanitizees prior to encountering a target, to provide authorizations, via the node devices, to the sanitizees to proceed with target encounters, and to open monitoring sessions during which the node devices record information concerning interactions with the targets. The node devices are configured to annunciate sanitization statuses of the sanitizees throughout a work period as the sanitizees continually interact with verification stations and encounter targets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine-readable storage medium containing machine-executable instructions for performing a method of monitoring compliance of a sanitizee with a sanitization protocol, wherein the sanitizee carries an electronic node device, said machine-executable instructions comprising:
 a first set of machine-executable instructions for receiving, by the electronic node device, a monitoring session authorization from a sanitization verification system;   a second set of machine-executable instructions starting, within the electronic node device, an initial contact timer as a function of the first indication;   a third set of machine-executable instructions recognizing, by the electronic node device, the occurrence of a sanitizee/sanitization-protocol-target encounter via an identification of a sanitization-protocol-target identifier;   a fourth set of machine-executable instructions recording, by the electronic node device, the sanitization-protocol-target identifier to a data store located onboard the electronic node device along with a corresponding target zone entry time stamp;   a fifth set of machine-executable instructions detecting, by the electronic node device, when the sanitizee has ended the sanitizee/sanitization-protocol-target encounter; and   a sixth set of machine-executable instructions recording, by the electronic node device, a time stamp to the sanitization protocol tracking health-care-zone record indicating the end of the sanitizee/sanitization-protocol-target encounter.