Computer-implemented system and method for tracking patient location

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for tracking patient location is provided. A tracker associated with a patient to be tracked is monitored within a hospital. An identifier of a tracker is associated with identification information for the patient. A location of the patient is determined at predetermined times or on a continuous basis based on a location of the tracker. The determined locations are stored with times at which the locations were determined as a location history for the patient. A request for a location of the patient is received and a currently determined location or a most recent location from the history is provided as the location for the patient, in response to the request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented system for tracking patient location, comprising:
 a tracker associated with a patient to be tracked within a hospital;   three or more reader systems that each receive location readings from the tracker in the hospital, wherein each reader system is positioned within the hospital; and   a server to perform the following:
 associate an identifier of a tracker with identification information for the patient; 
 determine a location for the patient at predetermined times or on a continuous basis based on a location of the tracker; 
 store the determined locations with a time at which the locations were determined as a location history; 
 receive a request for a location of the patient; 
 provide one of a currently determined location or a most recent location from the history as the location for the patient in response to the request. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server determines the location of the patient by interrogating the reader systems and identifying an overlapping zone of multiple reader systems with respect to the tracker. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the server identifies a position of the patient within the overlapping zone based on signal strength of each of the multiple the reader systems with respect to the tracker. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server identifies the location of the patient in a non-standard area of the hospital for patients. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the non-standard area comprises one of a hallway, meeting room, and supply room. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server determines a time difference between a time of the request and the time associated with the most recent location in the history and selects the most recent location from the history as the location when the time difference is below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server determines a time difference between a time of the request and the time associated with the most recent location in the history and calculates the currently determined location when the time difference exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server provides a history for the patient comprising a path of locations collected for the patient within a specified time range. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server provides the location of the patient as a room number, room name, or designated section of the hospital. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server displays the patient location on a map of the hospital. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for tracking patient location, comprising:
 monitoring a tracker associated with a patient to be tracked within a hospital;   associating an identifier of a tracker with identification information for the patient;   determining a location for the patient at predetermined times or on a continuous basis based on a location of the tracker;   storing the determined locations with a time at which the locations were determined as a location history for the patient;   receiving a request for a location of the patient;   providing one of a currently determined location or a most recent location from the history as the location for the patient in response to the request.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining the location of the patient by interrogating reader systems and determining an overlapping zone of multiple reader systems with respect to the tracker.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 identifying a position of the patient within the overlapping zone based on signal strength of the reader systems with respect to the tracker.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying the location of the patient as in a non-standard area of the hospital for patients.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the non-standard area comprises one of a hallway and supply room. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a time difference between a time of the request and the time associated with the most recent location in the history; and   selecting the most recent location from the history as the location when the time difference is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a time difference between a time of the request and the time associated with the most recent location in the history; and   calculating the currently determined location when the time difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a history for the patient comprising a path of locations collected for the patient within a specified time range.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing the location of the patient as a room number, room name, or designated section of the hospital.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying the patient location on a map of the hospital.