JP7793475B2 - Nurse call system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a nurse call system.

When a patient or a person being cared for in bed tries to get up or leave the bed, there is a risk that the patient may fall off the bed or trip.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a nurse call system that detects a patient's sitting up movement from a camera image, and if the patient subsequently leaves the bed, determines that the patient has left the bed or fallen, and issues a notification.

JP 2016-59704 A

However, many patients find it psychologically difficult to actively press the nurse call handset. As a result, even when a patient needs a nurse's assistance, the nurse may not be called through the handset, preventing the nurse from speaking to the patient or arriving at the appropriate time, which can lead to a loss of communication between the patient and nurse.

In light of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a nurse call system that can reduce communication loss between patients and nurses.

In order to solve the above problems, the nurse call system according to the present invention comprises:
A nurse call system having a nurse call handset for a patient to call a nurse, a hallway light that notifies the patient of a call made by the nurse call handset, and a nurse call base unit that responds to the call,
An alarm unit installed near the bed in the hospital room;
a control unit that causes the sounding unit to periodically sound a predetermined message at a predetermined timing;
It also has:

This invention provides a nurse call system that eliminates the psychological barriers that patients face when actively pressing a nurse call handset to make a call.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a nurse call system equipped with a patient monitoring system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hallway light provided in the nurse call system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a camera provided in the nurse call system of FIG. 1. 10 is a flowchart showing a first example of operation of the nurse call system of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a voice-call function according to the first operation example. 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of the operation of the nurse call system of FIG. 1. 10 is a flowchart showing a third example of operation of the nurse call system of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a voice-call function according to an operation example 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a nurse call system according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the nurse call system 100 includes a nurse call handset 1 installed at each bed so that patients can call a nurse; a hallway light 2 installed in front of a hospital room to notify of a call and display patient information for the room; a nurse call base unit 3 at a nurse's station to notify and respond to calls from patients; a mobile terminal 4 such as a smartphone that a nurse carries with them to respond to calls from patients; a base station 5 such as an access point that communicates with the mobile terminal 4; a switchboard 6 that manages communications via the base station 5; a controller 7 that controls calls/calls; and a camera 8 installed on the wall or ceiling of the hospital room to capture images of the patient.

The corridor light 2, nurse call base unit 3, and switchboard 6 are connected to the control unit 7 via LAN line L1. The nurse call handset 1 is connected to the corridor light 2 in each patient room via transmission line L2. The camera 8 is connected to the corridor light 2 in each patient room via transmission line L3.

Nurse call handset 1 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "handset") has a call button 1a and a plate handset 1b that is installed on the wall near the bed and equipped with a microphone 11 and speaker 12 for communicating with a nurse. Call button 1a is connected to plate handset 1b.

The corridor light 2 has an indicator light 21 and a patient information display unit 22. The indicator light 21 flashes to indicate that a patient in the hospital room has operated the handset 1 to make a call. The patient information display unit 22 is a display area for displaying the name of the patient in the hospital room, etc. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 , the corridor light 2 further has a posture detection unit 23, a message storage unit 24, a text conversion/storage unit 25, a corridor light CPU 26, and a corridor light communication interface (IF) 27. The corridor light CPU 26 controls each unit of the corridor light 2. The corridor light communication IF 27 communicates with the controller 7, the camera 8, and the handset 1.
The corridor light 2 in Fig. 1 shows a corridor light 2 in a four-person hospital room, capable of displaying information on four patients. The camera 8 is set to capture an image of one specific patient. In the case of a four-person hospital room, a camera 8 may be provided to capture an image of each patient.

The corridor light CPU 26 is composed of, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU). The electronic control unit includes a microcontroller with a processor and memory, and other electronic circuits (e.g., transistors, etc.). The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and/or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The memory includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which various control programs (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI) programs, etc.) are stored, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which various control data is temporarily stored. The processor is configured to load a specified program from the various control programs stored in the ROM onto the RAM and execute various processes in cooperation with the RAM.

The posture detection unit 23 analyzes the image captured by the camera 8 connected to the hallway light 2 to detect specific postures of the patient. Specifically, the posture detection unit 23 detects multiple postures of the patient from the image captured by the camera 8, such as a posture with the upper body upright, a posture with the patient sitting on the edge of the bed, and a posture with the patient standing up beside the bed. Changes in the patient's posture are detected by extracting the patient's shape based on the image captured by the camera 8. Algorithms for extracting the patient's shape may include, for example, well-known motion detection methods, identification methods using features such as SIFT (Scale Invariant Feature Transform) or SURF (Speeded-Up Robust Features), or deep learning. Alternatively, the posture detection unit 23 may detect changes in the patient's condition by detecting information about the patient's skeletal structure in the image captured by the camera 8. Specifically, the posture detection unit 23 estimates the patient's skeleton and joints based on the captured image. Existing skeletal tracking technology, for example, can be used as a method for estimating the skeleton and joints. The posture detection unit 23 may also estimate one of the target person's skeleton and joints as skeleton information.

The message storage unit 24 stores messages to be notified to patients in their hospital rooms. Specifically, the message storage unit 24 stores multiple types of messages depending on the patient's attributes. For example, in the case of a patient who requires periodic sound alerts, the corridor light CPU 26 selects a periodic message from the message storage unit 24 and transmits the data of that periodic message to the camera 8. Alternatively, the message storage unit 24 may store multiple types of messages that correspond to multiple postures of the patient detected by the posture detection unit 23. For example, when the posture detection unit 23 detects a specific posture of the patient, the corridor light CPU 26 selects a specific message corresponding to that specific posture from the message storage unit 24 and transmits the data of that specific message to the camera 8. Upon receiving the message data from the corridor light 2, the camera 8 outputs the message via the sound alert unit 86, which will be described later.

The text conversion/storage unit 25 converts the voice data collected in the hospital room into text data and stores the text data.

In this example, the posture detection unit 23, message storage unit 24, and text conversion/save unit 25 are provided separately from the corridor light CPU 26, but the corridor light CPU 26 may also be configured to have the functions of the posture detection unit 23, message storage unit 24, and text conversion/save unit 25.

Returning to Figure 1, the nurse call base unit 3 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "base unit") is equipped with a handset 31 as a communication unit for answering calls made using the handset 1, a first display 32 that displays a list of patient information and a ward map, and a second display 33 that displays caller information, etc.

The camera 8 is installed on the wall above the bed so as to capture an image of the patient at the center (see FIG. 5). FIG.
As shown in Figure 3, the camera 8 includes a camera CPU 81 that controls each part of the camera 8, a camera communication interface (IF) 82 for connecting to other nurse call devices via a LAN via the HUB 10, a memory unit 83 that stores various information, an imaging unit 84, a recording unit 85, and a speaker (an example of an alarm unit) 86.

The camera CPU 81 is composed of an ECU, for example, similar to the corridor light CPU 26. The imaging unit 84 is composed of, for example, a camera module equipped with a filter that also transmits infrared light. The recording unit 85, for example, collects and records the voice of the patient in the hospital room via a microphone (not shown) attached to the camera 8.

(Operation example 1)
An operation example 1 of the nurse call system 100 configured as described above will be described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5. However, since the operation of calling a nurse by operating the handset 1 and the operation of answering the call from the base unit 3 or mobile terminal 4 and making a call are the same as in the past, an explanation will be omitted. Here, the operation of periodically sounding a message to a patient in a hospital room from the speaker 86 of the camera 8 will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the corridor light CPU 26 first receives an instruction to start sounding a periodic message from the nurse call base unit 3 or control unit 7 (step S1). The head nurse or other person in charge determines whether a periodic message needs to be sounded for a specific patient based on the patient's condition and nursing environment. The head nurse or other person in charge then issues an instruction to start sounding a periodic message via the nurse call base unit 3 or control unit 7 to the corridor light 2 connected to a specific camera 8 associated with the patient for whom it has been determined that a periodic message needs to be sounded.

Upon receiving the instruction to start sounding the periodic message, the corridor light CPU 26 then selects a periodic message from the message storage unit 24 (step S2) and transmits data related to the selected periodic message to the camera 8. For example, the corridor light CPU 26 selects a periodic message such as "How are you feeling? If you would like to call a nurse, please press the nurse call button" from the message storage unit 24, which stores multiple messages, and transmits the data of the periodic message to the camera 8.

The camera CPU 81 of camera 8, which has received the periodic message data from the corridor light 2, causes the speaker 86 to sound a periodic message saying, "How are you feeling? If you would like to call a nurse, please press the nurse call button," as shown in Figure 5 (step S3). When the speaker 86 sounds the periodic message, the camera CPU 81 starts recording with the recording unit 85 (step S4). Alternatively, the recording unit 85 may be constantly running.

Next, the corridor light CPU 26 determines whether there has been a response from the patient to the regular message (step S5). Specifically, the corridor light CPU 26 analyzes the patient's voice data recorded by the recording unit 85 of the camera 8 and determines whether the voice data contains words that correspond to a response to the regular message. Specifically, the corridor light CPU 26 determines whether the recorded voice data contains specific words. "Specific words" are, for example, words such as "Yes" or "It's okay" uttered by the patient. In this example, by recognizing that these specific words are included in the voice data, it is determined that the voice data contains words that correspond to a response to the regular message.

In step S5, if there is no reply to the periodic message (No in step S5), the process proceeds to step S8, which will be described later.
On the other hand, if there is a reply to the periodic message in step S5 (Yes in step S5), the corridor light CPU 26 converts the periodic message and the recorded voice data into text data and stores them in the text conversion/storage unit 25 (step S6). In this example, if the patient replies "I'm fine" to the periodic message "How are you feeling? If you want to call a nurse, please press the nurse call button," the corridor light CPU 26 determines that the recorded voice data of "I'm fine" is a reply to the periodic message. The corridor light CPU 26 then stores the periodic message "How are you feeling? If you want to call a nurse, please press the nurse call button" and the recorded data of the patient's voice saying "I'm fine" as text data in the text conversion/storage unit 25.

Next, the corridor light CPU 26 transmits the text data of the periodic message and patient voice stored in the text conversion/storage unit 25 to an electronic medical record system linked to the nurse call system 100 (step S7). The electronic medical record system is, for example, a system that manages the medical records (medical charts) and nursing records of each patient, including inpatients and outpatients. The electronic medical record system is composed of external devices (computers, servers, etc.) that are communicatively connected to the controller 7 of the nurse call system 100 via, for example, LAN line L1 or another network. The electronic medical record system that receives the text data from the corridor light 2 can, for example, generate part of the patient's nursing record or follow-up observation record based on the text data.

Next, the corridor light CPU 26 determines whether or not a predetermined interval for sounding the periodic message has elapsed (step S8). If the predetermined interval has not elapsed (No in step S8), the corridor light CPU 26 repeats step S8 until the predetermined interval has elapsed.
On the other hand, if the predetermined sound interval has elapsed (Yes in step S8), the corridor light CPU 26 returns the process to step S3 and causes the speaker 86 of the camera 8 to sound the periodic message again. In this way, the periodic message can be sounded periodically from the speaker 86.

After the periodic message is sounded in step S3, the corridor light CPU 26, in parallel with step S4, determines whether the patient has operated the handset 1 (step S9). If there has been no operation input from the handset 1 in step S9 (No in step S9), the corridor light CPU 26 proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if there has been operation input from the handset 1 (Yes in step S9), the corridor light CPU 26 executes a call operation (step S10). Specifically, the corridor light CPU 26 transmits a call signal to the base unit 3 and the mobile terminal 4 associated with the nurse via the controller 7. The mobile terminal 4 to which the call signal is transmitted is preferably the mobile terminal 4 carried by the nurse in charge of the patient who operated the handset 1. The base unit 3 and the mobile terminal 4 that receive the call signal execute a call with a predetermined ring tone. When the call is answered using either the base unit 3 or the mobile terminal 4, the controller 7 establishes a voice transmission path to the handset 1 between the handset 1 and the device that was answered. As a result, the nurse's voice input from the device that responded (for example, the nurse's mobile terminal 4) is reported from the speaker of the handset 1. The nurse's voice may also be reported from the speaker 86 of the camera 8. After the call is completed between the called patient and the nurse, processing proceeds to step S8.

As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to operation example 1 includes the nurse call handset 1, the hallway light 2, and the nurse call base unit 3, as well as a speaker 86 attached to a camera 8 installed near a bed in a hospital room. The hallway light CPU 26 (an example of a control unit) included in the hallway light 2 periodically sounds a periodic message (an example of a first message) from the speaker 86 at a predetermined timing. This configuration reduces communication loss between the patient and the nurse. Specifically, the periodic message is preferably a message that encourages the patient to operate the nurse call handset 1. This reduces the psychological hurdle for the patient to operate the nurse call handset 1 to make a call, allowing the nurse to speak with the patient or rush to the patient's aid at an appropriate time as needed.

The camera 8 also includes a recording unit 85 installed near the bed, which begins recording the patient's speech in the hospital room when a message is sounded from the speaker 86. This configuration allows the patient's speech in response to periodic messages to be recorded and stored, which can be useful, for example, for monitoring the patient's progress.

The corridor light 2 also includes a text conversion/storage unit 25 that saves the patient's vocal data recorded by the recording unit 85 of the camera 8 as text data along with periodic messages. This configuration allows the patient's voice data to be converted into text data along with periodic messages and saved, which can, for example, be linked to an electronic medical record system to automatically create patient progress observation records, reducing the burden on nurses.

(Operation example 2)
Next, a second operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described below with reference to FIG.
Of steps S11 to S19 in operation example 2 shown in FIG. 6, steps S11 to S16 and S19 are similar to steps S1 to S6 and S8 in operation example 1 shown in FIG. 4, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step S16, similar to step S6 in operation example 1, the corridor light CPU 26 saves the periodic message sounded from the speaker 86 and the patient's response voice data recorded by the recording unit 85 as text data in the text conversion/storage unit 25. Next, the corridor light CPU 26 analyzes the patient voice data recorded by the recording unit 85 and determines whether an automatic call notification is necessary (step S17). In step S17, if a call notification is not necessary (No in step S17), processing proceeds to step S19. In step S19, similar to step S8 in operation example 1, the corridor light CPU 26 determines whether the predetermined sound interval for sounding the periodic message has elapsed.

On the other hand, if a call notification is necessary in step S17 (Yes in step S17), the corridor light CPU 26 executes the call notification (step S18). For example, if the patient voice data recorded by the recording unit 85 contains specific words such as "Please come right away," "Help me," or "I'm in pain," the corridor light CPU 26 determines that it is necessary to call a nurse even without the patient operating the handset 1, and executes the call notification. After executing the call notification, processing proceeds to step S19.

As described above, in operation example 2, if the content of the patient's speech data recorded by the recording unit 85 of the camera 8 requires notification to the base unit 3 and the mobile terminal 4 carried by the nurse (an example of a notification unit), the corridor light CPU 26 sends a notification signal to the base unit 3 and the mobile terminal 4. With this configuration, a nurse can be called at the appropriate time without the patient actively operating the handset 1.

(Operation example 3)
Next, a third operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG.
Of steps S21 to S27 in operation example 3 shown in FIG. 7, steps S21 to S23 and S27 are similar to steps S1 to S3 and S8 in operation example 1 shown in FIG. 4, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step S23 of operation example 3, when a periodic message is sounded from the speaker 86 of the camera 8, the imaging unit 84 of the camera 8 starts capturing an image of the patient in bed (step S24). Next, the posture detection unit 23 detects a specific posture of the patient from the image captured by the camera 8 and determines whether the patient in the captured image has assumed the specific posture (step S25). Specifically, the posture detection unit 23 recognizes the patient sitting up, sitting on the edge of the bed, standing up next to the bed, etc. as a specific posture.
In step S25, if the posture detection unit 23 does not detect a specific posture of the patient based on the image (video) captured by the camera 8 (No in step S25), the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the corridor light CPU 26 determines whether the predetermined sound interval for sounding the periodic message has elapsed, similar to step S8 in the first operation example.

On the other hand, in step S25, if the posture detection unit 23 detects a specific posture of the patient based on the image captured by the camera 8 (Yes in step S25), the corridor light CPU 26 selects an individual message corresponding to the specific posture detected from the message storage unit 24 and issues the individual message audibly from the speaker 86 of the camera 8 (step S26). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8 , if the posture detection unit 23 detects the patient sitting on the edge of the bed, an individual message saying "I'll be there shortly. Please wait by the bed" is selected from the message storage unit 24 and issued audibly from the speaker 86. For example, if the posture detection unit 23 detects the patient sitting upright, an individual message similar to the regular message saying "How are you feeling? If you want to call a nurse, please press the nurse call button" may be selected from the message storage unit 24 and issued audibly from the speaker 86.

As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to operation example 3 further includes a camera 8 installed in a hospital room to capture an image of a patient in bed, and a posture detection unit 23 that detects whether the patient has assumed a specific posture based on the image captured by the camera 8. If the specific posture of the patient detected by the posture detection unit 23 matches a predetermined posture condition (an example of a first posture condition), such as the patient sitting up in bed, the corridor light CPU 26 sounds a periodic message even at a timing different from the timing for sounding the periodic message. With this configuration, for example, if a patient assumes an unusual posture (sitting up, sitting on the edge of bed, standing up, etc.), a message prompting the patient to operate the handset 1 is sounded, eliminating the difficulty of pressing the handset 1.

Furthermore, if the patient's specific posture detected by the posture detection unit 23 matches a predetermined posture condition (an example of a second posture condition), such as sitting on the edge of the bed or standing up beside the bed, the corridor light CPU 26 may sound an individual message (an example of a second message) to prevent the patient from getting out of bed, as shown in FIG. 8. With this configuration, for example, if the patient begins to perform an action that requires monitoring, such as getting out of bed, an individual message can be sounded to dissuade the patient from getting out of bed, thereby preventing the patient from tipping over or falling.

In the above embodiment, the corridor light 2 is configured to include the posture detection unit 23, message storage unit 24, and text conversion/storage unit 25, but this is not limited to this example. The posture detection unit 23, message storage unit 24, and text conversion/storage unit 25 may be built into the camera 8, or a dedicated adapter may be configured and installed between the corridor light 2 and the camera 8. Alternatively, the nurse call master unit 3 may have the functions of the posture detection unit 23, message storage unit 24, and text conversion/storage unit 25.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be freely modified and improved as appropriate. The materials, shapes, dimensions, numerical values, forms, numbers, locations, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they achieve the present invention.

As described above, the present specification discloses the following:
(1) A nurse call system having a nurse call handset for a patient to call a nurse, a hallway light that notifies the patient of a call made by the nurse call handset, and a nurse call base unit that responds to the call,
An alarm unit installed near the bed in the hospital room;
a control unit that causes the sounding unit to periodically sound a predetermined message at a predetermined timing;
It also features a nurse call system.
This configuration provides a nurse call system that can reduce communication loss between patients and nurses.

(2) A nurse call system as described in (1), wherein the specified message includes a first message for prompting the patient to operate the nurse call handset.
This configuration eliminates the psychological barrier that patients have to actively press the nurse call handset to make a call.

(3) Further comprising a recording unit installed near the bed,
The nurse call system according to (1) or (2), wherein the recording unit records the speech of the patient in the hospital room in response to the predetermined message sounded by the sounding unit.
According to this configuration, the patient's speech in response to the sounded message can be recorded and stored, which can be used to monitor the progress of the patient, for example.

(4) A nurse call system as described in (3), further comprising a text conversion/storage unit that converts the voice data of the utterance recorded by the recording unit into text data together with the specified message and stores it.
According to this configuration, by saving the patient's voice data as text data along with a predetermined message, it is possible to automatically create a follow-up observation record of the patient, which reduces the burden on nurses.

(5) A nurse call system as described in (3) or (4), wherein the control unit sends a notification signal to a notification unit associated with the nurse if the content of the patient's vocal data recorded by the recording unit requires notification to the notification unit.
With this configuration, a nurse can be called at an appropriate time as needed, without the patient having to actively operate the nurse call handset.

(6) a camera installed in the hospital room to capture an image of the patient in bed;
a posture detection unit that detects whether the patient has taken a specific posture based on the image captured by the camera;
Furthermore,
A nurse call system described in any of (1) to (5), wherein when the specific posture detected by the posture detection unit matches a first posture condition, the control unit sounds the specified message even at a timing different from the specified timing.
With this configuration, for example, if a patient assumes an unusual posture, a first message prompting the patient to operate the nurse call handset is sounded, thereby eliminating the difficulty of pressing the nurse call handset.

(7) a camera installed in the hospital room to capture an image of the patient in bed;
a posture detection unit that detects whether the patient has taken a specific posture based on the image captured by the camera;
Furthermore,
A nurse call system as described in any one of (1) to (6), wherein, when the specific posture detected by the posture detection unit matches a second posture condition, the control unit sounds a second message to prevent the patient from getting out of bed.
With this configuration, for example, if a patient begins to perform an action that requires monitoring, such as getting out of bed, a second message is sounded to discourage the patient from getting out of bed, thereby preventing the patient from falling or tipping over from the bed.

1: Nurse call handset, 2: Hallway light, 3: Nurse call base unit, 4: Mobile terminal, 5: Base station, 6: Switchboard, 7: Controller, 8: Camera, 23: Posture detection unit, 24: Message storage unit, 25: Text conversion/storage unit, 26: Hallway light CPU (an example of a control unit), 81: Camera CPU, 84: Image capture unit, 85: Recording unit, 86: Speaker (an example of an alarm unit), 100: Nurse call system

Claims (6)

A nurse call system having a nurse call handset for a patient to call a nurse, a hallway light that notifies the patient of a call made by the nurse call handset, and a nurse call base unit that responds to the call,
An alarm unit installed near the bed in the hospital room;
a control unit that causes the sounding unit to periodically sound a predetermined message at a predetermined timing,
A nurse call system , wherein the predetermined message includes a first message for prompting the patient to operate the nurse call handset . Further comprising a recording unit installed near the bed,
The nurse call system according to claim 1 , wherein the recording unit records a speech made by the patient in the hospital room in response to the predetermined message sounded by the sounding unit. The nurse call system according to claim 2 , further comprising a text conversion/storage unit that converts the voice data of the utterance recorded by the recording unit into text data together with the predetermined message and stores the text data. 3. The nurse call system of claim 2, wherein the control unit transmits a notification signal to a notification unit associated with the nurse if the content of the patient's speech data recorded by the recording unit requires notification to the notification unit. a camera installed in the hospital room to capture an image of the patient in bed;
a posture detection unit that detects whether the patient has taken a specific posture based on the image captured by the camera;
Furthermore,
2. The nurse call system of claim 1, wherein when the specific posture detected by the posture detection unit matches a first posture condition, the control unit sounds the specified message even at a timing different from the specified timing. a camera installed in the hospital room to capture an image of the patient in bed;
a posture detection unit that detects whether the patient has taken a specific posture based on the image captured by the camera;
Furthermore,
2. The nurse call system of claim 1, wherein when the specific posture detected by the posture detection unit matches a second posture condition, the control unit sounds a second message to prevent the patient from getting out of bed.