JP7818459B2 - Nurse call system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a nurse call system.

Conventionally, there are nurse call systems that have corridor lights equipped with cameras (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-288334

Hospitals have non-common areas, such as patient rooms, and common areas, such as corridors, where visitors can come and go. Because patients often have a variety of illnesses, visitors and nurses are required to thoroughly disinfect their hands when entering patient rooms from the corridors.

In light of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a nurse call system that can improve the hygiene of hands and fingers when entering a hospital room.

In order to achieve the above object, the nurse call system of the present invention comprises:
A nurse call handset for patients to call a nurse;
a nurse call master unit installed in a nurse station to respond to calls from the patient;
A corridor light installed at the entrance of the patient's hospital room, etc.;
a camera mounted on the corridor light and configured to capture an image of a predetermined range including a disinfectant container located near the corridor light outside the hospital room;
The device is also equipped with a control unit that causes the corridor light to emit a message urging people to disinfect their hands if a person in an image captured by the camera does not disinfect their hands using the disinfectant container.

The present invention provides a nurse call system that can improve the hygiene of hands and fingers when entering a hospital room.

1 is a configuration diagram of a nurse call system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a hallway light provided in the nurse call system of FIG. 1. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of corridor lights provided in the nurse call system of FIG. 1. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example 1 of the nurse call system. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed on a display unit of a hallway light. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of the operation of the nurse call system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example 3 of the nurse call system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example 4 of the nurse call system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example 5 of the nurse call system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example 6 of the nurse call system.

The nurse call system 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a nurse call system 100 according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the nurse call system 100 comprises a nurse call handset 1 installed at each bed in a hospital room, a hallway light 2 installed at the entrance and exit of each hospital room, a nurse call master unit 3 installed at the nurse's station, and a controller 4 that controls communication between the devices. The nurse call system 100 also comprises a hospital room camera 5 installed at each bed, a mobile terminal 6 carried by the nurse, and a switchboard 7 that manages communication between the mobile terminals 6 via a base station 8.

Nurse call handset 1 is a device that allows patients to call and speak with a nurse, and has a call button 1a and a plate handset 1b that is installed on the wall. Plate handset 1b has a connection part to which the call button is connected and a communication part for speaking with a nurse.

The nurse call base unit 3 is a device for receiving and responding to calls from patients, and has a communication unit 3a and a display unit 3b. The communication unit 3a has a handset for talking to patients and an audio unit such as a speaker for making in-hospital announcements. The display unit 3b displays various information about the patient. This information includes patient information, identification information such as the corridor light ID received from the corridor light 2, and images captured by the hospital room camera 5. The display unit 3b is, for example, an LCD monitor.

Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the corridor light 2. As shown in Figure 2, the corridor light 2 has a corridor light CPU (central processing unit) 21, an indicator light 22, a monitor 23, a speaker 24, a memory unit 25, an operation button 26, a recovery button 27, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 28, and a camera 29. The corridor light 2 has unique identification information. The unique identification information includes a corridor light ID and information about the installation location where the corridor light 2 is installed.

The corridor light CPU 21 is configured to execute and process various functions of the corridor light 2, such as the operation of the monitor 23, speaker 24, and camera 29. The corridor light CPU 21 is configured, for example, by an electronic control unit (ECU). The electronic control unit includes a microcontroller including a processor 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 storage unit 25 is equipped with memory. The memory includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various control programs (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI) programs, etc.) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores various control data. 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 memory stores programs related to the control and processing of the corridor light 2. The corridor light CPU 21 executes each step shown in Figures 4 and 6 to 10 by the processor reading the program from the memory of the storage unit 25. The corridor light CPU 21 is also configured to accept operations input from the operation button 26 and recovery button 27 and perform control according to the input operations. The corridor light CPU 21 is an example of a control unit.

The hallway light 2 includes, as a notification unit, an indicator light 22 that notifies the patient of a call by flashing or lighting up. The hallway light 2 also includes, as a notification unit, a monitor 23 that displays text information and a speaker 24 that outputs sound.
The indicator light 22 is, for example, a lamp, and is configured to light up or flash to indicate that there is a call from the nurse call handset 1 in the hospital room where the corridor light 2 is installed.
The monitor 23 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and is configured to display various information such as the name of the hospital room and the name of the patient. The various information includes a message encouraging disinfection. The monitor 23 is an example of a display unit of the corridor light 2.
The speaker 24 is configured to sound the notification content output from the corridor light CPU 21. The speaker 24 is mounted on the corridor light 2. The speaker 24 is an example of the sound notification unit of the corridor light 2.

The storage unit 25 stores images captured by the camera 29 in addition to programs related to control and processing in the corridor light 2 .
The operation button 26 is a button for displaying/hiding various types of information.
The recovery button 27 is a button for stopping the notification operation and the like.
The corridor light 2 receives a call from the nurse call handset 1 via the communication IF 28 and line L1. The corridor light 2 is also connected to the nurse call master 3, the controller 4, and the patient room camera 5 via the communication IF 28 and HUB 9.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the placement of a corridor light 2. As shown in Figure 3, a disinfectant container 10 is placed near the corridor light 2. The disinfectant container 10 includes a head 10a that is pressed manually and a nozzle 10b that sprays the disinfectant inside when the head 10a is pressed, and contains disinfectant for disinfecting hands and fingers. The disinfectant container 10 is placed, for example, under the corridor light 2 near the entrance door 11 of a hospital room.

The corridor light 2 is equipped with a camera 29. The camera 29 captures images of common areas such as corridors outside the patient rooms. The camera 29 is capable of capturing video and still images. The camera 29 may capture images continuously, or may detect the approach of a person such as a patient or an object such as a movable shelf to the corridor light 2 and begin capturing images. Images captured by the camera 29 are stored in the memory unit 25.

Camera 29 captures images of a specified range from corridor light 2 in the common area. For example, camera 29 of corridor light 2 installed at the entrance to hospital room 101 can capture images of the corridor within a range of several meters centered on corridor light 2, as well as the entrance to the stairs (not shown) leading from the floor containing Room 101 to other floors. If a visitor approaches hospital room 101 by climbing the stairs (not shown) from another floor, camera 29 of corridor light 2 in Room 101 begins capturing images of the visitor as they finish climbing the stairs and appear on the floor where Room 101 is located, and captures the visitor as they move in front of corridor light 2 in Room 101. The captured image is sent to corridor light CPU 21.

If a disinfectant container 10 is placed near the corridor light 2, it is preferable that the predetermined range that can be imaged by the camera 29 includes a predetermined range that includes this disinfectant container. This allows the camera 29 to capture, for example, whether a person is pressing the head 10a of the disinfectant container 10, whether a sufficient amount of disinfectant is coming out of the nozzle 10b to disinfect hands, and whether a person is disinfecting their hands. This allows the corridor light CPU 21, which receives images captured by the camera 29, to detect the actions of visitors and nurses who pass near the disinfectant container 10 and enter a patient room without using the disinfectant container 10.

The patient room camera 5 is installed in the patient room and captures images of the patient and the surrounding area related to the patient. The patient room camera 5 is connected to the hallway light 2 via the HUB 9 and LAN. Images captured by the patient room camera 5 are sent to the hallway light CPU 21 via the HUB 9 and LAN.

The mobile terminal 6 is a device for responding to calls from patients, such as a smartphone. The mobile terminal 6 has a display unit 6a that can display the content of the nurse's call, and an audio unit 6b, such as a speaker, that can audibly report the content of the nurse's call.

The corridor light 2, nurse call base unit 3, controller 4, and hospital room camera 5 are each connected to the LAN via a hub 9. The nurse call handset 1 is connected to the corridor light 2 via transmission line L1 for each hospital room. The exchange 7 is connected to the controller 4 via transmission line L2. The exchange 7 manages communications with the mobile terminals 6 via a base station 8.

[Operation example 1]
Hereinafter, a first operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the first operational example of the nurse call system 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 begins capturing images (step S101). For example, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 installed at the entrance to room 101 of the hospital begins capturing images of the disinfectant container 10 placed near the corridor light 2 in room 101 and of a target person within a range of several meters centered on this disinfectant container 10. In this operational example, the target person is someone whose hands should be disinfected (such as a visitor or nurse). The image captured by the camera 29 is sent to the corridor light CPU 21.

Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the imaged visitor has disinfected their hands or fingers based on the image received from the camera 29 (step S102). For example, if a visitor coming to Room 101 disinfects their hands with the disinfectant solution coming out of the nozzle 10b by pressing the head 10a of the disinfectant solution container 10 placed under the corridor light 2 in Room 101, the corridor light CPU 21 detects, based on the image from the camera 29, whether the head 10a moves up and down, whether the disinfectant solution is being sprayed from the nozzle 10b, and whether the visitor has applied the disinfectant solution to their hands and rubbed them together, and determines whether the visitor has disinfected their hands or fingers.
If it is determined that the hands have been disinfected (YES in step S102), the corridor light CPU 21 waits until it receives an image for making a determination in the next step S102.

On the other hand, if it is determined based on the image received from the camera 29 that hand disinfection has not been performed (NO in S102), the corridor light CPU 21 displays a disinfection-encouraging message on the monitor 23 of the corridor light 2 (step S103). The message displayed on the monitor 23 may be, for example, the text "Please disinfect your hands" displayed on the monitor 23 shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, it may be the text "We cannot detect that your hands have been disinfected. Please disinfect your hands," or an illustration of a disinfectant spray being sprayed from a disinfectant container. By displaying such a disinfection-encouraging message on the monitor 23, it is possible to encourage those (subjects) who have not disinfected their hands at the entrance to the patient room to disinfect their hands, thereby improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

Next, the corridor light CPU 21 generates non-disinfection information that includes information that the subject in the captured image has not disinfected their hands and information for identifying the subject in the captured image. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated non-disinfection information to the nurse call master unit 3 via the communication IF 28 and LAN (step S104).

Upon receiving the non-disinfection information, the nurse call base unit 3 reports the non-disinfection information (step S105). The non-disinfection information may be reported by displaying the corridor light ID and non-disinfection information in text on the display unit 3b, by reporting the non-disinfection information audibly from the speaker, or by reporting the non-disinfection information audibly from the speaker and displaying the corridor light ID and non-disinfection information on the display unit 3b. The non-disinfection information reported by the nurse call base unit 3 is confirmed by a nurse at the nurse's station. By reporting the non-disinfection information from the nurse call base unit 3 in this way, individuals who have not disinfected their hands can be identified. If the individual who has not disinfected their hands is a visitor, the head nurse or other person who has confirmed the non-disinfection information can directly ask the visitor to disinfect their hands. If the individual who has not disinfected their hands is a nurse, the head nurse can instruct the nurse to disinfect their hands. This ensures that individuals entering a patient room thoroughly disinfect their hands, improving hand hygiene.

[Operation example 2]
Next, a second operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the second operational example.

In Operation Example 2, as shown in FIG. 6, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 begins capturing an image of a predetermined range centered on the corridor light 2 (step S201). The predetermined range centered on the corridor light 2 in Operation Example 2 is, for example, a range in which a target person (visitor, nurse, etc.) approaching the hospital room can be detected. Specifically, the predetermined range includes the disinfectant container 10 placed near the corridor light 2, as well as the entrance door 11 of the hospital room and part of the common area such as the hallway. The predetermined range centered on the corridor light 2 is, for example, a range several meters away from the corridor light 2, centered on the corridor light 2. The image captured by the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 is sent to the corridor light CPU 21.

Based on the image received from the camera 29, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the captured image contains a subject (such as a visitor who should disinfect their hands or a nurse). The determination of whether the image contains a subject can be made using various image processing methods or methods similar to those used to detect the presence or absence of motion in Operation Example 1. If the captured image does not contain a subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is not within the specified range (NO in step S202) and waits until it receives an image to perform the determination in the next step S202.

On the other hand, if the image received from camera 29 does not include the target person, but the next image received from camera 29 does include the target person, corridor light CPU 21 determines that there is a target person approaching corridor light 2. Furthermore, if the image received from camera 29 includes the target person, corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has entered a predetermined range (YES in step S202). If it is determined that the target person has entered the predetermined range, corridor light CPU 21 issues a message encouraging hand disinfection via corridor light 2 (step S203). The message encouraging hand disinfection is, for example, a text display on monitor 23 of corridor light 2 saying, "There is disinfectant at the entrance to the patient's room, so please disinfect your hands," or an audio announcement from speaker 24 of corridor light 2 saying, "Please disinfect your hands with the disinfectant at the entrance before entering the patient's room." In this way, a subject approaching the entrance to a hospital room can be detected, and the corridor light 2 can be used to notify the subject in advance that a disinfectant container 10 is nearby, encouraging the subject to disinfect their hands.

Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the subject who entered the specified range disinfected their hands (step S204). The determination in step S204 is the same as step S102 shown in Figure 4. If it is determined that the hands were not disinfected (NO in S204), steps S205 to S207 are the same as steps S103 to S105 in Figure 4, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to the above operational examples 1 and 2 includes a nurse call handset 1 that patients use to call a nurse; a nurse call base unit 3 installed at a nurse's station to respond to calls from patients; a corridor light 2 installed at the entrance to the patient's room or other location; a camera 29 mounted on the corridor light 2 to capture an image of a predetermined area that includes a disinfectant container 10 located outside the patient's room near the corridor light 2; and a corridor light CPU 21 that causes the corridor light 2 to issue a message encouraging hand disinfection if a subject in an image captured by the camera 29 has not disinfected their hands using the disinfectant container 10. With this configuration, by having the corridor light issue a message encouraging disinfection to those (subjects) who have not disinfected their hands, visitors, nurses, and other subjects who should disinfect their hands can be encouraged to do so, improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operational examples 1 and 2, the corridor light CPU 21 may cause the monitor 23 or speaker 24 of the corridor light 2 to issue a message when a target person in the image captured by the camera 29 enters a predetermined range. With this configuration, by detecting a person approaching a hospital room and notifying the person in advance that a disinfectant container 10 is located near the corridor light 2, it is possible to prompt visitors, nurses, and other targets who need to disinfect their hands to do so.

Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 in the above operational examples 1 and 2, the corridor light 2 may have a monitor 23, and a message encouraging hand disinfection may be displayed on the monitor 23. With this configuration, by displaying a message encouraging disinfection on the monitor 23 of the corridor light 2 to those who have not disinfected their hands, it is possible to more effectively encourage visitors, nurses, and other people who should disinfect their hands to do so.

Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 in the above operational examples 1 and 2, the hallway light 2 may have a speaker 24 that sounds a message encouraging hand disinfection. With this configuration, the hallway light 2's speaker 24 can be used to alert those who have not disinfected their hands, more effectively encouraging visitors, nurses, and other people who should disinfect their hands to do so.

Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operational examples 1 and 2, the corridor light CPU 21 may transmit non-disinfection information to the nurse call base unit 3, including information on the subject in the captured image that indicates that the subject has not disinfected their hands and to identify the subject, and the nurse call base unit 3 may then report the non-disinfection information. With this configuration, subjects who have not disinfected their hands can be identified, so if the subject who has not disinfected their hands is a visitor, a nurse can directly request that they disinfect their hands, or if the subject who has not disinfected their hands is a nurse, the head nurse can instruct them to disinfect, thereby thoroughly improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

[Operation example 3]
Next, a third operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 7. Figure 7 is a flowchart for explaining the third operational example.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 begins capturing an image of a common area, such as a hospital corridor (step S301). The common area captured by the camera 29 includes the entrance door 11 of the hospital room in which the corridor light 2 is located. The camera 29 transmits the captured image to the corridor light CPU 21. The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a target has been detected in the common area based on the received image (step S302). The target in operation example 3 is a patient associated with the hospital room in which the corridor light 2 is installed, i.e., a patient who belongs to the hospital room in which the corridor light 2 is installed. If the target is not detected in the captured image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a target has not been detected in the common area (NO in step S302) and waits until it receives an image for use in the determination of the next step S302.

On the other hand, if a subject is detected in the captured image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject has been detected in a common area (YES in step S302). Examples of cases in which a subject (patient) is detected in a common area include when the subject (patient) is captured moving from their own hospital room to the common area by the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 in their own hospital room, and when the same subject is captured moving down the corridor by the cameras 29 of the corridor lights 2 in multiple hospital rooms.

When it is determined that a target person has been detected in the common area, the corridor light CPU 21 generates target person information regarding the detected target person. The target person information includes person authentication information of the target person identified by the corridor light CPU 21. The target person authentication information may be patient information identified by a transmitter ID acquired by the corridor light CPU 21 from a transmitter (not shown) carried by each patient, or may be patient information identified by performing face authentication on an image captured by the camera 29. Person authentication and face authentication can be performed using conventional methods.
The hallway light CPU 21 transmits the generated target person information and the identification information of the hallway light 2 to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S303). The identification information of the hallway light 2 transmitted to the nurse call master unit 3 includes the hallway light ID and installation location information of the hallway light 2.

The nurse call base unit 3, which has received the subject information and identification information, reports the subject information and identification information (step S304). The subject information and identification information may be reported as text on the display unit 3b or as audio from a speaker. The text displayed on the display unit 3b may include the patient's name (an example of subject information), the patient's disease name (an example of subject information), the corridor light ID (an example of identification information), and the corridor light's installation location information (an example of identification information). In this way, the corridor light CPU 21 can identify patients who have moved from their hospital room to a common area, and the nurse call base unit 3 can report that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has moved to a common area and is no longer in the hospital room.

[Operation Example 4]
Next, a fourth operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart for explaining the fourth operational example.

As shown in FIG. 8, first, the hospital room camera 5 begins capturing images of the inside of the hospital room (step S401). The images of the inside of the hospital room captured by the hospital room camera 5 are transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21 via the HUB 9.

The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the subject (patient) is in the hospital room based on whether the received image includes the subject (patient) (step S402). If the captured image includes the subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is in the hospital room (YES in step S402), stores the captured image, the date and time information when the image was captured, and information indicating that the subject is in the hospital room in the memory unit 25, and waits until it receives an image for use in the next step S402.

On the other hand, if the captured image does not include the subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is not in the hospital room (NO in step S402) and stores the captured image, the date and time information when the image was captured, and information that the subject is not in the hospital room in the memory unit 25. Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room (step S403). The determination of whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room is made using the information that the subject is not in the hospital room stored in the memory unit 25 and the date and time information when the image was captured. The certain amount of time is a certain amount of time required to search for and appropriately monitor the patient if they are absent from the hospital room, and may be, for example, five minutes. If the certain amount of time has not passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room (NO in step S403), the corridor light CPU 21 returns to step S402.

If the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the subject is not in the hospital room (YES in step S403), the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 begins capturing images of the common areas (step S404). The common areas captured by the camera 29 include the entrances and exits of the hospital room, the hospital room doors 11, and the ward corridors. The images captured by the camera 29 are transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21. The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether the subject (patient) is present in the common areas based on whether the subject (patient) is included in the image received from the camera 29 (step S405). If the subject is included in the received image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is present in the common areas (YES in step S405), stores the captured image, the date and time information when the image was captured, and information indicating that the subject is included in the image in the memory unit 25, and returns to step S405.

If the received image does not include the target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person is not in the common area (NO in step S405) and stores the captured image, the date and time information when the image was captured, and information that the target person is not included in the image in the memory unit 25. Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the target person is not in the common area (step S406). The determination of whether a certain amount of time has passed since it determined that the target person is not in the common area can be made in the same manner as the determination of whether a certain amount of time has passed in step S403. If the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a certain amount of time has not passed since it determined that the target person is not in the common area (NO in step S406), it returns to step S405.

On the other hand, if a certain amount of time has passed since the corridor light CPU 21 determined that the subject is not in the common area (YES in step S406), it determines that the subject is neither in the hospital room nor in the common area. An example of a case in which the subject is determined to be neither in the hospital room nor in the common area is when the patient leaves the hospital room, passes through the hallway, and moves up the stairs leading to another floor. When the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject is neither in the hospital room nor in the common area, it generates absence information including information about the subject, such as the subject's name, and information that the subject is neither in the hospital room nor in the common area. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated absence information to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S407). Upon receiving the absence information, the nurse call master unit 3 notifies the absence information (step S408). The absence information may be notified by voice from the speaker or displayed on the display unit 3b. This allows nurses to check the notification from the nurse call master unit 3 and search for patients who have left the hospital room and the common area, allowing them to properly monitor the patients.

In the above example, the camera 29 starts capturing images of the common areas when the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a certain amount of time has passed since it was determined that the subject is no longer in the hospital room. However, the timing at which the camera 29 starts capturing images in this operation example is not limited to the example described above. The camera 29 may start capturing images at the same time as the hospital room camera 5 starts capturing images, or may capture images continuously.

[Operation Example 5]
Next, a fifth operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the fifth operational example.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 begins capturing images of the common area (step S501). As in Operation Example 4, the common area includes the entrances and exits of the patient's rooms, the room doors 11, and the corridors. In this operation example, the corridor light 2 is also installed at the entrances and exits of the patient's rooms near the no-entry area. The no-entry area can be an area where a patient is at risk of falling, an area beyond the walking limit for a patient with walking difficulties, or a staircase leading to another floor and the entrance to the staircase for a patient with a tendency to escape from the hospital. The no-entry area is determined based on the individual patient's medical condition, behavioral characteristics such as a tendency to escape, etc. For example, it can be the entrance to a staircase leading to another floor of a ward, or a distance from the patient's room that exceeds the walking limit (e.g., 10 m). The vicinity of the no-entry area is, for example, 1 m before the no-entry area (a position 1 m closer to the corridor light 2 of the target patient than the no-entry area). Information about the no-entry area and the patient for whom the no-entry area is determined are stored, for example, in the memory unit 25. The image captured by the camera 29 is sent to the corridor light CPU 21.

The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a subject (patient) has been detected in the common area based on whether the image received from the camera 29 includes the subject (patient) (step S502). If the subject is not included in the image, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject has not been detected in the common area (NO in step S502) and waits until it receives an image to perform the determination in the next step S502.

On the other hand, if the received image includes a target person, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the target person has been detected in the common area (YES in step S502). Next, the corridor light CPU 21 determines whether or not the target person has been detected near the target person's no-entry area (step S503). Whether or not the target person has been detected near the target person's no-entry area is determined based on whether or not the target person detected in step 502 has been imaged by the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 installed near the target person's no-entry area. If the target person has not been detected near the no-entry area (NO in step S503), the process returns to step S502.

On the other hand, if a subject is detected near the restricted area (YES in step S503), the corridor light CPU 21 generates entry information including subject information such as the name of the subject detected near the restricted area, identification information for the corridor light 2, and detection information that the subject was detected near the restricted area. The identification information for the corridor light 2 includes the corridor light ID and installation location information for the corridor light 2. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated entry information to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S504). Upon receiving the entry information, the nurse call master unit 3 notifies the patient of the entry information (step S505). The entry information may be output as audio from the speaker or displayed as text on the display unit 3b. This notification from the nurse call master unit 3 allows the nurse to quickly learn that a patient has approached the restricted area.

As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to operation examples 3 to 5 includes a nurse call master unit 3 installed at a nurse's station to respond to calls from patients; a corridor light 2 installed at the entrance to each hospital room and having unique identification information; a camera 29 mounted on the corridor light 2 that can capture images of the hospital's common areas; and a corridor light CPU 21 that, when it detects a target person in an image captured by the camera 29, transmits target person information for identifying the target person and identification information for the corridor light 2 to the nurse call master unit 3. The nurse call master unit 3 reports the target person information and identification information. The target person is a patient associated with the hospital room. With this configuration, the corridor light CPU 21 can identify patients who have moved from a hospital room to a common area, allowing the nurse call master unit 3 to report that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has moved to a common area and is no longer in the hospital room. This allows early notification that a patient who should remain in the hospital room has left the room.

The nurse call system 100 in the above operational examples 3 to 5 may further include a hospital room camera 5 capable of capturing images of the inside of the hospital room, and the corridor light CPU 21 may transmit information about the absence of the target person to the nurse call master unit 3 if the hospital room camera 5 does not detect the target person for a certain period of time, and if the camera 29 does not detect the target person for a certain period of time. With this configuration, if the patient's whereabouts are unknown for more than a certain period of time, the nurse call master unit 3 can be notified, and the patient can be located away from the hospital room and common areas, allowing for appropriate monitoring of the patient.

In addition, in the nurse call systems of the above operational examples 3 to 5, when a camera mounted on a corridor light 2 located near a restricted area for the patient in a common area detects the patient, the corridor light CPU 21 may send information about the patient's entry to the nurse call master unit 3. This configuration makes it possible to quickly learn that a patient is approaching a restricted area. This makes it possible, for example, to prevent escapes by patients with a tendency to escape, or to quickly respond to a patient approaching stairs or other areas where there is a risk of falling.

Furthermore, in the nurse call systems of the above operational examples 3 to 5, the identification information may include information about the installation location of the corridor light 2. With this configuration, nurses can check the patient's movement route from the installation location information reported by the nurse call base unit 3, making it easier to find patients moving through common areas.

[Operation Example 6]
Next, a sixth operational example of the nurse call system 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 10. Figure 10 is a flowchart for explaining the sixth operational example.

As shown in FIG. 10, the camera 29 of the corridor light 2 begins capturing an image of the common area (step S601). The common area captured by the camera 29 includes the corridor near the corridor light 2. The image captured by the camera 29 is transmitted to the corridor light CPU 21 of the corridor light 2.

The corridor light CPU 21 determines whether a subject has been detected in the common area based on whether the received image includes a subject (step S602). In this operational example, the subject is a patient in a hospital room in which the corridor light 2 is installed. If the received image does not include a subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that a subject has not been detected in the common area (NO in step S602) and waits until it receives the next image from the camera 29 for use in the determination of step S602.

On the other hand, if the received image contains a subject, the corridor light CPU 21 determines that the subject has been detected in the common area (YES in step S602) and determines whether the posture or movement of the subject contained in the image is a specific posture or movement (step S603). A specific posture is a typical posture assumed when there is a sudden change in the subject's condition, such as a collapsed posture, a crouching posture, or a posture holding one's chest. A specific movement is a typical movement seen when there is a sudden change in the subject's condition, such as a collapsed posture, a crouching posture, or a posture holding one's chest. If the corridor light CPU 21 does not detect a specific posture or movement of the subject from the received image (NO in step S603), it waits until it receives the next image from the camera 29 to perform the detection in step S602.

If the corridor light CPU 21 detects a specific posture or a specific movement of the subject from the received image (YES in step S603), it generates subject information such as the subject's name and identification information of the corridor light 2 that detected the specific posture or movement. The corridor light CPU 21 transmits the generated subject information and identification information to the nurse call master unit 3 (step S604). The identification information of the corridor light 2 includes the corridor light ID of the corridor light 2 and information about the installation location where the corridor light 2 is installed.
The nurse call base unit 3, which has received the patient information and identification information, reports the patient information and identification information (step S605). The patient information and identification information may be reported as audio from a speaker or as text on the display unit 3b. The report from the nurse call base unit 3 allows nurses to quickly learn that a patient whose condition has suddenly changed is in a common area, allowing them to take early action to protect the patient.

Next, the corridor light CPU 21 notifies the target person information and identification information from the notification unit of the corridor light 2 (step S606). The notification of the target person information and identification information may be displayed in text on the monitor 23 or output as audio from the speaker 24. Furthermore, the corridor light 2 may notify of a sudden change in the patient's condition in addition to notifying the target person information and identification information. The notification of a sudden change in the patient's condition may be, for example, visually by causing the indicator light 22 to flash at shorter intervals than the illumination time for a normal patient call (nurse call), visually by displaying the text "A person has collapsed nearby" on the monitor 23, or audibly by outputting the audio message "A person has collapsed in the corridor" from the speaker 24.

As described above, the nurse call system 100 according to the above-described operational example 6 comprises a nurse call master unit 3 installed at a nurse's station to respond to calls from patients; a corridor light 2 installed at the entrance to each hospital room and having unique identification information; a camera 29 mounted on the corridor light 2 that can capture images of the common areas of the hospital; and a corridor light CPU 21 that detects the posture or movement of a subject in the image captured by the camera 29. When the corridor light CPU 21 detects a specific posture or movement of a subject, it transmits subject information and identification information for identifying the subject to the nurse call master unit 3, and the nurse call master unit 3 reports the subject information and identification information. This configuration allows early notification that a patient in the common areas has suddenly changed condition, enabling early protection of the patient.

Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above-mentioned operational example 6, the specific posture or specific movement may be at least one of the following: a posture or movement of the subject collapsing; a posture or movement of the subject crouching; or a posture or movement of the subject clutching their chest. With this configuration, these postures or movements can be reported as a sudden change in the subject's condition.

Furthermore, in the nurse call system 100 of the above operational example 6, the corridor light 2 includes an indicator light 22 that notifies of a call from a patient, a monitor 23, and a speaker 24, and the corridor light CPU 21 may cause the monitor 23 and speaker 24 to notify the target person information and identification information. With this configuration, a sudden change in a patient's condition in the common area is notified by the corridor light's notification unit, allowing a nurse near the corridor light that issued the notification to rush to the target person's aid quickly.

In the above-described operation example 6, the nurse call master unit 3 reports the target person information and identification information (step S605), and then the target person information and identification information are reported by the alarm unit of the corridor light 2 (step S606). However, the timing of reporting the target person information and identification information is not limited to the above example. For example, the nurse call master unit 3 and the alarm unit of the corridor light 2 may report simultaneously, or the nurse call master unit 3 may report after the alarm unit of the corridor light 2.

In the above operational example, the corridor light CPU 21 judges the image captured by the hospital room camera 5, but the configuration for judging the image is not limited to the above example. For example, the hospital room camera 5 may be provided with a CPU that judges the image captured by the hospital room camera 5.

Furthermore, in the above operational example, an example of an alert being sent from the nurse call master unit 3 was described, but the alert example is not limited to this. For example, the alert may be sent from the corridor light CPU 21 to the mobile terminal 6, and displayed as text on the display unit 6a of the mobile terminal 6, or output as audio from the speaker, which is the alert sound unit 6b.

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 handset for patients to call a nurse;
a nurse call master unit installed in a nurse station to respond to calls from the patient;
A corridor light installed at the entrance of the patient's hospital room, etc.;
a camera mounted on the corridor light and configured to capture an image of a predetermined range including a disinfectant container located near the corridor light outside the hospital room;
A nurse call system that includes a control unit that causes the corridor light to emit a message encouraging hand disinfection if a subject in an image captured by the camera does not disinfect their hands using the disinfectant container.
According to this configuration, by having the hallway lights display a message encouraging disinfection to those who have not disinfected (target individuals), it is possible to encourage them to disinfect their hands, thereby improving the hygiene of the targets' hands.

(2) The nurse call system according to (1), wherein the control unit causes the corridor light to issue the message when the subject in the captured image enters the predetermined range.
According to this configuration, a person approaching a patient's room is detected, and the hallway light is used to notify the person in advance that there is disinfectant nearby, thereby encouraging the person to disinfect their hands.

(3) The nurse call system according to (1) or (2), wherein the corridor light has a display unit, and the message is displayed on the display unit.
According to this configuration, by displaying a message on the display unit of the hallway light encouraging people who have not disinfected their hands to disinfect, it is possible to more effectively encourage them to disinfect their hands.

(4) The nurse call system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the corridor light has an alarm unit, and the message is sounded from the alarm unit.
With this configuration, those who have not disinfected their hands can be alerted by the sound unit (speaker) of the hallway light, making it possible to more effectively encourage them to disinfect their hands.

(5) The control unit transmits non-disinfection information to the nurse call master unit, the non-disinfection information including information indicating that the subject in the captured image has not disinfected their hands and subject information for identifying the subject;
A nurse call system described in any one of (1) to (4), wherein the nurse call master unit notifies the non-disinfection information.
With this configuration, subjects who have not disinfected their hands can be identified, so if the subject who has not disinfected their hands is a visitor, the nurse can directly ask them to disinfect their hands, and if the subject who has not disinfected their hands is a nurse, the head nurse can instruct them to disinfect, thereby thoroughly improving the hygiene of the subjects' hands.

1. Nurse call handset, 2. Hallway light, 3. Nurse call base unit, 3a. Communication unit, 3b. Display unit, 4. Controller, 5. Patient room camera, 6. Mobile terminal, 7. Switchboard, 8. Base station, 10. Disinfectant container, 10a. Head, 10b. Nozzle, 11. Door, 22. Indicator light, 23. Monitor, 24. Speaker, 25. Memory unit, 26. Operation button, 27. Recovery button, 28. Communication interface, 29. Camera, 100. Nurse call system

Claims (4)

A nurse call handset for patients to call a nurse;
a nurse call master unit installed in a nurse station to respond to calls from the patient;
a corridor light provided at the entrance to the patient's room;
a camera mounted on the corridor light and configured to capture an image of a predetermined range including a disinfectant container located near the corridor light outside the hospital room;
a control unit that causes the hallway light to emit a message encouraging hand disinfection when a subject in an image captured by the camera has not disinfected their hands using the disinfectant container; and
a mobile terminal carried by the nurse ,
The control unit transmits non-disinfection information including information indicating that the subject in the captured image has not disinfected their hands and subject information for identifying the subject to at least one of the nurse call master unit and the mobile terminal,
A nurse call system in which the nurse call base unit that receives the non-disinfection information or the mobile terminal that receives the non-disinfection information reports the non-disinfection information . The nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the corridor light to issue the message when the subject in the captured image enters the predetermined range. The nurse call system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the corridor light has a display unit and the message is displayed on the display unit. The nurse call system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the corridor light has an alarm unit that sounds the message.