| abstract |
This invention teaches a method of automating some of the tasks requiring continuous data collection at the patient bedside in a hospital in a manner which significantly reduces the chances of error in providing treatment. These tasks include provisioning of the IV pumps or other fluid infusion pumps, feed pumps, oxygen delivery systems, gathering, recording, storing, and analyzing signals from ECG machine or pulse oxymeter or any other medical device. This invention teaches the use of wireless transceiver modules which are connected to the data ports on the medical instrument to gather the data and transmit the data to a wireless access point. Protocols to identify the patient, care provider, medicine, equipment, and treatment are described. Use of an external means for verifying the identity of the medical device and the medicine is also described. |