LOCATION DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE

摘要

Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices (22) in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system (20) comprises a locator (52) fixed in each zone (A, B) of each room (Room 1) in the facility. The locator (52) includes at least one infrared transmitter (56) for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver (54) mounted on the patient handling device (22). A communication module (48) transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device (22) to a network (32) utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station (50) located on the network (32) processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device (22). The processing station (50) may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.