Patient care apparatus and method

摘要

A patient care apparatus for use in a healthcare facility having a patient room separated from a hallway. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a supply receptacle and a portion situated in an opening formed between the patient room and the hallway. The cabinet has a first side accessible in the patient room and a second side accessible in the hallway. A communication portion is coupled to the hospital computer network and is configured to receive a signal indicating at least one of activation of a faucet in the room, collection of patient data, use of a supply item, and collection of supply data. A mobile supply cart is configured to carry supplies. The mobile supply cart includes a supply data management unit on which inventory management data is entered, and a transceiver configured to send the inventory management data to a computer network of the healthcare facility and receive supply refill orders transmitted from the network.