PATIENT CARE AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention relates to a pa- tient care and communication system which utilizes a central processing system and a plurality of remote stations electrically con- nected to the central processing system to facilitate visual and data communications. Each remote station includes telephone cir- cuitry which is connected to a private branch exchange for telephones communications be- tween stations. In addition, the private branch exchange is connected to a telephone exchange and a plurality of telephones for facilitating telephone communication there- between. The central processing system fa- cilitates the visual and data communications between the plurality of remote stations, and includes a system for determining which of the plurality of remote stations are transmit- ting the visual and data communications and which of the plurality of remote stations are to receive the visual and data communica- tions. The central processing system also includes a system which establishes a com- munication link between the transmitting sta- tions and the receiving stations. The remote stations include a processing system which also facilitates the visual, data and telephone communications and a display for displaying the visual communications. The present invention also includes a staff and/or patient l ocator system, in which each remote station includes an infrared receiver that rece ives infrared transmissions from a portable transmitter worn by a staff member or patient. The infrared transmissions include identity infor mation associated with the person wearing the transmitte r. The identity information is then transferred to the central processing system wh ich determines the identity and location of each person wearing a portable transmitter.