Abstract: A method of centralized monitoring management at a centralized monitoring unit (CMU) includes receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices, each providing patient monitoring data for one of multiple patients, and assigning each of the multiple patients to one of at least two monitoring technician stations. Each monitoring technician station is configured to receive and display patient monitoring data the patients assigned thereto and to present alarms for each patient to a CMU technician. A load index is calculated for each monitoring technician station based on the alarms for each patient in the group of patients assigned to that monitoring technician station. At least one patient is removed from the group of patients assigned to a first monitoring technician station of the at least two monitoring technician stations based on the load index for the first monitoring technician station.

Abstract: A method of centralized monitoring management at a centralized monitoring unit (CMU) includes receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices, each providing patient monitoring data for one of multiple patients, and assigning each of the multiple patients to one of at least two monitoring technician stations. Each monitoring technician station is configured to receive and display patient monitoring data the patients assigned thereto and to present alarms for each patient to a CMU technician. A load index is calculated for each monitoring technician station based on the alarms for each patient in the group of patients assigned to that monitoring technician station. At least one patient is removed from the group of patients assigned to a first monitoring technician station of the at least two monitoring technician stations based on the load index for the first monitoring technician station.

Abstract: A system and method to reduce and manage patient monitoring alarms utilizing a longitudinal, analytics-based analysis. The method includes a patient monitoring system receiving monitored data from one or more patients and generating threshold alerts for each patient based upon alert thresholds in real time. The number of alert thresholds that occur over an analysis period is compared to an enhanced alert threshold. If the number and frequency of the threshold alerts violates an enhanced alert threshold, an enhanced indicator is generated on a display for the patient being monitored. The enhanced indicator can be generated for any one or multiple monitored data types from the patient and enhances the longitudinal monitoring of the patient over an analysis period. The enhanced indicator provides a visual indicator to the monitoring technician of the occurrence of a higher than desired number of threshold alerts over the analysis period.

Abstract: A method of centralized monitoring management at a centralized monitoring unit (CMU) includes receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices, each providing patient monitoring data for one of multiple patients, and assigning each of the multiple patients to one of at least two monitoring technician stations. Each monitoring technician station is configured to receive and display patient monitoring data the patients assigned thereto and to present alarms for each patient to a CMU technician. A load index is calculated for each monitoring technician station based on the alarms for each patient in the group of patients assigned to that monitoring technician station. At least one patient is removed from the group of patients assigned to a first monitoring technician station of the at least two monitoring technician stations based on the load index for the first monitoring technician station.

Abstract: A system and method to reduce and manage patient monitoring alarms utilizing a longitudinal, analytics-based analysis. The method includes a patient monitoring system receiving monitored data from one or more patients and generating threshold alerts for each patient based upon alert thresholds in real time. The number of alert thresholds that occur over an analysis period is compared to an enhanced alert threshold. If the number and frequency of the threshold alerts violates an enhanced alert threshold, an enhanced indicator is generated on a display for the patient being monitored. The enhanced indicator can be generated for any one or multiple monitored data types from the patient and enhances the longitudinal monitoring of the patient over an analysis period. The enhanced indicator provides a visual indicator to the monitoring technician of the occurrence of a higher than desired number of threshold alerts over the analysis period.

Abstract: A centralized monitoring unit (CMU) receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices includes at least two monitoring technician stations and an assignment management module. Each monitoring technician station is configured to present alarms for each patient in the group of patients to a CMU technician. The assignment management module is executable by a processing system to calculate a load index for each monitoring technician station based on alarms for patients in the group of patients. The load index for each monitoring technician station is calculated based on at least one of a number of alarms, an alarm type of each alarm, a severity of each alarm, and a duration of continuous alarming at the monitoring technician station. Assignment of the multiple patients amongst the at least two monitoring technician stations is then distributed based on the load indexes.

Abstract: A method of centralized monitoring management at a centralized monitoring unit (CMU) includes receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices, each providing patient monitoring data for one of multiple patients, and assigning each of the multiple patients to one of at least two monitoring technician stations. Each monitoring technician station is configured to receive and display patient monitoring data the patients assigned thereto and to present alarms for each patient to a CMU technician. A load index is calculated for each monitoring technician station based on the alarms for each patient in the group of patients assigned to that monitoring technician station. At least one patient is removed from the group of patients assigned to a first monitoring technician station of the at least two monitoring technician stations based on the load index for the first monitoring technician station.

Abstract: A centralized monitoring unit (CMU) receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices includes at least two monitoring technician stations and an assignment management module. Each monitoring technician station is configured to present alarms for each patient in the group of patients to a CMU technician. The assignment management module is executable by a processing system to calculate a load index for each monitoring technician station based on alarms for patients in the group of patients. The load index for each monitoring technician station is calculated based on at least one of a number of alarms, an alarm type of each alarm, a severity of each alarm, and a duration of continuous alarming at the monitoring technician station. Assignment of the multiple patients amongst the at least two monitoring technician stations is then distributed based on the load indexes.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes recording physiological parameter data from the patient and detecting a first alarm event. A group alarm timer is activated based on an initiation time of the first alarm event, and one or more subsequent alarm events are detected while the group alarm timer is active. For each detected subsequent alarm event, a determination is made whether the respective subsequent alarm event is part of an incident group with the first alarm event. The group alarm timer is stopped at a termination time based on termination of all alarm events in the incident group. An incident group designator is generated identifying the incident group.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes recording physiological parameter data from the patient and detecting a first alarm event. A group alarm timer is activated based on an initiation time of the first alarm event, and one or more subsequent alarm events are detected while the group alarm timer is active. For each detected subsequent alarm event, a determination is made whether the respective subsequent alarm event is part of an incident group with the first alarm event. The group alarm timer is stopped at a termination time based on termination of all alarm events in the incident group. An incident group designator is generated identifying the incident group.

Abstract: A healthcare resource tracking system includes an incident analysis module executable on a processor to receive alarm events detected by one or more patient monitoring systems, wherein each patient monitoring system obtains physiological signals from a different patient over a time period. The incident analysis module divides the alarm events for each patient into alarm incidents, wherein each alarm incident is either a single alarm event or is an incident group of two or more related alarm events for the patient. A clinician time usage is determined for each alarm incident, wherein the clinician time usage is an amount of time required of one or more clinicians to attend to the one or more alarm events in the alarm incident. A total time usage is calculated over the time period based on the clinician time usage.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes recording physiological parameter data from the patient and detecting a first alarm event. A group alarm timer is activated based on an initiation time of the first alarm event, and one or more subsequent alarm events are detected while the group alarm timer is active. For each detected subsequent alarm event, a determination is made whether the respective subsequent alarm event is part of an incident group with the first alarm event. The group alarm timer is stopped at a termination time based on termination of all alarm events in the incident group. An incident group designator is generated identifying the incident group.

Abstract: A monitor either usable in cooperation with or apart from a portable cooler to maintain a temperature of medications. The cooling device defines an interior volume for holding the medications, a power source including at least one of a 12 volt DC and an attachable 110 volt AC supply. A portable monitoring device is integrated with the cooling device and further includes a processor driven circuitry for recording a temperature associated with the interior volume containing the medications. The recorded temperature is compared at determined intervals to a preset programmed temperature range and, upon exceeding the programmed range, the device alerts the user. An alternative monitoring device is envisioned to ship with the medication from the manufacturer and remain with the medication container until the medications are used.