US 11,696,731 B2
Distributed healthcare communication method
Richard J. Schuman, Cary, NC (US); Patricia A. Glidewell, Cary, NC (US); and Erik E. Roehl, Apex, NC (US)
Assigned to Hill-Room Services, Inc., Batesville, IN (US)
Filed by Hill-Rom Services, Inc., Batesville, IN (US)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/342,894.
Application 17/342,894 is a continuation of application No. 16/841,009, filed on Apr. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,058,368.
Application 16/841,009 is a continuation of application No. 16/398,775, filed on Apr. 30, 2019, granted, now 10,638,983, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 16/398,775 is a continuation of application No. 15/939,762, filed on Mar. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,307,113, issued on Jun. 4, 2019.
Application 15/939,762 is a continuation of application No. 15/332,699, filed on Oct. 24, 2016, granted, now 9,955,926, issued on May 1, 2018.
Application 15/332,699 is a continuation of application No. 15/053,303, filed on Feb. 25, 2016, granted, now 9,517,035, issued on Dec. 13, 2016.
Application 15/053,303 is a continuation of application No. 14/091,392, filed on Nov. 27, 2013, granted, now 9,299,242, issued on Mar. 29, 2016.
Application 14/091,392 is a continuation of application No. 12/369,813, filed on Feb. 12, 2009, granted, now 8,598,995, issued on Dec. 3, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/145,306, filed on Jan. 16, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/066,882, filed on Feb. 22, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/066,883, filed on Feb. 22, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/066,918, filed on Feb. 22, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/066,877, filed on Feb. 22, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2021/0290185 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G08B 5/22 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); G16H 40/20 (2018.01); H04L 67/52 (2022.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01); G08B 25/00 (2006.01); G08B 25/01 (2006.01); G08B 7/06 (2006.01); G06F 3/048 (2013.01)
CPC A61B 5/7465 (2013.01) [A61B 5/002 (2013.01); A61B 5/0022 (2013.01); A61B 5/746 (2013.01); G06F 3/048 (2013.01); G08B 5/222 (2013.01); G08B 7/06 (2013.01); G08B 25/00 (2013.01); G08B 25/016 (2013.01); G16H 40/20 (2018.01); H04L 67/12 (2013.01); H04L 67/52 (2022.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A healthcare communication method implemented in a healthcare facility having a plurality of patient rooms, the healthcare communication method comprising:
providing a plurality of graphical audio stations, each of the patient rooms having at least one of the plurality of graphical audio stations located therein, each of the plurality of graphical audio stations having a graphical display screen,
providing a master station communicatively coupled to each of the graphical audio stations, and
using user inputs of at least one graphical audio station of the plurality of graphical audio stations to establish a two-way communication link with a selected one of the other graphical audio stations, to view a list of alerts or nurse calls originating in other patient rooms, to acknowledge alerts or nurse calls originating in other patient rooms, to answer alerts or nurse calls originating in other patient rooms, and to cancel alerts or nurse calls originating in other patient rooms.