Personnel Proximity Detection And Tracking System

A method of monitoring personnel or equipment within in a facility, comprising:

• assigning each badge of a plurality of badges to selected identified personnel or equipment, the badges each including at least one transmitter;
• as the identified personnel or equipment move through the facility, transmitting a plurality of signals from the badges assigned thereto, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals transmitted by each badge is transmitted at a prescribed intensity, range or predetermined distance, and contains a one or more signal identifying codes;
• receiving the signals transmitted from the badges at a plurality of receivers positioned at selected locations throughout the facility;
• identifying the personnel or equipment according to a signature identifier corresponding to the badge from which the signal is transmitted;
• and
• determining a plurality of positions of the identified personnel or equipment carrying each of the assigned badges from which signals are received in relation to the plurality of receivers based on the one or more received signal identifying codes indicating the predetermined distance of each transmitted signal.

A system for identifying, tracking, and/or mapping movements of workers within a medical facility, comprising:

• a plurality of badges, each assigned to a selected worker, and each badge comprising one or more transmitters configured to transmit a plurality of varying signals, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals includes signature information identifying the badge from which each signal is transmitted and a code differentiating each from the plurality of signals transmitted by each badge;
• a series of receivers positioned in selected locations adjacent one or more patient treatment areas of the medical facility and configured to receive the signals transmitted by the badges, wherein one or more of the receivers transmits an activation signal configured to cause one or more badges of the plurality of badges coming within a desired proximity thereto to transmit their series of signals;
• a processor in communication with each of the receivers, the processor including programming whereby when one or more of the receivers receives signals transmitted by one or more of the badges and communicates the received signals to the processor, the processor identifies each badge from which the signals were received based upon the signature information, and determines a plurality of positions of each badge within the patient treatment area based on the codes differentiating each signal received;
• and
• a database in communication with the processor and adapted to store medical information for patients within the patient treatment area;
• wherein the processor further comprises programming configured to cross-reference the information on the patients stored in the database with the plurality of positions of each badge within the patient treatment area.