Smart/integrated system for tracking the location of a patient within a healthcare environment

A method for tracking the location of a patient in a healthcare environment, wherein the healthcare environment comprises an electronic medical record for the patient, wherein the method comprises:

• providing an indoor positioning system (IPS) comprising:
• a plurality of wireless networking beacons for detecting the presence of a wireless tracker module;
• a wireless tracker module configured to move with the patient;
• and
• a processor in communication with the plurality of wireless networking beacons, wherein the processor is configured to (i) determine the location of the wireless tracker module within the healthcare environment, whereby to determine the location of the patient in the healthcare environment, and (ii) store the location of the patient in the healthcare environment in the electronic medical record for the patient;
• placing the wireless tracker module on or near the patient;
• and
• accessing the electronic medical record for the patient to determine the location of the patient in the healthcare environment.

A system for tracking the location of at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal within an area, wherein the system comprises:

• a positioning system comprising:
• a plurality of wireless networking beacons for detecting the presence of a wireless tracker module;
• a wireless tracker module configured to move with the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal;
• and
• a processor in communication with the plurality of wireless networking beacons, wherein the processor is configured to (i) determine the location of the wireless tracker module within the area, whereby to determine the location of the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal in the area, and (ii) store the location of the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal in the area.

A method for tracking the location of at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal within an area, the method comprising:

• providing a positioning system comprising:
• a plurality of wireless networking beacons for detecting the presence of a wireless tracker module;
• a wireless tracker module configured to move with the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal;
• and
• a processor in communication with the plurality of wireless networking beacons, wherein the processor is configured to (i) determine the location of the wireless tracker module within the area, whereby to determine the location of the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal in the area, and (ii) store the location of the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal in the area;
• placing the wireless tracker module on or near the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal;
• and
• accessing the location of the at least one from the group consisting of a person, an object and an animal in the area.