Universal communications, monitoring, tracking, and control system for a healthcare facility

An asset management and communication system for a healthcare facility, including:

• a server coupled to a database;
• a plurality of tags coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with asset data describing the corresponding asset;
• a first network coupled to the server including a plurality of first transceivers configured to receive the tag IDs and transmit the tag IDs and a transceiver ID to the server via the first network, whereby, in response to receipt of a tag ID and a transceiver ID from a transceiver, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the asset corresponding to the tag ID to indicate that the corresponding asset is adjacent the transceiver;
• a second network coupled to the server including a plurality of access points;
• and
• a plurality of portable client devices, each client device including a display and a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to the server via one of the plurality of access points a client device ID that is uniquely associated in the database with a user of the client device, whereby, in response to receipt of the client device ID, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the user to indicate that the user is within a reception range of the one access point, wherein each portable client device of the plurality of portable client devices is capable of being used to establish voice communications with each of the other portable client devices, wherein each of the portable client devices has a reader configured to read data directly from each of the plurality of tags, wherein each of the portable client devices is configured to control equipment associated with a patient room, and wherein each of the portable client devices are capable of being used to access information that relates to patients and that is stored on the server.