Personnel location and monitoring system and method for enclosed facilities

A method of locating personnel in an enclosed facility having a plurality of stations therein, the steps of

• (a) locating a detector at each of said stations for detecting the presence of a person when said person is within a predetermined distance from said detector by directing two signals of different velocities towards said person and measuring the time difference between the receipts of said signals by said person and comparing said difference with a predetermined value;
• and (b) developing and transmitting to said detector information identifying said person.

An identity and hand wash status badge to be displayed on healthcare personnel, said badge comprising (a) a display member;

• (b) a remotely actuatable visual hand wash status indicator on said display member;
• (c) a timing device for holding said indicator “on” for a first predetermined time period after being turned “on” and then turning said indicator “off” when said time period expires;
• and (d) said timing device being remotely actuatable to enable it to selectively hold said indicator “on” for a shorter length of time than said first time period said badge including a time-of-flight detector for detecting the difference in arrival times of two signals of different velocities sent from a measurement station and sending an identification signal when said difference is below a predetermined level.

A method of controlling an indicator on a tag worn by a healthcare worker in a healthcare facility comprising activating said indicator for a given time period after the completing of a hand washing procedure by said healthcare worker, and de-activating said indicator whenever said healthcare worker leaves the near vicinity of a patient in said facility, said tag worn by a healthcare worker including a time-of-flight detector for detecting the difference in arrival times of two signals of different velocities sent from a measurement station and sending an identification signal when said difference is below a predetermined level.