Electronic patient sitter management system and method for implementing

A method for managing an electronic sitter system for monitoring patients, the electronic sitter system comprising a plurality of sitter monitor devices, each sitter monitor device comprising a video display for displaying at least one stream of patient surveillance video transmitted from one of the plurality of video cameras located in a patient room, the electronic sitter system further comprises a sitter management device for assigning a stream of patient surveillance video from a patient room to one of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the sitter management device, sitter monitor device availability information for designating a plurality of sitter monitor devices as each being available to receive multiple streams of patient surveillance video;
• assigning, at the sitter management device, at least three streams of patient surveillance video for at least three patient rooms for simultaneously display on each of the plurality of sitter monitor devices;
• receiving, at each of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, the three streams of patient surveillance video for the three patient rooms, wherein the each of the plurality of sitter monitor devices receives the three streams of patient surveillance video regardless of whether an alert is received by any of the plurality of sitter monitor devices;
• displaying, at each of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, the three streams of patient surveillance video for the two patient rooms;
• receiving, at the sitter management device, first sitter monitor device unavailability information for designating a first sitter monitor device of the plurality of sitter monitor devices as being unavailable to receive two of the three streams of patient surveillance video;
• and
• rollover assigning, at the sitter management device, the two of the three streams of patient surveillance.

An electronic sitter management system coupled to patient surveillance network, said patient surveillance network comprising a plurality of video cameras for transmitting a stream of patient surveillance video for each of the respective patient rooms, each of the plurality of video cameras located in a patient room and aimed at an interior of the respective patient room, the electronic sitter management system comprising:

• a plurality of sitter monitor devices, each sitter monitor device comprising:
• a video display for displaying at least one stream of patient surveillance video transmitted from one of the plurality of video cameras located in the patient room;
• a sitter interface object for receiving a sitter interaction and for generating a sitter interaction signal;
• a device availability information generator for receiving the sitter interaction signal and generating one of availability information for designating the sitter monitor device as being available to receive the at least one stream of patient surveillance video and unavailability information for designating the sitter monitor device as being unavailable to receive the at least one stream of patient surveillance video;
• and
• a network connection for receiving the at least one stream of patient surveillance video transmitted from one of the plurality of video cameras located in the patient room and for transmitting the one of availability information and unavailability information;
• and
• a sitter management device comprising:
• a patient assignment component for assigning a first stream of patient surveillance video for a first patient room for display on a first sitter monitor device of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, and for assigning a second stream of patient surveillance video for a second patient room for display on a second sitter monitor device of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, and for assigning a third stream of patient surveillance video for a third patient room for display on a third sitter monitor device of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, wherein the first sitter monitor device receives the first stream of patient surveillance video regardless of whether an alert is received by the first sitter monitor device;
• and
• a rollover patient assignment component for receiving first unavailability information for designating the first sitter monitor device as being unavailable to receive the first stream of patient surveillance video for the first patient room for display on the first sitter monitor device and for rollover assigning the first stream of patient surveillance video from the first sitter monitor device.

A method for managing an electronic sitter system for monitoring patients, the electronic sitter system comprising a plurality of sitter monitor devices and a sitter management device for receiving assignment information for assigning a plurality of streams of patient surveillance video to one of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the sitter management device, availability information associated with a plurality of sitter monitor devices;
• receiving, at the sitter management device, assignment information for assigning at least one stream of patient surveillance video to a selected sitter monitor device;
• transmitting at least one stream of patient surveillance video and to an assigned sitter monitor device, wherein the assigned sitter monitor device receives the at least one stream of patient surveillance video regardless of whether an alert is received by the assigned sitter monitor device;
• receiving, at the sitter management device, device unavailability information for designating the assigned sitter monitor device as being unavailable;
• rollover assigning, at the sitter management device, the at least one stream of patient surveillance video for displaying on a rollover sitter monitor device.

An electronic sitter management system coupled to patient surveillance network, said patient surveillance network comprising a plurality of video cameras for transmitting a stream of patient surveillance video for each of the respective patient rooms, each of the plurality of video cameras located in a patient room and aimed at an interior of the respective patient room, the electronic sitter management system comprising:

• a plurality of sitter monitor devices;
• and
• a sitter management device comprising:
• a patient assignment component for assigning a plurality of streams of patient surveillance video for display on one or more of the plurality of sitter monitor devices, wherein the one or more of the plurality of sitter monitor devices receive the plurality of patient surveillance video regardless of whether an alert is received by the one or more of the plurality of sitter monitor device;
• and
• a rollover patient assignment component for receiving device unavailability information for designating one of the plurality of sitter monitor devices as being unavailable, the designed sitter monitor device being associated with a first stream of patient surveillance video and rollover assigning the first stream of patient surveillance video for displaying on a rollover sitter monitor device.