AU2015100101A4 - A communications system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medical-incident response-vehicle system. The system includes a hand-held communications device for generating a medical incident alarm to be sent over a data communications network. The alarm includes a location of the device. The system includes a monitoring station for receiving the medical incident alarm. An incident response vehicle is provided for being deployed on instructions from the monitoring station to the location of the device. In one embodiment, the monitoring station and incident response vehicle are commercial entities, and not government entities. Advantageously, staff of the monitoring station and incident response vehicle may be bilingual, speaking English to communicate with a subscriber undergoing a medical incident as well as the foreign language of the country in which the subscriber is located to facilitate communication with hospital staff. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention generally relates to a communications system. In particular, the present invention generally relates to a medical-incident response-vehicle system. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to deploying response-vehicles to Australian travelers in foreign countries that are encountering medical-incidents. BACKGROUND [0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. [0003] Australians are widely travelled owing in part to our multicultural society and isolated geographic location. Perhaps owing to our isolation, many Australians do not speak a foreign language and are at a distinct disadvantage during misfortune incidents in countries where English is not the native language. In the event of medical incidents in such countries, the consequences of miscommunication can be dire. [0004] During a medical emergency, a travelling Australian must firstly summon an emergency services vehicle (e.g. ambulance), which can prove difficult not only owing to the language barrier, but owing to the scarcity of such government vehicles in developing countries and especially in remote locations. [0005] It is uncommon for foreign paramedics to speak English, and therefore vital information from a patient is often miscommunicated, or not communicated at all, to the paramedic. Furthermore, a similar situation later awaits the Australian patient as foreign hospital staff, including doctors, often have difficulty communicating with the patient. Furthermore, the patient may no longer be conscious by the time the hospital is reached even if someone on staff speaks English.

2 [0006] The preferred embodiment provides improvements in deploying response vehicles to Australian travelers in foreign countries that are encountering medical incidents. The preferred embodiment is also useful for domestic applications. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical incident response-vehicle system including: a hand-held communications device for generating a medical incident alarm to be sent over a data communications network, the alarm including a location of the device; a monitoring station for receiving the medical incident alarm; and an incident response vehicle for being deployed on instructions from the monitoring station to the location of the device. [0008] Preferably, the monitoring station and incident response vehicle are commercial entities, and not government entities. Advantageously, staff of the monitoring station and incident response vehicle may be bilingual, speaking English to communicate with a subscriber undergoing a medical incident as well as the foreign language of the country in which the subscriber is located to facilitate communication with hospital staff. [0009] The device may include an actuator for a subscriber to actuate to generate the alarm. The actuator may be a pressing actuator. The actuator may include a safety mechanism to impede accidental actuation. The safety mechanism may include a receiver for receiving two or more inputs from a patient prior to actuation. [00010] The system may include a medical facility for alerting of: the impending arrival of the response vehicle; or medical information of a subscriber associated with the device prior to arrival of the response vehicle. The medical information may include historical information or current condition information. Advantageously, the medical facility is given advance warning of the medical incident to reduce critical time otherwise incurred in ascertaining such information at admission. [00011] The monitoring station may include a subscriber database including subscriber records relating to subscribers of the system that may be potentially involved in the medical incident. Each subscriber record may include an identifier sent with the 3 alarm to identify a subscriber associated with the device, and any medical information of the subscriber. The system may include a secure server for storing the subscriber database. [00012] The alarm may include an identifier of a subscriber associated with the device. The location may be determined using a GPS of the device. The vehicle may include an aircraft. The monitoring station may be able to voice communicate with the device (e.g. voIP). [00013] The device may include a display configured to display a map showing one or more points of interest to a subscriber undergoing a medical incident. The points of interest may include medical facilities (e.g. hospital) or emergency services facilities (e.g. police station). [00014] The monitoring station may include two adjacent displays, namely a subscriber display for displaying subscriber information and a response display for concurrently displaying response information. The monitoring station may include at least one display configured to display a map. The map may show logged-in subscribers. The map may show each medical incident. The medical incidents may be distinguished based upon incident status. The display may show response vehicles. The response vehicles may be displayed on a map. [00015] The system may include a WI-FI hotspot, cellular phone network or satellite communications network between the device and the monitoring station. Preferably, the data communications network includes the Internet, [00016] The system may further include a response vehicle station for receiving deployment instructions from the monitoring station. The system may further include another response vehicle for coordinating with the response vehicle. The system may further include an employer for receiving updates of a subscriber from the monitoring station. The system may further include an insurer for approving deployment of the incident response vehicle. [00017] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical-incident response method including: 4 generating a medical incident alarm to be sent over a data communications network with a hand-held communications device, the alarm including a location of the device; receiving the medical incident alarm at a monitoring station; and the monitoring station instructing deployment of an incident response vehicle to the location of the device. [00018] The method may involve a subscriber pressing an actuator to generate the alarm. The alarm may only be generated upon detection of two or more presses of the actuator (i.e. and not a single press). [00019] The method may involve the device displaying a map showing one or more points of interest to a subscriber undergoing a medical incident. [00020] The method may further involve alerting a medical facility of: the impending arrival of the response vehicle, or medical information of a subscriber associated with the device prior to arrival of the response vehicle. [00021] The method may involve the device displaying a map showing one or more points of interest to a subscriber undergoing a medical incident. The method may involve the monitoring station displaying a map showing logged-in subscribers, each medical incident or response vehicles. [00022] The method may involve a response vehicle station deploying the vehicle upon receipt of deployment instructions from the monitoring station. The method may involve coordinating another response vehicle with the response vehicle. The method may involve sending updates of a subscriber undergoing a medical incident. The method may involve an insurer approving deployment of the incident response vehicle. [00023] The method may further involve the device placing a phone call to the monitoring station upon generation of the alarm. The method may further involve the step of the monitoring station generating a notification if the call is not received within a predetermined time of receiving the alarm. [00024] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical-incident response hand-held communications device, the device configured to: 5 generate a medical incident alarm, including a location of the device, to be sent over a data communications network to a monitoring station that deploys assistance to the location of the device. [00025] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical-incident response monitoring station, the monitoring station configured to: receive a medical incident alarm, including a location of a hand-held communications device, over a data communications network and from the device that generated the alarm; and deploy assistance to the location of the device. [00026] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical-incident response vehicle for deployment on instructions from the monitoring station to a location of a hand-held communications device that generated a medical incident alarm sent over a data communications network to the monitoring station, the alarm including the location of the device. [00027] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical-incident assistance method involving: a user undergoing a medical-incident generating a medical incident alarm to be sent over a data communications network with a hand-held communications device, the alarm including a location of the device; and receiving the medical incident alarm at a monitoring station. [00028] Preferably, the method further involves the monitoring station providing assistance to a user of the hand-held communications device responsive to receipt of the alarm. The assistance may include deployment of a vehicle to the location. The assistance may include a map showing one or more points of interest (e.g. hospital) to the user. [00029] The method may further involve the device placing a phone call to the monitoring station upon generation of the alarm. The method may further involve the step of the monitoring station generating a notification if the call is not received within a predetermined time of receiving the alarm. The method may further involve sending medical information of a subscriber associated with the device and to a medical facility. The medical information may include historical information or current condition 6 information. Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00030] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: [00031] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical-incident response-vehicle system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00032] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a medical-incident response method using the system of Figure 2; [00033] Figure 3 shows a home screen displayed by a hand-held device of the system of Figure 1; [00034] Figure 4 shows an alarm generation screen displayed by a hand-held device of the system of Figure 1; [00035] Figure 5 shows an emergency information screen displayed by a hand-held device of the system of Figure 1; [00036] Figure 6 shows a subscriber display displayed at a monitoring station of the system of Figure 1; and [00037] Figure 7 shows a response display displayed at a monitoring station of the system of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [00038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a medical-incident response-vehicle system 100 for deploying a response vehicle 102 7 (e.g. land based vehicle or aircraft) to an Australian traveler 104 in a foreign country (e.g. India) that has encountered a medical-incident (e.g. broken ankle). [00039] The system 100 includes a smartphone device 106 (i.e. hand-held communications device) for generating a medical incident alarm to be sent over a data communications network 108 including the Internet. The alarm includes a location of the device 106 determined using a GPS of the device 106, as well as a unique identifier associated with the traveler 104 and device 106. [00040] The system 100 further includes a monitoring station 112 for receiving the medical incident alarm. The incident response vehicle 102, manned by a medical practitioner (e.g. doctor, paramedic, nurse, etc.) is deployed on instructions from the monitoring station112 and to the location (e.g. Taj Mahal 110 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India) of the device 106 to immediately assist the traveler 104. [00041] The traveler 104 is a subscriber to the privately operated system 100. The monitoring station 112 and incident response vehicle 102 may be private commercial entities, although in other embodiments may be government entities (e.g. such as the ambulance service). Advantageously, staff from both the monitoring station 112 and incident response vehicle 102 are bilingual, speaking English to communicate with the subscriber 104 undergoing a medical incident as well as the foreign language of the country (e.g. India) in which the subscriber 104 is located to facilitate communication with hospital staff. [00042] The system 100 includes a medical facility (e.g. hospital) 114 for alerting of: the impending arrival of the response vehicle 102; and pertinent medical information of the subscriber 104 prior to arrival of the response vehicle 102. The medical information includes historical information (e.g. allergies, etc.) and current condition information (e.g. whether or not the subscriber 104 is conscious). Advantageously, the medical facility 114 is given advance warning of the medical incident to reduce critical time otherwise incurred in ascertaining such information at admission to the facility 114. [00043] The monitoring station 112 includes a subscriber database 116 including subscriber records relating to subscribers 104 of the system 100 that may be potentially involved in a medical incident. Each subscriber record includes a matching identifier (sent with the alarm as previously described) to identify the subscriber 104 associated 8 with the device 106, and any medical information of the subscriber (e.g. allergies, current medication, etc.). The subscriber database 116 is stored on a secure server available to only authorized staff of the monitoring station 112. [00044] The system 100 includes a WI-FI hotspot 118 and cellular phone network 120 between the device 106 and the monitoring station 112. A nurse at the monitoring station 112 is able to voice communicate with subscriber 104 using the device 106 (e.g. using voIP) after receipt of the generated incident alarm. The system 100 may also include a satellite communication network (not shown) between the device 106 and the monitoring station 112. [00045] The system 100 further includes a response vehicle station 122 for receiving deployment instructions from the monitoring station 112 upon receipt of the alarm. The subscriber 104 may be an employee of an employer 124 that has sent the subscriber overseas for work purposes. Accordingly, the employer 124 has a duty of care to the subscriber 104. The employer 124 can be reassured that immediate medical attention can be provided to its overseas staff, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, by subscribing the staff to the system 100. The employer 124 receives electronic medical updates about the subscriber 104 from the monitoring station 112. The system 100 further includes an insurer 126 for approving deployment of the incident response vehicle 102 at the request of the monitoring station 112. [00046] In the present embodiment, the smartphone device 106 includes a software application (i.e. App) to generate the alarm. The App is downloaded from a webserver hosted by the monitoring station 112. The App enables data and voice communications over the network 108, as detailed below. [00047] A medical-incident response method 200 using the system 100 is now described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2. [00048] Initially at step 202, the device 106 displays a home screen 300 shown in Figure 3. The traveler 104 can login using the login prompts 302 if they are already a subscriber of the system 100. [00049] Alternatively, the traveler 104 can create a new account using the new account prompts 304 and subscribe to the system 100. In particular, the device 106 9 prompts the subscriber to enter subscriber record information including name, password, address, phone number, employer information, travel insurance, health insurance, medical history, medications, allergies, and any other relevant personal information. The completed subscriber record is saved in the subscriber database 116. Further, a unique identifier is allocated to the subscriber 104 and device 106, and stored for matching with the stored record. [00050] Once logged in at step 204, the device 106 displays an alarm generation screen 400 shown in Figure 4. The device 106 includes a displayed press-button actuator 402 for enabling the subscriber 104 to generate the alarm upon actuation. The actuator includes a safety mechanism to impede accidental actuation by the subscriber 104. In particular, the safety mechanism includes a receiver for receiving two or more button press inputs of the actuator 402, from the subscriber 104, prior to actuation. The alarm generation screen 400 is typically minimized in the background of the device 106. [00051] At step 206, the subscriber 104 undergoes a medical incident (e.g. broken ankle). Accordingly, the subscriber 104 presses the actuator 402 and the device 106 generates the alarm. The alarm is electronically sent over the network 108. A confirmation receipt indicator 404, in the form of a progress bar, is displayed which confirms when the alarm is received by the monitoring station 112 (via an automated return receipt message sent by the monitoring station 112). The device 106 also places a phone call to the monitoring station 112 upon generation of the alarm. [00052] At step 208, the monitoring station 112 electronically receives the generated alarm, and electronically sends the automated receipt. The device 106 then displays the emergency information screen 500 shown in Figure 5. The receipt indicator 404 is once again displayed showing a completed progress bar. A selectable first aid link 502 is displayed and can be actuated to download a viewable first aid booklet to the device 106. If the call from the device 106 is not received at the monitoring station 112 within a predetermined time from receiving the alarm, the monitoring station automatically generates a notification alerting monitoring station staff to attempt to call the device 106. [00053] The monitoring station 112 also automatically sends a selectable map link (not shown) to the device 106 based upon the known location of the device 106. Upon selection of the map link, the device 106 displays a map showing points of interest to 10 the subscriber 104. The points of interest include nearby medical facilities (e.g. hospital) and emergency services facilities (e.g. police station). [00054] At step 210, a nurse at the monitoring station 112 calls the device 106 and speaks with the subscriber 104 to ascertain the nature of the medical incident and medical condition of the subscriber 104. [00055] The monitoring station 112 includes two adjacent displays, namely a subscriber display (Figure 6) for displaying subscriber information and a response display (Figure 7) for concurrently displaying response information. The adjacent positioning of these displays enables monitoring station staff to effectively co-ordinate the medical-incident response. [00056] Turing to Figure 6, the subscriber map 600 shows subscriber icons 602 representing the location of logged-in subscriber devices 106, including the device 106 of the subscriber 104 undergoing the present medical incident. The map 600 can also show each medical incident by changing the color of the subscriber icon 602 on the map 600. Further, the icons 602 can be distinguished based upon incident status by color (e.g. RED for incident unattended, ORANGE for incident attended, GREEN for no incident etc.). [00057] Turning to Figure 7, the response screen 700 shows response vehicle icons 702 representing respective logged response vehicles 102 with medical personnel. The vehicle icons 702 can be distinguished based upon vehicle status by color (e.g. RED for responding or attending, GREEN for available, etc.) The response screen 700 includes a history actuator 704 for viewing the response history; an assignment actuator 706 for assigning an available vehicle to a medical incident; a map actuator 708 for displaying a map (similar to map 600) showing the location of the response vehicles 102 (obtained from GPS messages sent to the monitoring station 112 from the vehicles), and which can also be displayed on map 600. [00058] The staff at the monitoring station 112 can readily use the adjacent displays to select a suitable available response vehicle 102 to attend the injured subscriber 104 based upon criteria including proximity and vehicle attendant skills.

11 [00059] At step 212, the monitoring station 112 electronically sends a request for approving deployment of the suitable response vehicle to the insurer 126 based upon the insurance information stored in the database 116. [00060] At step 214, upon electronic receipt of insurance approval, the monitoring station 112 electronically sends instructions for the response vehicle station 122 to deploy the vehicle 102 to attend the subscriber 104, and does so immediately. [00061] At step 216, the monitoring station 112 electronically sends the medical facility 114 details of the impending arrival of the deployed response vehicle 102, and pertinent information (e.g. current medical condition, allergies, medications, etc.) of the subscriber 104 including information from the subscriber record in the database 116. Advantageously, hospital staff is in possession of the subscriber's pertinent medical record or file. The monitoring station nurse can talk with hospital staff in their native language to ensure that the best possible care is given to the arriving subscriber 104. [00062] The monitoring station 112 can communicate with the patient 104 and staff of the vehicle 102 during transportation to receive updates on the status of the patient 104, which is of great advantage should the patient 104 later fall unconscious. In turn, these updates can be communicated to the hospital 114 in the native language. [00063] At step 218, monitoring station 112 electronically sends medical updates of the subscriber 104 to the employer 124 based upon the employer information stored in the database 116. [00064] Advantageously, the foregoing medical-incident response method 200 is greatly improved when compared with existing prior art response methods. The method 200 reduces delay for any medical incident by at least 10 man hours. [00065] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. [00066] For example, network 108 can include a cellular phone network and public switch telephone network (PSTN). The electronic communications between the entities in the network 108 can be made via any of voice, facsimile, e-mail, SMS or other like 12 messaging and the skilled person will appreciate that appropriate hardware is required to this end. In one embodiment, various communications may not be electronic. [00067] The system 100 can further include another response vehicle (e.g. automobile in the form of an ambulance) for coordinating with the aircraft response vehicle 102. The skilled person will understand that the location of the patient 104 need not be a pinpoint location, but rather a general geographic area or region (e.g. city) and that staff in the vehicle 102 can stretcher the patient 104 to the vehicle 104 as required. [00068] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. [00069] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims (6)

1. A medical-incident response-vehicle system including: a hand-held communications device for generating a medical incident alarm to be sent over a data communications network, the alarm including a location of the device; a monitoring station for receiving the medical incident alarm; and an incident response vehicle for being deployed on instructions from the monitoring station to the location of the device.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further including a medical facility for electronically receiving, from the monitoring station and prior to arrival of the response vehicle, medical information of a subscriber associated with the device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device includes an actuator for a subscriber to actuate to generate the alarm, the actuator including a mechanism to impede accidental actuation.

4. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device includes a display configured to display a map showing one or more points of interest to a subscriber undergoing a medical incident, subsequent to generation of the alarm and using information sent from the monitoring station.

5. A system as claims in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring station includes two adjacent displays, namely a subscriber display for displaying subscriber information and a response display for concurrently displaying response information. Dated this 30th day of January 2015

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