Abstract:
A computer viewing apparatus for connection to a hospital bed is provided. The computer viewing apparatus includes a repositionable flexible arm assembly, an anchoring member at a first end of the flexible arm that attaches the flexible arm to the hospital bed, and a connection member at a second end of the flexible arm that attaches the computer to the flexible arm. The flexible arm assembly includes conductive wires contained therein to connect a computer to a power source, a flexible spine at least partially surrounding the wires that includes a number of interconnected and universally rotatable members, and a sleeve engaging an outer surface of each of the rotatable members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/743,391 filed Oct. 5, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/279,907 filed Oct. 24, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This application relates to a computer viewing apparatus for connection to a hospital bed. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The mental condition of a hospitalized patient can pose serious therapeutic challenges to medical care providers. Often, due to underlying medical conditions, the patient may exhibit serious and potentially life threatening psychological manifestations such as anxiety or delirium. Anxiety may be defined as a “state of intense apprehension or fear of real or imagined danger.” Delirium may be defined as a “state of marked confusion” that can be provoked by an underlying medical condition. Both anxiety and delirium can occur in hospitalized patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), progressive “step-down” medical floors, and general medical floors. 
         [0004]    Many medical conditions can provoke significant anxiety. A pertinent example in the ICU setting is as follows: an elderly nursing home patient overdoses on pain medication, develops unconsciousness, and then aspirates food contents into the trachea and lung. The patient is emergently brought by emergency medical services (EMS) to the nearest emergency room (ER). This patient may require intubation and be placed on a mechanical ventilator (i.e., breathing machine) to facilitate breathing and oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. During intubation, a tube is inserted through the vocal cords preventing the patient from speaking In addition, the patient is usually hand restrained to prevent accidentally pulling the life-sustaining tube out of her mouth. The above condition necessitates the patient to have a bed position that has the patient invariably looking up at a white-tiled ceiling or the like. In addition, ambient noise from other ICU patients&#39; noise, ventilator/cardiac alarm noise, and conversation noise also contribute to a less than calming and peaceful “healing” environment. Many studies have shown that a typical ICU bed can have noise &gt;75 db. This can lead to sleep deprivation over several days, which can result in altered conscious states and further anxiety and delirium. 
         [0005]    Nursing and other medical staff personnel may make “bedside” attempts to reorient and calm a patient, but these good-intentioned efforts often do not lead to the desired result of a calm, cooperative, and oriented patient in the ICU or other hospital floors. Furthermore, these efforts are time-consuming, costly, and often ineffective due to staffing constraints and priorities. In addition, often there is a language barrier between the patient and the nurse/medical personnel potentially leading to significant more patient anxiety and confusion. The above factors can lead to a recurrent cycle of anxiety and delirium that is very difficult to break on a practical basis. As a consequence, nursing and medical staff personnel are unfortunately then necessitated to use intravenous (IV) anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic medications that have potential significant side effects. These side effects often include hypotension, lethal cardiac arrhythmias, electrolyte imbalance, and even further confusion paradoxically. In addition, several ICU peer-reviewed, evidence-based medical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that unnecessary sedation medications lead to significant increased length of stay in the ICU, prolonged time on life support breathing machines, and significantly more costs in the thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, due to health care systems&#39; limitations on nursing to patient staffing ratio and hospital financial constraints, constant “bedside” care to minimize anxiety or delirium risk factors have not been optimal. 
         [0006]    If a patient improves in the ICU or other medical floor, the patient can potentially become more interactive with their environment and staff. At this point, the patient can be fully aware and cooperative with others. Unfortunately, many illnesses and just being in a hospital setting can lead to an anxious or even depressed mood. Often patients are spending countless hours waiting for tests to be done. Without connections to outside the hospital environment, patients can become bored, isolated, and detached. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, a computer viewing apparatus for connection to a hospital bed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a repositionable flexible arm assembly, an anchoring member at a first end of the flexible arm that attaches the flexible arm to the hospital bed, and a connection member at a second end of the flexible arm that attaches the computer to the flexible arm. The repositionable flexible arm assembly includes conductive wires contained therein to connect a computer to a power source, a flexible spine at least partially surrounding the wires that includes a number of interconnected and universally rotatable members, and a sleeve engaging an outer surface of each of the rotatable members. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a computer viewing apparatus is disclosed that includes a connection member securing a computer and having a front and rear surface, and a pair of vertical and horizontal scalable fasteners secured to the connection member front surface. The scalable fasteners secure the computer to the connection member. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, a computer viewing apparatus includes a connection member securing a computer and having a front and rear surface, and a pair of vertical and horizontal scalable fasteners secured to the connection member front surface. The scalable fasteners secure the computer to the connection member. Each scalable fastener includes a bolt and a groove for slidable movement of the scalable fastener relative to the bolt. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are perspective views of a hospital bed with a computer to facilitate reorientation and reduce anxiety and delirium risk in a patient, wherein the computer is attached to the hospital bed by a flexible arm, and the computer is shown in a first position ( FIG. 1   a ) with the patient in a prone position and a second position ( FIG. 1   b ) with the patient in an upright position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the computer of  FIG. 1  mounted on a connection member at one end of the flexible arm according to one embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional, cut-away view of the computer and the connection member taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the computer mounted on a connection member according to another embodiment, also depicting an anchoring member on the other end of the flexible arm that connects the arm to the bed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional, cut-away view of the computer and the connection member taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6   a - f  are screen shots of various example content pages displayed by the computer in which content is communicated from the CPU to the patient to help reorient and reduce anxiety in the patient; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7   a  is a screen shot of an interactive menu displayed by the computer operating an active module in which the CPU and the patient communicate interactively, the menu providing example activity options for the patient; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7   b  is a screen shot of an interactive menu displayed by the computer operating in the active module, the menu providing example hospital information selections; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7   c  is a screen shot of an interactive menu displayed by the computer operating in the active module, the menu providing example selections for a pneumonia diagnosis for the patient; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7   d  is a screen shot of an interactive menu displayed by the computer operating in the active module, the menu providing example selections for an atrial fibrillation diagnosis for the patient; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7   e  is a screen shot of an interactive menu displayed by the computer operating in the active module, the menu providing example communication and activity selections for the patient; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are screen shots of an example interface on the computer for a video call and video conference, respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed by the Applicant are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0023]    The embodiments described herein relate to a computer system, apparatus, and method for reorienting, decreasing anxiety, and/or reducing delirium risk throughout the course of a patient&#39;s hospital stay. Offering a patient specific, non-pharmacological method for reorienting and decreasing patient anxiety may avoid the potentially significantly costly and life threatening effects of medications. In the ICU setting, for example, a passive approach to reorienting the patient and/or improving their anxiety and delirium may be taken. As a patient recovers, embodiments may provide a more interactive/active approach to improving the patient&#39;s anxiety, boredom, and detachment from the outside hospital environment, as well as enhancing the overall patient experience. 
         [0024]    Referring to Figures la and lb, a hospital bed  10  is depicted for a patient to rest on while being treated at a hospital or other medical facility. A computer  12  is attached to the bed  10 . The computer  12  may be an IPAD or IPOD (by Apple®), a TABLET (powered by ANDROID OS), a PLAYBOOK (by Blackberry®), and/or other hand-held computers or displays (such as a television) with or without an accompanying touchscreen. The computer  12  has a central processing unit (CPU) that executes machine instructions, and a memory for storing the machine instructions that are to be executed by the CPU. As will be described in further detail, the computer  12  is programmed to facilitate in reorienting, decreasing anxiety, and/or reducing delirium risk in patients. As patients are sometimes unconscious while they are transported to the hospital, or after a medical procedure, or by virtue of their medical condition, patients can be very confused and disoriented when they wake up in a hospital bed. The patients can be anxious about their environment and current medical condition. The screen of the computer  12  faces the patient so that the computer  12  can reorient/calm the patient during periods of consciousness. 
         [0025]    The computer  12  may be mounted to a connection member  14 . The face of computer connection member  14  may be larger in length and width than the computer  12  that it holds. The computer connection member  14  may have a soothing color (e.g., soft blue) or shape (e.g., oval/rounded), so that when the patient awakes from unconsciousness the computer  12  is aesthetically pleasing and calming to the patient. In one embodiment, the connection member  14  is mounted to one end of a flexible arm  16 . The flexible arm  16  is able to be bent and repositioned to a new shape, while rigid enough to maintain that shape. For example, the flexible arm  16  can be easily bent and rotated by the patient or another person so that the computer  12  is within or out of the patient&#39;s view and/or reach. In addition, the flexible arm  16  with the computer  12  can easily and quickly be moved to a position that could allow unobstructed routine and emergent care of the patient. An anchoring member  18  mounts the arm  16  to the bed  10 , and is located on the opposite end of the arm  16  from the computer  12 . The anchoring member  18  may be a removable and flexible C-clamp, O-clamp, or other attachment enabling the arm  16  to be efficiently removed from the hospital bed  10 . The anchoring member  18  and attached arm  16  may be configured to be able to slide lengthwise along the hospital bed  10 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The anchoring member  18  may alternatively be otherwise secured to the bed  10  so that the arm  16  is fixedly secured to the bed  10 , or the arm  16  may be integrally formed with the bed  10 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the computer  12  is received within the connection member  14  and secured underneath a cover  13  which extends at least partially over the computer  12 . For example, the cover  13  may extend over a frame portion of the computer  12  while allowing obstructed access to a screen portion of the computer  12 . The cover  13  may be formed of transparent plastic or any other suitable material, and may be received under a lip  15  of the connection member  14  so as to secure the computer  12  to the connection member  14 . Of course, other configurations for holding the cover  13  in position with respect to the connection member  14  are also contemplated, and it is also understood that cover  13  is not required. In another example, a sleeve or the like may be provided as a connection member  14  to receive the computer  12 , such that in this case the face of the connection member  14  is substantially similar in length and width to the computer  12 . Access ports (not shown) may be provided around the connection member  14  to allow access to different computer buttons or computer ports if needed. The arm  16  is attached to the connection member  14  and is described in further detail below. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, computer fasteners  22  are shown disposed at positions around the perimeter of computer  12 . The fasteners  22  are scalable vertically and horizontally, and attached to the connection member  14 . This enables the fasteners  22  and connection member  14  to accommodate for various sizes and types of computers  12  as previously described. There may also be hook and loop or other fastening means to further or alternatively secure the computer  12  to the connection member  14 . 
         [0028]    The arm  16  may be made of a number of separate rotatable members  24 . These members  24  may interlock with one another, and are each individually rotatable. The implementation of interlocking members  24  in a flexible arm  16  in a hospital room setting allows the computer  12  to be positioned in various angles and positions relative to the patient&#39;s hospital bed, and not merely limited to one or two axes of rotation. The computer  12  may be initially positioned in front of and above the patient, as illustrated in  FIG. 1   a , so that the computer  12  is one of the first items the patient sees when he becomes conscious. The computer  12  may subsequently be repositioned so that the computer  12  is not facing the patient, but rather facing a doctor or other third party to view and operate. Also, as the patient may later use the computer  12  while the patient is conscious, the flexible arm  16  allows the patient to reposition the computer  12  to multiple locations and distances from the patient&#39;s body ( FIG. 1   b ). A sleeve  26  surrounds the outer portion of the interlocked members  24 . Conductive wires (not shown) may be fed within the sleeve  26  so as to be hidden from plain view. The wires connect the computer  12  to a power source (not shown) through a wall outlet, for example. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the scalable fasteners  22  are shown in detail. The scalability of the fasteners  22  may be accomplished by a bolt  30  and groove  32  combination. A bolt  30  is assembled through a groove  32  of the fastener  22 , and into the connection member  14 . When the bolt  30  is slightly loosened, the fasteners  22  can slide along the bolt  30  until a desired location is met, and the bolt  30  is tightened again to fix the fasteners  22  in place. Other scalable or slidable mechanisms known in the art may be substituted for the bolt  30  and groove  32  combination in order for the connection member  14  to accommodate various sizes and types of computers  12 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , the computer  12  includes a program that may execute a passive module and/or an active module. These modules may be contained within an “app” that can be downloaded from an “app store” such as “App store”™ by Apple Inc. It is understood that any operating system platform could be used to implement the passive and active modules. The passive module is illustrated in  FIGS. 6   a  thru  6   f . The passive module may initiate and operate while the patient is in the intensive care unit (ICU) or “step-down ICU” setting. Patients in these environments are sometimes streaming intermittently between unconscious and varying levels of consciousness. The patient may intermittently awaken for split second or longer. This patient may wonder, for example, “Where am I? What date is this? What season is this? Have I been unconscious for a long time? Am I in a coma? Why can&#39;t I speak? What is my condition? What happened to me? Where is my family? Does my family know I&#39;m here?” During these brief conscious moments, there is often no same-language speaking nurse or medical staff personnel present at the bedside to provide answers to these potential questions. As a result, there is no consistent bedside method to help reduce anxiety and to assist with reorientation to the patient&#39;s name, hospital location, time, date, season, “non-speaking” status, and their current serious medical condition, for example. In addition, family members are often not available to constantly be at their bedside to help with this reorientation and anxiety-reducing process. As a result, the patient may feel alone, anxious and can become disoriented, confused, and/or can subsequently develop delirium. In addition, this psychological condition can produce physiological responses such as elevated heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate which can mislead medical staff caregivers that a change in medical condition has developed. Unfortunately, this potential misinterpretation can lead to the ordering of many emergency medical tests and medications that can have iatrogenic effects. 
         [0031]    The passive module of computer operation is an aid to reorient and reduce anxiety until the patient regains full or partial consciousness, orientation, and a calm/non-anxious state. A doctor, nurse, or other caregiver may input some basic patient-specific information into the computer. This patient-specific information may include an identification of the patient (such as, but not limited to, the patient&#39;s name, age, and birthdate), the location of the patient (such as, but not limited to, the hospital name, city, and state), the diagnosis or medical status of the patient, and the native language that the patient speaks and reads. Other third parties, such as family members of the patient, may also send information to the computer, such as personal photographs, videos, or music. This can be accomplished by directly downloading the content from the internet to the computer, or by transferring the content onto the computer wirelessly through radio waves (e.g., BLUETOOTH/Wi-Fi). 
         [0032]    The patient-specific content is received and processed by the CPU of the computer  12 . Then, during the operation of the passive module, the computer  12  communicates to the patient by displaying this information on the computer screen. In one embodiment, the patient-specific content is native language-specific. The information may be displayed on a single content page or throughout multiple content pages, as shown in  FIGS. 6   a  thru  6   f .  FIG. 6   a  shows the computer  12  displaying the patient&#39;s name.  FIG. 6   b  shows the computer  12  displaying the physical location of the patient. In  FIG. 6   c , the computer  12  displays the medical status of patient as diagnosed by the doctor, such as “You have a severe concussion,” or “You have pneumonia.” Certain other important and specific information is displayed in  FIG. 6   d , such as “You cannot speak,” or “You are on a respirator,” or “Your family is on their way.” In  FIG. 6   e , the computer displays the current date, and may also display the day and time. For example, the passive module may indicate the general or specific time of day (e.g., with a sun or moon icon, such as shown in  FIG. 6   e , or with an actual a.m. or p.m. time) in an effort to help establish day/night cycle orientation for the patient.  FIG. 6   f  shows the computer displaying a personalized family photograph uploaded onto the computer from the doctor, a family member, or some other third party. It should be understood that the content and order of these Figures are merely exemplary, and more or less patient-specific content or a different order may be used; these are examples of content pages that are helpful for reorienting and reducing anxiety until a patient regains partial or full consciousness, orientation, and a calm/non-anxious state. In addition, the order in which the content pages are displayed can be customized and selected by a caregiver. 
         [0033]    As described, the patient-specific content may be displayed throughout multiple content pages on the screen. These content pages may be looped in a continuous loop. As it is unpredictable when many patients will regain consciousness, the continuous loop assures that at any point of the loop the patient may be reoriented and have his/her anxiety reduced until the patient regains full or partial consciousness, orientation, and/or a calm/non-anxious state. For example, in one embodiment, the entire loop is about two minutes long. Within the “app” or passive module, this time is adjustable to a longer or shorter time, depending on the condition of the patient. If, for example, the patient is in and out of consciousness/alertness, each content page may be displayed for a longer period of time to decrease the speed of the content page revolution in the loop. In this fashion, the computer system can better attempt to reorient the patient by allowing him to focus on a particular content page and process the information presented for the short period until the patient has regained consciousness with a higher level of alertness and less anxious state. Each content page may alternatively be displayed for a shorter amount of time, such as when the patient is conscious for longer periods of time. The duration of each content page may also be customized, such that certain content pages may have longer dwell times than others, perhaps depending on the type or amount of information presented on a particular content page. Visual aids may be provided for patients with poor sight capabilities. 
         [0034]    Often, due to various hospital environments and other factors, hospitalized patients may not be oriented to day and night hours. As a result, the day and night sleep cycle may be shifted leading to potentially anxiety and delirium. One embodiment, would be have a “daytime program” with, but not limited to, awakening sounds, or brighter video images/cues to establish daytime orientation. Likewise, a “nighttime program” with soothing sounds and dimmer video images/sequences can be automatically programmed. By reestablishing, appropriate day and night cycles, anxiety and delirium can potentially be reduced. This can be implemented automatically within the active module. 
         [0035]    Audio may also be provided that corresponds to the loop of content pages. For example, spoken words may read what is shown on the screen of the computer  12 . In one embodiment, the audio is selected to be in the native language of the patient. The audio may be directly output by the computer  12  through its own internal speakers, or the audio may be output to external speakers or stereo wireless/“Bluetooth”™ headphones placed on the patient. The audio may also be in a soothing voice tone. This may further reorient the patient and reduce anxiety, especially while the patient is semi-conscious or otherwise unable to focus or see computer  12  clearly. In addition, calm music (i.e., waterfall, ocean waves, etc.) may stream continuously through stereo wireless headphones, facilitating decreased anxiety. Other music selections such as, for example, native ethnic music can also be provided for selection by a caregiver or other user. Noise cancellation “sound sequence” programs can also be implemented. This music/sound stream will help to block ambient noise in the ICU or other hospital units and facilitate the reorienting process. 
         [0036]    If a patient improves in the ICU or other medical floor, the patient can potentially become more interactive with their environment and staff. At this point, the patient can be fully aware and cooperative with others. Unfortunately, many illnesses and just being in a hospital setting can lead to an anxious or even depressed mood. Often patients are spending countless hours waiting for tests to be done. Without connections to the outside the hospital environment, patients can become bored, isolated, and detached. 
         [0037]    Under such circumstances, the computer  12  may execute an active module rather than the passive module. The active module and the passive module can either be independent of each other or packaged together, and these modules can be contained within an “app” or “apps” such as from the “App store”™ from Apple Inc. The functional switch from the passive module to the active module may be implemented by a nurse, for example. The patient may rotate the computer  12  and the flexible arm  16  so that the patient may utilize the touch screen on the computer  12 . Throughout the operation of the active module, the patient&#39;s touch and interactive input plays a role in the process of reducing anxiety, depressed mood, and boredom. The active module also begins to take a role of a concierge-type service. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   e  and  8 , the computer  12  is shown operating the active module. In  FIG. 7   a , the computer  12  displays an interactive menu from which the patient can choose options. For instance, the touch-screen of the computer  12  may provide the patient with the options to relax by listening to music, to listen to soothing sounds from nature (e.g., waves at the beach), or to look at pictures. The patient may also be able to choose to surf the internet, browse online videos, or learn more about the hospital in which the patient is located ( FIG. 7   b ). Due to a patient potentially feeling depressed about their condition, integrated or links to comedy vignettes can help to uplift patient spirits and detract from their illness. 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 7   c  and  7   d , the patient may be able to direct the interactive menu to instruct the computer  12  to show information about his/her own condition. Videos of the patient&#39;s personal illness, the side effects, and other treatment information may be at the viewing control of the patient. “On-demand” patient-specific educational videos may also be selected by the patient. Some examples include, but are not limited to, how to use an asthma inhaler, how to administer insulin, how to take warfarin/coumadin, etc. Current television or education videos in the hospital are not “on demand” and do not often coincide to when a patient is available to watch in their hospital room. As shown in  FIG. 7   e , the patient may also learn more about the food and pharmaceutical stores in the surrounding area outside of the particular hospital. This can function as a concierge-type service—for example, the patient can potentially quickly order a pizza or anxiety—reducing spa services that can be performed in the hospital room. In addition, the patient can find a local drug store that can fill the patient&#39;s prescriptions when leaving the hospital. This information can be relayed to family members to aid in the patient&#39;s health care recovery. This is also an avenue by which businesses can advertise their services to the patient and his/her family. 
         [0040]    Often, many family members are not able to visit their loved ones in the hospital due to geographic differences. For example, a close family member in California may not be able to directly speak or visualize the condition of the patient in Michigan. As a result, medical decision making may not be optimal without a family member able to aid in this process. Accordingly, with reference to  FIGS. 7   e  and  8 , one embodiment of the active module in computer  12  may implement a “video cam” function that would allow the patient to interact visually with a next of kin/other family member to guide medical decision making In addition, medical care personnel would also be able initiate a video conference with a geographically remote durable power of attorney/legal guardian with the patient and physicians/nurses at the patient bedside. Currently, this mode of communication between the patient and his/her family members and medical personnel is not readily available or utilized. In one embodiment, a specific app/source code within the iOS (Apple Inc.) called FaceTime™ could facilitate this two way video conference interaction between an IPAD/IPOD and be implemented within the active module. Such a module integrated and interactive capability may serve to decrease a patient&#39;s anxiety when making important end of life or other serious decisions regarding a patient&#39;s health. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 6-8  do not depict an exhaustive list of content or options available to the patient. For example, the patient may also be able to play a game or select a different language for the computer  12  to communicate with the patient. The patient may also select an option that displays a “virtual nurse” that can direct the patient to information about his/her condition in a personal way or to guide the patient on how to use and interact with the active module and system. It is understood that content described with reference to the passive or active module may be appropriate for use with the other, and the active module may also display patient-specific information from the passive module in an appropriate format, such as adjacent menu options. After choosing any of the options available, the patient may return to the interactive menu by simply pressing an on-screen button that directs the computer  12  back to the menu. 
         [0042]    A computer system with an active module, such as the system described herein, may aid the patient to a more rapid recovery. The interaction between the computer  12  and the patient allows the patient to not only decrease anxiety, but also serves to increase patient satisfaction for their “consumer experience” in the hospital. This can lead to more patient loyalty to a particular hospital. Local restaurants and stores can advertise for their services through the computer  12 . For example, the patient may look at the map of the surrounding areas, and the local businesses may advertise by placing their logo on their corresponding location on the map with a web link. The above features implemented within the active module can offer concierge-type consumer experience for the patient and his/her family while the patient is still hospitalized. 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, a database server and database (not shown) may also be provided. The database server is adapted to communicate with multiple computers  12  and CPUs within the hospital. Each computer  12  is given its own identification so that the server can directly communicate with each dedicated computer  12  individually. This provides the hospital with the ability to better manage each computer&#39;s content from one location. For example, hospital employees, may input and transmit patient-specific content to the database, which then transmits the content to the corresponding computer  12  associated with the specified patient. Other permitted remote users, such as family members of patients, may be given the ability to access the database server remotely, and upload pictures, messages, videos, or audio files to the server. The server then transmits this data to the patient&#39;s specific computer for the patient to access during use of the active or passive module. Remote users may be given a password that allows them to access a limited portion of the database so that the remote users can only send content to the designated computer that is used by the intended recipient patient. Peer-to-peer sharing of content between computers  12 , such as for transferring patient-specific content between computers  12  when a patient is moved between the ICU, step-down ICU/progressive care units, general medical floor is also contemplated. 
         [0044]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosure.