The present invention pertains generally to electronic information systems. More particularly, the present invention pertains to electronic systems having archives of informational medical data that pertain to individual patients. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for electronically presenting useful and relevant data from a patient's medical records for use by a medical attendant (physician) during a patient visit protocol.
During a patient visit protocol, the primary purpose of the attending physician, nurse or clinical staff attendant is essentially two-fold. They want to assess and evaluate the patient. In order to do this effectively, two pieces of information are essential. For one, the patient needs to be absolutely and positively identified. For another, the current (i.e. most recent) status of the patient must be known. From an informational perspective, the patient identification involves “fixed” data, and the patient status involves “modifiable” data. For a proper assessment and evaluation of a patient, both sets of data are equally important.
As a patient is being admitted to a medical facility (e.g. a hospital), the fixed data that will be used to identify the patient can be relatively easily obtained, in most cases. For purposes of the present invention, it is envisioned that this fixed data can be incorporated onto a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) bracelet of a type developed and manufactured by eAcess LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cubic Corporation. Preferably, the fixed data will include the patient's name, a medical record number, birth date/age, patient location, code status and family contact telephone number, allergies and primary physician. Once this fixed data has been “incorporated” onto the RFID bracelet, it is attached to the patient. The patient can then be subsequently identified, regardless of whether the patient is communicative.
As noted above, in addition to an accurate and positive identification of a patient, it is useful (i.e. essential) to have a current update of the patient's status. In some instances this may involve a substantial amount of data. If so, in order to be useful, the patient status data may need to be culled for relevant data. Further, due to the changing status of the patient, this patient data needs to be periodically updated and modified. In general, this modifiable patient status data will typically include the patient's most recent vital signs (weight/blood pressure/pulse/respiratory rate), most recent diagnosis, as well as current medications, labs and notes from other medical personnel. The system includes a feature that allows additions to be made to the medical record (notes, assessment, plans) and patient orders initiated. This data may also include a log of patients visited (daily patient list for follow-up and billing). This modifiable data can be electronically stored in an intermediate database that is separate from, but communicates with, the health system database. The import here is that all of the fixed and modifiable data needs to be electronically available for effective and efficient use during a patient visit protocol.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for controlling informational data of a patient that requires an accurate identification of the patient and the user (e.g. an attending physician) before access to the medical data of the patient that is archived in an electronic database is authorized. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for controlling the informational data of a patient that is useful and relevant for use by medical staff during a patient visit protocol. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for controlling informational data of a patient, wherein the data that is archived in an electronic database can be updated and modified for use at a subsequent patient visit protocol. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for controlling informational data of a patient that is easy to implement, is simple to use, and is comparatively cost effective.
A system in accordance with the present invention includes an electronic database that is used to archive informational data. Specifically, for purposes of the present invention, this informational data is pertinent to individual patients. More specifically, data in the database pertains to medical/clinical information that is useful for planning a treatment regimen for a patient. Another operational component of the system is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that can be affixed to the patient and used to positively identify the patient. The central component of the system, however, is a linking device (i.e. an active RFID handheld reader/transmitter) that can retrieve fixed data from the patient RFID tag, and also establish a two-way communication channel with the database. As intended for the present invention, the so-called “fixed” (i.e. identification) data from the RFID tag, and the so-called “modifiable” data (i.e. medical/clinical information) from the database are to be used by an attending medical person during a visit with a patient in a medical facility. For the present invention, this “fixed” data is typically obtained from the patient, incorporated into the RFID tag, and attached to the patient at the time he/she is first admitted to the particular medical facility (e.g. hospital). As a general matter, this “fixed” data includes the patient's name, a medical record number, his/her birth date/age, patient location, code status and family contact telephone number and name. It may also include the patient's allergies and an identification of the patient's primary physician. It is also intended for the present invention that the “fixed” and “modifiable” data in the database can be updated, and administrative tasks attended to, after the patient visit.
For the operation of the system of the present invention, a user (e.g. an attending physician or medical staff personnel) will pre-program the linking device with a user profile. Importantly, this user profile will identify the particular user, and it will also establish informational categories of interest to the user. For example, these categories may typically include patient vital signs, current diagnosis, current medications, notes from medical personnel and lab results. The user profile can also include references to administrative details of the patient's interests such as treatment orders, patient visit logs and billing information.
During a patient visit protocol, the user will normally begin the visit by activating the linking device to obtain the “fixed” data from the RFID tag. The “fixed” data, along with the user profile, is then transmitted from the linking device to the electronic database, to obtain access to the database. Further, once access to the database has been obtained, the user profile is used to retrieve selected information from the database. Specifically, the selected information is chosen based on its usefulness and relevance for the conduct of the patient visit protocol.
After a patient visit protocol has been completed, and based on information obtained during the patient visit, the user can then update “modifiable” data in the database and initiate administrative tasks, such as prescribing medications and preparing reports. At this time, the user can also reconfigure the user profile. Importantly, these tasks can be accomplished using the linking device as an interface with the electronic database.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
Structurally, the identification tag 12 is preferably a bracelet having a strap 18 that can be engaged with an attachment 20. With this engagement, the tag 12 can be attached to and held on the wrist of a patient. Importantly, the identification tag 12 will have an information field 22 that is located between the strap 18 and the attachment 20. This identification field 22 contains so-called “fixed” data that pertains directly to the identification of the patient. Electronically, the information field 22 is established using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. More specifically, the information field 22 is established using integrated proximity passive RFID. For purposes of the present invention, the “fixed” data in the information field 22 will include, patient name, medical record number, birth date/age, patient location (when admitted), code status and family contact telephone number and name, allergies and primary physician. Depending on data format and volume entries, the information field 22 may also include a listing of the top prescriptions for the patient, the patient's known conditions, and any other relevant data that may be of interest.
As shown in
An important feature of the linking device 14 is its user profile 38 (see
With cross reference to both
During a patient visit in the facility, the user 28 will initially retrieve the “fixed” data from the identification tag 12 by holding the linking device 14 in the proximity of the tag 12 (e.g. within 10 cm), and pressing the ID button 30 on the linking device 14. Then, or earlier if possible, the user 28 establishes informational categories for the user profile 38 that will specify data to be retrieved from the electronic database 16. Recall, the user profile 38 is pre-programmed (using the keypad 26) with a user security log-in control that is necessary for accessing the database 16. In the event, the user 28 presses the data button 34 on the linking device 14, and both the “fixed” data from the identification tag 12 and the pre-programmed user profile 38 are transmitted to the electronic database 16 (arrow 36a). The consequence here is that selected information is retrieved from the database 16 and made available for viewing on the display screen 24 of linking device 14 (arrow 36b). As indicated in
After a patient visit has ended and the patient visit protocol (see block 42) has been completed, the system 10 provides a capability for the user 28 to update and modify data (see block 44) in the electronic database, and in the user profile 38. Additionally, based on the patient visit and the additional data, administrative functions such as the writing of prescriptions and providing billing information can be accomplished (block 46). Any necessary report(s) 48 can also be prepared.
While the particular Information Interface System as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.