Patent Application
20220301698
The present invention relates to a management system for managing records regarding sterilization process, an information processing apparatus, a computer-readable storage medium, and a management method.
In hospitals, sterilizing processes are performed on sterilization targets such as medical instruments. On this occasion, so-called sterilization indicators such as a chemical indicator(hereinafter, CI) and a biological indicator(hereinafter, BI) are used in order to determine the achievement degree of the sterilization process. The CI includes a discoloration area whose color changes in accordance with the achievement degree as to a condition required for the sterilization process in which sterilizing agents (such as vapor, hydrogen peroxide, or ethylene oxide) are used. The achievement degree of the sterilization process can be determined based on the color of the discoloration area of a CI after the sterilization process. The BI includes indicator bacteria that are highly resistive to the sterilizing agent, and the indicator bacteria die out in accordance with the achievement degree as to a condition required for the sterilization process. By cultivating the BI and checking if the indicator bacteria exists after the sterilization process, the achievement degree of the sterilization process can be determined. In addition to the CI and BI, an operation log (data in which temperature and pressure at the time of operation are recorded along with time, for example) output from a sterilization processing apparatus may be used, as a physical indicator, to verify whether or not the sterilization process is successful. Japanese Patent No. 3414291 discloses a management apparatus that manages records of sterilization processes. According to Japanese Patent No. 3414291, a date and time of a process of sterilizing a sterilization target, a sterilization condition, and a CI determination result are recorded.
The sterilized medical instrument is stored in a dedicated storage cabinet, and is used again on a later medical occasion. On the other hand, an instrument whose predetermined storage period has expired, or an instrument having a risk of bacteria being attached thereon due to being dropped or the like when a work such as delivery from the storage cabinet or opening is performed is again subjected to the sterilization process without being used. However, in general, resources for sterilization (such as apparatuses for cleaning and sterilization, work spaces for assembly and packaging, human resources, and the like) that can be used in an individual hospital are limited. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid performing re-sterilization (sterilization being performed again without using it) on a medical instrument that originally need not be sterilized, and to appropriately use the hospital's limited resources, from the viewpoints of safety and productivity improvement in medical activities.
This disclosure is to provide a mechanism for assisting appropriate utilization of hospital resources regarding sterilization.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a management system that manages records with respect to sterilization targets on which sterilization process is to be performed. The management system includes: recording means for recording, when a first sterilization process is again performed on a first sterilization target with out the first sterilization target having been used, re-sterilization related information to a database in association with a target identifier for identifying the first sterilization target or a set including the first sterilization target; and generating means for generating statistical information regarding re-sterilization based on re-sterilization related information recorded in the past. The re-sterilization related information includes information indicating a cause of the re-sterilization.
According to a second aspect, there is provided a management system that manages records with respect to sterilization targets that are stored based on event-related sterility maintenance. The management system includes: recording means for recording a sterilization processing date on which a sterilization process has been performed with respect to at least one set of a sterilization target to a database; and searching means for searching the database based on a storage period, before an occurrence of an event, of a first sterilization target that relates to the occurred event to specify a sterilization target, out of other stored sterilization targets, that should be subjected to re-sterilization.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.
A storing stage is a process stage in which a set on which the sterilization process has been performed in the sterilization stage is moved to and stored in a storage cabinet. A delivery stage is a process stage of moving a set to be used in an operation or the like from the storage cabinet to a place of usage such as an operation room. An opening stage is a process stage of opening the package of a set that has been moved to the place of usage. An operation stage is also a utilizing (using) stage in which the sterilization target is utilized or used. Note that the achievement degree of the sterilization process is determined using the CI that is enclosed in the set in the opening stage, the operation stage, or both of the stages. Then, only when the achievement degree of the sterilization process is successfully determined to be sufficiently high using the CI, the sterilization target is actually used in the operation stage. Immediately after the sterilization stage as well, it may be determined whether or not the sterilization process is successful using a CI or a physical indicator. Note that there is no limitation to these examples, and it may be determined whether or not the sterilization target can be actually used at any point in time in a period from the end of the sterilization process until the start of using the sterilization target in an operation or the like. A collection stage is a process stage in which, after a sterilization target is used, the sterilization target is moved to the sterilization station. A cleaning stage is a process stage in which a sterilization target is cleaned in the sterilization station. After a set is cleaned in the cleaning stage, the set is again transferred to the assembly stage.
The PCs 15 are installed at places where, in the sterilization workflow, sterilization related information needs to be referred to, information needs to be added to the sterilization related information, and the sterilization related information needs to be corrected. Also, as shown in
Also, in the present embodiment, the sterilization processing apparatus 13 is connected to the network, and the PCs 15 and the server apparatus 14 can acquire information to be added to the sterilization related information and information for modifying the sterilization related information from the sterilization processing apparatus 13. However, the configuration may also be such that the sterilization processing apparatus 13 is not connected to the network. In this case, an operator performs addition, modification, or the like of the sterilization related information by operating a PC 15 based on information output from the sterilization processing apparatus 13. Note that, in order for an operator to perform input, update, display, or the like of the sterilization related information, the operator needs to operate a PC 15 or the like, but the description of operating a PC 15 will be omitted in the following in order to simplify the description. For example, an operator inputting information to the management system 100 by operating the PC 15 is also represented as the operator inputting information to the management system 100.
Note that the measurement apparatus 1 shown in
The PC 15 determines the level of the sterilization process based on the color value of the discoloration area 12 acquired from the measurement apparatus 1, and transmits the determination result to the server apparatus 14. The server apparatus 14 records the received determination result to a database in association with a target identifier (herein after, target ID) for identifying the sterilization target or the set including the sterilization target and the sterilization processing date. Such information may constitute a part of the sterilization related information. Note that the database in which the sterilization related information is recorded may be provided in the server apparatus 14, or may be in an apparatus separated from the server apparatus 14.
One of the important objects of managing the sterilization related information is to appropriately utilize hospital resources by adjusting the frequency or timing of re-sterilization. In this specification, sterilizing a sterilization target used on a normal medical occasion is referred to as normal sterilization. The normal medical occasion may include an operation, a cure, and a treatment, for example, but there is no limitation thereto. In contrast, sterilizing again a sterilized sterilization target without being used on a normal medical occasion is referred to as re-sterilization. For example, according to the concept of the time-related sterility maintenance (TRSM), a medical instrument for which a predetermined storage period (e.g., several months after sterilization in a preferable storage state) determined by the manufacturer of the medical instrument or the hospital has expired is sent to a re-sterilization stage without being used. Also, a medical instrument that has been dropped in a work such as delivery or opening, or whose packaging is found to be defective is also sent to a re-sterilization stage without being used because there is a risk of bacteria being attached. Moreover, if it is determined that the sterilization process performed on a medical instrument is unsuccessful, as a result of verification performed at any point in time based on an indicator, the medical instrument is sent to a re-sterilization stage. However, in general, resources for sterilization (such as apparatuses for cleaning and sterilization, workspaces for assembly and packaging, human resources, and the like) that can be used in an individual hospital are limited. Therefore, performing re-sterilization on a medical instrument that origin ally need not be sterilized is not desirable because utilization of limited resources is hindered.
One of the approaches for optimizing the re-sterilization operation is to accumulate information regarding re-sterilization, analyze the tendency, specify a problem that induces the re-sterilization, and try to resolve the problem. For example, if it turns out from the statistical information that the frequency of re-sterilization with respect to a certain medical instrument is significant, the problem inherent to the sterilization workflow can be specified by checking the packaging, the storage place, the delivery work, and the opening work of the medical instrument. Also, if it turns out from the statistical information that many re-sterilization causes are originated from a certain storage place or a certain process stage, the occurrence frequency of re-sterilization can be reduced by improving the storage place or the process stage. As another approach, it is also possible to reduce the occurrence frequency of re-sterilization by introducing the concept of the event-related sterility maintenance (ERSM).
In view of these circumstances, in the present embodiment, every time the re-sterilization is performed, re-sterilization related information is recorded in a database, in the management system 100. The re-sterilization related information may be a part of the sterilization related information described above. Also, the management system 100 supports improvement in utilization of resources related to sterilization by generating statistical information regarding the re-sterilization based on the re-sterilization related information recorded in the past and presenting the statistical information to a user.
Inputting the above-described sterilization related information 30 that may include the re-sterilization related information to the system may be performed at any point in time in the sterilization workflow. For example, a user that operates the sterilization processing apparatus 13 in the sterilization stage may in put the sterilization related information 30 to the system before starting the sterilization process, in the middle of the process, or after the process is ended. Alternatively, at a predetermined timing such as once per half day or once per day, the sterilization related information 30 regarding the sterilization processes that have been performed in a corresponding period may be input to the system. The category of the sterilization and another related information maybe transmitted from a user that has recognized the information to a user who makes an input via a PC 15 and the network of the system, or may be transmitted using a physical medium such as a paper form.
The sterilization related information or the re-sterilization related information that is to be recorded in the database by the management system 100 may include any combination of the information items described with reference to
First, in step S101, the server apparatus 14 displays an input screen for allowing a user to input sterilization related information in a display of a PC 15.
Next, in step S103, the server apparatus 14 acquires a sterilization processing date and a target ID for which sterilization related information should be input. The sterilization processing date and the target ID may be input or selected by the user on the input screen. Alternatively, in a case where the sterilization related information is input on a day on which the sterilization process is performed, the server apparatus 14 may automatically set the day as the sterilization processing date. Also, the server apparatus 14 may automatically acquire the target ID for identifying a set on which the sterilization process has been performed from the sterilization processing apparatus 13 via the network. When, a CI that is used along with a sterilization target set is provided with an identifier, the identifier that can be obtained through scanning performed by the measurement apparatus 1 may be automatically acquired as the target ID. Also, when a packaging member is provided with an identifier (e.g., bar code or IC tag), the identifier may be acquired by some reader apparatus.
Next, in step S105, the server apparatus 14 causes the user to select, on the input screen, the category of the sterilization process, that is, whether or not the sterilization process corresponds to re-sterilization. When the sterilization process performed on a set identified by the target ID acquired in step S103 corresponds to normal sterilization, “normal” is selected. On the other hand, when the sterilization process performed on the set corresponds to re-sterilization, “re-sterilization” is selected.
The processing thereafter branches depending on the category selected in step S105 (step S111). When the normal sterilization is selected, the processing is advanced to step S117. On the other hand, when the re-sterilization is selected, the processing is advanced to step S113.
When re-sterilization is selected as the category, in step S113, the server apparatus 14 causes the user to input the cause of the re-sterilization on the input screen. The causes of re-sterilization may be classified into several types in advance, and one of the types may be selected by the user. For example, the candidates of the cause of re-sterilization may include at least one of expiration of a predetermined storage period, a sterilization target having been dropped, a packaging defect, determination of unsuccessful sterilization based on the indicator. Also, an input field for allowing the user to freely input the cause that does not belong to any of the types may be provided on the input screen.
Next, in step S115, the server apparatus 14 causes the user to input, on the input screen, the place where the cause of re-sterilization has occurred. Some candidates of the place where the cause of re-sterilization has occurred may be defined in advance, and one of the candidates may be selected by the user. Also, although not illustrated in the diagram, the server apparatus 14 may further cause the user to input (select from a plurality of candidates, for example), on the input screen, the work stage at which the cause of re-sterilization has occurred.
Meanwhile, when normal sterilization has been selected as the category, in step S117, the server apparatus 14 causes the user to input the occasion ID on the input screen. The occasion ID uniquely identifies the occasion (operation or another medical occasion) in which a medical instrument belonging to the set identified by the target ID acquired in step S103 has been used. The occasion ID may be selected from occasion IDs of the latest medical opportunities registered in the database.
Next, in step S119, the server apparatus 14 causes the user to input the patient ID on the input screen. The patient ID uniquely identifies the patient for which a medical instrument belonging to the set identified by the target ID acquired in step S103 has been used. The patient ID may be selected form a list of patient IDs registered in the database, or may be automatically acquired by the server apparatus 14 based on the occasion ID acquired in step S117.
When inputting of information related to normal sterilization or re-sterilization is ended, in step S121, the server apparatus 14 records the sterilization related information (re-sterilization related information in the case of re-sterilization) to the database. These processes may be performed by a recording unit included in at least one of the server apparatus 14 and the PC 15. In this way, the management system 100 accumulates the sterilization related information including re-sterilization related information regarding the sterilization process that is repeatedly performed day by day in the database.
Thereafter, in step S131, which is indicated by dotted lines in the diagram, the server apparatus 14 generates statistical information regarding re-sterilization based on the re-sterilization related information recorded in the past. The statistical information may be generated in response to a request from a user accepted via the PC 15, or may be automatically generated in a cycle such as once a day or once a week. The statistical information may indicate the frequency of re-sterilization for each sterilization target or a ratio of a re-sterilization count relative the sterilization count. The frequency of re-sterilization is a re-sterilization count in a certain period, an average value of the re-sterilization count in a plurality of periods, or the like. The statistical information may be information in which the frequency of re-sterilization in each period is shown in time series with respect to a plurality of periods (the frequency of re-sterilization in one period may be simply referred to as a re-sterilization count). Additionally or alternatively, the statistical information may indicate the frequency of re-sterilization or the re-sterilization ratio described above for each cause of re-sterilization, for each place where the cause of re-sterilization has occurred, for each work stage in which the cause of re-sterilization has occurred, or for each type of the packaging member on which re-sterilization has been performed. This process may be performed by a generation unit included in at least one of the server apparatus 14 and the PC 15.
Next, in step S133, the server apparatus 14 causes the PC 15 to display a display screen for displaying the statistical information generated in step S131 in a display. This process may be performed by a presentation unit included in at least one of the server apparatus 14 and the PC 15. The user can analyze the tendency of re-sterilization or investigate the cause that triggered re-sterilization based on the displayed statistical information.
The statistical information of the present embodiment is not limited to the examples shown in
The recording unit 101 may correspond to a processor of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15 that writes data to the database 102. When a first sterilization process is again performed on a first sterilization target without the first sterilization target having been used, the recording unit 101 records the re-sterilization related information to the database in association with a target identifier for identifying the first sterilization target or a set including the first sterilization target, for example.
The database 102 includes a storage medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and writes data to the storage medium and reads data from the storage medium in accordance with instructions from the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15. The database 102 may be a portion of the server apparatus 14, or may be present separately from the server apparatus 14. The database 102 stores the re-sterilization related information recorded by the recording unit 101.
The generation unit 103 may correspond to a processor of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15 that reads out data from the database 102. The generation unit 103 generates statistical information related to re-sterilization based on the re-sterilization related information recorded in the past.
The presentation unit 104 may correspond to a processor of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15 that can instruct to present information to a user. Alternatively, the presentation unit 104 may correspond to a display, a monitor, or a printer in the management system 100, or a communication interface of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15. For example, the presentation unit 104 can present the statistical information generated by the generation unit 103 to a user by causing a display to display the statistical information. For another example, the presentation unit 104 may present the statistical information to the user by causing a printer to print the statistical information. Also, for another example, the presentation unit 104 may present the statistical information to the user by transmitting the statistical information to an apparatus that can be accessed by the user.
The recording unit 101, the generation unit 103, and the presentation unit 104 may also correspond to a user interface that can include at least one of a display, a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad, a touch panel, a printer, and a scanner of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15. Such a user interface makes it possible for the user to operate the management system 100, input information to the management system 100, and inspect information output from the management system 100.
Note that the management system of the present embodiment includes the server apparatus 14 and at least one PC 15 that are connected by a network. That is, the management system 100 includes a plurality of computers connected via a network. However, the functions shown in
According to the present embodiment, statistical information based on re-sterilization related information recorded in the past is presented to a user. Therefore, the user can easily improve the method of utilizing limited resources for sterilization by analyzing the tendency of re-sterilization. With this, the safety or the productivity of medical activities is expected to be improved.
Also, according to the present embodiment, it may be shown whether or not each sterilization process corresponds to re-sterilization, in the sterilization related information that is recorded in the database in association with individual sterilization process. Therefore, it is possible to analyze in what target or in what condition re-sterilization has occurred at a high ratio (or at a low ratio).
Also, according to the present embodiment, the re-sterilization related information may include information indicating the cause of re-sterilization, the place where the cause of re-sterilization has occurred, the work stage at which the cause of re-sterilization has occurred, or the type of packaging member on which re-sterilization has performed. Therefore, the problem inherent to the sterilization workflow can be easily specified by performing statistical analysis with these factors being criteria.
Also, according to the present embodiment, a user selects whether or not the sterilization process corresponds to re-sterilization on an input screen for allowing the user to input the sterilization related information. Then, the input operation is switched depending on the selection between inputting information related to normal sterilization and inputting information related to re-sterilization. In this case, these input operations can be made at common timings, and the re-sterilization related information can be effectively collected. For example, a sterilization process having no corresponding occasion identifier or patient identifier is highly probable to correspond to re-sterilization. Therefore, it is also beneficial for collecting and accumulating re-sterilization related information that management system reminds the user of inputting re-sterilization related information with respect to such a sterilization process.
The time-related sterility maintenance (TRSM) is a concept that the period in which sterility is effectively maintained after sterilization is specified by a time (period) based on conditions such as a packaging form of a sterilization target. In contrast, the event-related sterility maintenance (ERSM) is a concept that the period in which sterility is effectively maintained after sterilization is not a predetermined period, and is specified by a storage and transportation environment until the sterilization target is used. Previously, the TRSM has been the mainstream concept, but attempts for managing sterilization targets in accordance with the ERSM are increasing in recent years, with the technical advancement in packaging and storage and increasing awareness of the hospital efficient operation being the background. According to the ERSM, the number of times of performing re-sterilization due to expiration of a predetermined storage period even though the sterility is maintained can be reduced. Therefore, the appropriate operation of the ERSM promotes appropriate utilization of hospital resources regarding sterilization, and may contribute to improve the safety or the productivity of medical activities.
However, management examples in accordance with the ERSM are not sufficiently accumulated. Therefore, there is a need to prepare a mechanism for providing materials, to medical professionals, for determining whether a sterilization target that has been stored in a certain condition can be actually used on a medical occasion.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the management system 100 manages records of sterilization target that are stored based on the ERSM. The records may be managed as a portion of the sterilization related information in the first embodiment or data in the same database, or may be managed separately from the sterilization related information in the first embodiment. The management system 100 presents materials for determining whether a sterilization target should be subjected to re-sterilization, whether a sterilization target can be used on a new medical occasion, or the like, based on storage records based on the ERSM.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, the management system 100 records a sterilization processing date on which the sterilization process has been performed on a set including at least one sterilization target to the database in association with an identifier (target ID) for identifying the set. Moreover, when a set is opened, the management system 100 records the opening date to the database. The storage period of a sterilization target (or its set) that was opened and used can be derived based on the recorded sterilization processing date and opening date. Also, when an event related to a certain sterilization target has occurred, the management system 100 may specify sterilization targets that should be subjected to re-sterilization from the other stored sterilization targets by searching the database based on the storage period of the sterilization target before the event has occurred.
In the example in
The ERSM management information that is recorded to the database by the management system 100 may include an additional information item other than those shown in
First, in step S201, the server apparatus 14 recognizes an occurrence of an event related to a stored sterilization target based on the ERSM. For example, as a result of a user inputting, to the management system 100, the target ID of a set including a sterilization target whose sterility is in doubt as a result of a sampling survey, an occurrence of an event related to the set may be recognized. For another example, as a result of the user inputting, to the management system 100, the occasion ID for identifying an operation that has caused an infectious disease, an occurrence of an event related to some sterilization target may be recognized. Also, for another example, as a result of the user in putting, to the management system 100, the patient ID of a patient who has been infected with an infectious disease, which has been caused by a specific medical occasion, an occurrence of an event related to a sterilization target that has been used for the patient may be recognized.
Next, in step S203, the server apparatus 14 specifies the set of a sterilization target related to the recognized event in the database. For example, the server apparatus 14 may specify a record of the sterilization target identified by the in put target ID in the ERSM management information 60. Also, the server apparatus 14 may determine which of the sterilization targets or the sets relates to the occurred event by collating the occasion ID or the patient ID that may be obtained in step S201 with occasion IDs or patient IDs that have already been recorded in the database.
Next, in step S205, the server apparatus 14 acquires the storage period, before the occurrence of the event, of the set specified in step S203 from the ERSM management information 60. The storage period acquired here is based on the sterilization processing date and the opening date that have been recorded with respect to the specified set.
Next, in step S207, the server apparatus 14 searches the database based on the storage period acquired in step S205, and specifies a set of a sterilization target that should be subjected to re-sterilization. For example, a sterilization target that belongs to the set whose type is the same as the set related to the occurred event and that is currently being stored in a period longer than a threshold value that is determined based on the storage period acquired in step S205 may be specified as the sterilization target that should be subjected to re-sterilization. Records of the past storage period that may be acquired in step S207 may be taken into consideration when the threshold value is set. For example, the longest storage period L2 for which an event has not occurred with respect to sets of the same type may be set as the threshold value for determining re-sterilization. To prioritize safety, a value L1-L0 (or L2-L0) that is obtained by subtracting an offset L0 from the storage period L1 of the set with respect to which an event has occurred (or L2) may also be set as the threshold value. Alternatively, a value αL1 (or αL2) obtained by multiplying the storage period L1 (or L2) by a coefficient a that is smaller than 1 may be set as the threshold value.
Next, in step S211, the server apparatus 14 determines whether at least one set that should be subjected to re-sterilization is specified in step S207. If no set is specified to be subjected to re-sterilization, the next step S213 is skipped, and the processing in
If a set that should be subjected to re-sterilization is specified, in step S213, the server apparatus 14 notifies (proposes to or warns) the user that the set of the specified sterilization target should be subjected to re-sterilization. The user who has received this notification may arrange the re-sterilization as indicated by the notification, or may determine whether the re-sterilization is needed by performing further checking regarding the cause of the event.
The server apparatus 14 may not only execute the processing as shown in
In the present embodiment, the management system 100 may also have a function of presenting the event occurrence situation to a user in response to an inquiry from the user.
In a first example of presenting the event occurrence situation, the management system 100 may present the event occurrence situation with respect to at least one set, in response to an inquiry from the user, based on the event status of the set.
In a second example of presenting the event occurrence situation, the management system 100 may present the storage period and the event occurrence situation with respect to at least one set in a list format, in response to an inquiry from the user, based on the event status of the set. The management system 100 may present, when presenting in a list format, the storage periods respectively corresponding to a plurality of usages of one set, and corresponding event occurrence situations, in the order of storage period (ascending order or descending order).
The recording unit 201 may correspond to a processor of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15 that writes data to the database 202. The recording unit 201 records a sterilization processing date on which the sterilization process has been performed and an opening date on which a set was opened to the database 202 with respect to at least one sterilization target, for example. The storage period may be derived based on these sterilization processing date and opening date. Also, the recording unit 201 further records an event status indicating whether or not a related event has occurred, to the database 202, with respect to each set of the sterilization target that was used in the past. The occasion ID or the patient ID may also be recorded in the database 202.
The database 202 includes a storage medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and writes data to the storage medium and reads out data from the storage medium in accordance with an instruction from the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15. The database 202 may be a portion of the server apparatus 14, or may be present separately from the server apparatus 14. The database 202 stores information described above that is to be recorded by the recording unit 201.
The searching unit 203 may correspond to a processor of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15 that executes searching in the database 202. For example, the searching unit 203 searches the database 202 based on the storage period of a first sterilization target, before the occurrence of the event, that relates to the occurred event to specify a sterilization target, out of the other stored sterilization targets, that should be subjected to re-sterilization, for example. The searching unit 203 may specify the sterilization target or the set that relates to the occurred event by collating an occasion identifier or a patient identifier that is acquired in association with the occurrence of an event with the records in the database 202.
The presentation unit 204 may correspond to a processor of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15 that can instruct to present information to the user. Alternatively, the presentation unit 204 may correspond to a display, a monitor, or a printer in the management system 100, or a communication interface of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15. For example, the presentation unit 204 may present, in response to an inquiry from the user, the event occurrence situation with respect to at least one set based on the event status of the set. For another example, the presentation unit 204 may present, in response to an inquiry from the user, the storage period and the event occurrence situation of at least one set in a list format based on the event status recorded in the database 202.
The recording unit 201, the searching unit 203, and the presentation unit 204 may also correspond to a user interface that may include at least one of a display, a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad, a touch panel, a printer, and a scanner of the server apparatus 14 or the PC 15. Such a user interface makes it possible for the user to operate the management system 100, to input information to the management system 100, and to inspect information output from the management system 100.
According to the present embodiment, when some event has occurred with respect to a sterilization target that is stored based on the ERSM, another stored sterilization target that should be subjected to re-sterilization can be specified through database search based on the storage period, before the occurrence of the event, of the sterilization target that relates to the event. Therefore, the necessity of a sterilization target being subjected to re-sterilization due to an expiration of a fixed storage period is reduced. Therefore, the frequency of re-sterilization can be reduced based on objective records. The records of sterilization targets that are recorded as the present embodiment may be utilized as an evidence for supporting applicability of the ERSM.
Also, according to the present embodiment, which of the sterilization targets or the sets relates to an occurred event may be specified through collation with the records in the database based on an occasion identifier or a patient identifier that is acquired in association with the occurrence of the event. Therefore, the sterilization target relating to the occurrence of an event can be reliably traced, and safer operation of sterilization based on the ERSM can be realized.
Also, according to the present embodiment, a status indicating whether or not a related event has occurred may be recorded in the database with respect to each set of the sterilization target that has been used in the past. Also, an event occurrence situation with respect to a specific set or various sets may be presented to the user based on these records. Therefore, medical professionals can easily determine whether an individual sterilization target can be actually used on a medical occasion, or to what degree a sterilization target can be stored before being subjected to re-sterilization.
[Modifications]
The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, and various modification are possible. For example, the functions of the management system described in the first embodiment may be combined, in any combination, with the functions of the management system described in the second embodiment.
In an example of such a combination, the management system 100 may record, with respect to each set of the sterilization target, information indicating the length of a period in which the set has been stored to the database. Also, if a selection has been made that a first sterilization process with respect to a first sterilization target corresponds to re-sterilization, the management system 100 may specify a sterilization target, out of the other stored sterilization targets, that should be subjected to re-sterilization by searching the database based on the storage period of the first sterilization target. This search may be performed only if the cause of re-sterilization of the first sterilization process is a predetermined cause (e.g., indicator abnormality). According to such a combination, inputting of the sterilization related information as in the first embodiment and management of the storage period as in the second embodiment can be integrally handled. Therefore, the efficiency of management and operation of sterilization related information in a hospital can be improved.
In another modification, the mechanism of the first and second embodiments described above may be extended to a mechanism that extends across a plurality of medical institutions. For example, as a result of providing an event occurrence situation in a certain medical institution in response to an inquiry from another medical institution, a shortage of management examples in accordance with the ERSM can be supplemented, and the storage of the sterilization target over a more appropriate period can be realized.
[Other Embodiments]
Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-131398, filed on Jul. 16, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-131398 | Jul 2019 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2020/024700 | 6/24/2020 | WO |
