Patent Application
20060287891
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A growth chart is used to track pediatric measurements such as height, weight, length and head circumference, to see how a child measures in relation to other children his/her age or with similar diagnoses. A growth chart includes percentile curves of children's measurements and a patient's measurements are plotted in relation to the percentile curves. Types of growth charts include the Center for Disease Control (CDC) growth charts, specialty growth charts such as Down's Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Babson and Nallhaus growth charts and other growth charts specific to countries or regions.
Oftentimes, pediatric growth is charted on a paper medical record. In the paper medical record, the practitioner caring for patients with growth problems has the capability of making special notations directly on the growth chart as they track growth and trends. However, the paper medical records are not compatible with the trend toward storing patient information in a computerized environment, such as an electronic medical record.
Current electronic medical records and hand held devices with electronic growth chart capabilities, do not allow access to a patient's electronic medical record when plotting patient data on a growth chart nor do they allow for notations to be added directly to the electronic growth chart. Furthermore, these electronic growth charts do not allow the patient growth data to be filtered according to a user's preferences. Furthermore, these growth charts only display one growth chart, e.g. length, at one time. These charts do not have the capability to display more than one growth chart side by such, e.g. length and weight, at one time. These electronic growth charts also do not allow for a patient's growth chart to be displayed at the same time a measurement table for the patient is displayed.
It would be beneficial to have a computerized growth chart with the capability of accessing a patient's electronic medical record to obtain patient growth data such as measurements and event annotations. It would also be beneficial to be able to filter the view of the computerized growth chart to display only the patient growth data that is of interest to a user. It would also be beneficial to have an interactive user interface that displays more than one growth chart for a patient and an interactive user interface that displays a growth chart for a patient alongside a growth measurement table for the patient.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for displaying patient growth data on a computerized growth chart. The method comprises accessing a database including growth chart data for a computerized growth chart appropriate for a patient and utilizing the growth chart data to display the computerized growth chart. The method further comprises accessing the patient's electronic record for patient growth data and displaying patient growth data on the computerized growth chart.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for displaying patient growth data on one or more computerized growth charts. The method comprises accessing a database including growth chart data for a computerized growth chart appropriate for a patient and utilizing the growth chart data to display at least one computerized growth chart. The method further includes accessing the patient's electronic record for patient growth data. A selection of patient growth data to display is received and the requested patient growth data on the at least one computerized growth chart is displayed.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a user interface embodied on at least one computer readable medium, the user interface is for representing data to a user is provided. The user interface comprises a growth chart image display area configured to display at least one growth chart for a patient and a growth measurement table display area configured to display a growth measurement table for the patient.
In yet another embodiment, a user interface embodied on at least one computer readable medium, the user interface is for representing data to a user. The user interface comprises a first growth chart display area configured to display a first growth chart for a patient and a second growth chart display area configured to display a second growth chart for a patient, the second growth chart being different from the first growth chart.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
With reference to
Server 22 typically includes therein or has access to a variety of computer readable media, for instance, database cluster 24. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by server 22, and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD), or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by server 22. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.
The computer storage media, including database cluster 24, discussed above and illustrated in
Server 22 may operate in a computer network 26 using logical connections to one or more remote computers 28. Remote computers 28 can be located at a variety of locations in a medical or research environment, for example, but not limited to, clinical laboratories, hospitals, other inpatient settings, a clinician's office, ambulatory settings, medical billing and financial offices, hospital administration, veterinary environment and home health care environment. Clinicians include, but are not limited to, the treating physician, specialists such as surgeons, radiologists and cardiologists, emergency medical technologists, physician's assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, nurse's aides, pharmacists, dieticians, microbiologists, laboratory experts, genetic counselors, researchers, veterinarians and the like. The remote computers may also be physically located in non-traditional medical care environments so that the entire health care community is capable of integration on the network. Remote computers 28 may be a personal computer, server, router, a network PC, a peer device, other common network node or the like, and may include some or all of the elements described above relative to server 22. Computer network 26 may be a local area network (LAN) and/or a wide area network (WAN), but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. When utilized in a WAN networking environment, server 22 may include a modem or other means for establishing communications over the WAN, such as the Internet. In a networked environment, program modules or portions thereof may be stored in server 22, or database cluster 24, or on any of the remote computers 28. For example, and not limitation, various application programs may reside on the memory associated with any one or all of remote computers 28. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
A user may enter commands and information into server 22 or convey the commands and information to the server 22 via remote computers 28 through input devices, such as keyboards, pointing devices, commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices may include a microphone, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. Server 22 and/or remote computers 28 may have any sort of display device, for instance, a monitor. In addition to a monitor, server 22 and/or computers 28 may also include other peripheral output devices, such as speakers and printers.
Although many other internal components of server 22 and computers 28 are not shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such components and their interconnection are well known. Accordingly, additional details concerning the internal construction of server 22 and computer 28 need not be disclosed in connection with the present invention.
Although the method and system are described as being implemented in a WINDOWS operating system operating in conjunction with an Internet-based system, one skilled in the art would recognize that the method and system can be implemented in any system.
Referring next to
Chart definitions include unique characteristics of a type of growth chart such as length, weight, height and head circumference. The chart definitions include the age ranges and genders of patients for which the chart applies, as well as the source of the chart and actual physical characteristics of the chart. The reference curves are a series of points identified with a particular data set. For example, a curve representing the third percentile in a growth chart may be stored as several X and Y value pairs. The charting component 202 plots the X and Y value on the growth chart and connects them to create a reference curve. The reference curves are drawn on a growth chart by plotting each of the data points and connecting them with a smooth curve. The resulting growth chart and curves may be displayed on a computer screen or printed. Statistical information for each type of growth chart for several age ranges is also stored in database 208. Historical records include previous chart definitions, references curves, and statistical information for growth charts that have changed.
Database 206 includes patient data stored in the form of an electronic medical record for the patient. An electronic medical record for a patient include patient growth data such as the patient's age, gender, weight, length, measurement, date recorded, recorded problems or diagnoses, head circumference, growth measurements, bone age, event annotations, mid-parental height information, body mass index and a variety of other patient data. Database 204 is the electronic medical record of a patient's parents and may contain data such as height and weight of the parent along with a variety of other patient data. The charting component 202 plots the patient growth data on an appropriate growth chart.
With reference to
At step 304, growth chart data is accessed from a database. Growth chart data includes chart definitions such as the type of chart (length, weight, head circumference, height, weight for length and weight for height and body mass index), age range and gender of patients for which the chart applies, as well as the source of the chart, and actual physical characteristics of the chart. This information is used when creating the display of the appropriate growth chart for the patient.
At step 306, growth chart reference curves are accessed from a database. The reference curves are a series of points identified with a particular data set. For example, a curve representing the third percentile for weight for a particular age range may be stored as several XY value pairs. The reference curve is drawn by plotting each of the data points for the XY value pairs and connecting them with a smooth curve. Exemplary reference curves are shown in
At step 308, the patient's electronic medical record is accessed. The patient's electronic medical record includes growth data entered for the patient. This data can include height and weight measurements, length measurements, the date the measurements were taken, head circumference measurements, body mass index, weight for length, weight for height, bone age, event annotations, gender of the patient, and any other information that has been documented for the patient along with when and by whom the documentations were made. Event annotations include any events occurring in the patient's life including starting school, beginning human growth hormone and other medical treatments relevant to the patient's growth chart. In one embodiment, the events are identified in the patient electronic medical record as annotations.
Optionally, at step 310, the electronic medical records of a patient's parents are accessed. Again, patient data is stored in these records and the parental height can be accessed and used to determine the mid-parental height for one or more of the patient's parents and displayed on the growth chart. In another embodiment, the mid-parental height is entered into the system and documented in the patient's electronic medical record. Thus, when the patient's medical record is accessed, the mid-parental height is obtained and displayed on the computerized growth chart. In yet another embodiment, mid-parental height is not displayed on the computerized growth chart.
At step 312, calculations are performed on the patient data based on the appropriate growth chart that will be displayed for the patient. These calculations include using growth chart data accessed from the patient's electronic medical record to determine the percentile to which the patient falls within the appropriate growth chart and z-score calculations for the growth chart measurements using the reference data provided for the growth charts. The statistical reference information is compared to the patient data. The patient's age is compared to the available and age ranges for the particular growth chart. When the appropriate age range is determined, the patient's percentile and Z-score are calculated from given reference statistics and the recorded patient data from the patient's electronic medical record. Growth velocity calculations may also be performed using at least two patient measurements taken on different dates. For example, with reference to
Referring again to FIG, 3, at step 314, the appropriate growth chart is displayed, the reference curve is plotted using growth chart reference data and patient data and calculations are displayed on the growth chart. By way of example, and not be limitation, with reference to
An exemplary interactive user interface growth chart 700, such as the one shown in
The growth chart in
The patient measurements (results 720) are displayed on the computerized growth chart that plots the length of the patient 712 in centimeters (cm) based on the age 710 (in months) of the patient when the measurement was taken. For example, with reference to
Furthermore, in
With reference next to
For example, in
In this view, all measurements have been selected to be plotted 1328. However, a user from one department, such as the cardiac department, could select to plot only measurements taken from a certain medical service 1326 (e.g. the cardiac department) while a user from a second department, such as pediatrics, may only want to view measurements taken during visits to the patient's pediatrician. The user would select to plot only those measurements in
Referring again to
Other ways the view of the growth chart may be filtered include whether annotations, mid-parental height and bone age should be displayed, the gender and age range for the chart and the system of measurement used to display the chart. With reference to
Referring again to
With reference to
With reference to
If the user selects to enter bone age 904 from
If the user selects to enter annotations 906 from
Referring again to
Referring next to
The growth measurement table display area includes a tabular display of growth data for the patient. The growth data includes the date the measurement was taken, the age of the patient when the measurement was taken, the value of the measurement, the percentile of the measurement in relation to the growth chart and the z-score/standard deviation. In this example, the growth data for patient Baby Jones includes four measurements when the patient was six months and two weeks, eleven months and three weeks, fifteen months and fifteen months and three weeks are included in the exemplary growth measurement table display area 1406.
With reference to
In the exemplary user interface, the first growth chart image display 1504 is configured to display the CDC's stature-for-age growth chart for boys 2-20 years old. Percentile curves 1515 are plotted on the growth chart which has a horizontal axis 1508 for the age of the patient (in years) and a vertical axis 1510 for the patient's stature measurements (in centimeters). Patient Boy Jackson's measurements 1514 are plotted on the growth chart. Event annotations 1512 and mid-parental height 1516 are also included on the stature-for-age growth chart.
The second growth chart image display is configured to display the CDC's weight-for-age growth chart for boys 2-20 years of age. Percentile curves 1522 are plotted on the growth chart which has a horizontal axis 1518 for the age of the patient (in years) and a vertical axis 1520 for the patient's weight measurements (in kilograms). Patient Boy Jackson's measurements 1524 are plotted on the growth chart. Event annotations are also included on the weight-for-age growth chart.
Referring next to
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for displaying patient growth data on a computerized growth chart. The system comprises a first accessing component for accessing a database including growth chart data for a computerized growth chart appropriate for a patient and a utilizing component for utilizing the growth chart data to display the computerized growth chart. The system comprises a second accessing component for accessing the patient's electronic record for patient growth data and a displaying component for displaying patient growth data on the computerized growth chart.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for displaying patient growth data on one or more computerized growth charts. The system comprises a first accessing component for accessing a database including growth chart data for a computerized growth chart appropriate for a patient and utilizing component for utilizing the growth chart data to display at least one computerized growth chart. The system further comprises a second accessing component for accessing the patient's electronic record for patient growth data and a receiving component for receiving a selection of patient growth data to display. A displaying component displays the requested patient growth data on the at least one computerized growth chart.
The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to illustrate rather than restrict. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. Many alternative embodiments exist, but are not included because of the nature of this invention. A skilled programmer may develop alternative means for implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of utility may be employed without reference to features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the steps performed need not be performed in the order described.
