System, method and computer program for monitoring and managing medications

• US 20030040662A1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keystone Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keystone Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Keys, Philip
• Application Number:
  US10/225,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The invention related to a system, method and computer program for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for at least one medication which includes receiving, storing and applying at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one set of medication-specific data and at least one set of patient-specific data including the therapeutic index and range for such medication, applying said patient management rules to said patient-specific data and said medication-specific data which results in patient management recommendations and storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations. More specifically, the invention discloses a system, method and computer program for managing patients who are taking anticoagulants.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for at least one medication comprising:

A computer system having a means of receiving, storing and applying at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one set of medication-specific data and at least one set of patient-specific data;

A means of receiving and storing at least one set of medication-specific data into said computer system about at least one medication wherein said medication-specific data includes a therapeutic index range for said medication;

A means of receiving and storing said set of patient-specific data into said computer system about a patient using said medication wherein said patient-specific data includes data relating to said therapeutic index;

Applying said patient management rules to said patient-specific data and said medication-specific data which results in patient management recommendations;

A means of storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising managing a patient based on said patient management recommendations.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said computer system includes a means of communicating said patient-specific data and medication specific data from at least one remote location to a central location for analysis and/or clinician evaluation.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said communication means comprises the internet.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said patient management rules identify inputs or analyses that require clinician review and such inputs or analyses are immediately communicated to a clinician.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein a clinician can modify said patient management rules.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said medication-specific data further includes at least one element from the group comprising:

commercially available dosages, contraindications, influencing variables, pharmacology, adverse effects, pharmacokinetic parameters and recommended monitoring frequency.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said patient-specific data further includes at least on element from the group comprising medical status, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, patient medication compliance, patient pharmacokinetic parameters, use of supplements or vitamins, weight and age.

9. A system of claim 1 wherein the computer system further comprises a scheduling module that provides a means for scheduling patient visits consistent with patient management recommendations.

10. A system of claim 1 that further comprises a patient education module which includes a means of receiving, storing and transmitting patient education material, selection of said patient education material based on said patient management recommendations, and a means for printing said patient educational material.

11. A method for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for at least one medication comprising the steps of:

inputting into a computer system at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one set of medication-specific data and at least one set of patient-specific data wherein said computer system has a means of receiving, storing and applying;

inputting and storing at least one set of medication-specific data into said computer system about at least one medication wherein said medication-specific data includes a therapeutic index range for said medication;

inputting and storing said set of patient-specific data into said computer system about a patient using said medication wherein said patient-specific data includes data relating to said therapeutic index;

analyzing said patient-specific data and said medication-specific data in light of said patient management rules which results in patient management recommendations; and

Storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of managing a patient based on said patient management recommendations.

13. A method according to claim 11 further comprising communicating said patient-specific data and medication specific data from at least one remote location to a central location for analysis and/or clinician evaluation.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said communication occurs via the internet.

15. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of communicating to a physician inputs or analyses that require clinician review based on and such inputs or analyses.

16. A method of claim 11 further comprising the step of scheduling a patient for visits consistent with said patient management recommendations.

17. A method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of inputting patient education materials and printing said patient educational materials.

18. A computer program for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for at least one medication comprising:

computer readable code for receiving, storing and applying at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one set of medication-specific data and at least one set of patient-specific data;

computer readable code for receiving and storing at least one set of medication-specific data into said computer system about at least one medication wherein said medication-specific data includes a therapeutic index range for said medication;

computer readable code for receiving and storing said set of patient-specific data about a patient using said medication wherein said patient-specific data includes data relating to said therapeutic index;

computer readable code for applying said patient management rules to said patient-specific data and said medication-specific data which results in patient management recommendations;

computer readable code for storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations.

19. A computer program according to claim 18 further comprising computer readable code for communicating said patient-specific data and medication specific data from at least one remote location to a central location for analysis and/or clinician evaluation.

20. A computer program according to claim 19 further comprising computer readable code for transmitting data and analysis across the internet.

21. A computer program according to claim 18 further comprising computer readable code that analyzes said patient management rules, patient management recommendations, and inputs and identifies inputs, analyses or recommendations that require clinician review and communicates said inputs, analyses or recommendations to a clinician.

22. A computer program according to claim 18 wherein a clinician can modify said patient management rules.

23. A computer program according to claim 18 wherein said medication-specific data further includes at least one element from the group comprising:

commercially available dosages, contraindications, influencing variables, pharmacology, adverse effects, pharmacokinetic parameters and recommended monitoring frequency.

24. A computer program according to claim 18 wherein said patient-specific data further includes at least on element from the group comprising medical status, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, patient medication compliance, patient pharmacokinetic parameters, use of supplements or vitamins, weight and age.

25. A computer program of claim 18 further comprising a computer readable code for a scheduling module that provides a means for scheduling patient visits consistent with patient management recommendations.

26. A computer program of claim 18 that further comprises computer readable code that provides a means of receiving, storing and transmitting patient education material, selecting said patient education material based on said patient management recommendations, and printing said patient educational material.

27. A computer program of claim 18 further comprising an algorithm for computing recommended dosages for at least one medication.

28. A system for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for anticoagulants comprising:

A computer system having a means of receiving, storing and applying at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one anticoagulant and at least one set of patient-specific data;

A means of receiving and storing data relating to at least one anticoagulant into said computer system which includes a therapeutic index range for said anticoagulant;

A means of receiving and storing said set of patient-specific data into said computer system about a patient using said anticoagulant wherein said patient-specific data including the patient'"'"'s international normalized ratio for said anticoagulant;

Comparing said international normalized ratio with recommended ranges;

Applying said patient management rules to said patient-specific data and said anticoagulant data which results in patient management recommendations;

A means of storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations.

29. A system according to claim 28 further comprising managing a patient based on said patient management recommendations.

30. A system according to claim 28 wherein said computer system includes a means of communicating said patient-specific data and anticoagulant data from at least one remote location to a central location for analysis and/or clinician evaluation.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein said communication means comprises the internet.

32. A system according to claim 28 wherein said patient management rules identify inputs or analyses that require clinician review and such inputs or analyses are immediately communicated to a clinician.

33. A system according to claim 28 wherein a clinician can modify said patient management rules.

34. A system according to claim 28 wherein said anticoagulant data further includes at least one element from the group comprising:

commercially available dosages, contraindications, influencing variables, accepted recommended dosage ranges, pharmacology, adverse effects, pharmacokinetic parameters and recommended monitoring frequency.

35. A system according to claim 28 wherein said patient-specific data further includes at least on element from the group comprising:

medical status, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, assessments of patient medication compliance, patient pharmacokinetic parameters, use of herbal supplements or vitamins, consumption of foods high in vitamin K, consumption of vitamin K, evidence of bleeding, weight and age.

36. A system of claim 28 wherein the computer system further comprises a scheduling module that provides a means for scheduling patient visits consistent with patient management recommendations.

37. A system of claim 28 that further comprises a patient education module which includes a means of receiving, storing and transmitting patient education material relating to anticoagulants, selection of said patient education material based on said patient management recommendations, and a means for printing said patient educational material.

38. A method for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for at least one anticoagulant comprising the steps of:

inputting into a computer system at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one anticoagulant and at least one set of patient-specific data wherein said computer system has a means of receiving, storing and manipulating said rules and patient-specific data;

inputting and storing data for at least one anticoagulant into said computer system about at least one medication wherein said medication-specific data includes a therapeutic index range for said anticoagulant and said computer systems has a means of receiving, storing and manipulating said anticoagulant data;

inputting and storing said set of patient-specific data into said computer system about a patient using said anticoagulant wherein said patient-specific data includes data relating to the patient'"'"'s international normalized ratio;

analyzing said patient-specific data and said anticoagulant data in light of said patient management rules which results in patient management recommendations; and

Storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations.

39. A method according to claim 38 further comprising the step of managing a patient based on said patient management recommendations.

40. A method according to claim 38 further comprising communicating said patient-specific data and anticoagulant data from at least one remote location to a central location for analysis and/or clinician evaluation.

41. A method according to claim 38 wherein said communication occurs via the internet.

42. A method according to claim 38 further comprising the step of communicating to a physician inputs or analyses that require clinician review based on and such inputs or analyses which includes at least one member of the group comprising:

evidence of bleeding, medication interaction, an international normalized ratio in excess of 20, use of an herbal supplement, when administration of vitamin K is recommended, an elevated international normalized ratio or physician defined criteria.

43. A method of claim 38 further comprising the step of scheduling a patient for visits consistent with said patient management recommendations.

44. A method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of inputting patient education materials and printing said patient educational materials.

45. A computer program for monitoring and managing patients within the therapeutic index range for an anticoagulant comprising:

computer readable code for receiving, storing and applying at least one set of patient management rules to relating to at least one anticoagulant and at least one set of patient-specific data;

computer readable code for receiving and storing data into said computer system about at least one anticoagulant wherein said anticoagulant data includes a therapeutic index range for said anticoagulant;

computer readable code for receiving and storing said set of patient-specific data about a patient using said anticoagulant wherein said patient-specific data includes the patient'"'"'s international normalized ratio;

computer readable code for applying said patient management rules to said patient-specific data and said anticoagulant data which results in patient management recommendations;

computer readable code for storing, displaying and communicating said patient management recommendations.

46. A computer program according to claim 45 further comprising computer readable code for communicating said patient-specific data and medication specific data from at least one remote location to a central location for analysis and/or clinician evaluation.

47. A computer program according to claim 45 further comprising computer readable code for transmitting data and analysis across the internet.

48. A computer program according to claim 45 further comprising computer readable code that analyzes said patient management rules, patient management recommendations, and inputs and identifies inputs, analyses or recommendations that require clinician review and communicates said inputs, analyses or recommendations to a clinician.

49. A computer program according to claim 45 wherein a clinician can modify said patient management rules.

50. A computer program according to claim 45 wherein said anticoagulant data further includes at least one element from the group comprising:

commercially available dosages, contraindications, influencing variables, pharmacology, adverse effects, pharmacokinetic parameters and recommended monitoring frequency.

51. A computer program according to claim 45 wherein said patient-specific data further includes at least on element from the group comprising medical status, evidence of bleeding, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, changes in international normalized ratio data, consumption of foods high in vitamin K, use of vitamin K, use of herbal supplement, patient medication compliance, patient pharmacokinetic parameters, use of supplements or vitamins, weight and age.

52. A computer program of claim 45 further comprising a computer readable code for a scheduling module that provides a means for scheduling patient visits consistent with patient management recommendations.

53. A computer program of claim 45 that further comprises computer readable code that provides a means of receiving, storing and transmitting patient education material, selecting said patient education material based on said patient management recommendations, and printing said patient educational material.

54. A computer program of claim 45 further comprising an algorithm for computing recommended dosages for at least one anticoagulant based on accepted standardized ranges.