System and user interface for processing task schedule information

• US 20030045958A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Brandt, Samuel I., DeHaan, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 6,714,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A method for providing a displayable task schedule of tasks to be performed on behalf of specific service tasks such as individuals by a particular worker of a plurality of workers is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving worker identification information; compiling a list of tasks to be performed by a worker in response to the received identification information based on a role assigned to the worker and a list of service tasks; and initiating display of the compiled list of tasks. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for providing a displayable task schedule of at least one service task to be performed by at least one worker, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving worker identification information;

b. compiling a record identifying a service task to be performed by the worker, wherein the compiled record;

i. is generated in response to the received identification information; and

ii. is based at least partially on at least one of;

(1) a role assigned to the worker;

(2) a service task associated with the worker; and

(3) a predetermined relationship between the worker and the service task; and

c. initiating display of the compiled record at a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service task is at least one of (a) a physician order, (b) administration of laboratory or other diagnostic tests, (c) therapy plans, (d) therapy services administration, (e) medication administration, and (f) medication administration plans.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the role assigned to the worker is at least one of (a) a nursing role, (b) an administrative role, (c) a physician role, (d) a physician assistant role, (e) a therapist role, (f) a technician role, and (g) a role assigned by a workflow administrator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the role assigned to the worker comprises a role performable by more than one worker of a predetermined plurality of workers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

a. the multiple workers comprise a multilevel team; and

b. the role comprises a team-based task assignment.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the role assigned to the worker comprises task characteristics associated with a service task.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the role assigned to the worker comprises a task characteristic associated with a predetermined characteristic of a work step.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the work step includes at least one of (a) a work step to be performed by a first user and (b) a work step to be performed by a second user for whom the first user has a supervisory responsibility.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises the step of compiling the record by using a view of service tasks, the view reflecting a predetermined context.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the compiled record in step (c) further indicates who is currently responsible for executing a predetermined service task based on current assignment of roles and current association with service tasks.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the service tasks comprise at least one of (a) an individual, (b) a product, (c) a supply, and (d) equipment.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the individuals comprise medical patients.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the service task further comprises a work step, the method further comprising the steps of:

a. associating the work step with a work step type;

b. associating the work step type with a virtual role for a worker;

c. relating the worker to a service task; and

d. relating the worker to the virtual role.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of relating the worker to individuals for whom the service task will be performed

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of dynamically reallocating responsibilities associated with the work step to the worker in response to the received identification information based on a role assigned to the worker.

23. A computer program embodied within a computer-readable medium created using the method of claim 1.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein at least two of the first computer, the second computer, and the third computer are the same computer.

16. A method for providing a displayable task schedule of a service task to be performed by at least one worker of a plurality of workers, comprising the steps of:

a. defining a worker role by a user with appropriate authority to define the worker role;

b. defining a work step type by a user with appropriate authority to define work step types;

c. creating a work step to be accomplished by the at least one worker by a user with appropriate authority to create a work step;

d. mapping the work step to the work step type by a user with appropriate authority to map the work step to the work step type;

e. mapping the work step type to the worker role;

f. receiving identification information about the at least one worker;

g. assigning the worker role to the at least one worker;

h. compiling a record identifying service task s to be performed by the at least one worker in response to the received identification information based on the worker role assigned to the at least one worker; and

i. initiating display of the compiled record at a display device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein an administrator user performs steps (a) through (d).

18. The method of claim 16 wherein step (i) further comprises the steps of:

i. mapping work task types to the worker role;

ii. examining additional criteria useful for filtering work task types;

iii. creating a view of a master work list, the view based at least partially on a context comprising the work task types mapped to the worker role and the additional criteria; and

iv. creating a display of the compiled record using the view.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the additional criteria comprise a list of service tasks associated with the worker.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the worker role assigned to the worker comprises a role performable by multiple workers.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the compiled record comprises service tasks that are currently due and service tasks that are predicted to become due after other service tasks have been completed.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the predicted tasks are predicted by at least one of:

a. including a predetermined number of future tasks specified in a definition of the workflow that are mapped to predetermined work types and service tasks;

b. including only predetermined future tasks specified in the workflow definition that are mapped to certain work types and service tasks and that will become due when the default conditional alternatives are assumed to become true; and

c. including only predetermined future tasks specified in the workflow definition that are mapped to certain work types and service tasks, and that will become due when the most likely conditional alternatives are assumed to become true.

24. A system for creating work flows, comprising:

a. a first computer, comprising;

i. a workflow engine; and

ii. a database;

b. a second computer useful to design and modify a workflow process, the second computer operatively in communication with the first computer; and

c. a third computer comprising an input device for entering identification about worker and an output device for displaying work lists;

d. wherein

i. a user with authority to design and modify a workflow process may use the second computer to access the first computer to create, modify, and manipulate work lists and work list views to create a work step to be performed by the worker; and

ii. the worker uses the third computer to access the system, provide identification information reflective of the worker, and receive a work list compiled for that worker comprising tasks to be performed by the worker, wherein the compiled list;

(1) is generated in response to the received identification information; and

(2) is based at least partially on at least one of;

(a) a role assigned to the worker;

(b) a list of service tasks associated with the worker; and

(c) a predetermined relationship between the worker and a target of the service task.