Method and system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system with an emergency medical dispatch protocol

• US 20030195394A1
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Priority Consultants, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Priority Consultants, Inc.
• Inventors: Saalsaa, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An interface between a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol is provided. Able to operate in either a resident or a non-resident mode, this invention coordinates the transfer of control and information between the computer aided dispatch system and the emergency medical dispatch protocol to improve the efficiency of emergency medical response resources while maintaining the certainty of the use of an established medical response and instruction protocol.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, comprising:

(A) initiating a computer aided dispatch system;

(B) receiving an incident call;

(C) calling an expert emergency medical dispatch system;

(D) testing for desired process states; and

(E) returning control to said computer aided dispatch system.

2. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, further comprising writing a computer aided dispatch incident to a communication file.

3. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, further comprising reporting errors to a user.

4. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing if an operator has selected a release to pending option.

5. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing if an operator said computer aided dispatch system needs to retrieve a case.

6. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether said expert emergency medical dispatch system has recommended that a dispatch should occur.

7. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether said expert emergency medical dispatch system has changed a recommended dispatch level.

8. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether a user has aborted a case.

9. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether a case has been completed.

10. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether an error has occurred.

11. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, comprising:

(A) a computer device; and

(B) a computer program operating on said computer device, wherein said computer program further comprises;

(1) an operating system, managing the operation of said computer device;

(2) a computer aided dispatch system operating in cooperation with said operating system to manage emergency response resources;

(3) an emergency medical response protocol system for guiding a dispatchers response to a caller, wherein said emergency medical response protocol system further comprises a set of specified inquiries, a calculated determinate value based one or more responses to said set of specified inquiries, and a defined emergency medical response based on said determinate value; and

(4) an interface between said computer aided dispatch system and said emergency medical response protocol system, wherein said interface is a process for communicating information between said computer aided dispatch system and said emergency medical response protocol system.

12. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 11, wherein said computer device further comprises:

(1) a processor;

(2) a memory unit in electronic communication with said processor;

(3) a display device in electronic communication with said processor; and

(4) an input device in electronic communication with said processor.

13. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 11, wherein said operating system is selected from the group consisting of MS-DOS, Windows, Unix, AIX, CLIX, QNX, OS/2, and Apple.

14. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 11, wherein said interface further comprises a method comprising:

(a) initiating a computer aided dispatch system;

(b) receiving an incident call;

(c) calling an expert emergency medical dispatch system;

(d) testing for desired process states; and

(e) returning control to said computer aided dispatch system.