Healthcare database management offline backup and synchronization system and method

• US 20030204420A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Wilkes, Gordon J., Acharya, Meetali, Paul, Eric S., Pascual, Florante
• Application Number:
  US10/160,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204420A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• 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 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data

Abstract

A healthcare database management offline backup and synchronization system having an active database for storing active records and an archive database for storing inactive records. The databases are coupled by a communication link and the system is able to transfer and store records that have become inactive from the active database to the archive database. The database records are archived and purged based on predefined rules. The system allows continuous access to a local medical depot computer database on a network even when the network link is severed. The system updates local and central computer databases regularly, while the link is active and synchronizes database records after computer communications are restored.

Claims

26. A healthcare data record storage system, comprising:

an active healthcare record database having a plurality of active healthcare data records stored therein, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records has a healthcare data record group associated therewith;

means for associating the healthcare data record group with the active healthcare data records; and

, means for purging at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

27. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 26 wherein the purging is automatically performed according to a predetermined schedule.

28. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 26 further comprising:

an archive healthcare record database having a plurality of archive healthcare data records stored therein; and

,

means for purging at least one archive healthcare data record from the archive healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

29. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 28 further comprising means for purging at least one archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database as, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

30. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 28 further comprising means for purging at least one archive healthcare data record from a second level archive healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

31. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 29 wherein the first level archive healthcare record database is a subset of a second level archive healthcare record database.

32. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 29 wherein the first level archive healthcare data record is purged from the first level archive healthcare record database after a predetermined period of time.

33. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 29 wherein all of the first level archive healthcare data records are purged from the active healthcare record database.

34. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 26 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record groups containing the active healthcare data record tables.

35. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 34 wherein each of the plurality of healthcare data record tables comprises a specific healthcare data record group.

36. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 35 wherein the specific healthcare data record group comprises one of audit, lot, narcotics, patient, non-patient messages, inventory, login failures, shifts, HL7 interface information, and activity logs.

37. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 34 wherein each healthcare data record group is assigned a specific priority level.

38. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 37 wherein a purging order of the healthcare data records is determined by the priority level assigned to each healthcare data record group.

39. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 37 wherein each priority level comprises a predetermined sequence for purging healthcare data records stored in the respective healthcare data record group having such priority level.

40. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 34 wherein at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group is purged when a predetermined size of the healthcare data record group has been reached.

41. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 34 wherein at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group is purged when a predetermined size of the active healthcare record database has been reached.

42. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 26 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a foreign key for identifying a location of a linked healthcare data record wherein purging of the linked healthcare database record occurs proximate in time with the purging of the healthcare data record.

43. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 42 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records, wherein the foreign key comprises at least one healthcare data record table location of where the linked healthcare data record is located.

44. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 43 wherein the healthcare data record is located in a healthcare data record table of a first healthcare data record group and the linked healthcare data record is located in healthcare data record table of a second healthcare data record group.

45. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 44 wherein the first healthcare data record group and second healthcare data record group each comprise one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

52. A method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of active healthcare data records in an active healthcare record database, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records is assigned a healthcare data record group; and

,

archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to an archive healthcare record database as an archive healthcare data record, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

53. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

purging the at least one active healthcare data record of the active healthcare record database.

54. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

purging the at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database after the active healthcare data record is stored in the archive healthcare record database.

55. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

purging the at least one active healthcare data record based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

56. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to a first level archive healthcare record database as one of a first level archived healthcare data record, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

57. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to a second level archive healthcare record database as one of a second level archived healthcare data record, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

58. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 wherein the first level archive healthcare record database is a subset of the second level archive healthcare record database.

59. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

archiving the first level archive healthcare data record for a predetermined period of time prior to being removed from the first level archive healthcare record database.

60. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

archiving all of the first level archive healthcare data records in the second level archive healthcare record database.

61. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

archiving all of the active healthcare data records in the second level archive healthcare record database.

62. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprising the step of:

maintaining all of the second level archived healthcare data records in the second level archived healthcare record database without purging.

63. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records.

64. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 63 wherein each of the plurality of healthcare data record tables comprises a specific healthcare data record group.

65. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 wherein the specific healthcare data record group comprises one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

66. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 63 further comprising the step of:

assigning each healthcare data record group a specific priority level.

67. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 66 further comprising the step of:

determining a retention period of the healthcare data record group by the priority level.

68. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 66 further comprising the step of:

archiving data records stored in the respective healthcare data record group and having a priority level, for a predetermined time, the predetermined time determined by such priority level.

69. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 63 further comprising the step of:

archiving at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the healthcare data record group has been reached.

70. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 63 further comprising the step of:

archiving at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the active healthcare record database has been reached.

71. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 63 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises the step of:

storing at least one active healthcare data record in a plurality of healthcare data record tables.

72. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 further comprises the step of:

identifying a location of a linked healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database with a foreign key wherein archiving of the linked healthcare database record occurs proximate in time with the archiving of the healthcare data record.

73. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 72 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records, wherein the foreign key comprises at least one healthcare data record table location of where the linked healthcare data record is located.

74. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 63 further comprises the steps of:

storing the healthcare data record in a healthcare data record table of a first healthcare data record group; and

,

linking a healthcare data record in healthcare data record table of a second healthcare data record group.

75. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 wherein the first healthcare data record group and second healthcare data record group each comprise one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

76. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 56 further comprising the step of:

using a database server for the active healthcare record database and another database server for the first level archive healthcare record database.

98. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 or 77 further comprising the step of:

archiving at least one archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database to a second level archive healthcare record database as one of the second level archived healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one first level archive healthcare data record.

99. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 or 77 further comprising the step of:

activating at least one first level archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

100. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 or 77 further comprising the step of:

activating at least one second level archive healthcare data record from a second level archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

101. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 52 or 77 further comprising the step of:

activating at least one second level archive healthcare data record from a second level archive healthcare record database to a first level archive healthcare record database as one of the first level archive healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

77. A method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system comprising:

storing a plurality of active healthcare data records in an active healthcare record database, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records has a healthcare data record group; and

,

purging at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

78. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 77 wherein purging is performed automatically, according to a predetermined schedule.

79. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 77 further comprising the step of:

;

purging at least one archive healthcare data record from an archive healthcare record database having a plurality of archive healthcare data records stored therein, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

80. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 79 further comprising the step of:

purging at least one archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database as, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

81. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 79 further comprising the step of:

purging at least one archive healthcare data record from the second level archive healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

82. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 81 wherein the first level archive healthcare record database is a subset of a second level archive healthcare record database.

83. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 80 further comprising the step of:

purging the first level archive healthcare data record from the first level archive healthcare record database at a predetermined period of time.

84. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 80 further comprising the step of:

purging all of the first level archive healthcare data records from the active healthcare record database.

85. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 77 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records.

86. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 85 wherein each of the plurality of healthcare data record tables comprises a specific healthcare data record group.

87. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 77 wherein the specific healthcare data record group comprises one of audit, lot, narcotics, patient, non-patient messages, inventory, login failures, shifts, HL7 interface information, and activity logs.

88. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 85 further comprising the step of:

assigning each healthcare data record group a specific priority level.

89. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 88 further comprising the step of:

determining a purging order of the healthcare data records by the priority level assigned to each healthcare data record group.

90. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 88 further comprising the step of:

purging healthcare data records having a priority level and stored in the healthcare data record group wherein the priority level comprises a predetermined time for purging.

91. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 85 further comprising the step of:

purging at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the healthcare data record group has been reached.

92. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 85 further comprising the step of:

purging at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the active healthcare record database has been reached.

93. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 77 further comprising the step of:

identifying a location of a linked healthcare data record of the active healthcare record database with a foreign key wherein purging of the linked healthcare database record occurs proximate in time with the purging of the healthcare data record.

94. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 93 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records, wherein the foreign key comprises at least one healthcare data record table location of where the linked healthcare data record is located.

95. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 94 wherein the healthcare data record is located in a healthcare data record table of a first healthcare data record group and the linked healthcare data record is located in healthcare data record table of a second healthcare data record group.

96. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 95 wherein the first healthcare data record group and second healthcare data record group each comprise one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

97. The method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system of claim 77 further comprising the step of:

activating at least one archive healthcare data record from the archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

102. A method of archiving records in a healthcare data record storage system, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of active healthcare data records in an active healthcare record database, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records is assigned a healthcare data record group; and

,

archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to the archive healthcare record database as archive healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

103. A computer readable medium having a computer program thereon for storing healthcare data records, the medium comprising:

a first code segment for storing a plurality of active healthcare data records in an active healthcare record database, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records is assigned a healthcare data record group; and

,

a second code segment for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to an archive healthcare record database as an archive healthcare data record, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

104. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging the at least one active healthcare data record of the active healthcare record database.

105. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging the at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database after the archived healthcare data record is stored in the archive healthcare record database.

106. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging the at least one active healthcare data record based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

107. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to a first level archive healthcare record database as one of a first level archived healthcare data record, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

108. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to a second level archive healthcare record database as one of a second level archived healthcare data record, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

109. The computer readable medium of claim 103 wherein the first level archive healthcare record database is a subset of the second level archive healthcare record database.

110. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving the first level archive healthcare data records for a predetermined period of time prior to being removed from the first level archive healthcare record database.

111. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving all of the first level archive healthcare data records in the second level archive healthcare record database.

112. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving all of the active healthcare data records in the second level archive healthcare record database.

113. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for maintaining all of the second level archived healthcare data records in the second level archived healthcare record database without purging.

114. The computer readable medium of claim 103 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records.

115. The computer readable medium of claim 103 wherein each of the plurality of healthcare data record tables comprises a specific healthcare data record group.

116. The computer readable medium of claim 103 wherein the specific healthcare data record group comprises one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

117. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for assigning each healthcare data record group a specific priority level.

118. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for determining a retention period of the healthcare data record group by the priority level.

119. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving healthcare data records stored in the respective healthcare data record group and having a priority level, for a predetermined time, the predetermined time determined by such priority level.

120. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the healthcare data record group has been reached.

121. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the active healthcare record database has been reached.

122. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for storing at least one active healthcare data record in a plurality of healthcare data record tables.

123. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for identifying a location of a linked healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database with a foreign key wherein archiving of the linked healthcare database record occurs proximate in time with the archiving of the healthcare data record.

124. The computer readable medium of claim 103 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records, wherein the foreign key comprises at least one healthcare data record table location of where the linked healthcare data record is located.

125. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for storing the healthcare data record in a healthcare data record table of a first healthcare data record group; and

,

a fourth code segment for linking a healthcare data record in healthcare data record table of a second healthcare data record group.

126. The computer readable medium of claim 103 wherein the first healthcare data record group and second healthcare data record group each comprise one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

127. The computer readable medium of claim 103, further comprising:

a third code segment for using a database server for the active healthcare record database and another database server for the first level archive healthcare record database.

128. A computer readable medium having a computer program thereon for storing healthcare data records, comprising:

a first code segment for storing a plurality of active healthcare data records in an active healthcare record database, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records is assigned a healthcare data record group; and

,

a second code segment for purging at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

129. The computer readable medium of claim 128, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging automatically according to a predetermined schedule.

130. The computer readable medium of claim 128, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging at least one archive healthcare data record from an archive healthcare record database having a plurality of archive healthcare data records stored therein, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

131. The computer readable medium of claim 130, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging at least one archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database as, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

132. The computer readable medium of claim 130, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging at least one archive healthcare data record from a second level archive healthcare record database, wherein the purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one archive healthcare data record.

133. The computer readable medium of claim 132 wherein the first level archive healthcare record database is a subset of the second level archive healthcare record database.

134. The computer readable medium of claim 131, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging the first level archive healthcare data record from the first level archive healthcare record database at a predetermined period of time.

135. The computer readable medium of claim 131, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging all of the first level archive healthcare data records from the active healthcare record database.

136. The computer readable medium of claim 128 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records.

137. The computer readable medium of claim 136 wherein each of the plurality of healthcare data record tables comprises a specific healthcare data record group.

138. The computer readable medium of claim 137 wherein the specific healthcare data record group comprises one of audit, lot, narcotics, patient, non-patient messages, inventory, login failures, shifts, HL7 interface information, and activity logs.

139. The computer readable medium of claim 136, further comprising:

a third code segment for assigning each healthcare data record group a specific priority level.

140. The computer readable medium of claim 139, further comprising:

a third code segment for determining a purging order of the healthcare data records by the priority level assigned to each healthcare data record group.

141. The computer readable medium of claim 139, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging healthcare data records having a priority level and stored in the healthcare data record group wherein the priority level comprises a predetermined time for purging.

142. The computer readable medium of claim 136, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the healthcare data record group has been reached.

143. The computer readable medium of claim 136, further comprising:

a third code segment for purging at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record group when a predetermined size of the active healthcare record database has been reached.

144. The computer readable medium of claim 128, further comprising:

a third code segment for identifying a location of a linked healthcare data record of the active healthcare record database with a foreign key wherein purging of the linked healthcare database record occurs proximate in time with the purging of the healthcare data record.

145. The computer readable medium of claim 144 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records, wherein the foreign key comprises at least one healthcare data record table location of where the linked healthcare data record is located.

146. The computer readable medium of claim 145 wherein the healthcare data record is located in a healthcare data record table of a first healthcare data record group and the linked healthcare data record is located in healthcare data record table of a second healthcare data record group.

147. The computer readable medium of claim 146 wherein the first healthcare data record group and second healthcare data record group each comprise one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

148. The computer readable medium of claim 128, further comprising:

a third code segment for activating at least one archive healthcare data record from the archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

149. The computer readable medium of claim 128, further comprising:

a third code segment for archiving at least one archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database to a second level archive healthcare record database as one of the second level archived healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one first level archive healthcare data record.

150. The computer readable medium of claim 128 further comprising:

a third code segment for activating at least one first level archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

151. The computer readable medium of claim 128 further comprising:

a third code segment for activating at least one second level archive healthcare data record from a second level archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

152. The computer readable medium of claim 128 further comprising:

a third code segment for activating at least one second level archive healthcare data record from the second level archive healthcare record database to the first level archive healthcare record database as one of the first level archive healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

153. The computer readable medium of claim 128 further comprising:

a third code segment for storing a plurality of active healthcare data records in an active healthcare record database, wherein each of the plurality of active healthcare data records is assigned a healthcare data record group; and

,

a fourth code segment for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to the archive healthcare record database as archive healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

154. A method of accessing healthcare data in a healthcare facility having a communication network, a medical storage depot, and a central memory communicating with the medical storage depot, the medical storage depot having a depot memory, the method comprising the steps of:

storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot in the central memory and the depot memory;

determining whether the central memory is communicating with the medical storage depot; and

,

using the healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot in the depot memory when it is determined that the central memory is not communicating with the depot memory.

1. A healthcare data record storage system, comprising:

an active healthcare record database having a plurality of active healthcare data records stored therein;

an archive healthcare record database having a plurality of archived healthcare data records stored therein; and

,

means for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to the archive healthcare record database as one of the archived healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on a period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

2. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of archive groups having a retention period for defining the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

3. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 wherein the at least one active healthcare data record is purged from the active healthcare record database when the archived healthcare data record is stored in the archive healthcare record database.

4. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 2 wherein purging is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

5. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 further comprising means for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to a first level archive healthcare record database as one of the first level archived healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

6. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 5 further comprising means for archiving at least one active healthcare data record from the active healthcare record database to a second level archive healthcare record database as one of the second level archived healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one active healthcare data record.

7. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 6 wherein the first level archive healthcare record database is a subset of the second level archive healthcare record database.

8. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 6 wherein the first level archive healthcare data records are archived for a predetermined period of time prior to being removed from the first level archive healthcare record database.

9. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 6 wherein all of the first level archive healthcare data records are also archived in the second level archive healthcare record database.

10. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 6 wherein all of the active healthcare data records are also archived in the second level archive healthcare record database.

11. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 6 wherein all of the second level archived healthcare data records are not removed from the second level archived healthcare record database.

12. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records.

13. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of healthcare data record tables comprises a specific healthcare data record group.

14. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 13 wherein the specific healthcare data record group comprises one of audit, lot, narcotics, patient, non-patient messages, inventory, login failures, shifts, HL7 interface information, and activity logs.

15. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 13 wherein each healthcare data record group is assigned a specific priority level.

16. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 15 wherein a retention period of the healthcare data record group is determined by the priority level

17. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 15 wherein each healthcare data record group comprises a predetermined time for archiving healthcare data records stored in the respective healthcare data record tables.

18. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 15 wherein at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record table is archived when a predetermined size of the healthcare data record table has been reached.

19. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 15 wherein at least one healthcare data record in the healthcare data record table is archived when a predetermined size of the active healthcare record database has been reached.

20. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records wherein at least one healthcare data record is linked to more than one of the plurality of healthcare data record tables.

21. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a foreign key for identifying a location of a linked healthcare data record wherein archiving of the linked healthcare database record occurs proximate in time with the archiving of the healthcare data record.

22. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 21 wherein the active healthcare record database further comprises a plurality of healthcare data record tables containing the active healthcare data records, wherein the foreign key comprises at least one healthcare data record table location of where the linked healthcare data record is located.

23. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 22 wherein the healthcare data record is located in a healthcare data record table of a first healthcare data record group and the linked healthcare data record is located in healthcare data record table of a second healthcare data record group.

24. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 23 wherein the first healthcare data record group and second healthcare data record group each comprise one of audit, lot, narcotic, patient, non-patient message, inventory, login failure, shift, HL7 interface information, and activity log.

25. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 further comprising a database server for the active healthcare record database and another database server for the first level archive healthcare record database.

46. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 or 26 further comprising:

means for activating at least one archive healthcare data record from the archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

47. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 or 26 further comprising:

means for archiving at least one archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database to a second level archive healthcare record database as one of the second level archived healthcare data records, wherein the archiving is based at least in part on the period of inactivity of the at least one first level archive healthcare data record.

48. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 or 26 further comprising:

means for activating at least one first level archive healthcare data record from a first level archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

49. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 or 26 further comprising:

means for activating at least one second level archive healthcare data record from a second level archive healthcare record database to the active healthcare record database as one of the active healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

50. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 or 26 further comprising:

means for activating at least one second level archive healthcare data record from the second level archive healthcare record database to the first level archive healthcare record database as one of the first level archive healthcare data records, wherein activating is based at least in part on the healthcare data record group.

51. The healthcare data record storage system of claim 1 wherein the active database is in an SQL server format.

155. The method of claim 154, further comprising the step of:

tracking at least a portion of the central memory relating to healthcare transactions in the depot memory.

156. The method of claim 154, further comprising the step of:

tracking at least a portion of the depot memory relating to healthcare transactions in the central memory.

157. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes selecting the healthcare data in the central memory.

158. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes selecting the healthcare data in the depot memory.

159. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes deleting the healthcare data in the central memory.

160. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes deleting the healthcare data in the depot memory.

161. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes inserting the healthcare data in the central memory.

162. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes inserting the healthcare data in the depot memory.

163. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes updating the healthcare data in the central memory.

164. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes updating the healthcare data in the depot memory.

165. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes purging the healthcare data in the central memory.

166. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes purging the healthcare data in the depot memory.

167. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes archiving the healthcare data in the central memory.

168. The method of claim 154 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes archiving the healthcare data in the depot memory.

169. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes activity logs.

170. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes error logs.

171. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical storage depot access data.

172. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes inventory audit data.

173. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medication fill orders.

174. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical storage depot configuration parameters.

175. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes patient medical history.

176. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes healthcare personnel data.

177. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes cart fill item history.

178. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item history.

179. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item delivery information.

180. The method of claim 154, further comprising the steps of:

comparing a first copy of a first electronic biometric identification and a second electronic biometric identification at the medical storage depot; and

,

generating a medical storage depot access signal from the medical storage depot when communication between the medical storage depot and the central memory is lost.

181. The method of claim 154, further comprising the steps of:

comparing a first copy of a first electronic biometric identification and a second electronic biometric identification at the medical storage depot; and

,

generating a medical storage depot access signal from the central memory when communication between the medical storage depot and the central memory exists.

175-1. The method of claim 154 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item information.

182. A computer readable medium having a computer program thereon for accessing healthcare data in a healthcare facility having a communication network, a medical storage depot, and a central memory communicating with the medical storage depot, the medical storage depot having a depot memory, the medium comprising:

a first code segment for storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot in the central memory and the depot memory;

a second code segment for determining whether the central memory is communicating with the medical storage depot; and

,

a third code segment for using the healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot in the depot memory when it is determined that the central memory is not communicating with the depot memory.

183. The computer readable medium of claim 182, further comprising:

a fourth code segment for tracking at least a portion of the central memory relating to healthcare transactions in the depot memory.

184. The computer readable medium of claim 182, further comprising:

a fourth code segment for tracking at least a portion of the depot memory relating to healthcare transactions in the central memory.

185. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes selecting the healthcare data in the central memory.

186. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes selecting the healthcare data in the depot memory.

187. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes deleting the healthcare data in the central memory.

188. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes deleting the healthcare data in the depot memory.

189. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes inserting the healthcare data in the central memory.

190. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes inserting the healthcare data in the depot memory.

191. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes updating the healthcare data in the central memory.

192. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes updating the healthcare data in the depot memory.

193. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes purging the healthcare data in the central memory.

194. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes purging the healthcare data in the depot memory.

195. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes archiving the healthcare data in the central memory.

196. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein storing healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes archiving the healthcare data in the depot memory.

197. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes activity logs.

198. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes error logs.

199. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical storage depot access data.

200. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes inventory audit data.

201. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medication fill orders.

202. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical storage depot configuration parameters.

203. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes patient medical history.

204. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item information.

205. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes healthcare personnel data.

206. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes cart fill item history.

207. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item history.

208. The computer readable medium of claim 182 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item delivery information.

209. The computer readable medium of claim 182, further comprising:

a fourth code segment for comparing a first copy of a first electronic biometric identification and a second electronic biometric identification at the medical storage depot; and

,

a fifth code segment for generating a medical storage depot access signal from the medical storage depot when communication between the medical storage depot and the central memory is lost.

210. The computer readable medium of claim 182, further comprising:

a fourth code segment for comparing a first copy of a first electronic biometric identification and a second electronic biometric identification at the medical storage depot; and

,

a fifth code segment for generating a medical storage depot access signal from the central memory when communication between the medical storage depot and the central memory exists.

211. A system for accessing healthcare data in a healthcare facility, comprising:

a central memory having a central database;

a depot memory having a depot database; and

,

a network communicatively connecting the depot and central memories, wherein database modifications are sent from the central memory to the depot memory.

212. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211 wherein database modifications are sent from the central memory to the depot memory.

213. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211, further comprising:

a download signal containing depot database modifications.

214. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211, further comprising:

an upload signal containing central database modifications.

215. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211, further comprising:

a database synchronization module that sends upload and download signals through the network at predetermined intervals while the depot memory and central memory are communicatively connected.

216. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211, further comprising:

a database synchronization module that sends upload and download signals through the network at predetermined intervals when communication between the depot memory and central memory is reestablished after a network disconnection.

217. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211, further comprising:

a database refresh module that updates the depot database when a modification signal is received.

218. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 211, further comprising:

a database refresh module that updates the central database when a modification signal is received.

219. A system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility, comprising:

a medical storage depot having a depot processor and a depot memory, wherein the depot memory comprises healthcare data and a communication module;

a communication network; and

,

a central processor having a central memory and being capable of communicating with the depot processor and depot memory over the communication network.

220. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the central memory is capable of tracking healthcare data relating to healthcare transactions in the depot memory.

221. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the depot memory is capable of tracking healthcare data relating to healthcare transactions in the central memory.

222. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the medical storage depot is lockable.

223. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the central memory can be selected.

224. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the depot memory can be selected.

225. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the central memory can be deleted.

226. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the depot memory can be deleted.

227. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the central memory can be inserted.

228. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the depot memory can be inserted.

229. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the central memory can be updated.

230. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the depot memory can be updated.

231. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the central memory can be purged.

232. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the depot memory can be purged.

233. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the central memory can be archived.

234. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the healthcare data in the depot memory can be archived.

235. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes activity logs.

236. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes error logs.

237. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes medical storage depot access data.

238. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes inventory audit data.

239. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medication fill orders.

240. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes medical storage depot configuration parameters.

241. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes patient medical history.

242. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes medical item information.

243. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes healthcare personnel data.

244. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes cart fill item history.

245. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data includes medical item history.

246. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein healthcare data relating to the medical storage depot includes medical item delivery information.

247. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219, further comprising:

a first copy of a first electronic biometric identification and a second electronic biometric identification at the medical storage depot; and

,

a medical storage depot access signal sent from the medical storage depot when communication between the medical storage depot and the central memory is lost.

248. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219, further comprising:

a first copy of a first electronic biometric identification and a second electronic biometric identification at the medical storage depot; and

,

a medical storage depot access signal from the central memory when communication between the medical storage depot and the central memory exists.

249. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the depot memory comprises at least one SQL server database.

250. The system for accessing healthcare data in the healthcare facility of claim 219 wherein the central memory comprises at least one SQL server database.