System for repetitive interval clinical evaluations

• US 20030233030A1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William H. Rice
• Original Assignee: William H. Rice
• Inventors: Rice, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/174,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

A healthcare tool allows a patient to record daily parameters associated with the patient'"'"'s clinical status, for example, body weight for congestive heart failure patients. A graph may be created showing the parameters on a control chart. The parameters are statistically analyzed against a control range, and when a parameter moves out of the control range, the system automatically creates a pop-up window alerting the patient that the parameter is outside the control range, and that the patient should consider informing a healthcare professional.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a patient to contact a healthcare professional, comprising the steps of:

performing repetitive interval evaluations of one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters of the patient to obtain a series of evaluation results;

performing a statistical analysis of the evaluation results;

determining whether the statistical analysis indicates that the evaluation results fall outside a desired range; and

notifying the patient if the evaluation results fall outside the desired range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of notifying the patient comprises the step of advising the patient to contact a healthcare professional.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the statistical analysis comprises the step of comparing most recently measured data for said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters with prior historical data for said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include a body weight of the patient associated with congestive heart failure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include a peak flow associated with a disease selected from the group consisting of asthma and emphysema.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include glucose associated with diabetes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include mood and depression charts associated with a mental health disease.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include those associated with a cardiovascular disease.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include those associated with rehabilitation from surgical interventions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include those associated with cancer therapies.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more pre-selected disease-associated parameters include those associated with cancer.

12. A computer program product including a medium readable by a processor, said medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to execute a process for optimizing early detection of an exacerbating medical condition of a patient, said process comprising the steps of:

reading repeatedly measured one or more disease-associated parameters;

performing a statistical analysis of progression of said one or more disease-associated parameters; and

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the step of performing the statistical analysis comprises the step of comparing most recently measured data for said one or more disease-associated parameters with prior historical data for said one or more disease-associated parameters.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the step of notifying the patient comprises the step of advising the patient to contact a healthcare professional.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising the step of outputting a report of the disease-associated parameter input data.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer is standalone.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of initializing comprises the step of entering a name of the patient.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising the step of downloading the applet again for use by another patient.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of allowing access to the patient comprises the step of double clicking a desktop icon on the computer.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the disease-associated parameter input data comprises the step of recording data including a body of weight of the patient.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the disease-associated parameter input data comprises the step of recording data including a peak flow.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the disease-associated parameter input data comprises the step of recording data including glucose.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the disease-associated parameter input data comprises the step of recording data including mood and depression charts.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the disease-associated parameter input data comprises the step of receiving inputs by clicking on a number pad by the patient.

28. The system of claim 15, further comprising the step of confirming reception of the disease-associated parameter input data.

13. notifying the patient if the statistical analysis of said one or more disease-associated parameters is indicative of an exacerbating medical condition.

16. A system comprising a computer having a processor to execute a program for notifying a patient of changing disease-associated parameters indicative of an exacerbating medical condition, the program including instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

initializing a downloaded applet into the computer;

allowing access to the patient;

receiving disease-associated parameter input data;

performing a statistical analysis of the disease-associated parameter input data;

providing an advisory statement if the statistical analysis is indicative of an exacerbating medical condition; and

exiting the program.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the step of outputting the report comprises the step of outputting a graph for a particular time-frame.