Child care telehealth access network

• US 20040073455A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Rochester
• Original Assignee: University of Rochester Medical Center (University of Rochester)
• Inventors: Wood, Nancy, Herendeen, Neil, McConnochie, Kenneth M.
• Application Number:
  US10/435,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073455A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A system and a method for providing medical evaluation and treatment recommendations for children at a childcare center, including: an examination station for medically examining a patient, located at the childcare center, wherein the examination station includes an examination computer, an examination camera coupled with the computer, and a diagnostic tool set coupled with the computer; a diagnosis station for diagnosing the condition of the patient, remotely located from the examination station; wherein the diagnosis station includes a diagnosis computer, a diagnosis camera coupled with the diagnosis computer; modules for interfacing the diagnosis computer with the examination computer; and a communication system for coupling the examination station with the diagnosis station.

Claims

1. A system for providing medical evaluation and treatment recommendations for children at a childcare center, comprising:

an examination station for medically examining a patient, located at the childcare center, wherein said examination station comprises;

an examination computer,

a camera coupled with said examination computer,

a diagnostic tool set coupled with said examination computer;

a diagnosis station for diagnosing the condition of the patient, remotely located from the examination station;

wherein said diagnosis station comprises;

a diagnosis computer,

a camera coupled with said diagnosis computer;

modules for interfacing said diagnosis computer with said examination computer; and

a communication system for coupling said examination station with said diagnosis station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said examination station further comprises a microphone coupled with said examination computer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said examination station further comprises a speaker coupled with said examination computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic tool set comprises a diagnostic tool selected from the group consisting of a stethoscope, an endoscope, an otoscope, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said diagnosis station further comprises a microphone coupled with said diagnosis computer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said diagnosis station further comprises a speaker coupled with said diagnosis computer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules for interfacing said diagnosis computer with said examination computer comprise modules for transferring audio data between said diagnosis computer and said examination computer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules for interfacing said diagnosis computer with said examination computer comprise modules for transferring image data between said diagnosis computer and said examination computer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules for interfacing said diagnosis computer with said examination computer comprise modules for transferring real-time data between said diagnosis computer and said examination computer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules for interfacing said diagnosis computer with said examination computer comprise modules for storing and forwarding data between said diagnosis computer and said examination computer.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication system comprises a server configured for secured communication between said examination station and said diagnosis station.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication system comprises a wireless connection between said examination station and said diagnosis station.

13. A method for providing medical evaluation and treatment recommendations for children at a childcare center, comprising:

providing an examination station at a childcare center;

providing a diagnosis station at a location different from said examination station;

providing a communication interface between said examination station and said diagnosis station;

examining a patient using said examination station to generate examination data;

transmitting said examination data to said diagnosis station;

evaluating the condition of said patient using said diagnosis station to generate evaluation data; and

communicating said evaluation data from said diagnosis station to said examination station using said interface.

14. The method of claim 13 where said providing an examination station at a childcare center, comprises:

providing an examination computer,

providing a camera coupled with said examination computer; and

providing a diagnostic tool set coupled with said examination computer.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a microphone coupled with said examination computer.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a speaker coupled with said examination computer.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said providing a diagnostic tool set coupled with said examination computer comprises providing a diagnostic tool selected from the group consisting of a stethoscope, an endoscope, an otoscope, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 13 where said examining is conducted by a trained telehealth assistant in communication with a clinician, where the clinician is located adjacent to the diagnosis station.

19. The method of claim 13 where said transmitting said examination data comprises transmitting audio, or image data from said examination station to said diagnosis station.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said data in real-time.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising diagnosing a condition consisting of colds, fevers, ear infections, pink-eye, impetigo and combinations thereof for pediatric patients.