Medical work flow system

• US 20040243444A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: PatientSafe Solutions, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Steusloff, Patrick M., Swenson, David D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,607,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• 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 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system is described for managing data and information in a healthcare environment, such as a hospital. A handheld code scanner reads codes and either accepts data, or performs instructions based on the read code. The code scanner wirelessly transmits the codes or data to a central server which acts on the read code to carry out necessary functions. The system is useful for tracking patient data, such as for delivery of medicine. In addition, since the system can carry out instructions, it is useful for allowing healthcare workers to quickly and conveniently perform their duties without the necessity of sitting at a computer terminal.

Claims

1. A system for managing administration of medical care, comprising:

a handheld terminal, comprising a code scanner and a wireless transmitter, wherein said code scanner is configured to read scan codes corresponding to instructions to be performed by the system; and

a computer, configured to receive said scan codes from said handheld terminal and initiate a process in response to said codes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer is in data communication with at least one peripheral device, and wherein said instructions comprise instructions to be performed by said at least one peripheral device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device is a printer.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device is a messaging system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal is configured to execute said instructions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal is further configured to transmit user information with said codes read by said code reader to said computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises a display for displaying messages to a user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises at least one user input device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said user input device comprises a button.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said user input device is an alphanumeric keypad.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises a plurality of code scanners.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is configured to read two-dimensional machine readable codes.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is configured to read a barcode.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is further configured to read scan codes corresponding to data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said terminal is configured to determine whether a scan code read by said code scanner corresponds to data or an instruction.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a scan code corresponds to a binary number comprising a plurality of bits, and wherein one of said plurality of bits indicates whether the scan code corresponds to data or instruction.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral system, and wherein said instructions comprise instructions to be performed by said at least one peripheral system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one peripheral system includes at least one of a messaging system, a pharmacy system, a laboratory system, and a patient record system.

19. A wireless terminal for use in medical care administration management system, comprising:

a code scanner, configured to read scan codes corresponding to patient data and instructions; and

a wireless transceiver, configured to transmit said codes read by said code scanner to a system computer for processing, wherein said computer initiates a process in response to receipt of a code corresponding to an instruction.

20. The wireless terminal of claim 19, further configured to execute instructions in response to said code scanner reading a code corresponding to an instruction.

21. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said terminal is configured to store user information and transmit said user information with said codes read by said code scanner to said system computer.

22. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said terminal comprises a display for displaying messages to a user.

23. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said terminal comprises an input button for receiving input from a user.

24. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said transceiver is configured to communicate with said system computer over a computer network.

25. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said code scanner is configured to read two-dimensional machine readable codes.

26. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said code scanner is configured to read barcodes.

27. The wireless terminal of claim 19, further comprising an additional code scanner.

28. The wireless terminal of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of indicators.

29. The wireless terminal of claim 28, wherein said plurality of indicators includes at least one of a visual indicator and an audio indicator.

30. The wireless terminal of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to determine whether a scanned code corresponds to data or an instruction.

31. The wireless terminal of claim 30, wherein a scan code corresponds to a binary number comprising a plurality of bits, and wherein one of said plurality of bits indicates whether the scan code corresponds to data or an instruction.

32. A method of controlling processes in a wireless communication system, comprising:

scanning at least one machine readable code using a wireless terminal; and

initiating a process, comprising matching said scanned machine readable code with a corresponding instruction, and thereafter executing said instruction.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising transmitting said scanned machine readable code via a wireless communication link to a computer system, wherein said computer system initiates said process.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein initiating said process comprises sending the instructions to a peripheral system for execution.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising analyzing said scanned code to determine whether said code corresponds to data or an instruction.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said scan code corresponds to a binary number comprising a plurality of bits, and wherein analyzing said scanned code comprises analyzing a value of one bit of the multi-bit number corresponding to the scan code.

37. A method of notifying a user of a patient event, the method comprising:

monitoring for an occurrence of a predetermined patient event;

wirelessly transmitting a message indicating the occurrence of the patient event; and

wirelessly receiving an acknowledgement of receipt of the message.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein monitoring for the occurrence of the predetermined patient event comprises monitoring for an indication of completion of patient lab tests.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein monitoring for the occurrence of the predetermined patient event comprises:

monitoring a medication administration time;

monitoring a time elapsed from the medication administration time; and

monitoring for an occurrence of the time elapsed exceeding a predetermined latency time.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising notifying a user with instructions to perform a predetermined task after lapse of a predetermined time following said predetermined patient event.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said predetermined patient event is administration of a medication, and wherein said predetermined task is to obtain patient data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said patient data includes at least one of heart rate and pain score.

43. A terminal for use in a medical care administration system, the terminal comprising:

a code scanner configured to read a two-dimensional data dot encoding a scan code, wherein the scan code corresponds to data or an instruction; and

a data processing module configured to process scan codes corresponding to data and wirelessly transmit said data to a server computer.

44. The terminal of claim 43, further comprising an instruction processing module configured to process scan codes corresponding to instructions.

45. The terminal of claim 43, wherein the code scanner is configured to read the two-dimensional data dot from an array of data dots having a center to center spacing between adjacent data dots of less than about 30 mm.