Time coordination and synchronization of event times in electronic medical records

• US 20050192846A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, David G., De Zwart, Aga, Freeman, Gary A., Boucher, Donald R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0641 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of recording the times of events related to the medical care delivered to patient, and for integrating those times to provide a patient history, including recording a first time of occurrence of a first event, recording first clock information characterizing a first time source from which the first time of occurrence was obtained, recording a second time of occurrence of a second event, recording second clock information characterizing a second time source from which the second time of occurrence was obtained, wherein the first time source and the second time source are independent of one another and not synchronized with one another, transferring recorded data so that the first time of occurrence, first clock information, second time of occurrence, and second clock information are accessible at a computer; and producing a patient history using at least the first and second times of occurrence.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of recording the times of events related to the medical care delivered to patient, and for integrating those times to provide a patient history, the method comprising

recording a first time of occurrence of a first event;

recording first clock information characterizing a first time source from which the first time of occurrence was obtained;

recording a second time of occurrence of a second event;

recording second clock information characterizing a second time source from which the second time of occurrence was obtained,

wherein the first time source and the second time source are independent of one another and not synchronized with one another;

transferring recorded data so that the first time of occurrence, first clock information, second time of occurrence, and second clock information are accessible at a computer; and

producing a patient history using at least the first and second times of occurrence.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first time of occurrence and first clock information are recorded on a first device, and wherein the second time of occurrence and second clock information are recorded on a second device, which is different from the first device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the first and second time sources as a reference time source, synchronizing the first and second times of occurrence to the reference time source, and producing a patient history in which times of occurrence of events are expressed relative to the reference time source

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising revising the selection of the reference time source to select a different one of the first and second time sources as a revised reference time source, and producing a revised patient history in which times of occurrence of events are expressed relative to the revised reference time source.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein further events are recorded, and for each event there are recorded a time of occurrence and clock information characterizing the time source from which the time of occurrence was obtained.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the information characterizing the time source comprises the identity of the time source.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein therein are a plurality of known time sources.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information characterizing the time source comprises information characterizing the quality of the time source.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information characterizing the time source comprises information regarding the length of time since the time source was last synchronized with an accurate reference clock.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the information characterizing the time source comprises information regarding the drift of the time source.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the drift is calculated by measuring the time error relative to an accurate reference clock after an extended period of time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient history comprises an integrated electronic patient record.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the first device comprises one of a defibrillator, a personal digital assistant, a Tablet PC, a laptop computer, and a physiological monitoring device, and the second device comprises a different one of a defibrillator, a personal digital assistance, a Tablet PC, a laptop computer and a physiological monitoring device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the transferring of recorded data comprises transferring a file from the first device to another device over a network.

15. A computer-implemented method of recording the times of events related to the medical care delivered to patient, and for integrating those times to provide a patient history, the method comprising

using a first device to create one or more first event records, each comprising a time of occurrence of an event and clock information characterizing a first time source from which the time of occurrence was obtained;

using a second device to create one or more second event records, each comprising a time of occurrence of an event and clock information characterizing a second time source from which the time of occurrence was obtained,

wherein the first time source and the second time source are independent of one another and not synchronized with one another,

integrating the first and second event records on a computer;

selecting one of the first and second time sources as a reference time source, synchronizing the first and second times of occurrence to the reference time source, and producing a patient history in which times of occurrence of events are expressed relative to the reference time source.