Client driven healthcare system and process

• US 20060100906A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine B. Sweetser
• Original Assignee: Christine B. Sweetser
• Inventors: Sweetser, Christine B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• 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 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

An advanced primary nurse care system and process is disclosed which is client-driven for processing a number of clients in a timely manner with enhanced healthcare outcomes. The system and process are sized to provide an optimum patient flow and healthcare. The system includes a computer network having a central system computer. A computer program resides on the system computer for creating a real-time client record as the client proceeds through the system and process. There is a client station connected in the computer network where the client record is initially created and accessed on subsequent visits using a unique client ID code. A client station display monitor displays medical questions regarding the client'"'"'s health state whereupon the client inputs responses to the questions into the client record. A nurse station is connected in the computer network for receiving the client in the healthcare flow for collecting vital signs and other laboratory information. There is a nurse station input device provided for inputting the information into the client record. There is a practitioner station connected in the computer network where the client record is accessed and displayed to a medical practitioner and the client during an examination and consultation. Exam data originating at the practitioner station is input into the client record such as prescriptions and alternative remedies. At the end of the visit, the client leaves with a take-home report compiled from the real-time client record containing the information needed for the client'"'"'s healthcare.

Claims

1. An advanced healthcare system for processing a number of clients in a client-driven and timely manner through a facility while providing quality healthcare at lower costs comprising:

a healthcare facility;

a computer network having at least one central system computer with a computer readable medium;

a system computer program residing in said computer readable medium including instructions embodied in computer readable code for soliciting client information from a client regarding the client'"'"'s health complaints and symptoms;

a real-time client record residing in said computer readable medium containing the client information in computer readable code;

a plurality of client stations for receiving clients entering the facility having computer terminals connected in said computer network, an input device located at said client station connected to said computer terminal for inputting the client information to originate said client record, and a client station display monitor for displaying said medical queries whereupon client responses to said queries are input into said client record;

a nurse station having a computer terminal connected in said computer network for accessing said client record and collecting vital signs and other laboratory information from the client, and a nurse station input for inputting said information into said client record in the form of lab data; and

a practitioner station at which a number of medical practitioners may be stationed for receiving the clients, said practitioner station having a computer terminal connected in said computer network for accessing said client record and display monitor for displaying said client record to one of the practitioners and the client during examination, and a practitioner station input for inputting exam data originating at said practitioner station for being input into said client record from said practitioner station;

whereby an integrated healthcare system is provided for processing a number of clients with increased client participation and education facilitating controlled cost and quality healthcare.

2. The system of claim 1 including a business station having a terminal for generating client insurance and business information for input into said client record in the form of computer readable business data.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said client station includes an input identification device for generating a computer readable ID code identifying the client and a respective client record.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said identification device comprises a fingerprint sensor for sensing the finger print of the client as said ID code.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said practitioner station includes a plurality of examination rooms each being equipped with a computer terminal, display monitor, an input device for inputting said exam data, and an identification device for identifying the client to access said client record.

6. The system of claim 1 including an alternative therapy station where the client may review alternative therapy options, and a computer terminal connected to said system computer for generating options data representing recommended alternative therapies including one of naturopathic, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and dietetic remedies for input into said client record.

7. The system of claim 1 including a printed, take-home report based on said client record generated by said system computer upon termination of the client process in the facility for the client to take home.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said nurse station comprises a plurality of blood-drawing desks at which client blood samples are drawn, and at least one computerized machine for analyzing the blood samples taken from the clients, and said computerized machine is connected in said -network with said system computer for directly inputting the results of the analyses of the samples into said client records.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said nurse station comprises a plurality of computerized blood analysis machines.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said computerized machine includes one of a hematology machine, blood pressure, pulse and temperature machine, and blood chemistry analyses machine connected directly to said system computer for direct input of said lab data.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said client station, nurse station, and practitioner station comprises a finger insert sensor for reading the fingerprint of the client for generating an ID code for accessing the client record at each said station.

12. The system of claim 1 including an emporium station having a store section for the purchase of health supplements, said emporium station having a computer terminal connected in said network for accessing said client record so that collaborative purchase decisions may be made while reviewing the client record, and said emporium station including an emporium station input for inputting purchase data into said client record.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said emporium station comprises an auditorium section where the client may view, or participate in, educational classes.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said system computer program includes a series of questions that prompt a response from the client regarding the reasons for the client'"'"'s visit and health complaints.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer program instructions prompt a “

yes”

or “

no”

response from the client in regard to the questions regarding the reasons for the client'"'"'s visit and health complaints.

17. The system of claim 14 including business information data input into said client record at a business station which includes client insurance and business information in computer readable form.

18. The system of claim 1 including an ID input device for generating in computer readable form a client identification (ID) code input into said client record identifying the client and the respective client record.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said ID code comprises finger print data identifying the client.

20. The system of claim 18 including an ID input device for inputting said ID code from each of a client station, nurse station, and practitioner station for accessing said client record at each said station to input said client data, lab data, and exam data, respectively.

21. The system of claim 14 including alternative therapy option data input into said client record in computer readable form representing recommended alternative therapies including one of naturopathic, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and dietetic remedies input into said client record.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein said lab data includes blood count and blood chemistry data input into said client record in computer readable form from remote computerizes machines connected in said computer network with said system computer.

23. The system of claim 14 including health supplement data input into said client record in computer readable form from an emporium station representing health supplements purchased at said emporium station.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein said system computer program includes a series of questions that prompt a “

yes”

or “

no”

response from the client regarding the client'"'"'s health state.

16. An advanced healthcare system for processing a number of clients in a client-driven and timely manner through a facility while providing quality healthcare at lower costs comprising:

a computer network having at least one central system computer with a computer readable medium;

a system computer program residing in said computer readable medium including instructions embodied in computer readable code for creating a real-time client record in computer readable code containing business and healthcare information;

client data input into said client record including client responses to questions regarding the client'"'"'s health state;

said computer program including computer readable instructions for generating diagnostic information regarding possible diagnoses of the client'"'"'s health state based on said client data;

lab data input into said client record from a networked nurse station which includes the client'"'"'s vital signs and other clinical information;

a practitioner station having a computer terminal network with said system computer; and

a display monitor for displaying said client record to a medical practitioner and the client during examination for joint collaboration; and

exam data input into said client record from said practitioner station including clinical and prescript information from said practitioner;

whereby an integrated healthcare system is provided for processing a number of clients with increased client participation and education facilitating controlled cost and quality healthcare.

25. An integrated healthcare process for processing a number of clients in a client driven and timely manner through a facility while providing quality healthcare at low cost comprising:

providing a computer network, including at least one central system computer having a system computer program for soliciting client information from a client and creating a real-time client record as the client proceeds through the facility for healthcare;

initially creating a client record for a first time client by inputting client information and a client identification (ID) code into a client record data base, and subsequently accessing said client record on a subsequent visit and at different stations in the healthcare process by inputting said client ID to access and add information to said client record;

displaying a series of questions regarding the client'"'"'s health state on a display monitor at a client station, and inputting responses to the questions from said client station into said client record;

accessing said client record at a nurse station by inputting said ID code, and conducting tests and blood work on the client at the nurse station and inputting information regarding the client'"'"'s vital signs and other laboratory information into said client record;

accessing said client record at a practitioner station by inputting the client'"'"'s ID code and displaying said client record jointly to a medical practitioner and said client for joint consultation;

inputting exam data at said practitioner station representing healthcare information and prescriptions, if needed, collaboratively decided upon at the practitioner station;

whereby an integrated healthcare process is provided for processing a number of clients with client participation and education facilitating an increased quality of health claim.

26. The process of claim 25 including inputting said client ID code from said client station, nurse station, and practitioner station by utilizing a fingerprint identification of the client.

27. The process of claim 25 including accessing said client record at an alternative therapy station by inputting said client'"'"'s ID code and inputting alternative therapy choices including one of naturopathic, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and dietetic therapies into said client record based upon the client'"'"'s decisions at said alternative therapy station.

28. The process of claim 25 including inputting blood analyses data directly from computerized machines into said client records at one of said clinical stations.

29. The process of claim 25 including inputting the client'"'"'s choices of nutritional supplements into client record selected by the client at an emporium station based on the client'"'"'s review of said client record at the emporium station.

30. The process of claim 25 including displaying a series of diagnostic questions regarding predetermined health and disease states on a display for the client to respond to, and inputting the client'"'"'s responses to the questions from said client station into the client record.

31. The process of claim 30 including processing the said client responses on the system computer and generating diagnostic data representing possible diagnoses of the client'"'"'s health state and displaying said diagnostic data at said practitioner station for review by the medical practitioner and the client.