Health care facility admission control system

• US 20060149594A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Healthcard Network
• Original Assignee: Healthcard Network
• Inventors: Dechow, David, Dechow, Richard, Hawley, Jerry, Hilligoss, Donavon, Debus, Ron
• Application Number:
  US11/027,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• 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

A system and method for admitting a patient to a health care facility is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a computer having a memory and a cache storage area; connecting a proximity sensor to said computer; beginning a computer session for the patient; inputting personal data relating to the patient; tripping said proximity sensor; and sending a signal to said computer, whereby upon receipt of said signal said personal data is saved to said memory, said computer session is automatically terminated and said cache storage area is automatically cleared.

Claims

1. A health care facility admission control system for admission of a patient, the system comprising:

a. at least one computer having a memory, said memory adapted to store personal data of the patient;

b. at least one monitor operatively connected to said at least one computer, said at least one monitor adapted to display a personal data question;

c. at least one input device operatively connected to said at least one computer, said at least one input device adapted to input said personal data and wherein the patient provides said personal data in response to said personal data question;

d. at least one identification scanner operatively connected to said at least one computer; and

e. at least one proximity sensor operatively connected to said at least one computer, whereby, upon triggering of said at least one proximity sensor, said at least one computer automatically saves said personal data in said memory.

2. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensitive mat, a laser kill switch, a photoelectric switch, an ultrasonic switch, and a fiber optic switch.

3. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one identification scanner is a smart card reader.

4. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one identification scanner is a biometric scanner.

5. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 4, wherein said biometric scanner is selected from the group consisting of a face scanner, a fingerprint scanner, a hand geometry scanner, an iris scanner, a retinal scanner, and a voice scanner.

6. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one input device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a mouse, and a digital stylus and signature pad.

7. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one other monitor.

8. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one computer includes a data structure for beginning a computer session for the patient and said computer session is automatically terminated upon triggering of said at least one proximity sensor.

9. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one computer includes a cache storage area and said cache storage area is automatically erased upon triggering of said at least one proximity sensor.

10. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 1, further comprising a computer network.

11. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 10, wherein said network is selected from the group consisting of a wide area network and a local area network.

12. A health care facility admission control system for admission of a patient by an administrator, the system comprising:

a. a computer having a memory, said memory adapted to receive inputted information from the patient;

b. a first monitor operatively connected to said computer, said first monitor adapted to display at least one personal data question to the patient;

c. a second monitor operatively connected to said computer, said second monitor adapted to display at least one personal data question to the administrator;

d. a first keyboard operatively connected to said computer, said first keyboard adapted to receive said inputted information from the patient and wherein the patient provides said inputted information in response to said at least one personal data question;

e. a second keyboard operatively connected to said computer, said second keyboard adapted to receive said inputted information from the administrator and wherein the administrator provides said inputted information in response to said at least one personal data question;

f. a first mouse controller operatively connected to said computer, said first mouse controller adapted to receive said inputted information from the patient and wherein the patient provides said inputted information in response to said at least one personal data question;

g. a second mouse controller operatively connected to said computer, said second mouse controller adapted to receive said inputted information from the administrator and wherein the administrator provides said inputted information in response to said at least one personal data question;

h. a finger print scanner operatively connected to said computer, said finger print scanner adapted to scan a finger print of the patient;

i. a smart card reader operatively connected to said computer, said smart card reader adapted to read a smart card containing personal data information of the patient and transmit said personal data information to said computer;

j. a digital signature pad and stylus operatively connected to said computer, said digital signature pad and stylus adapted to receive a signature of the patient;

k. a proximity sensor operatively connected to said computer, whereby said inputted information is stored in said memory upon operation of said proximity sensor.

13. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 12, wherein said computer includes a data structure for beginning a computer session for the patient and said computer session is automatically terminated upon triggering of said proximity sensor.

14. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 12, wherein said computer includes a cache storage area and said cache storage area is automatically erased upon triggering of said proximity sensor.

15. A health care facility admission control system comprising:

a. a first kiosk, said first kiosk comprising;

i. at least one computer having a memory, said memory adapted to store personal data of the patient;

ii. at least one monitor operatively connected to said at least one computer, said at least one monitor adapted to display a personal data question;

iii. at least one input device operatively connected to said at least one computer, said at least one input device adapted to input said personal data and wherein the patient provides said personal data in response to said personal data question;

iv. at least one identification scanner operatively connected to said at least one computer;

v. at least one proximity sensor operatively connected to said at least one computer, whereby, upon triggering of said at least one proximity sensor, said at least one computer automatically saves said personal data in said memory; and

b. at least one other kiosk, said at least one other kiosk comprising at least one other computer;

c. a network;

d. a server connected to said at least one computer and to said at least one other computer via said network.

16. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensitive mat, a laser kill switch, a photoelectric switch, an ultrasonic switch, and a fiber optic switch.

17. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one identification scanner is a smart card reader.

18. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one input device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a mouse, and a digital stylus and signature pad.

19. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 15, further comprising at least one other monitor.

20. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 15, wherein said network is selected from the group consisting of a wide area network and a local area network.

21. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one identification scanner is a biometric scanner.

22. The health care facility admission control system according to claim 21, wherein said biometric scanner is selected from the group consisting of a face scanner, a fingerprint scanner, a hand geometry scanner, an iris scanner, a retinal scanner, and a voice scanner.

23. A method of admitting a patient to a health care facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a computer having a memory;

b. connecting a proximity sensor to said computer;

c. inputting personal data relating to said patient into said computer;

d. tripping said proximity sensor; and

e. sending a signal to said computer, whereby upon receipt of said signal said personal data is automatically saved to said memory.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said computer includes a cache storage area and said step of sending a signal includes the step of clearing said cache storage area.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

beginning a computer session for the patient.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said step of sending a signal includes the step of automatically terminating said computer session.

27. A method of admitting a patient to a health care facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a computer having a memory and a cache storage area;

b. connecting a proximity sensor to said computer;

c. beginning a computer session for the patient;

d. inputting personal data relating to the patient;

e. tripping said proximity sensor; and

f. sending a signal to said computer, whereby upon receipt of said signal said personal data is saved to said memory, said computer session is automatically terminated and said cache storage area is automatically cleared.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

verifying said inputted personal data.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

creating a new data record for a new patient.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

obtaining payor authorization for a procedure.

31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

populating admission forms utilizing said inputted personal data.

32. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

transmitting said inputted personal data to a payor.

33. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

encrypting said inputted personal data.

34. A method of admitting a patient to a health care facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a computer having a memory and a cache storage area;

b. connecting a proximity sensor to said computer;

c. logging a patient into said computer;

d. inputting personal data relating to said patient;

e. tripping said proximity sensor;

f. sending a signal to said computer;

g. saving said personal data to said memory;

h. logging said patient out of said computer; and

i. erasing said cache storage area.