Medical image viewing management and status system

• US 20060155579A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Reid, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A system identifies, flags and tracks images and series of images previously accessed by a healthcare worker. A system for tracking medical image viewing by a user includes at least one repository storing data representing multiple medical images of a particular patient available for use in preparing a report. A viewing processor tracks whether an individual image of the multiple medical images has been presented on a display device by using predetermined rules in determining whether data representing the individual image has been communicated to the display device for display to a particular user associated with received user identification information. The viewing processor generates a viewed indicator associated with the individual image and the particular user in response to a determination data representing the individual display image has been communicated to the display device for display to the particular user. A documentation processor at least one of, (a) associates data representing the generated viewed indicator with data representing the individual image and (b) stores data, representing the generated viewed indicator and associates the generated viewed indicator with the individual image and the particular user, in a record.

Claims

1. A system for tracking medical image viewing by a user, comprising:

at least one repository storing data representing a plurality of medical images of a particular patient available for use in preparing medical documentation;

a viewing processor for,

tracking whether an individual image of said plurality of medical images has been presented on a display device by using predetermined rules in determining whether data representing said individual image has been communicated to said display device for display to a particular user associated with received user identification information and

generating a viewed indicator associated with said individual image and said particular user in response to a determination data representing said individual image has been communicated to said display device for display to said particular user; and

a documentation processor for associating data representing said generated viewed indicator with data representing said individual image and storing data, representing said generated viewed indicator and associating said generated viewed indicator with said individual image and said particular user, in a record.

2. A system according to claim 1, including

a report generator for automatically using said data representing said viewed indicator in entering data in a report identifying data representing said individual display image has been communicated to a display device for display to said particular user.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said predetermined rules determine data representing said individual image has been communicated to said display device for display to a particular user in response to at least one of, (a) a duration of time said individual image has been viewable on said display device, (b) the proportion of data representing said individual image that has been communicated to said display device for display, (c) data indicating said individual image has been selected by said particular user and (d) data indicating said individual image has been updated by said particular user.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said plurality of medical images of said particular patient comprise at least one of, (a) images related to a medical procedure and (b) a series of images available for use in preparing medical documentation.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said viewing processor tracks whether an individual image of said plurality of medical images is accessed during a particular documentation generation session and

said documentation processor associates data representing said generated viewed indicator to data identifying said particular documentation generation session.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said record comprises a log file.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said predetermined rules determine data representing said individual image has been communicated to said display device for display to a particular user in response to data indicating the proportion of data representing said individual image that has been communicated to said display device for display.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said medical documentation comprises a medical report.

9. A system for tracking medical image viewing by a user, comprising:

at least one repository storing data representing a plurality of medical images of a particular patient available for use in preparing medical documentation;

a viewing processor for,

tracking whether said plurality of medical images have been presented on a display device by using predetermined rules in determining whether data representing said plurality of medical images has been communicated to said display device for display to a particular user associated with received user identification information and

generating a viewed indicator associated with said plurality of medical images and said particular user in response to a determination data representing said plurality of medical images has been communicated to said display device for display to said particular user; and

a documentation processor for associating data representing said generated viewed indicator with data representing said plurality of medical images and storing data, representing said generated viewed indicator and associating said viewed indicator with said plurality of medical images and said particular user, in a record.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein

said plurality of medical images of said particular patient comprise at least one of, (a) images related to a medical procedure and (b) a series of images available for use in preparing medical documentation.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein

said predetermined rules determine data representing said plurality of medical images has been communicated to said display device for display to a particular user in response to at least one of, (a) the number of said plurality of medical images that have been communicated to said display device for display to said particular user and (b) a determination all of said plurality of medical images have been communicated to said display device for display to said particular user.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein

said viewing processor,

tracks whether an individual image of said plurality of medical images has been presented on a display device by using predetermined rules in determining whether data representing said individual image has been communicated to said display device for display to a particular user associated with received user identification information and

generates a viewed indicator associated with said individual image and said particular user in response to a determination data representing said individual display image has been communicated to said display device for display to said particular user.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said viewing processor generates said viewed indicator associated with said plurality of medical images and said particular user in response to a determination a viewed indicator associated with said individual image has been generated for individual images of said plurality of medical images.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein

said viewing processor generates said viewed indicator associated with said plurality of medical images in response to a determination a viewed indicator associated with an individual image has been generated for at least one of, (a) a predetermined proportion of said plurality of medical images and (b) all of said plurality of medical images.

15. A system for indicating medical data previously accessed by a healthcare worker in preparing medical documentation, comprising:

a log file containing records associating data representing generated viewed indicators with data representing corresponding medical images of a particular patient and with an identifier of a particular user, an individual generated viewed indicator indicating an associated corresponding image was accessed by said particular user in preparing medical documentation;

an authorization processor for determining a user is authorized to access said log file; and

a data processor for accessing and processing data in said log file records to provide data identifying images accessed during preparing medical documentation and an indicator indicating when said identified images were previously accessed in preparing said medical documentation, in response to a determination a user is authorized to access said log file.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein

said log file contains records associating data representing generated viewed indicators with medical data of said particular patient.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein

said indicator indicating when said identified images were previously accessed in preparing said medical documentation comprises at least one of, (a) a time and (b) a date.