System and method for providing a dynamic user interface for workflow in hospitals

• US 20060195484A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gentles, Thomas A., Mahesh, Prakash, Morita, Mark M.
• Application Number:
  US11/067,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved management of multiple applications and workflows using a workflow engine based dynamic worklist in a healthcare environment. In an embodiment, the system includes at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store includes departmental and/or enterprise information. The system also includes a plurality of databases, wherein the plurality of databases includes user tasks, user rules, and user preferences. In addition, the system includes a workflow engine for calculating and filtering the information obtained from the databases and data stores. The system also includes a worklist user interface, wherein the information calculated and filtered by the workflow engine is displayed.

Claims

1. A dynamic worklist management system, the system comprising:

a worklist user interface, wherein the worklist user interface includes a task list;

a plurality of databases capable of storing user data;

at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store includes information; and

a workflow engine for displaying a dynamically updated task list on the worklist user interface, using at least one of the user data provided in the plurality of databases and information in the at least one data store.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the worklist user interface includes at least one of a button and a link to access information in an independent application.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an authentication module for authenticating access to the worklist user interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the worklist user interface is capable of accessing at least one external system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases includes a user tasks database, a user rules database, and a user preferences database.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one data store includes at least one of a departmental data store and an enterprise data store.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow engine monitors and dynamically updates the worklist user interface with at least one of the user data from the plurality of databases and the information from the at least one data store.

8. A method for dynamically updating a worklist user interface, the method comprising:

dynamically identifying at least one task;

filtering and organizing the at least one task;

displaying the at least one task;

providing information based on a user selection; and

updating the at least one task based on a user selection.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising authenticating access to the information.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising accessing information from a plurality of sources including a plurality of departmental, enterprise, and external information sources.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the information provided based on the user selection is at least one of departmental information and enterprise information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the process of identifying, filtering, and displaying the at least one task is dynamic.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one user rule is used to filter the at least one task.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one user preference is used to organize the at least one task.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one user rule is dynamically created or modified.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one user preference is dynamically created or modified.

17. A computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for a computer, the set of instructions comprising:

a user action routine for updating stored information based on user selections in a worklist user interface;

a user task routine for identifying user tasks based on dynamically updating stored information;

a workflow engine routine for filtering the user tasks identified by the identification routine; and

a worklist routine for displaying the filtered user tasks on the worklist user interface.

18. The set of instructions of claim 17, further comprising a user rules engine routine for defining rules for filtering user tasks.

19. The set of instructions of claim 17, further comprising a user preferences engine routine for defining preferences for filtering user tasks.

20. The set of instructions of claim 17, further comprising a perspectives routine for organizing the information for a user.