Workflow and communications logging functions of an automated medical case management system
First Claim
1. A computer assisted method for tracking the progress of patient-related activity in a medical institution, comprising the steps of:
- providing a computerized system having access to electronic records that include patient data and requested task data for each of a plurality of patients, the requested task data including at least one of ordered examination data and ordered procedure data;
assigning with the assistance of the computerized system a requested task to a medical institution professional based at least upon a task type for the requested task and at least upon a responsibility assigned to the medical institution professional;
selectively displaying on a graphical user interface associated with the computerized system one or more requested tasks assigned to the medical institution professional along with an identity of the patient associated with the one or more requested tasks;
updating the electronic records with assignment information concerning the assigning step;
upon substantial completion of at least one of a requested task and a step involved in the requested task, logging, by at least one of the medical institution professional and an assistant to the medical institution professional, with the assistance of a graphical user interface provided by the computerized system, completion information concerning the at least one requested task and step involved in the requested task; and
updating the electronic records with completion information concerning the completion step.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention perform workflow and communications logging functions in a hospital radiology department, free-standing imaging center, or other institution providing imaging services. The exemplary embodiments allow logging of communications and attempted communications both within the department and with personnel outside the department. The logs permanently memorialize the communications and can be viewed with the patient'"'"'s other computerized records. The exemplary embodiments also assign and tracks the status of work as it progresses through a multi-step process. The exemplary embodiments generate and update lists of assigned tasks for the various individuals involved in providing radiology services to patients. For radiologists, the task lists are created by filtering the lists of cases available for interpretation. The lists are updated to reflect the current pending cases in real time. Users can query the system to determine the exact status of any case. Additionally, the system permits computer-based communications to accompany radiological studies throughout the process.
57 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer assisted method for tracking the progress of patient-related activity in a medical institution, comprising the steps of:
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providing a computerized system having access to electronic records that include patient data and requested task data for each of a plurality of patients, the requested task data including at least one of ordered examination data and ordered procedure data;
assigning with the assistance of the computerized system a requested task to a medical institution professional based at least upon a task type for the requested task and at least upon a responsibility assigned to the medical institution professional;
selectively displaying on a graphical user interface associated with the computerized system one or more requested tasks assigned to the medical institution professional along with an identity of the patient associated with the one or more requested tasks;
updating the electronic records with assignment information concerning the assigning step;
upon substantial completion of at least one of a requested task and a step involved in the requested task, logging, by at least one of the medical institution professional and an assistant to the medical institution professional, with the assistance of a graphical user interface provided by the computerized system, completion information concerning the at least one requested task and step involved in the requested task; and
updating the electronic records with completion information concerning the completion step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computerized method for generating individualized lists of requested tasks assigned to a medical institution professionals in a medical institution, comprising:
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comparing, by a computerized system, an electronic list of requested tasks to be completed against an electronic list of medical institution professionals available to perform the requested tasks, the comparing step including a step of considering types of tasks that each of the medical institution professionals is qualified and assigned to perform;
assigning, with at least the assistance of the computerized system a plurality of the requested tasks to at least one medical institution professional based upon results of the comparing step;
generating, on a graphical user interface associated with the computerized system, a list of the plurality of requested tasks assigned to the at least one medical professional; and
updating the list of the plurality of requested tasks as the plurality of the requested tasks are completed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer assisted method for communicating medical reports to health care providers, comprising the steps of:
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viewing by a communication operator, on a graphical user interface associated with a computerized system having access to a plurality of electronic medical reports, a present list of at least one of the plurality of electronic medical reports ready to be conveyed to a health care provider;
the communication operator contacting the health care provider;
the communication operator conveying information from the electronic medical report to the health care provider; and
logging by the communication operator, on the graphical user interface associated with the computerized system, information associated the contact with the health care provider. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for processing radiology cases comprising the steps of:
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providing a software tool on a computer server accessible by a plurality of workstations coupled to the computer server over a computer network, wherein the software tool has access to a plurality of radiology case files corresponding to a plurality of pending radiology cases, and wherein the plurality of radiology case files includes information sufficient for one or more radiologists to conduct radiological examinations on the plurality of pending radiology cases;
assigning, with the assistance of the software tool, one or more of the plurality of pending radiology cases to a first radiologist;
accessing the software tool over the computer network by the first radiologist utilizing a first one of a plurality of workstations to view one or more radiology case files pertaining to a pending radiology case assigned to the first radiologist, and recording an examination of the pending radiology case assigned to the first radiologist in the software tool by the first radiologist utilizing the first one of the plurality of workstations;
removing, by the software tool, the pending radiology case assigned to the first radiologist from the plurality of pending radiology cases;
permanently recording by the software tool, electronic information pertaining to the assigning step and the recording step, the electronic information including a date and a time associated with the performance of at least the recording step. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification