Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing real time query support and graphical views of patient care information

• US 20070094046A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthstream Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mckesson Technologies Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cobbs, Archie, York, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, systems, and apparatus for providing query support for a real time patient care graphical view. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for providing information associated with care of a patient in a health care environment. The method includes receiving location information associated with a patient, and receiving information associated with at least one indicator of care of the patient. The method also includes providing a graphical user interface capable of displaying the location information associated with the patient and the at least one indicator of care of the patient in a geospatial arrangement. In addition, the method includes displaying in a geospatial arrangement via the graphical user interface the location information associated with the patient, and the at least one indicator of care of the patient. Furthermore, the method includes updating the graphical user interface when a change occurs in either the location information associated with the patient or the at least one indicator of care of the patient.

Claims

1. A method for providing information associated with care of a patient in a health care environment, comprising:

receiving location information associated with a patient;

receiving information associated with at least one indicator of care of the patient;

providing a graphical user interface capable of displaying the location information associated with the patient and the at least one indicator of care of the patient in a geospatial arrangement;

displaying in a geospatial arrangement via the graphical user interface the location information associated with the patient, and the at least one indicator of care of the patient; and

updating the graphical user interface when a change occurs in either the location information associated with the patient or the at least one indicator of care of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user query for information associated with a particular patient; and

displaying via the graphical user interface either location information associated with the particular patient or an indicator of care of the particular patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving location information associated with a patient comprises receiving a signal from a radio frequency identification device adjacent to the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving location information associated with a patient comprises detecting a radio frequency identification device adjacent to the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving location information associated with a patient comprises receiving a signal from a radio frequency identification device adjacent to a patient chart associated with the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one indicator of care of the patient comprises receiving at least one of the following:

an order, a request, an approval, an approval of a prescription, a lab result, a safety indicator, a limit, a range, a warning, a statistic, a health status, a date, a time, a timer, contact information, a health-related statistic, a body function, patient care information, a patient care state, a special patient care state, or a patient care activity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the geospatial arrangement comprises at least one of the following:

a map representing at least a portion of the health care environment, or a geospatial-type view of at least a portion of the health care environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying in a geospatial arrangement via the graphical user interface the location information associated with the patient, and the at least one indicator of care of the patient comprises displaying at least one of the following:

text, an icon, a graphical element, a color, a timer, or animation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the health care environment comprises at least one of the following:

a room, a building, a hospital, an assisted care facility, or a medical care facility.

10. A method for providing a result to a user query for information associated with a patient in a health care environment, comprising:

receiving information associated with a patient in a health care environment, comprising;

a location associated with the patient; and

an indicator of care of the patient;

providing a graphical user interface capable of displaying in a geospatial arrangement the location associated with a patient and the indicator of care of the patient;

receiving a query from a user for information associated with the patient;

in response to the query, displaying via the graphical user interface in a geospatial arrangement the location associated with a patient and the indicator of care of the patient; and

when a change occurs in either the location associated with a patient or the indicator of care of the patient, updating the location associated with a patient or the indicator of care of the patient displayed by the graphical user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a location associated with the patient comprises at least one of the following:

a signal received from a radio frequency identification device adjacent to the patient;

detection of a radio frequency identification device adjacent to the patient;

or a signal received from a radio frequency identification device adjacent to a patient chart associated with the patient.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein an indicator of care of the patient comprises at least one of the following:

an order, a request, an approval, an approval of a prescription, a lab result, a safety indicator, a limit, a range, a warning, a statistic, a health status, a date, a time, a timer, contact information, a health-related statistic, a body function, patient care information, a patient care state, a special patient care state, or a patient care activity.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the geospatial arrangement comprises at least one of the following:

a map representing at least a portion of the health care environment, or a geospatial-type view of at least a portion of the health care environment.

14. A system for tracking a patient and monitoring care of the patient in a health care environment, comprising:

an output device capable of displaying a location associated with the patient and an indicator of care of the patient in a geospatial arrangement; and

a query support engine capable of

receiving information associated with the patient in a health care environment, comprising;

a location associated with the patient; and

an indicator of care of the patient;

receiving a query for a portion of the information associated with the patient;

in response to the query, displaying in a geospatial arrangement via the output device the location associated with the patient and an indicator of care of the patient; and

when a change in the location associated with the patient or the indicator of care of the patient occurs, updating the graphical user interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the output device comprises a graphical user interface capable of displaying a map of the health care environment.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein receiving information associated with the patient in a health care environment comprises at least one of the following:

receiving a signal received from a radio frequency identification device adjacent to the patient;

detecting a radio frequency identification device adjacent to the patient;

receiving a signal from a radio frequency identification device adjacent to a patient chart associated with the patient;

or receiving input from a user via a client device.

17. A user interface for tracking a patient and monitoring care of the patient in real time in a health care environment, comprising:

a geospatial view of a health care environment;

a plurality of indicators associated with respective locations associated with a plurality of patients in the health care environment; and

a plurality of indicators associated with care of the plurality of patients in the health care environment.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the geospatial view of a health care environment comprises a graphical representation of a plurality of rooms in the health care environment.

19. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the geospatial view of the health care environment can be updated when a change occurs to any of the plurality of indicators associated with respective locations associated with a plurality of patients in the health care environment or the plurality of indicators associated with care of the plurality of patients in the health care environment.

20. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the plurality of indicators associated with respective locations associated with a plurality of patients in the health care environment and the plurality of indicators associated with care of the plurality of patients in the health care environment can be displayed in response to a user query for information associated with at least one of the plurality of patients.