System and method for macro-enhanced clinical workflow

• US 20070136090A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Loutzenhiser, Heidi, Masarie, Fred
• Application Number:
  US11/302,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136090A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• 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 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for macro-enhanced clinical workflow. The method and system enables printing of a prescription form, a laboratory test form, and a medical information handout based on at least user input to an electronic medical record (“EMR”). The method and system also enables the ordering one or more of a drug prescription, a laboratory test, and a medical procedure based on at least user input to the EMR. The method and system additionally provides for notifying a user of one or more of a drug interaction, a recommended medical procedure, and a result of at least one of a previous medical procedure, previous laboratory test, and a failure of the patient to follow-up to a physician request based on at least user input to the EMR.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for a computer, said set of instructions including:

an input comparison routine comparing a user input to one or more of a patient medical history and a criteria list; and

an output determination routine automatically determining one or more outputs based on at least a comparison between said input and one or more of said medical history and said list, said outputs including at least one of a printed form, an electronically communicated order, and a notification.

2. The set of instructions of claim 1, wherein said input comparison routine includes a voice-recognition routine for interpreting vocal commands of said user.

3. The set of instructions of claim 1, wherein said criteria list includes one or more of a list of symptoms, threshold quantities, medical events, medical protocols, and medical treatment plans.

4. The set of instructions of claim 3, wherein said input comparison routine compares said input to said list of symptoms to determine a preliminary diagnosis.

5. The set of instructions of claim 4, wherein said preliminary diagnosis includes a medical treatment plan.

6. The set of instructions of claim 1, wherein said output determination routine further directs an output device to present said output to one or more of said user and a third party.

7. The set of instructions of claim 6, wherein said printed form includes one or more of a prescription form, a laboratory test form, a medical information handout, and a physician letter and said output determination routine directs a printer to print said printed form.

8. The set of instructions of claim 7, wherein said handout is customizable to a patient.

9. The set of instructions of claim 6, wherein said electronically-communicated order includes one or more of a drug prescription, a laboratory test, a medical procedure, and a physician referral, and said output determination routine communicates said order to one or more of a pharmacy, a laboratory, and a hospital.

10. The set of instructions of claim 6, wherein said notification notifies said user of one or more of a drug interaction, a recommended medical procedure, and a result of at least one of a previous medical procedure, previous laboratory test, and a failure of said patient to follow-up to a physician request,

wherein said output determination routine directs at least one of a display device and an audio device to present said notification to said user.

11. The set of instructions of claim 1, wherein said user input includes activating a graphical icon.

12. The set of instructions of claim 1, wherein said criteria list is automatically customizable to one or more physicians.

13. A method for macro-enhanced clinical workflow, said method including:

providing an electronic medical record for a patient, said medical record including a patient medical history;

entering user input into said record; and

based on at least said user input, automatically performing one or more of the steps of;

printing one or more of a prescription form, a laboratory test form, and a medical information handout;

ordering one or more of a drug prescription, a laboratory test, and a medical procedure; and

notifying a user of one or more of a drug interaction, a recommended medical procedure, and a result of at least one of a previous medical procedure, previous laboratory test, and a failure of said patient to follow-up to a physician request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing step includes storing said medical record on a computer-accessible network, said network accessible to a plurality of users.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing step includes displaying said medical record to said user.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said medical information handout includes one or more of symptoms for said patient to be aware of and directions to said patient to treat one or more symptoms.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said handout is customizable to said patient.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said ordering step includes communicating one or more of said prescription, test, and procedure via a network to one or more of a pharmacy, a hospital, and a physician.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said drug interaction is one or more of an adverse drug reaction and a known drug allergy interaction.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said entering step includes activating a graphical icon.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said performing step is based on a comparison of said input to a criteria list, said criteria list being customizable to one or more physicians.

22. A macro-enhanced clinical workflow system, said system including:

an electronic medical record associated with a patient, said medical record including a patient medical history; and

a set of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, said instructions directing an output device to automatically perform one or more of the steps of;

printing one or more of a prescription form, a laboratory test form, and a medical information handout,

ordering one or more of a drug prescription, a laboratory test, and a medical procedure, and

notifying said user of one or more of a drug interaction, a recommended medical procedure, and a result of at least one of a previous medical procedure, previous laboratory test, and a failure of said patient to follow-up to physician request,

wherein said instructions direct said output device based on at least a comparison of user input added to said medical record and one or more of said medical record and a criteria list.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said medical record is stored on a computer-accessible network, said network accessible to a plurality of users.

24. The system of claim 22, further including a display device presenting said medical record to said user.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said medical information handout includes one or more of symptoms for said patient to be aware and directions to said patient to treat one or more symptoms.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said handout is customizable to said patient.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein said output device orders one or more of said prescription, test, and procedure via a network to one or more of a pharmacy, a hospital, and a physician.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein said drug interaction is one or more of an adverse drug reaction and a known drug allergy.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein said user input includes a user activating a graphical icon.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein said criteria list is customizable to one or more physicians.

31. A method for automating an electronic medical record system, said method including:

adding medical data to an electronic medical record;

comparing said medical data to second medical data previously added to said medical record; and

based on at least said comparing step, communicating at least one of a notification, an alert, and a recommendation to a user.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said adding step includes said medical record being stored on computer-readable memory accessible via a network.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said notification includes one or more of an audio and visual communication.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said notification includes one or more of a medical procedure and symptom.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said alert includes a communication of one or more of a possible adverse drug reaction and a known drug allergy.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein said recommendation includes at least one of a recommended drug prescription, medical procedure, medical treatment plan and laboratory test.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein said adding step includes a user activating a graphical icon.