Systems and methods for dynamic exam priority

• US 20070185730A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mahesh, Prakash, Morita, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/348,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185730A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for exam prioritization including a priority indicator and a database. The priority indicator is assigned a priority level selected from at least three available priority levels. The at least three available priority levels represent categories of patient acuity. The database is adapted to store an association of the priority indicator and a medical exam. In certain embodiments, the priority indicator is adapted to by dynamically adjusted.

Claims

1. A system for exam prioritization, the system including:

a priority indicator, wherein the priority indicator is assigned a priority level selected from at least three available priority levels, wherein the at least three available priority levels represent categories of patient acuity; and

a database, wherein the database is adapted to store an association of the priority indicator and a medical exam.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the priority indicator is adapted to be dynamically adjusted.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the at least three available priority levels is customized for a specific healthcare environment.

4. The system of claim 1, further including an exam entry module, wherein the exam entry module is adapted to allow the medical exam to be entered into an information management system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the exam entry module is adapted to allow selection of the priority level.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a worklist, wherein the worklist is adapted to order a plurality of exams, wherein the plurality of exams includes the medical exam, wherein each exam in the plurality of exams is associated with a priority indicator, wherein the worklist is adapted to order the exams based at least in part on the priority indicators associated with the exams.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a worklist, wherein the worklist is adapted to allow the priority indicator to be adjusted.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the priority indicator is adjusted based at least in part on input from a user.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a notification module, wherein the notification module is adapted to initiate a notification, wherein the notification is initiated based at least in part on the priority indicator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification is initiated based at least in part on a change in the priority indicator.

11. A method for exam processing, the method including:

assigning a priority indicator a priority level selected from at least three available priority levels, wherein the at least three available priority levels represent categories of patient acuity;

associating the priority indicator and a medical exam; and

storing the association of the priority indicator and the medical exam.

12. The method of claim 11, further including processing the medical exam based at least in part on the associated priority indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing step includes ordering a plurality of exams, wherein the plurality of exams includes the medical exam, wherein each exam in the plurality of exams is associated with a priority indicator, wherein the order of the exams is based at least in part on the priority indicators associated with the exams.

14. The method of claim 11, further including adjusting the priority indicator.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the priority indicator is adjusted based at least in part on input from a user.

16. The method of claim 11, further including initiating a notification, wherein the notification is initiated based at least in part on the priority indicator.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the notification is initiated based at least in part on a change in the priority indicator.

18. A computer-readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions including:

a selection routine configured to allow a user to select a priority level from at least three available priority levels, wherein the at least three available priority levels represent categories of patient acuity;

an assignment routine configured to assign the selected priority level to a priority indicator, wherein the priority indicator is adapted to be dynamically adjusted;

an association routine configured to associate the priority indicator and a medical exam; and

a storage routine configured to store the association of the priority indicator and the exam.

19. The set of instructions of claim 18, further including a processing routine configured to process the exam based at least in part on the associated priority indicator.

20. The set of instructions of claim 18, further including a notification routine configured to initiate a notification based at least in part on the priority indicator.