Patient check-in/scheduling kiosk

• US 20070226010A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epic Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Epic Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient including the steps of providing an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility, receiving identifying information for the patient, identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities and presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a patient at a medical facility using a public kiosk to schedule activities, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the kiosk in a location for use by patients;

via the kiosk, receiving identifying information from the patient;

identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities and initially scheduled appointment time slots;

identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities for the patient;

identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities; and

via the kiosk, presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of receiving input via the kiosk to accept the suggested appointment schedule and automatically adding the additional unscheduled activity to the appointment schedule to update the currently scheduled appointments.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing an unfulfilled order database that includes unfulfilled orders for the patient and wherein the step of identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient includes accessing the unfulfilled order database and identifying a first unfulfilled order for the patient as the additional unscheduled activity.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of providing a resource schedule database that includes resource schedules for resources required to complete unfulfilled orders wherein unfulfilled orders are activities ordered to be completed that are currently unscheduled and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes:

identifying resources required to complete the first unfulfilled order for the patient; and

identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the first unfulfilled order wherein the non-conflicting time slot is different than the initially scheduled appointment time slots.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of the currently scheduled appointments is for a first time slot and wherein the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot includes identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot that is temporally proximate the first time slot.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot that is temporally proximate the first time slot includes identifying at least one time slot that is within one hour of the first time slot.

7. The method of claim 4 further including the step of providing a location database that includes locations where resources are used in the facility wherein a first currently scheduled appointment is for a first time slot and the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot includes identifying the location of the first currently scheduled appointment and the locations of the resources required to perform the first unfulfilled order, using the location database to identify an estimated travel time between the location of the first currently scheduled appointment and the locations of the resources required to perform the first unfulfilled order and determining that a time interval at least as long as the estimated travel time exists between the first time slot and the non-conflicting time slot.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes identifying a schedule that includes multiple open time slots during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient includes identifying multiple additional unscheduled activities for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities for the patient and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes identifying a schedule that includes open time slots during which the patient may complete each of the additional unscheduled activities and the currently scheduled appointment activities.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the suggested appointment schedule includes a distinct time slot for each of the additional unscheduled activities and for each of the currently scheduled appointment activities.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a first currently scheduled appointments is initially for a first time slot and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes identifying a schedule wherein the activities associated with the first currently scheduled appointment are associated with a second time slot that is different than the first time slot.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of receiving input via the kiosk to accept the suggested appointment schedule and automatically rescheduling the first currently scheduled appointment for the second time slot, cancelling the first currently scheduled appointment at the first time slot and adding the additional unscheduled activity to the appointment schedule in one of the open time slots.

13. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing a prerequisites database that includes prerequisites associated with activities performed at the facility wherein prerequisites are activities that have to be performed prior to other activities being performed and wherein the step of identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient includes accessing the prerequisites database and identifying a first prerequisite associated with at least one of the currently scheduled appointment activities as the additional unscheduled activity.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of providing a resource schedule database that includes resource schedules for resources required to complete prerequisite activities and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes:

identifying resources required to complete the first prerequisite; and

identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the first prerequisite wherein the non-conflicting time slot is different than the initially scheduled appointment time slots.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the currently scheduled appointments is for a first time slot and wherein the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot includes identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot that is temporally proximate the first time slot.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot includes identifying a time slot that is prior to the first time slot.

17. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing a best practices database that correlates circumstance subsets with opportunistic activities that should be performed and wherein the step of identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient includes accessing the best practices database and identifying a first opportunistic activity as the additional activity.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of providing a resource schedule database that includes resource schedules for resources required to complete opportunistic activities and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes:

identifying resources required to complete the first opportunistic activity; and

identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the first opportunistic activity wherein the non-conflicting time slot is different than the initially scheduled appointment time slots.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the currently scheduled appointments is for a first time slot and wherein the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot includes identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot that is temporally proximate the first time slot.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein a first currently scheduled appointment is for a first time, the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including identifying that the first currently scheduled appointment has been delayed and identifying a non-conflicting time slot that includes at least a portion of the first time slot.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving identifying information occurs at a first time, the method further including the step of allowing the patient to check-in for any currently scheduled appointments that are temporally proximate the first time.

23. The method of claim 1 for use after a first appointment has been completed and prior to the patient exiting the facility wherein the at least one additional unscheduled activity includes an unfulfilled order generated during the first appointment.

24. The method of claim 2 wherein the steps of receiving input via the kiosk to accept the suggested appointment schedule and automatically adding the additional unscheduled activity to the appointment schedule to update the currently scheduled appointments includes presenting a single icon via a display screen that, when selected, causes the additional unscheduled activity to be added to the appointment schedule and receiving input via the single icon.

22. The method of claim 22 wherein temporally proximate appointments include appointments that occur within three hours of the first time.

25. A method for allowing a patient at a medical facility using a public kiosk to simultaneously schedule and check-in for an activity to be performed at the facility, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the kiosk in a public location for use by patients;

providing an unfulfilled order database that includes unfulfilled orders wherein an unfulfilled order is an unscheduled activity requested by a clinician;

via the kiosk, receiving identifying information from the patient;

identifying at least a first unfulfilled order for the patient in the unfulfilled order database;

via the kiosk, presenting the first unfulfilled order to the patient;

via the kiosk, receiving input indicating that the patient intends to check in for the unfulfilled order; and

upon receiving the input indicating that the patient intends to check-in for the unfulfilled order, storing an indication that the patient is checked in and placing the unfulfilled order in a schedule queue to be performed.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of identifying at least a first unfulfilled order includes identifying a plurality of unfulfilled orders for the patient in the existing database and wherein the step of presenting the unfulfilled order includes presenting at least a subset of the plurality of unfulfilled orders for the patient.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of presenting includes presenting the unfulfilled orders via a display screen, the method further including the steps of providing a single selectable icon via the display screen for selection to add all of the presented unfulfilled orders to the schedule queue to be performed.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the unfulfilled order is for a lab activity.

29. The method of claim 25 further including the steps of:

providing a best practices database that correlates circumstance subsets with opportunistic activities that should be performed;

identifying current circumstances associated with the patient;

comparing the current circumstances with the circumstance subsets in the best practices database;

selecting at least a first opportunistic activity that is correlated with a circumstance subset that is at least substantially similar to the current circumstances; and

presenting the first opportunistic activity as an option to be scheduled by the patient.

30. The method of claim 29 further including the step of providing a resource schedule database that includes resource schedules for resources required to complete opportunistic activities and wherein the step of selecting at least a first opportunistic activity includes identifying resources required to complete the first opportunistic activity;

and identifying at least one open time slot in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the first opportunistic activity.

31. A method for automating patient checkout after an appointment, the method comprising the steps of:

during an appointment, receiving at least one activity entry and storing the activity entry in a first EMR wherein an activity entry includes data usable to determine that at least one post-appointment follow-up activity associated with the activity entry should be performed;

after receiving at least one activity entry;

examining the EMR for any activity entries; and

when an activity entry is identified, identifying post-appointment follow-up activities associated with the identified activity entry;

providing the kiosk in a public location for use by patients;

via the kiosk, receiving identifying information from the patient;

identifying post-appointment follow-up activities associated with the patient; and

via the kiosk, presenting at least a subset of the identified post-appointment follow-up activities.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of identifying follow-up activities includes providing a follow-up activities database that includes follow-up activities correlated with activity entries and identifying the follow-up activities in the follow-up activities database that are correlated with the identified activity entry.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein a first identified activity entry specifies a first unfulfilled order wherein an unfulfilled order is a physician requested and currently unscheduled activity and wherein at least one of the follow-up activities includes an indication that the first unfulfilled order should be scheduled.

34. The method of claim 33 further including the step of enabling the patient to schedule an appointment for the first unfulfilled order via the kiosk.

35. The method of claim 34 further including the step of providing a resource schedule database that includes resource schedules for resources required to complete unfulfilled orders and wherein the step of enabling the patient to schedule an appointment includes, identifying at least a first open time slot in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the first unfulfilled order and presenting the first time slot and the first unfulfilled order for selection by the patient.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of identifying at least a first open time slot includes identifying a plurality of open time slots in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the first unfulfilled order and presenting the plurality of time slots and the first unfulfilled order for selection by the patient.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the follow-up activities associated with at least one of the identified activity entries include instructions regarding post appointment care.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein the follow-up activities associated with at least one of the identified activity entries include creating a referral for the patient to see another physician.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein the follow-up activities associated with at least one of the identified activity entries include creating a lab order for the patient.

40. A method for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient at a medical facility, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility for at least one currently scheduled appointment;

via the interface device, receiving identifying information for the patient;

identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities and initially scheduled appointment time slots;

identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities for the patient;

identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities; and

via the interface device, presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

41. The method of claim 40 further including the step of receiving input via the interface device accepting the suggested appointment schedule and automatically adding the additional unscheduled activity to the appointment schedule to update the currently scheduled appointments.

43. The method of claim 40 further including the step of providing a resource schedule database that includes resource schedules for resources required to complete additional unscheduled activities and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes:

identifying resources required to complete the at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient; and

identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot in the resource schedules for the resources required to complete the at least one additional unscheduled activity wherein the non-conflicting time slot is different than the initially scheduled appointment time slots.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein at least one of the currently scheduled appointments is for a first time slot and wherein the step of identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot includes identifying at least one non-conflicting time slot that is temporally proximate the first time slot.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient includes identifying multiple additional unscheduled activities for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities for the patient and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes identifying a schedule that includes open time slots during which the patient may complete each of the additional unscheduled activities and the currently scheduled appointment activities.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein a first currently scheduled appointments is initially for a first time slot and wherein the step of identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule includes identifying a schedule wherein the activities associated with the first currently scheduled appointment are associated with a second time slot that is different than the first time slot.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein the at least one additional unscheduled activity includes at least one of an unfulfilled order, a prerequisite for one of the currently scheduled appointments and an opportunistic activity.

48. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of providing an interface device includes providing a patient usable kiosk in a public location.

49. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of providing an interface device includes providing a staff member terminal for use by a facility staff member.

50. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of providing an interface device includes providing a portable handheld device for use by a patient.

42. The method of claim 42 wherein the steps of receiving input via the interface device to accept the suggested appointment schedule and automatically adding the additional unscheduled activity to the appointment schedule to update the currently scheduled appointments includes presenting a single icon via an interface device display screen that, when selected, causes the additional unscheduled activity to be added to the appointment schedule and receiving input via the single icon.

51. A system for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient at a medical facility, the system comprising:

an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility for at least one currently scheduled appointment;

a database that stores currently scheduled appointments for the patient;

a processor linked to the interface device and the database, the processor programmed to, when the patient logs onto the interface device;

identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities and initially scheduled appointment time slots;

identify at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities for the patient;

identify at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities; and

via the interface device, present the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

52. The system of claim 51 further including a database that stores additional unscheduled activities for patients wherein the processor is programmed to identify at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient by accessing the database that stores additional unscheduled activities and identifying at least one unscheduled activity for the patient in the database that stores additional unscheduled activities.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the processor is programmed to identify at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient by identifying circumstances associated with the patient and applying a set of rules to circumstances associated with the patient to identify the at least one additional unscheduled activity.

54. A method for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient at a medical facility wherein the patient has at least one currently scheduled appointment on a first day, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an interface device for checking the patient in at the facility for the at least one currently scheduled appointment;

during patient check in on the first day, identifying all currently scheduled appointments for the patient that are to occur on the first day where the currently scheduled appointments are scheduled for initial time slots;

identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointments for the patient that are to occur on the first day;

identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including the currently scheduled appointments for the patient that are to occur on the first day and at least one open time slot that is temporally proximate at least one of the initial time slots during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity; and

via the interface device, presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein temporally proximate time slots include time slots that are one of (1) within one hour of the beginning of one of the currently scheduled appointments and (2) within one hour of the end of one of the currently scheduled appointments.