AUTOMATED PATIENT FLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A method for automating patient encounters in a health care facility, the method comprising the following steps:
- associating a patient identifier with a patient at the health care facility;
reading the patient identifier when the patient enters an examination area;
using the patient identifier to access patient data in a database; and
using the patient data to prepare for a patient encounter in the examination area.
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Abstract
A patient flow management system includes a means for identifying a patient as the patient approaches an examination area. When the patient is identified, a patient encounter screen, which provides both patient data and medical procedure data, is provided in the examination area, thereby decreasing the need for paper charts and increasing the efficiency of the facility. The system can also include a timer for determining an amount of time that a patient has been left in an examination room, and kiosks for checking into an appointment and providing identifying tokens to the patient.
75 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for automating patient encounters in a health care facility, the method comprising the following steps:
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associating a patient identifier with a patient at the health care facility; reading the patient identifier when the patient enters an examination area; using the patient identifier to access patient data in a database; and using the patient data to prepare for a patient encounter in the examination area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A patient flow management system comprising:
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a central computing system; a database in communication with the central computing system and storing patient identification data, appointment data, and medical order data; and a plurality of reader devices in communication with the central computing system, the reader devices being correlated with a plurality of examination areas and programmed to read a patient identifier associated with a patient, wherein when a patient enters a selected examination area, the reader reads the patient identifier, the central computer system retrieves data from the patient database based on the patient identifier, and prepares a medical encounter for medical personnel in the examination area based on the patient identifier. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification