PATIENT STATUS AND HEALTHCARE INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090319298A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ashok Dave, Sanford B. Weiss
• Original Assignee: Ashok Dave, Sanford B. Weiss
• Inventors: Weiss, Sanford B., Dave, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US12/142,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319298A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

An automated method for communicating patient status updates. The method includes registering a user. The registered user is associated with a patient file on a patient database. The patient file is representative of the patient for which the user will be receiving automated patient status updates. Patient status updates are received on the patient database via direct data entry or over a network. The patient file corresponding to the admitted patient is identified and configured to receive patient status updates for storage thereon. The patient status updates received on the patient file are formatted to conform to communication preferences established on the patient file. The method continues with the transmission of the formatted patient status updates over a network to the user communication device. A user receiving the patient status updates on the user communication device may avoid waiting at the healthcare facility for updates while being informed of any status changes in real-time.

Claims

1. A patient status communication system comprising:

a server;

a patient database in communication with the server; and

a software application for performing a method for providing patient status updates, the software application running on the server, the method comprising;

registering a user,

associating the user with a patient file on the patient database,

receiving patient status updates on the patient database,

identifying the patient file corresponding to the received patient status updates for storage on the patient file,

formatting patient status updates stored on the patient file to conform to communication preferences established on the patient file, and

transmitting the formatted patient status updates over a network to the user communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient database is hosted on the server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server receives a request for information from the user communication device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the software application accesses data responsive to the request for information from the user communication device from the group consisting of:

the patient database;

a healthcare facility main information system database; and

a healthcare facility website.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein patient status updates are received on the patient database via direct data entry from a healthcare professional.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein patient status updates are received on the patient database via the user communication device registered to a healthcare professional.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein patient status updates are received on the patient database via a monitoring device coupled to a patient, the monitoring device being in electrical communication with the patient database.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient file includes the patient'"'"'s medical records.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the patient file receives data from the user communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is from the group consisting of:

a healthcare professional;

a relative of the patient;

a friend of the patient;

a legal guardian of the patient; and

the patient.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network, the communication device is a wireless device in communication with the system through the wireless network.

12. An automated method for communicating patient status updates, the method comprising:

registering a user;

associating the user with a patient file on a patient database;

receiving patient status updates on the patient database;

identifying the patient file corresponding to the received patient status updates for storage on the patient file; and

formatting patient status updates stored on the patient file to conform to communication preferences established on the patient file; and

transmitting the formatted patient status updates over a network to the user communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein patient status updates are received on the patient database via direct data entry by a healthcare professional.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein patient status updates are received on the patient database via a monitoring device coupled to a patient, the monitoring device being in electrical communication with the patient database.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the patient file includes the patient'"'"'s medical records.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the patient file receives data from the user communication device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the user is from the group consisting of:

a healthcare professional;

a relative of the patient;

a friend of the patient;

a legal guardian of the patient; and

the patient.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the network is a wireless network, the communication device is a wireless device in communication with a server through the wireless network.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the patient status updates are translated to a language selected by the user.

20. A method for communicating information associated with a healthcare facility responsive to a user request for information via a user communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a user request for information on a host server;

processing the user request using a software application on the host server;

selecting a database from a plurality of databases based upon the user request processed by the software application;

accessing the selected database for data responsive to the user request;

formatting the data responsive to the user request in accordance with communication preferences established on the user communication device; and

transmitting the formatted data responsive to the user request over a network to the user communication device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the database selected from the plurality of databases is selected from the group consisting of:

a patient database;

a healthcare facility main information system database;

a healthcare facility admission system database; and

a healthcare facility website.