SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING MEDICAL ORDER ENTRY FOR HIGH VOLUME SITUATIONS

• US 20100010833A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-System, Inc.
• Original Assignee: T-System Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Langdon, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,922,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

By arranging the input screen of a computerized medical order entry system to display pre-defined order-set possibilities for several categories (for example, labs, diagnostic, staff, medications) where the displayed order-set is directly related to a selected one of a plurality of medical emergency conditions, the physician can easily select orders from a single screen while conducting a patient interview or examination. The system allows the physician to concurrently select orders from order-sets associated with medical conditions different from the initially selected medical condition. In one embodiment, an elapsed time for an order is displayed for overall monitoring of patients.

Claims

1. A machine controlled method for medical practice order entry, said method comprising:

presenting to a user a single page display containing a first section for allowing said user to select a medical condition, and

presenting four columns of possible orders to said user also on said single page display, each said column representing a category selected from the list of;

laboratory, diagnostic, staffing, medication, each said column presenting to said user possible orders pre-identified as pertaining to a selected one of said medical conditions appropriate for said category in which said order is presented.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording in a database without human intervention user selected ones of said possible orders in all of said categories; and

electronically distributing said orders to all pertinent departments.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

changing said presented possible orders for each said category based upon a subsequent selection of a different medical condition, said changing occurring prior to said electronically distributing.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said electronically distributing comprises:

issuing appropriate orders to individuals based upon said processing, said issuing occurring under control of said machine.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

tracking an elapsed time for orders pertaining to a particular patient to be completed.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

staging a timing of said order issuing in accordance with pre-established staging protocols.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting further comprises:

placing certain of said orders in the same position in said columns for a plurality of said medical conditions.

8. A system for use in a hospital environment, said system comprising:

a terminal for presenting to a user a single page display comprising;

a first column for allowing said user to select a medical condition, and

a plurality of additional columns of possible orders pre-identified as pertaining to said selected medical condition, said orders displayed in said additional columns divided into order types comprising at least;

laboratory, diagnostic, staffing, and medication,

a database for recoding without human intervention user selected ones of said possible orders from said additional columns, and

a processor for controlling electronic distribution of said orders to pertinent departments as determined by said recorded selected orders.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said processor is further operable for allowing said user to select a different medical condition and for allowing said data base to accept orders from more than one medical condition prior to said electronic distribution.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said processor is further operable for communicating appropriate orders to individuals based upon recorded ones of said orders.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a display for showing an elapsed time for orders placed pertaining to a particular patient.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said elapsed time is minutes as measured from the oldest order not yet completed on a patient by patient basis.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said processor is further operable to stage a timing of communication of certain orders so as to properly sequence multiple orders to a particular patient.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said electronic distribution comprises:

an interface for communicating messages to a hospital'"'"'s internal inter-departmental communication system.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein said single page further comprises:

an arrangement of said orders in said columns such that certain of said orders appear in the same position in said columns for a plurality of said medical conditions.

16. A method of administering orders in an emergency medical environment having high volumes and limited time per patient initial evaluation, said method comprising:

performing said initial evaluation of a patient by a care giver while said care giver simultaneously enters orders into an automated order entry system, said entry system having a display for use by said care giver, said entering comprising;

selecting a patient presented medical condition from a displayed list of possible medical conditions;

selecting, based upon verbal responses and a physical examination of said patient by said care giver, appropriate orders presented on said display, said selecting being from a listing of orders relevant to said patient based upon a selected medical condition;

selecting by said care giver, if desired, additional orders from other displayed lists; and

processing all said orders as a batch when all care giver desired orders have been selected.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said entering further comprises:

selecting said orders from said listing wherein certain of said orders are arranged in the same position in said listings for a plurality of said conditions.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said processing comprises:

sending instructions electronically without human intervention to various departments, said instructions providing pertinent information to said departments so as to allow said departments to fulfill said orders.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

providing timing control for said orders for proper sequencing of an execution of said orders.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

displaying for each patient a lapsed time since a particular order for said patient has been placed.