SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTED ANALYSIS OF PATIENT RECORDS

• US 20100106530A1
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: HANF, Thomas, FINN, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,202 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 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A system and associated methods provide healthcare entities with analyzing capabilities for records of a patient population. The analyzing process seeks to find matches between a piece of clinical knowledge introduced to a healthcare entity and data contained in the patient population records. According to one method, a service generates executable code based on the piece of clinical knowledge. Through a communication with the service, the healthcare entity makes a determination as to what extent the clinical knowledge has relevance to a patient population of the healthcare entity. Based on this determination, the healthcare entity receives at least a portion of the executable code. Then, the records of the patient population may be analyzed by the executable code to register matches of the clinical knowledge with data contained within the records. System activity may then be initiated based on the matches registered. Examples of system activity include compiling a contact list of patients and/or healthcare providers associated with specific records where matches occurred, generating a report about the matches registered, and flagging specific records where matches occurred so that care providers may discuss issues surrounding the clinical knowledge with associated patients in a future encounter with the healthcare entity, among others.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a set of records of a healthcare entity'"'"'s patient population with respect to a piece of clinical knowledge embodied in executable code, comprising:

determining by the healthcare entity the extent to which the clinical knowledge has relevance to the patient population;

distributing at least a portion of the executable code to the healthcare entity based on the determination of the clinical knowledge relevance;

accessing the set of records; and

analyzing the set of records by the executable code to register matches of the piece of clinical knowledge with data contained in the set of records; and

initiating system activity based on the particular matches generated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining by the healthcare entity to what extent the clinical knowledge has relevance to the patient population includes the healthcare entity:

reviewing the context of the piece of clinical knowledge; and

based on the review, selectively requesting a distribution of at least a portion of the executable code to the healthcare entity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a link to initiate distributing of the at least a portion of the executable code to the healthcare entity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the clinical knowledge is established by an organization recognized as an authority by the healthcare entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of records are electronic medical records pertaining to individual patients within the patient population, the electronic medical records containing structured charts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the executable code includes an executable macro.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of clinical knowledge relates to at least one of a drug-drug, drug-allergy, and food-allergy interaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of clinical knowledge relates to a standard of care guideline.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiated system activity is the generation of an executable task list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the healthcare entity is at least one of a healthcare institution and an individual healthcare provider.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying that the distributed executable code originates at a trusted source.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiated system activity is automated contacting of patients and healthcare providers.