Handheld Medical Information Management Device

• US 20100286997A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rajagopal Srinivasan
• Original Assignee: Rajagopal Srinivasan
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Rajagopal
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A portable handheld medical information management device that includes a storage memory, a processor, an input device, a transceiver, a display, and software. The software includes programming instructions executable by said processor operative to communicate to a server over a network, said communication comprising sending messages to the server and receiving messages. The device can generate patient information screens on the display, using patient information from at least one received message from the server. The server can control the transceiver to interrogate proximate location devices and calculate a position based on location of proximate location devices. The device, in conjunction with the network and server, can route phone calls and other message-based communication over a local area network (LAN) enabling advanced logistic features such as reliable communication of critical messages; it can also interface effectively with traditional hospital extension based phone systems and the public phone network.

Claims

1. A portable handheld medical information management (HIM) device, comprising:

storage memory, a processor, an input device, a transceiver, a display, and software, said software including programming instructions executable by said processor operative to;

communicate to a server over a network, said communication comprising sending messages to the server and receiving messages;

a virtual telephone, said telephone including telephone information comprising a virtual number, a user name assigned to said HIM device and a device identifier, wherein said telephone information is stored on a telephone directory database, wherein said telephone is operable over said network, and wherein said processor is operative to display at least a portion of the information stored on said telephone directory database;

authenticate a user of said handheld device to the server by sending a message, thereby creating a session between the server and the handheld device, session continues based on acknowledgement dependent on messages sent to said HIM device periodically from said server; and

control the transceiver to interrogate a proximate location device and calculate a position based on location of said proximate location device.

2. The handheld device in claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to show patient information screens on the display received from at least one received message from the server.

3. The handheld device in claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to connect to a docking station attached to a host computer, whereby said session is transferred to the host computer and said patient information screens are displayed on said host computer.

4. The handheld device in claim 1, wherein the software further includes programming instructions operable to disable a user authenticated session after a duration of inactivity, including removing all message activity from said device, removing patient records, and alerting a server to said inactivity.

5. The handheld device in claim 4, wherein the software further includes programming instructions operable to re-authenticate a disabled user session, bypassing authentication, by entering a personal identification number.

6. The handheld device in claim 1, wherein said virtual telephone transmits a call on a network.

7. The handheld device in claim 6, wherein an external phone connects to said virtual telephone device by the virtual number assignment.

8. A medical information management system, the system comprising:

a server coupled to a database;

a portable handheld device, including storage memory, a processor, an input interface, a transceiver, software instructions, and a display;

a computer network accessible by said server and said portable handheld device, the handheld device configured to authenticate a user of said handheld device to a server in response to activation by said input device sending at least one message to said server creating a session therebetween, said session configured to continue based on acknowledgement of messages sent to said handheld device periodically from said server;

a handheld telephone number database, said database storing assigned numbers, said numbers assigned to a device and user while authenticated; and

a location specific device, including a wireless transmitter, operable to wirelessly transmit a data signal including a device identification code to a transceiver of said handheld device.

9. The medical information management system in claim 8, further comprising software to generate patient information screens on the display of said handheld device for using patient information from at least one received message from the server.

10. The medical information management system in claim 8, further comprising a docking station attached to a host computer, whereby a session of said portable handheld device is transferrable to the host computer and said patient information screens are displayable on said host computer.

11. The medical information management system of claim 8, wherein said handheld device interrogates said location specific device, said handheld device operable to calculate a position based on location of said proximate device.

12. The medical information management system in claim 8, wherein the handheld device further includes programming instructions operable to disable a user authenticated session after a duration of inactivity, disable further activity including removing all message activity from said device, removing patient records, and alerting a server to said inactivity.

13. A method of tracking and communicating with a hospital personnel comprising:

providing said hospital personnel with a portable handheld device comprising storage memory, a processor, an input device, a transceiver, and a display, authenticating said handheld device;

assigning said portable handheld device with a private branch exchange number;

linking said private branch exchange number to a name of said hospital personnel;

storing said private branch exchange number and said name linked to said private branch exchange number on a server in a database;

downloading said database to said portable handheld device;

identifying a location of said hospital personnel comprising interrogating a proximate location of said portable handheld device; and

storing said location on said database.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying said database on said display of said portable handheld device.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising selecting said name of said hospital personnel linked to said private branch exchange number from said display.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said proximate location is determined by transmitting an interrogating signal from said portable handheld device to a beacon, sending a machine identification code from said beacon wherein said code identifies said beacon, and transmitting said code and a beacon location code from said device to said server.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising downloading said location of said hospital personnel.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising downloading patient information to said portable handheld device from said server or a second server.

19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising overriding a patient entertainment center.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating patient information screens on the display, using patient information from at least one received message from the server;

connecting to a docking station attached to a host computer, whereby said session is transferred to the host computer and said patient information screens are displayed on said host computer;

processing to show patient information screens on the display of said handheld device for using patient information from at least one received message from the server; and

attaching a docking station to a host computer, whereby a session of said portable handheld device is transferrable to the host computer and said patient information screens of said handheld device are displayable on said host computer.