METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING MEDICAL CARE

• US 20110010194A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sentara Healthcare
• Original Assignee: Sentara Healthcare
• Inventors: Williamson, Scott, Swanner, Lynn, Clickner, Kristen
• Application Number:
  US12/499,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for tracking medical care are described. In an example embodiment, a method for emergency care tracking, comprises entering a chief complaint into an electronic file in a computing system, assigning a chief complaint point value based on the chief complaint, associating the chief complaint point value to the electronic file in the computing system, determining a further point value based on additional treatment, assigning the further point value based on the determination, adding, using a processor, the further point value to the chief complaint point value to generate a total point value, determining, using a processor, a level of service based on the total point value, and communicating, over an electromagnetic communication channel, the level of service to a billing system.

Claims

1. A method for emergency care tracking, comprising:

entering a chief complaint into an electronic file in a computing system;

applying rules in a processor to assign a chief complaint point value using the chief complaint;

using a processor, associating the chief complaint point value to the electronic file in the computing system;

determining, using a processor, a further point value based on additional treatment;

using the determination, assigning, using a processor, the further point value;

adding, using a processor, the further point value to the chief complaint point value to generate a total point value;

determining, using a processor, a level of service based on the total point value; and

communicating, over an electromagnetic communication channel, the level of service to a billing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the chief complaint includes opening an emergency department electronic record in an emergency department computing system and opening a main patient record in a hospital computing system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the level of service includes setting a critical care flag in the emergency department electronic record.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of service includes determining a critical care level of service based on the total point value being at least a critical care point value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the critical care level of service includes requesting a confirmation of adequate documentation for the critical care level of service.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the critical care level of service triggers special processing according to predetermined procedures.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined procedures mandated by a government.

8. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:

entering a chief complaint into an electronic file in a computing system;

assigning a chief complaint point value based on the chief complaint;

associating the chief complaint point value to the electronic file in the computing system;

determining a further point value based on additional treatment;

using the determination, assigning the further point value;

adding, using a processor, the further point value to the chief complaint point value to generate a total point value;

determining, using a processor, a level of service using the total point value; and

communicating, over an electromagnetic communication channel, the level of service to a billing system.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein entering the chief complaint includes opening an emergency department electronic record in an emergency department computing system and opening a main patient record in a hospital computing system.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining the level of service includes setting a critical care flag in the emergency department electronic record.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein determining the level of service includes determining a critical care level of service using the total point value being at least a critical care point value.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining the critical care level of service includes requesting a confirmation of adequate documentation for the critical care level of service.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining the critical care level of service triggers special processing according to predetermined procedures.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the special processing is mandated by a government.

15. A system comprising:

a subsystem that enters a chief complaint into an electronic file in a computing system;

a subsystem that assigns a chief complaint point value using the chief complaint;

a subsystem that associates the chief complaint point value to the electronic file in the computing system;

a subsystem that determines a further point value using additional treatment;

a subsystem that assigns the further point value using the determination;

a subsystem that adds, using a processor, the further point value to the chief complaint point value to generate a total point value;

a subsystem that determines, using a processor, a level of service using the total point value; and

a subsystem that communicates, over an electromagnetic communication channel, the level of service to a billing system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the subsystem entering the chief complaint is to open an emergency department electronic record in an emergency department computing system and opens a main patient record in a hospital computing system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the subsystem determining the level of service is to set a critical care flag in the emergency department electronic record.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the subsystem determining the level of service is to determine a critical care level of service using the total point value being at least a critical care point value.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the subsystem determining the critical care level of service is to request a confirmation of adequate documentation for the critical care level of service.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the subsystem determining the critical care level of service is to trigger special processing according to predetermined procedures.