METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING HEALTHCARE RESOURCES

• US 20110071850A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nuthi, Sridhar
• Application Number:
  US12/565,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071850A1
• 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 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and system for managing patients and healthcare resources in a healthcare environment is disclosed herein. The method comprises: identifying patient location in a healthcare environment and accessing patient information including demographic information and patient'"'"'s current medical condition. A healthcare resource is identified using the patient information, patient location and resource availability. The method further comprises: providing at least one customized resource setting parameter derived based on patient information, along with the patient information to the identified healthcare resource and assigning the patient to the identified healthcare resource. The healthcare resource is configured using the resource setting parameter, upon detecting the patient in proximity of the healthcare resource.

Claims

1. A computer aided method for managing patients and healthcare resources in a healthcare environment comprises:

identifying patient location in a healthcare environment;

accessing patient information including demographic information and patient'"'"'s current medical condition;

identifying a healthcare resource using the patient information, patient location and resource availability;

providing at least one customized resource setting parameter derived based on patient information, along with the patient information to the identified healthcare resource;

assigning the patient to the identified healthcare resource; and

configuring the healthcare resource using the resource setting parameter, upon detecting the patient in proximity of the healthcare resource.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying patient location includes:

identifying the patient in a healthcare environment using triangulation techniques, proximity sensors and smart readers.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of accessing patient information includes:

accessing patient demographic information and patient clinical history from a database;

obtaining patient'"'"'s current medical condition from the patient or caretaker; and

updating the current medical condition in the database.

4. Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of obtaining patient'"'"'s current medical condition further comprises:

identifying any change in the patient'"'"'s medical condition while the patient is in the healthcare environment.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a healthcare resource comprises:

receiving the patient information and patient location;

accessing information about the available healthcare resources in the healthcare environment;

tracking the healthcare resource in the healthcare environment; and

identifying a healthcare resource based on availability of healthcare resource, patient information and patient location.

6. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of providing resource setting parameter includes:

customizing resource setting parameters based on the patient information; and

communicating the customized resource setting parameters to the identified healthcare resource while the resource is in standby mode.

7. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning comprises:

scheduling the patient with the identified healthcare resource; and

indicating the healthcare resource location to the patient and patient information to the healthcare resource.

8. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring healthcare resource comprises:

displaying customized resource setting parameter upon detecting the patient in proximity of the healthcare resource; and

configuring the healthcare resource using the customized resource setting parameter.

9. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

providing frequently accessed information about the patient to a scheduled healthcare resource in a standby mode; and

displaying the information when the patient is in proximity to the resource.

10. Method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying an Admit Discharge Transfer process, when the patient is proximity of the resource.

11. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demographic information includes;

name, patient identification number, age, sex, race, height, weight, and physician identification number.

12. A computer aided method for managing patients and healthcare resources in a healthcare environment comprises:

identifying a change in a patient'"'"'s medical condition;

communicating the change to a server along with the patient'"'"'s location information;

accessing patient information from a database through the server;

identifying a healthcare resource based on the updated medical condition, patient information and patient location;

re-scheduling the patient for the identified healthcare resource; and

communicating resource information to the patient and the patient information to the healthcare resource.

13. Method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one resource setting parameter derived based on patient information, along with the patient information to the identified healthcare resource.

14. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

configuring the identified healthcare resource based on the resource setting parameter, when the patient is in proximity of the healthcare resource.

15. Method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying frequently accessed information about the patient to the identified healthcare resource in a standby mode, when the patient is in proximity of the resource.

16. A system for managing patients and healthcare resources in a healthcare environment comprises:

a data repository for storing patient information including demographic information and patient'"'"'s current medical condition and healthcare resource information in the healthcare environment;

plurality of tracking devices for identifying patient location and healthcare resource location in a healthcare environment and communicating the location information to the data repository;

a data access program module configured to access patient information and the healthcare resource information from the data repository; and

a processor operatively connected to the data access program module to identify and configure a healthcare resource based on the patient information and patient location and resource availability.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the data access program module operates with the processor to generate a schedule for the patient and communicate the schedule to the patent and to the healthcare resource.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to customize the resource setting parameter based on the patient information and configure the healthcare resource based on the customized resource setting parameter, when the patient is in proximity of the resource.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to provide frequently accessed information about the patient to the identified healthcare resource in a standby mode, when the patient is in close proximity of the resource.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, the processor is further configured to auto synchronize patient information between the healthcare resource and the patient.