ADJUSTABLE ALERT RULES FOR MEDICAL PERSONNEL

• US 20110202495A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Original Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Gawlick, Ute
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method, a system, and a computer-readable medium are provided for adjusting an alert rule used to indicate a status of a patient. A first user interface window is presented. The first user interface window includes a plurality of values of physiological characteristics of a patient. An indicator of a selection of a physiological characteristic presented in the first user interface window is received. A second user interface window is presented. The second user interface window includes a first user interface control configured to allow a user to adjust a first alert value for a first condition priority associated with the selected physiological characteristic. The adjusted first alert value is received and stored as part of an adjusted alert rule. A future alert is generated based on the adjusted alert rule.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium operably coupled to the processor, the computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to

present a first user interface window, wherein the first user interface window includes a plurality of values of physiological characteristics of a patient;

receive an indicator of a selection of a physiological characteristic presented in the first user interface window;

present a second user interface window, wherein the second user interface window includes a first user interface control configured to allow a user to adjust a first alert value for a first condition priority associated with the selected physiological characteristic;

receive the adjusted first alert value; and

store the received first alert value as part of an adjusted alert rule, wherein a future alert is generated based on the adjusted alert rule.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second user interface window further includes a second user interface control configured to allow the user to define a second alert value for a second condition priority associated with the selected physiological characteristic.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second user interface window further includes a third user interface control configured to allow the user to define a third alert value for a third condition priority associated with the selected physiological characteristic.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first condition priority, the second condition priority, and the third condition priority are associated with an urgency indicated by the selected physiological characteristic.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first alert value includes a first maximum value, the second alert value includes a second maximum value, the third alert value includes a third maximum value, and further wherein the future alert is generated at the third condition priority if the received value is greater than the third maximum value, the future alert is generated at the second condition priority if the received value is greater than the second maximum value and less than the third maximum value, and the future alert is generated at the first condition priority if the received value is greater than the first maximum value and less than the second maximum value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first alert value includes a first minimum value, the second alert value includes a second minimum value, the third alert value includes a third minimum value, and further wherein the future alert is generated at the third condition priority if the received value is less than the third minimum value, the future alert is generated at the second condition priority if the received value is less than the second minimum value and greater than the third minimum value, and the future alert is generated at the first condition priority if the received value is less than the first minimum value and greater than the second minimum value.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the second alert value automatically adjusts to exceed the adjusted first alert value.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alert value includes a maximum value wherein the future alert is generated if the received value is above the maximum value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first alert value includes a minimum value wherein the future alert is generated if the received value is below the minimum value.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the first alert value includes a minimum value wherein the future alert is generated if the received value is below the minimum value.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to receive a second plurality of values associated with the selected physiological characteristic at a plurality of different times.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to present the second plurality of values in the second user interface window.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user interface window further includes an indicator of an urgency associated with the plurality of values of physiological characteristics.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of values of physiological characteristics are associated with vital signs of a patient.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to present a third user interface window, wherein the third user interface window includes a plurality of user interface controls configured to allow a user to select the physiological characteristics presented in the first user interface window.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusted alert rule is associated with the patient.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusted alert rule is associated with the user.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusted alert rule is associated with a medical treatment protocol.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to:

present a first user interface window, wherein the first user interface window includes a plurality of values of physiological characteristics of a patient;

receive an indicator of a selection of a physiological characteristic presented in the first user interface window;

present a second user interface window, wherein the second user interface window includes a first user interface control configured to allow a user to adjust a first alert value for a first condition priority associated with the selected physiological characteristic;

receive the adjusted first alert value; and

store the received first alert value as part of an adjusted alert rule, wherein a future alert is generated based on the adjusted alert rule.

20. A method of adjusting an alert rule used to indicate a status of a patient, the method comprising:

presenting, by the processor, a first user interface window, wherein the first user interface window includes a plurality of values of physiological characteristics of a patient;

receiving an indicator of a selection of a physiological characteristic presented in the first user interface window;

presenting, by the processor, a second user interface window, wherein the second user interface window includes a first user interface control configured to allow a user to adjust a first alert value for a first condition priority associated with the selected physiological characteristic;

receiving the adjusted first alert value; and

storing, by the processor, the received first alert value as part of an adjusted alert rule, wherein a future alert is generated based on the adjusted alert rule.