AUTOMATED PATIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20130030826A1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millennia Patient Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael G. Blom
• Inventors: BLOM, MICHAEL G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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

A system for making the process of registering at and receiving treatment in a healthcare facility more efficient and safe has been developed. The system utilizes computer communications network-based systems, software, various input and output stations, and a patient identification card (e.g., Loyalty Card) that work together to allow (a) providers to direct, track, and optimize the efficiency of patient activity and (b) patients to have ready access to their status and, in some cases, control of the healthcare process.

Claims

1. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. A method of managing a plurality of patients in a healthcare facility, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a least one server communicatively connected to a computer communications network;

the at least one server comprising at least one database having stored therein data relating to the plurality of patients,

the data comprising (i) names of the plurality of patients, (ii) names of at least two departments within the healthcare facility, (iii) at least one listing of names of at least two patients of the plurality of patients who are queuing to visit one of the at least two departments, (iv) demographic information pertaining to the plurality of patients, and (v) treatment status of each patient of the plurality of patients,

the at least one server configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device that is accessible by the plurality of patients and to a network access device accessible to staff of the healthcare facility;

(b) providing a means for determining an approximate amount of time each patient of the plurality of patients will wait before receiving treatment;

(c) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the communications network from the network access device accessible to staff of the healthcare facility, the input signal comprising data including (i) the name of at least one patient of the plurality of patients, (ii) the name of at least one department within the healthcare facility, and (iii) demographic information pertaining to the at least one patient, and storing the data comprised in the output signal in the database; and

(d) transmitting from the server an output signal comprising at least a portion of the data comprised in the input signal and an approximate amount of time the at least one patient will wait before receiving treatment across the communications network to the network access device accessible by the plurality of patients.

9. An automated, computer-implemented patient management system comprising:

said system adapted for managing a plurality of patients in a healthcare facility, comprising a server communicatively connected to a computer communications network, and operatively connected to a database;

having stored therein data relating to the plurality of patients,

said data comprising;

(a) names of first, second, third and fourth patient users;

(b) names of at least two different departments adapted to provide services to patient users of said system;

(c) a first listing of names of at least said first patient user and said second patient user of said system, said first patient user and said second patient user selected from said plurality of patients who are queuing to visit one of the at least two different departments;

(d) a second listing of names of at least said third patient user and said fourth patient user of said system, said third patient user and said fourth patient user selected from said plurality of patients who are queuing to visit another of the at least two different departments;

(e) demographic information pertaining to the plurality of patients; and

,

(f) treatment status of each patient user of said system;

said server configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across said computer communication network to a plurality of network access devices accessible to staff users of said system;

the plurality of network access devices accessible by said staff users comprising;

(g) a patient tracking screen adapted to allow said staff users to track said patient users of said system through both registration and the at least two different departments within the healthcare facility, adapted to generate a number associated with waiting patient users for each of said at least two different departments, and adapted to generate a wait time for each patient user for each of said at least two different departments; and

,

(h) a dashboard screen adapted to display said number of waiting patient users and the wait time for the at least two different departments;

said dashboard screen comprising;

a meter adapted to display total number of patient users waiting for service;

an odometer gauge adapted to display total number of patient users in process of being serviced; and

,

an identifier counter box adapted to display total number of completed patients; and

,

a plurality of publicly accessible screens adapted to display patient user queuing information; and

,

wherein said system is adapted to automatically route said patient users to designated ones of said at least two different departments based on estimated wait times for said at least two different departments.

2. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of network access devices accessible by staff users is selected from the group consisting of:

kiosk, video display, PDA, computer monitor, and television monitor.

3. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of network access devices accessible by staff users is selected from the group consisting of:

computer monitor and television monitor.

4. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of publicly accessible screens is adapted to display advertisements.

5. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of publicly accessible screens is adapted to display news and weather reports.

6. The system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the data stored in the database can be modified by at least one of the plurality of patients via the input signals conveyed across the computer communications network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the facility comprises a waiting area, and the plurality of public screens displays the names of patients in the waiting area and estimated wait times.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of public screens displays the names of patients in different colors based on elapsed time that the patients have been waiting in a queue.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said server is configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a plurality of network access devices accessible by the plurality of patients, the plurality of network access devices accessible by the plurality of patients comprising a patient input station which allows a patient to directly interact with the system to initiate services and request information related to the patient.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a patient input station, said input station comprising a kiosk located in a patient registration area located within said healthcare facility, and the kiosk adapted to allow a patient user to register into said healthcare facility without requiring a receptionist to enter the patient'"'"'s information into the system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the patient registration area further comprises a registration system that allows a receptionist to register the patient into the facility without using the kiosk.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of network access devices accessible by the plurality of patients and the plurality of network access devices accessible by staff each comprise identification device readers.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of network access devices accessible by staff users comprises a touch screen displaying the names of the at least two different departments within the facility, and wherein said network access devices are adapted for a staff user to select one of the at least two different departments to send a patient to.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein said server has stored thereon a computer program capable of determining the order in which the plurality of patients will visit the at least two different departments according to expected wait times.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein said server has stored thereon data representing the number of patients in each of the at least two departments.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein said server has stored thereon data representing the expected wait time for each of the at least two different departments.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein said server has stored thereon a computer program adapted to automatically route said patient users to designated ones of said at least two different departments based on estimated wait times for said at least two different departments and according to procedures to be performed on the patient.