Methods and Systems for Patient Self-Management

• US 20130096939A1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sarah L. Russell
• Original Assignee: Sarah L. Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Sarah L.
• Application Number:
  US13/650,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

A method for managing patient care, the method comprising receiving via input device and storing in electronic format a prescription for a dosage of at least one medication, wherein the dosage varies based upon at least one patient parameter; automatically electronically transmitting a first message at an identified time to an electronic device associated with the patient, the first message prompting the patient to input a measurement of the at least one patient parameter; receiving via electronic signal from the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a second message comprising the measurement of the at least one patient parameter; automatically calculating and electronically transmitting to the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a third message comprising the dosage of the at least one medication based on the measurement of the at least one patient parameter; and repeating several of the steps at identified intervals.

Claims

1. A method for managing patient care, the method comprising:

(a) receiving via input device and storing in electronic format a prescription for a dosage of at least one medication, wherein the dosage varies based upon at least one patient parameter;

(b) automatically electronically transmitting a first message at an identified time to an electronic device associated with the patient, the first message prompting the patient to input a measurement of the at least one patient parameter;

(c) receiving via electronic signal from the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a second message comprising the measurement of the at least one patient parameter;

(d) automatically calculating and electronically transmitting to the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a third message comprising the dosage of the at least one medication based on the measurement of the at least one patient parameter; and

(e) repeating steps (b)-(d) at identified intervals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient has at least one chronic illness.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one chronic illness is congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising automatically transmitting an alert to an electronic device of a health care provider when the measurement of the at least one patient parameter exceeds an upper threshold limit or falls below a lower threshold limit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription is editable by a health care provider.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the health care provider is a physician.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement received in step (c) is stored in electronic format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one patient parameter comprises one or more of the following:

glucose level, weight, temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, cardiac rhythm read-out, pain level, and blood pressure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device associated with the patient is a computer, personal data assistant, pager or mobile phone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device associated with the patient is a mobile phone and the messages are SMS messages.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of electronically sending a message to the patient'"'"'s mobile phone to validate connectivity and accuracy of phone number.

12. A computer-usable medium comprising a computer program code configured to cause a processor to execute one or more functions comprising:

(a) receiving via input device and storing in electronic format a prescription for a dosage of at least one medication, wherein the dosage varies based upon at least one patient parameter;

(b) automatically electronically transmitting a first message at an identified time to an electronic device associated with the patient, wherein the first message prompts the patient to input a measurement of the at least one patient parameter;

(c) receiving via electronic signal from the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a second message comprising the measurement of the at least one patient parameter;

(d) automatically calculating and electronically transmitting to the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a third message comprising the dosage of the at least one medication based on the measurement of the at least one patient parameter; and

(e) repeating steps (b)-(d) at identified intervals.

13. The computer-usable medium of claim 12, wherein the prescription of step (a) is editable by a health care provider.

14. The computer-usable medium of claim 13, wherein the health care provider is a physician.

15. A method for managing patient care, the method comprising:

(a) receiving from a health care provider, via input device and storing in electronic format, a selection of a specific patient treatment algorithm from a list of pre-defined treatment algorithms, said selection corresponding to a patient'"'"'s health care status;

(b) automatically generating a series of prompts based on the selected algorithm, said prompts requesting patient-specific data;

(c) receiving from said health care provider, via input device and storing in electronic format, said patient-specific data in response to prompts, said data providing a patient-customized algorithm;

(d) automatically generating and transmitting an electronic message to an electronic device associated with the patient, said electronic message being generated based on said patient customized algorithm.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic message of step (c) prompts the patient for information associated with the patient'"'"'s health care status, and further comprising the step of

(e) receiving via electronic signal from the patient'"'"'s electronic device, a second message comprising said information associated with the patient'"'"'s health care status.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising repeating steps (c) and (d).

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said treatment algorithms are customizable.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the health care provider is a physician and the algorithm is directed to a prescription for medication.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the algorithm is directed to communicating at least one reminder to the patient.