Computer keyboard-generated medical progress notes via a coded diagnosis-based language

• US 6,192,345 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marc Edward Chicorel
• Original Assignee: Marc Edward Chicorel
• Inventors: Chicorel, Marc Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H.
• Application Number:
  US09/237,877
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 704/9, 128/923, 235/375, 707/534, 707/537, 707/540, 707/531, 707/532, 706/45, 706/50
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof

Abstract

A medical progress note documentation system using an organized “language” of codes (a code consisting of at least two letters of the alphabet), that when entered into a programmed processor in a particular arrangement, will generate a descriptive sentence depicting predetermined, frequently used processes in a medical office. Via a predictable, simple and repeatable “language,” a doctor can utilize the base of approximately 350,000 bytes of medical descriptive terminology to construct his/her particular medical progress note. Upon completion of the patient encounter, the doctor proceeds to write a short “code” (at least 2 letters) in the appropriate box on a predesigned form. One the “language” is learned, this process uses approximately 15 to 90 seconds of the doctor'"'"'s time. The code is then entered into the programmed processor. The descriptive information corresponding to the code is printed, reviewed and signed by the doctor. The printed and signed descriptive text is then entered into the patient'"'"'s medical chart.

Claims

1. A method for producing keyboard-generated medical progress notes comprising

preparing a set of handwritten alphanumeric codes based on language of abbreviations of didactic medical terminology and supplementary notations subsequent to a doctor-patient encounter, each alphanumeric code and supplementary identifying notation identifying a specific process used in the doctor-patient encounter;

entering the set of alphanumeric codes based on a language of abbreviations of didactic medical terminology and supplementary notations into a programmed processor by means of a keyboard, the programmed processor storing the text of the progress notes in sentence form, the text of the progress notes being addressable by the alphanumeric codes and supplementary notations;

addressing the text of the medical progress notes with the entered set of alphanumeric codes and supplementary notations to generate a set of medical progress notes;

printing the medical progress notes addressed by the alphanumeric codes and supplementary notations; and

entering the printed progress notes into the patient'"'"'s file.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of reviewing and signing the printed progress notes by the doctor prior to entering them into the patient'"'"'s file.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein S.O.A.P. is an acronym for a universal format used in the preparation of medical progress notes, there the letters S, O, A, and P permits the expression of the essence of a doctor-patient encounter as follows:

S=Subjective

O=Objective

A=Assessment (diagnosis)

P=Plan

and wherein the set of alphanumeric codes utilize the S.O.A.P. format.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the printed progress notes are printed on an adhesive-backed paper that may be pasted into the patient'"'"'s file.