Systems, methods and computer program products for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy

• US 6,589,169 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: HealthWare Corporation
• Inventors: Allen, Lyle M. III, Surwit, Richard S., Cummings, Sandra E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/470,774
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/365, 128/903, 128/904, 128/920, 128/921
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

Medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients are monitored, diagnosed, prioritized and treated using a central data processing system configured to communicate with and receive data from a plurality of respective patient monitoring systems. Patient monitoring systems are capable of receiving and storing patient data and may include a medicine dosage algorithm for using the stored patient data to generate medicine dosage recommendations to a patient. A central data processing system is configured to obtain patient data from each patient monitoring system and analyze the obtained patient data to identify medical conditions of each respective patient. A central data processing system may include medicine dosage algorithms. Identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient are displayed in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity via one or more remotely located clients in communication with a central data processing system. Modifications to medicine dosages, medicine dosage algorithms, patient fixed or contingent self-monitoring schedules, as well as other treatment information, may be communicated directly to a patient or to a patient monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy, wherein a central data processing system is configured to communicate with and receive data from a plurality of respective patient monitoring systems, wherein each patient monitoring system is capable of receiving and storing patient data, the method-comprising the steps of:

obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems at the central data processing system, wherein the patient data comprises anticoagulation therapy assessment data;

analyzing the obtained patient data from each respective patient monitoring system at the central data processing system to identify medical conditions of each respective patient;

displaying the identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity; and

in response to selecting one of the identified medical conditions for a respective patient, displaying treatment options for treating the medical condition.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating treatment information to a respective patient.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of communicating the treatment information to a respective patient comprises transmitting the treatment information via wireless, satellite, telephone, e-mail, AVM, or facsimile transmission.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of communicating the treatment information to a respective patient comprises transmitting the treatment information to a respective patient monitoring system.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of communicating the treatment information to a respective patient monitoring system comprises modifying an anticoagulation medicine dosage algorithm stored within a respective patient monitoring system or within the central data processing system.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems, further comprises the steps of:

analyzing data transmitted from a patient monitoring system substantially simultaneously with the transmission thereof to the central data processing system to identify emergency medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention; and

automatically communicating treatment information to the respective patient monitoring system for an identified emergency medical condition.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of determining whether any of the identified medical conditions have been treated.

8. A system for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy, comprising:

a plurality of patient monitoring systems, wherein each patient monitoring system is capable of receiving and storing patient data;

a central data processing system configured to communicate with and receive patient data from each of the patient monitoring systems;

means for obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems at said central data processing system, wherein the patient data comprises anticoagulation therapy assessment data;

means for analyzing the obtained patient data from each respective patient monitoring system at said central data processing system to identify medical conditions of each respective patient;

means for displaying the identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity via at least one remotely located client in communication with said central data processing system; and

means for displaying treatment options for treating a displayed medical condition for a respective patient via said at least one remotely located client.

9. A system according to claim 8 further comprising means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information via wireless, satellite, telephone, e-mail, AVM or facsimile transmission.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information to a respective patient monitoring system.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient monitoring system comprises means for modifying an anticoagulation medicine dosage algorithm stored within a respective patient monitoring system or within said central data processing system.

13. A system according to claim 9 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient comprises means for transmitting treatment information from said at least one client to a respective patient monitoring system.

14. A system according to claim 8 wherein said means for obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems, further comprises:

means for analyzing data transmitted from a patient monitoring system substantially simultaneously with the transmission thereof to the central data processing system to identify emergency medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention; and

means for automatically communicating treatment information to the respective patient monitoring system for an identified emergency medical condition.

15. A system according to claim 8 wherein said central data processing system further comprises:

means for monitoring patient usage of medical supplies utilized in anticoagulation therapy; and

means for ordering medical supplies for patients that are to be utilized in anticoagulation therapy.

16. A system according to claim 8 wherein said means for displaying the identified patient medical conditions comprises means for displaying selected ones of said identified patient medical conditions.

17. A computer program product for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy, wherein a central data processing system is configured to communicate with and receive data from a plurality of respective patient monitoring systems, wherein each patient monitoring system is capable of receiving and storing patient data, said computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied in said medium, said computer readable code comprising:

computer readable code for obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems at said central data processing system, wherein the patient data comprises anticoagulation therapy assessment data;

computer readable code for analyzing the obtained patient data from each respective patient monitoring system at said central data processing system to identify medical conditions of each respective patient;

computer readable code for displaying identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity; and

computer readable code for displaying treatment options for treating a medical condition responsive to selecting one of the identified medical conditions for a respective patient.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising computer readable program code embodied in said medium for communicating the treatment information to a respective patient.

19. A computer program product according to claim 18 wherein said computer readable code for communicating the treatment information to a respective patient comprises computer readable code for transmitting treatment information via wireless, satellite, telephone, e-mail, AVM or facsimile transmission.

20. A computer program product according to claim 18 wherein said computer readable program code for communicating the treatment information to a respective patient comprises computer readable program code for transmitting treatment information to a respective patient monitoring system.

21. A computer program product according to claim 20 wherein said computer readable program code for communicating the treatment information to a respective patient monitoring system comprises computer readable program code for modifying an anticoagulation medicine dosage algorithm stored within a respective patient monitoring system.

22. A computer program product according to claim 17 wherein said computer readable program code for obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems, further comprises:

computer readable program code for analyzing data transmitted from a patient monitoring system substantially simultaneously with the transmission thereof to the central data processing system to identify emergency medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention; and

computer readable program code for automatically communicating treatment information to the respective patient monitoring system for an identified emergency medical condition.

23. A computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising computer readable program code for determining whether any of the identified medical conditions have been treated.

24. A computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for monitoring patient usage of medical supplies utilized in anticoagulation therapy; and

computer readable program code means for ordering medical supplies for patients that are to be utilized in coagulation therapy.

25. A portable apparatus for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a patient undergoing anticoagulation therapy, comprising:

means for receiving and storing patient data provided by a patient, wherein the patient data includes at least one of physiological data, biological data and behavioral data;

at least one anticoagulation medicine dosage algorithm stored within the portable apparatus for using the stored patient data to generate medicine dosage recommendations in real time;

means for communicating with and transmitting the stored patient data to a remotely located data processing system; and

means for receiving treatment information from said remotely located data processing system.

26. A portable apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising:

a database of medication interaction information; and

means for allowing the patient to query the database for information related to patient usage of multiple medications.

27. A portable apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said means for receiving treatment information from said remotely located data processing system comprises means for modifying said at least one anticoagulation medicine dosage algorithm stored within said portable apparatus.

28. A portable apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for displaying treatment information received from said remotely located data processing system to the patient.

29. A system for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy, comprising:

a central data processing system configured to communicate with a plurality of remotely located patient monitoring systems;

means for obtaining patient data from each of said plurality of remotely located patient monitoring systems, wherein the data comprises prothrombin time (PT) data;

means for analyzing the obtained patient data from each respective patient monitoring system at said central data processing system to identify medical conditions of each respective patient;

at least one remotely located client in communication with said central data processing system; and

means for displaying the identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity via said at least one remotely located client.

30. A system according to claim 29 further comprising means for displaying treatment options for treating a selected medical condition for a respective patient via said at least one remotely located client.

31. A system according to claim 29 further comprising means for analyzing the obtained patient data from a patient monitoring system using a warfarin dosage algorithm to determine if a change in medication dosage is necessary.

32. A system according to claim 31 further comprising means for communicating changes in warfarin dosage to a patient.

33. A system according to claim 29 further comprising means for communicating treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient.

34. A system according to claim 33 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information via wireless, satellite, telephone, e-mail, AVM or facsimile transmission.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient monitoring system comprises means for modifying a warfarin dosage algorithm stored within a respective patient monitoring system.

36. A system according to claim 33 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information to a respective patient monitoring system.

37. A system according to claim 33 wherein said means for communicating treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information from said at least one client to a respective patient monitoring system.

38. A system according to claim 29 wherein said means for obtaining patient data from a plurality of patient monitoring systems, further comprises:

means for analyzing data transmitted from a patient monitoring system substantially simultaneously with the transmission thereof to the central data processing system to identify emergency medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention; and

means for automatically communicating treatment information to the respective patient monitoring system for an identified emergency medical condition.

39. A system according to claim 29 wherein said central data processing system further comprises:

means for monitoring patient usage of medical supplies utilized in anticoagulation therapy; and

means for ordering medical supplies for patients that are to be utilized in anticoagulation therapy.

40. A method of monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy, wherein a central data processing system is configured to communicate with and receive data from a plurality of respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring devices, wherein each respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device is capable of receiving and storing patient data, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining patient data from a plurality of anticoagulation therapy monitoring devices at the central data processing system, wherein the patient data comprises prothrombin (PT) data;

analyzing the obtained patient data from each respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device at the central data processing system to identify medical conditions of each respective patient;

displaying the identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity; and

in response to selecting one of the identified medical condition for a respective patient, displaying treatment options for treating the medical condition.

41. A method according to claim 40 further comprising the step of communicating treatment information to a respective patient.

42. A method according to claim 41 wherein said step of communicating the treatment information to a respective patient comprises transmitting the treatment information via wireless, satellite, telephone, e-mail, AVM or facsimile transmission.

43. A method according to claim 41 wherein said step of communicating the treatment information to a respective patient comprises transmitting treatment information to a respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein said step of communicating treatment information to a respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device comprises modifying a warfarin dosage algorithm stored within a respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device.

45. A method according to claim 40 wherein the step of obtaining patient data from a plurality of anticoagulation therapy monitoring devices, further comprises the steps of:

analyzing data transmitted from an anticoagulation therapy monitoring device substantially simultaneously with the transmission thereof to the central data processing system to identify emergency medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention; and

automatically communicating treatment information to the respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device for an identified emergency medical condition.

46. A method according to claim 40 further comprising the step of determining whether any of the identified medical conditions have been treated.

47. A portable apparatus for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a patient undergoing anticoagulation therapy, comprising:

means for receiving and storing patient blood data and behavioral data;

a warfarin dosage algorithm stored within the apparatus for using the stored patient blood data and behavioral data to generate warfarin dosage recommendations in real time;

means for communicating with and transmitting the stored patient blood data and behavioral data to a remotely located data processing system; and

means for receiving treatment information from said remotely located data processing system.

48. A portable apparatus according to claim 47 further comprising:

a database of medication interaction information; and

means for allowing the patient to query the database for information related to patient usage of multiple medications.

49. A portable apparatus according to claim 47 wherein said means for receiving treatment information from said remotely located data processing system comprises means for modifying said warfarin dosage algorithm stored within said portable apparatus.

50. A portable apparatus according to claim 47 further comprising means for displaying the treatment information received from said remotely located data processing system to the patient.

51. A system for monitoring, diagnosing and treating medical conditions of a plurality of remotely located patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy, comprising:

a central data processing system configured to communicate with a plurality of remotely located anticoagulation therapy monitoring devices;

means for obtaining patient data from each of said plurality of remotely located anticoagulation therapy monitoring devices, wherein the patient data comprises prothrombin (PT) data;

means for analyzing the obtained patient data from each respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device at said central data processing system to identify medical conditions of each respective patient;

at least one remotely located client in communication with said central data processing system; and

means for displaying the identified patient medical conditions for each respective patient in selectable, prioritized order according to medical severity via said at least one remotely located client.

52. A system according to claim 51 further comprising means for displaying treatment options for treating a selected medical condition for a respective patient via said at least one remotely located client.

53. A system according to claim 51 further comprising means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to a respective patient.

54. A system according to claim 53 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information via wireless, satellite, telephone, e-mail, AVM or facsimile transmission.

55. A system according to claim 53 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information to a respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device.

56. A system according to claim 55 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient monitoring system comprises means for modifying a warfarin dosage algorithm stored within a respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device.

57. A system according to claim 53 wherein said means for communicating the treatment information from said central data processing system to the respective patient comprises means for transmitting the treatment information from said at least one client to a respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device.

58. A system according to claim 51 wherein said means for obtaining patient data from a plurality of anticoagulation therapy monitoring devices, further comprises:

means for analyzing data transmitted from a anticoagulation therapy monitoring device substantially simultaneously with the transmission thereof to the central data processing system to identify emergency medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention; and

means for automatically communicating treatment information to the respective anticoagulation therapy monitoring device for an identified emergency medical condition.

59. A system according to claim 51 wherein said central data processing system further comprises:

means for monitoring patient usage of medical supplies utilized in anticoagulation therapy; and

means for ordering medical supplies to be utilized in anticoagulation therapy.