Healthcare verification methods, apparatus and systems
First Claim
1. A record and verification method for use in monitoring healthcare administered to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) initially entering, into a computer monitor, data corresponding to the healthcare to be administered;
(b) verifying the patient healthcare data entered into the computer monitor against at least one source;
(c) entering data from the computer monitor onto a paper verification sheet;
(d) administering the healthcare to the patient; and
(a) updating a patient record after the healthcare has been administered.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for, inter alia, verification of the identity of a patient undergoing healthcare administered by a healthcare practitioner. The methods include improved record and verify methods which provide for verification of healthcare data entered into a computer and for the use of a paper verification sheet or log into which selected data from the computer is entered. Methods are also provided which incorporate timing out of preselected periods to ensure that healthcare-related tasks or actions, including, e.g., those involving patient identification, are carried out promptly. In addition, improved check sheets or logs are provided which are specifically limited in the number of healthcare parameters to be monitored. Further, an improved document carrier is provided which helps ensure that the proper documents, arranged in a desired sequence, are brought to the treatment setting.
97 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A record and verification method for use in monitoring healthcare administered to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) initially entering, into a computer monitor, data corresponding to the healthcare to be administered;
(b) verifying the patient healthcare data entered into the computer monitor against at least one source;
(c) entering data from the computer monitor onto a paper verification sheet;
(d) administering the healthcare to the patient; and
(a) updating a patient record after the healthcare has been administered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
(f) checking and signing the data entered into the patient treatment chart and into the paper verification sheet.
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11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the selected treatment data consists of the (i) presence or absence of a wedge, (ii) the energy level used, and (iii) the monitor units used.
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12. A method according to claim 10 wherein first and second radiation therapists carry out the method, and the first therapist is responsible for at least step (e), the second therapist is responsible for at least steps (b) and (c) and both therapists carry out, and are responsible for, step (f).
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13. A method according to claim 12 wherein both the first and second therapists initially view, on a monitor screen associated with the treatment monitor, treatment data entered into the treatment monitor, the first therapist then recites aloud selected treatment data from the monitor screen, the second therapist, white still viewing the monitor screen, verifies the selected treatment data, in real time, as recited by the first therapist, the second therapist, while still viewing the monitor, recites aloud the preselected treatment data from the monitor screen, the first therapist, when still viewing the monitor screen, verifies the preselected treatment data, in real time, as recited by the second therapist, and the second therapist then enters the preselected treatment data into the paper verification sheet.
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14. A method according to claim 12 wherein, after treatment data is entered into the treatment monitor and the data entered is displayed on a monitor screen associated with the treatment monitor, the first therapist recites aloud selected treatment data from the patient treatment chart and the second therapist verifies the recited treatment data against the data entered into treatment monitor as displayed on said monitor screen.
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15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the second therapist verbally recites the treatment data displayed on said monitor screen.
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16. A method for use in carrying out a medical treatment wherein a computer and a computer monitor including a monitor screen are used at least in setting up of the medical treatment, said method comprising:
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setting a time period in which at least one action requiring interfacing with the monitor must be carried out;
monitoring whether the at least one action has been carried out during said time period; and
if the at least one action is not carried out within said time period, at least temporarily providing that the medical treatment is not to proceed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for use in carrying out a medical procedure, using a treatment unit and a computer and monitor for controlling the treatment unit, so as to ensure that at least one action, requiring interfacing with the monitor, is completed in a timely manner, said method comprising:
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initiating at the monitor, a start time for the at least one action to be carried out;
determining whether the at least one action has been carried out within a predetermined time period after said start time; and
at least temporarily preventing access to the treatment unit if the at least one action has not been carried out within said predetermined period.
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- 37. A check sheet for use in administration of patient healthcare, said check sheet containing (i) entry spaces for entry by a healthcare caregiver of healthcare parameters for verification, and (ii) headings for the entry spaces each identifying a corresponding healthcare parameter, said healthcare parameters consisting of no more than three parameters excluding parameters relating to the time of administration of the healthcare.
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43. A method of assisting in full completion of a medical procedure for an individual patient undergoing the medical procedure, said method comprising:
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assigning an audio signal to a patient and ensuring that the patient recognizes the assigned audio signal when said audio signal is generated;
generating said audio signal at a treatment site during the medical procedure so that the signal is heard by the patient;
providing for terminating of the audio signal only after treating personnel performs at least preselected action necessary to properly conclude the medical procedure; and
instructing the patient to remain at the treatment site until the audio signal is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A record and verification method for use with a radiation therapy system including a radiation treatment device for providing radiation treatment and a treatment monitor, including a computer, for monitoring the treatment provided by the radiation treatment device, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) initially entering, into the treatment monitor, patient treatment data corresponding to that contained in a patient treatment chart;
(b) verifying patient treatment data entered into the treatment monitor against at least one source;
(c) entering treatment data from the treatment monitor onto a paper verification sheet;
(d) cross checking the treatment data entered onto said paper verification sheet;
(e) using the radiation treatment device in treating of the patient; and
(f) updating the patient treatment chart after said treating of the patient.
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46. A record and verification method in monitoring the administration of a patient care intervention, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) initially entering, into a computer including an associated monitor screen, data corresponding to the patient care intervention that is to be administered to a patient;
(b) accessing the computer by presenting to an optical detector associated with the computer an identifier corresponding to an identifier stored by the computer so that when there is a match between the presented identifier and the stored identifier, at least some of said entered data is displayed;
(c) administering a patient care intervention to the patient corresponding to the entered data displayed on the monitor screen;
(d) entering onto a paper verification sheet selected data related to the patient care intervention administered to the patient; and
(e) making an entry into the computer that the patient care intervention has been administered.
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47. A record and verification method for use in monitoring a medical treatment administered to a patient, said method comprising the steps of
(a) initially entering patient treatment data corresponding to that contained in a patient treatment chart into a computer including an associated monitor screen; -
(b) verifying patient treatment data entered into the computer and appearing on the monitor screen against at least one source;
(c) entering selected treatment data from that appearing on the monitor screen of the treatment monitor onto a paper verification sheet;
(d) cross checking the treatment data entered into the paper verification sheet;
(a) carrying out the treatment; and
(f) entering into the patient treatment chart (i) an indication that the treatment has been carried out and (ii) an indication of any differences between the treatment data entered into the paper verification sheet and any actual treatment data. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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49. A record and verification method for monitoring a patient care intervention administered to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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entering critical data received relating to a patient care intervention, along with the name of the patient and the time and date, into a pre-prepared paper tog sheet;
verifying the critical data entered with at least one source;
carrying out the patient care intervention;
entering data relating to the patient care intervention into a computer monitor; and
checking off on the paper log sheet that the data has been entered into the computer monitor. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. A monitoring method for monitoring a caregiver intervention, said method comprising:
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providing an electronic presentation of an inquiry as to whether a particular patient intervention administered by a caregiver is best characterized as full, partial or none;
prompting the caregiver to provide a simple response to the inquiry; and
recording the response of the caregiver to the inquiry for future use. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. A method of verification of an identity of a patient to be treated, said method comprising:
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scanning a patient identifier which identifies the patient to be treated and which is carried by a first item associated with treating of the patient;
scanning a further said patient identifier which is carried by at least one further item associated with treating of the patient; and
generating a characteristic audio signal only if, after scanning of both said patient identifier carried by said first item and said further said patient identifier carried by said at least one further item, there is a match between each patient identifier scanned and a stored identifier. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for verification that necessary actions have been taken in connection with a treatment of a patient at a treatment site, said method comprising:
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scanning a patient identifier which identifies the patient to be treated and which is carried by a first item associated with one action in treating of the patient;
scanning at least one further patient identifier which is carried by at least one further item carried by a second item associated with a further action in treating of the patient;
determining whether there is match between the scanned patient identifier and a stored identifier in response to scanning of both said first patient identifier and said at least one further patient identifier; and
generating a characteristic audio signal only if a match is indicated for both said first and said at least one further identifier so as to thereby indicate that said one action and said further action have taken place. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of verification of an identity of a patient to be treated, said method comprising:
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scanning a machine-readable patient identifier which identifies the patient to be treated and which is carried by a first item associated with treating of the patient;
scanning a further said machine-readable patient identifier which is carried by at least one further item associated with treating of the patient; and
permitting carrying out of an action associated with treating of the patient only if, after scanning of both said patient identifier carried by said first item and said further said patient identifier carried by said at least one further item in a predetermined sequence, there is a match between each patient identifier scanned and a stored identifier. - View Dependent Claims (64)
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Specification