System and method of automatically displaying patient information

• US 7,357,308 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matz, William Randolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koyama, Kumiko C.
• Application Number:
  US10/611,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/385, 235/462.01, 705 2- 5
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• 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 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems and methods of automatically or semi-automatically loading patient chart information onto a patient room computer system. The systems and methods involve using the patient room computer system to obtain patient identifying information, then requesting the patient chart from a primary computer system. Upon receiving the patient chart from the primary computer system, the invention relates to displaying the patient chart on the patient room computer system. Obtaining the patient information may occur in several ways. For instance, since a patient is typically associated with a specific room within the healthcare facility, the act of obtaining patient information may involve determining the room identification for the patient and using the room identification, requesting the patient chart associated with the room. In an embodiment, the room identification information is transmitted to the patient room computer system automatically upon entering the room, e.g., by using cellular telephone technology. In another embodiment, the patient room computer system has bar-code reading capabilities and thus reads a bar-code, either as part of the room providing room information as part of the patient providing patient identification information independent of room information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

using a patient room computer system, obtaining patient identifying information corresponding to room identification information for a patient;

requesting an electronic patient chart from a primary computer system based on the room identification information;

automatically, upon entry into a patient'"'"'s room, receiving the electronic patient chart from the primary computer system based on the patient identifying information obtained;

automatically, upon entry into the patient'"'"'s room, displaying the patient chart on the patient room computer system based upon the patient identifying information obtained;

when supplemental patient chart data is available, modifying the patient chart with the supplemental patient chart data; and

when supplanted patient chart data is available, modifying the patient chart with the supplanted patient chart data.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein requesting and receiving the patient chart use an intranet.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein requesting and receiving the patient chart use the Internet.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein requesting and receiving the patient chart use a wireless connection.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the room identification information is automatically transmitted to the patient room computer system upon entering the room.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein obtaining the patient information comprises:

reading a bar code to determine a bar-code value; and

requesting the patient information associated with the bar-code value.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the bar-code provides the room identification information.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the bar-code provides patient identification information independent of the room identification information.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein requesting a patient chart occurs automatically following receipt of patient identifying information;

and wherein displaying the patient chart occurs automatically following receipt of the patient chart.

10. A storage medium on which is encoded instructions for performing a method of loading an electronic patient chart on a patient room computer system the method comprising:

using the patient room computer system to obtain patient identifying information corresponding to room identification information for a patient;

requesting the electronic patient chart from a primary computer system based on the room identification information;

automatically receiving, upon entry into a patient'"'"'s room, the electronic patient chart from the primary computer system based on the patient identifying information obtained;

automatically displaying, upon entry into the patient'"'"'s room, the patient chart on the patient room computer system based on the patient identifying information, obtained;

when supplemental patient chart data is available, modifying the patient chart with the supplemental patient chart data; and

when supplanted patient chart data is available, modifying the patient chart with the supplanted patient chart data.

11. A system, comprising:

means for using a patient room computer system to obtain patient identifying information corresponding to room identification information for a patient;

means for requesting an electronic patient chart from a primary computer system based on the room identification information;

means for automatically receiving, upon entry into a patient'"'"'s room, the electronic patient chart from the primary computer system based on the patient identifying information obtained;

means for automatically displaying, upon entry into a patient'"'"'s room, the patient chart on the patient room computer system based upon the patient identifying information obtained;

when supplemental patient chart data is available, then means for modifying the patient chart with the supplemental patient chart data; and

when supplanted patient chart data is available, then means for modifying the patient chart with the supplanted patient chart data.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for receiving the patient chart using an intranet.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for receiving the patient chart using the Internet.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for receiving the patient chart using a wireless connection.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for automatically transmitting the electronic patient chart to the patient room computer system upon entry into the room.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for reading a bar code to determine a bar code value, and means for requesting the patient information associated with the bar code value.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising means for providing the bar code as the room identification information.