Device alert system and method

• US 7,551,078 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermountain Intellectual Asset Management LLC
• Original Assignee: IHC Intellectual Asset Management LLC
• Inventors: Flint, Vrena B., Johnson, Kyle V., Palmer, Brent, Carlson, Rick, Evans, R. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/556,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• 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 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/24 Self-calibration, e.g. compensating for environmental drift or ageing of components
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/222 Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems selective calling systems and call receivers H04W84/00, H04W68/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system and method for providing a safety alert for a device is disclosed. The invention minimizes or prevents the affects of programming errors and/or provides enhanced alert information to a monitoring healthcare provider, wherein the alert information may relate to a potential safety concern. The method includes monitoring data transmitted from a device and comparing the data to pre-established rules. When the data violates the rules, the system compiles an alert information packet, wherein the alert information packet includes information related to the device and the data. The system then transmits the alert information packet and/or an enhanced alert to multiple computer screens in a particular area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving monitor data transmitted from a healthcare monitoring device associated with a patient and a medical apparatus;

receiving chart data associated with said patient from a healthcare record system, wherein said chart data comprises prescribed programming settings for said medical apparatus;

retrieving baseline data from a database based at least partially upon at least one of said monitor data or said patient chart data;

determining decision data violates a rule, wherein said decision data comprises said monitor data, said chart data and said baseline data;

in response to determining said decision data violates a rule, compiling an alert information packet, wherein said alert information packet includes information related to at least one of said monitoring device or said decision data; and

,

transmitting said alert information packet to multiple communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said rule is a pre-established rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said rule includes multiple pre-established rules.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said alert information packet to multiple communication devices includes transmitting said alert information packet to multiple computer screens in a particular area, wherein said area is associated with said healthcare monitoring device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, said determining said decision data violates said rule, comprises determining said decision data violates a programming rule associated with said monitoring device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, said determining said decision data violates said rule, comprises determining said decision data violates a programming rule based on at least one of rate percentage increases or unit specific protocols.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said healthcare monitoring device includes at least one of an infusion pump or a ventilator.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

polling said monitoring device for current programming settings;

in response to said current programming settings being outside of a predetermined variance of said prescribed programming settings, sending an alert to said monitoring device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising distinguishing at least one of severity or type of monitor data to reduce false positive alerts.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing when an alarm silence code associated with said monitoring device is activated.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a table of in-service computer information for transmission of said alert information packet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting said alert information packet to multiple communication devices in a same unit.