Recordation and organization of problem solving data

• US 7,552,390 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Family VET Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Family VET Incorporated
• Inventors: Sherer, F. Alexei
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roswell; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/280,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 715/744, 715/764, 715/781, 715/809
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A data model uses a graphical user interface (GUI) for recording and organizing information regarding an object of care. The GUI enables a user to input an observation data set including a plurality of observations, the plurality of observations include at least a first subset of the plurality of observations and a second subset of the plurality of observations. The GUI enables the user to input an action data set including a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions includes at least a first subset of the plurality of actions and a second subset of the plurality of actions. The GUI enables the user to connect a first category of care to at least the first subset of the plurality of observations and at least the first subset of the plurality of actions, and to connect a second category of care to at least the second subset of the plurality of observations and at least the second subset of the plurality of actions, such that each connection indicates a relationship between the respective connected data.

Claims

1. A computing system for allowing data to be entered into a divider bar of a user interface configured to receive and display data regarding an object of care, the computing system comprising:

a storage device configured to store digital data, wherein the storage device stores a database comprising data including a plurality of object of care records, at least some of the object of care records comprising (a) at least one category of care associated with a respective object of care and (b) one or more observations or actions associated with respective of the at least one category of care;

a processor configured to execute software code in order to generate a window for display on a display device, the window including

a work area configured to receive input from a user of the computing system indicating associations between respective categories of care and one or more observations and/or actions;

a history area configured to display each of the categories of care associated with a selected object of care and at least one observation or action associated with each of the categories of care;

a divider bar positioned between the work area and the history area, said divider bar having a collapsed state that separates the history area and the work area such that movement of the window on the display device moves each of the work area, the history area, and the divider bar concurrently as an integrated unit, and an expanded state comprising one or more text entry fields for receiving text data indicative of a category of care associated with the selected object of care, text data indicative of an observation associated with the category of care, and text data indicative of an action associated with the category of care, wherein the text data received in the one or more text entry fields is stored in the database and associated with the selected object of care, wherein the physical size of the divider bar in said expanded state is larger than the physical size of divider bar in said collapsed state such that the divider bar replaces at least some of the cycle history area or work area when in the expanded state, said divider bar comprising

a selectable area having a first state and a second state, wherein when said selectable area is in a first state and said selectable area is selected, said divider bar expands to said expanded state and said selectable area enters said second state;

when said selectable area is in said second state and said selectable area is selected, said divider bar collapses to said collapsed state and said selectable area enters said first state.

2. A method of providing access to a plurality of graphic objects on a computer display, comprising:

creating a generally rectangularly shaped graphic window comprising a plurality of graphic objects;

creating a generally rectangularly shaped divider graphic object (“

divider”

) operable to separate said graphic window into two portions such that one or more of said plurality of graphic objects are disposed on either side of said divider, said divider comprising a collapsed state and an expanded state;

enabling a user to increase the physical area of said divider, when said divider is in said collapsed state, by changing the divider to said expanded state;

when the divider is in the expanded state, creating a category of care text entry field within the divider for receiving first textual data associated with an object of care, creating an observation text entry field within the divider for receiving second textual data associated with the first textual data, and creating an actions text entry filed within the divider for receiving third textual data associated with the first textual data;

storing in a data structure the first textual data, the second textual data, and the third textual data, wherein the second textual data and the third textual data are each associated with the first textual data in the data structure; and

enabling a user to decrease the physical area of said divider when said divider is in said expanded state, by changing the divider to said collapsed state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said divider separates said graphic window horizontally, such that said graphic window comprises a top portion above said divider, and a bottom portion below said divider.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said divider separates said graphic window vertically, such that said graphic window comprises a left portion to the left of said divider, and a right portion to the right of said divider.

5. A computing readable medium for storing software instructions for execution by a processor of a computing device, the software instruction causing the computing device to:

store a database comprising data regarding a plurality of object of care records, at least some of the object of care records comprising (a) at least one category of care associated with a respective object of care and (b) one or more observations or actions associated with respective of the at least one category of care;

generate a window for display on a display device, the window including

a work area configured to receive input from a user of the computing system indicating associations between respective categories of care and one or more observations or actions;

a history area configured to display each of the categories of care associated with a selected object of care and at least one observation or action associated with each of the categories of care; and

a divider bar positioned between the work area and the history area, said divider bar having a collapsed state wherein the divider bar separates the history area and the work area such that movement of the window moves each of the work area, the history area, and the divider bar, and an expanded state comprising one or more text entry fields for receiving text data indicative of a category of care associated with the selected object of care, and one or more of text data indicative of an observation associated with the category of care and text data indicative of an action associated with the category of care, wherein the text data received in the one or more text entry fields is stored in the database and associated with the selected object of care, wherein the physical size of the divider bar in said expanded state is larger than the physical size of divider bar in said collapsed state such that the divider bar replaces at least some of the cycle history area or work area when in the expanded state.