System and user interface supporting task schedule configuration

• US 7,653,873 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: DeHaan, Jan, Brandt, Samuel I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ries; Laurie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US10/212,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,731 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/513, 715/526, 715/735, 705/8, 705/9, 718102-104, 714/200, 714/201, 714/203, 714/204, 714/205, 714/207, 714/210, 714/234, 714/243, 714/255, 714/256, 714/273, 714/274, 714/277, 714/713, 714/746, 714/747, 714/760, 714/762
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present inventions, a work flow process may be generated by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete tasks including an individual task associated with a first pre-configured executable procedure for implementing the individual task and associating a user selectable image element with the pre-configured first executable procedure used in implementing the individual task. In a currently envisioned embodiment, integratable work flow processes according to the present invention may be provided to a vertical application system.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a computer-readable storage medium for providing a user interface supporting user creation of a work flow, the work flow comprising one or more tasks performed in response to user command, wherein an individual tasks performed using a corresponding executable procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating display of a plurality of task representative image elements;

selecting, in response to a user command, a user selectable displayed image element being used in implementing a particular task of the work flow;

incorporating the particular task into data representing the work flow, the particular task selected from a set of tasks derived by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete clinical tasks including the particular task and comprising at least two of,

(a) processing an order associated with medical treatment of a patient,

(b) processing results of a test performed for a patient,

(c) documenting clinical findings associated with a patient and

(d) scheduling a service to be performed for a patient;

enabling an executable application used in implementing the work flow to initiate execution of a first executable procedure using an identifier preconfigured to be associated with the first executable procedure, the incorporation of the particular task into the data representing the work flow being performed in response to user selection of the displayed image element associated with the particular task and the particular task is performed using the first executable procedure,

wherein said discrete clinical tasks are associated with corresponding executable procedures used in performing said discrete clinical tasks and individual executable procedures are associated with predetermined corresponding sets of parameters used in invoking the executable procedures and

wherein the first executable procedure processes at least one of (i) an input parameter relevant to the particular task and (ii) an output parameter to be generated by the work flow executable procedure upon performance of the particular task.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said discrete clinical tasks include, managing resources associated with treatment of a patient and managing personnel associated with treatment of a patient.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the input parameter comprises a predetermined input parameter value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein:

the predetermined input parameter value comprises an expression, the expression comprising a variable of a process definition in which the work flow executable procedure is incorporated.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

said discrete clinical tasks include at least one of, signing an order associated with providing treatment to a patient, obtaining a medication and notifying a physician an order is not signed.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

establishing a parameter for the input parameter, the parameter being required for initiating a communication link with a second software application program.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

initiating a communication link with another application element; and

using the communication link for at least one of (i) providing the input parameter to the particular task and (ii) receiving the output parameter provided in response to performance of the particular task.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the input parameter and its predetermined input parameter value are hidden from the user,

the input parameter further comprises a configurable attribute comprising at least one of (i) data type, (ii) data length, (iii) default value, (iv) required input parameter, and (v) optional input parameter; and

the output parameter further comprises a configurable attribute comprising at least one of (i) data type, (ii) data length, and (iii) default value.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the input parameter further comprises an address of a source for the input parameter; and

the output parameter further comprises an address of a destination for the output parameter.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first executable procedure is configured by being associated with the particular task that is associated with a role performed by an individual.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first executable procedure further comprises an executable procedure definition comprising a software component associated with a task to be performed by at least one of (i) the second software application program and (ii) a user of the second software application program.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first executable procedure is configured to be associated with a unique task of the one or more tasks.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the image element comprises a displayable element comprising at least one of (i) a prompt element, (ii) an icon, (iii) a menu item, (iv) text, (v) a symbol, (vi) a graphical element, and (vi) a selectable region of a display.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the particular task comprises triggering an event.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

creating a record for use in identifying the input parameter and the output parameter, the record to be used by the work flow executable procedure in acquiring the input parameter and exporting the output parameter.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prompting a user to perform the particular task; and

recording user progress in accomplishing the particular task.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the value of a variable of a process definition in which the work flow executable procedure is incorporated is definable as an expression comprising one or more output parameters of the work flow executable procedure.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

a value of the process definition variable is automatically assigned to a parameter of the work flow executable procedure that has a name that is the same as the name of a process definition variable.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

a process definition variable is automatically created and given the name of an work flow executable procedure parameter.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the incorporating the particular task into a particular work flow further comprises incorporating an item representing a task in to data representing the particular work flow.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the data representing the particular work flow comprise at least one of (i) a flowchart and (ii) a script.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

initiating display of a menu indicating a task schedule.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein:

the task schedule is associated with a role performed by an individual.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the particular task data comprise data representative of a work flow for performance by healthcare personnel.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the executable application further comprises at least one of (i) an executable method, (ii) an executable procedure, (iii) a grouping of executable software, (iv) a software object, and (v) executable code for implementing a function of the executable application.

26. A method implemented on a computer-readable storage medium for providing a user interface supporting user creation of a work flow, the work flow comprising one or more tasks performed in response to user command, wherein an individual task is performed using a corresponding executable procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating display of a plurality of task representative image elements;

selecting, in response to a user command, a user selectable displayed image element being used in implementing a particular task of the work flow;

incorporating the particular task into data representing the work flow, the particular task being selectable from a set of tasks derived by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete clinical tasks including the particular task and comprising at least two of,

(a) processing an order associated with medical treatment of a patient,

(b) processing results of a test performed for a patient,

(c) documenting clinical findings associated with a patient and

(d) scheduling a service to be performed for a patient, said discrete clinical tasks being associated with corresponding executable procedures used in performing said discrete clinical tasks;

initiating execution of a first executable procedure using an identifier preconfigured to be associated with the first executable procedure in response to command by an executable application used in implementing the work flow, the incorporation of the particular task into the data representing the work flow being performed in response to user selection of the displayed image element associated with the particular task and the particular task is performed using the first executable procedure,

wherein said discrete clinical tasks are associated with corresponding executable procedures used in performing said discrete clinical tasks and individual executable procedures are associated with predetermined corresponding sets of parameters used in invoking the executable procedures, and

wherein said discrete clinical tasks include, managing resources associated with treatment of a patient and managing personnel associated with treatment of a patient.