System and method for handling medical information

• US 7,899,687 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Army Medical Research And Materiel Command
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Morris, Tommy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rangrej; Sheetal R
• Application Number:
  US10/438,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,847 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• 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 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A system and method that are used for creating a longitudinal medical record for an injured person. The system includes in at least one embodiment a plurality of mobile computing devices. The mobile computing devices having an interface for receiving information from a first responder or a medic.

Claims

1. A method for receiving information from a user regarding an injury received by a patient comprising:

displaying an interface on a computing device, the interface having a series of inquiries relating to a generic injury including

a type of the injury,

a classification of the injury,

a graphical representation of a body,

a medication section, and

a vital signs section;

receiving from the user identification of the type of injury and classification of the injury,

receiving from the user a location of the injury based on the user tapping at least one body part,

receiving additional information from the user regarding the injury selected from a list that is based on the injury classification,

populating an electronic medical record with the information received from the user regarding the injury,

creating and providing an injury summary for the patient'"'"'s injury to the user based on the received information contained in the electronic medical record, where the computing device creates and provides the injury summary,

adding the injury summary to the electronic medical record,

estimating a level of consciousness of the patient for the user based on the received information contained in the electronic medical record, where the computing device estimates the level of consciousness of the patient,

receiving with the computing device confirmation of the estimated level of consciousness from the user,

receiving information on the computing device regarding medications given to the patient,

receiving vital sign information of the patient on the computing device,

preparing and recommending a course of treatment to the user based on the information received from the user including at least one of the information used to create the injury summary, confirmed estimated level of consciousness, medications given to the patient, and vital sign information, where the computing device prepares and recommends the course of treatment, and

adding at least two of the estimated level of consciousness, medications given, vital sign information, and the course of treatment to the electronic medical record.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to update the electronic medical record from the user by the computing device,

displaying another interface on the computing device for receiving information regarding the injury in response to the request, and

receiving additional information regarding the injury from the user via the displayed another interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving identification of the patient from a removable computer readable medium, and

copying at least a portion of the electronic medical record to the removable computer readable medium containing the identification of the patient.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing reference information upon request from the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the patient is a dog.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving epidemiology information regarding exposure to environmental conditions, radiation, chemical, or biological and whether other individuals have similar diagnosis or symptoms.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving information regarding treatment effectiveness.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing diagnosis and symptom information for the patient against stored diagnosis and symptom information of other patients to determine whether there are any trends in injuries, and

providing the trend analysis to the user.

9. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing computer-executable instructions for a method for receiving from a user information regarding an injury received by a patient comprising:

displaying an interface on a computing device, the interface having a series of inquiries relating to a generic injury including

a type of the injury,

a classification of the injury,

a graphical representation of a body,

a medication section, and

a vital signs section;

receiving from the user identification of the type of injury and classification of the injury,

receiving from the user a location of the injury based on the user tapping at least one body part,

receiving additional information from the user regarding the injury selected from a list that is based on the injury classification,

populating an electronic medical record with the information received from the user regarding the injury,

creating and providing an injury summary for the patient'"'"'s injury to the user based on the received information contained in the electronic medical record, where the computing device creates and provides the injury summary,

adding the injury summary to the electronic medical record,

estimating a level of consciousness of the patient for the user based on the received information contained in the electronic medical record, where the computing device estimates the level of consciousness of the patient,

receiving with the computing device confirmation of the estimated level of consciousness from the user on the computing device,

receiving information on the computing device regarding medications given to the patient,

receiving vital sign information of the patient on the computing device,

preparing and recommending a course of treatment based on the information received from the user including at least one of the information used to create the injury summary, medications given to the patient, and vital sign information, where the computing device prepares and recommends the course of treatment, and

adding at least two of the medications give, vital information, and the course of treatment to the medical record.

10. A method of operation of a medical records system that receives information regarding a medical condition of a patient by an user and recommends a course of treatment, said method comprising:

displaying an interface having a series of inquiries relating to a generic medical condition including

a type of the medical condition,

a classification of the medical condition,

a graphical representation of a body,

a medication section, and

a vital signs section;

receiving from the user identification of the type and classification of the medical condition,

receiving a location of the medical condition based on the user tapping at least one body part,

receiving additional information regarding the medical condition selected from a list that is based on the medical condition classification,

creating a textual summary based on the received information including at least two of the user identification of the type and classification of the medical condition, the location of the medical condition, and the additional information regarding the medical condition,

storing the created textual summary and received information used to create the textual summary in a database as an electronic medical record for the patient,

providing an estimated level of consciousness of the patient to the user based on the received information,

receiving at least one of confirmation of the estimated level of consciousness from the user or adjustment of the estimated level of consciousness from the user,

receiving information regarding medications given to the patient,

receiving vital sign information of the patient, and

recommending a course of treatment based on at least two of the received information, medication information, estimated level of consciousness, and vital sign information;

wherein the steps are performed by the medical records system.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a request to update the information previously provided by the user,

displaying another interface for receiving information regarding the medical condition in response to the request, and

receiving additional information regarding the medical condition via the another interface and adding the received information to the electronic medical record for the patient.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving identification of the patient from a removable computer readable medium when a data interface is being used disconnected from the database,

compiling a digital record of the information entered by the user, and

copying the digital record to the removable computer readable medium containing the patient identification.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing reference information upon request from the user.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the patient is a dog.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving epidemiology information regarding exposure to environmental conditions, radiation, chemical, or biological and whether other individuals have similar diagnosis or symptoms.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

collecting epidemiology information for a plurality of patients,

analyzing the epidemiology information for medical conditions outside of a predetermined list of expected medical conditions, and

providing the analysis to the user.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising compiling an electronic medical record containing the received information from all of the receiving steps, the textual summary, the estimated level of consciousness, and the recommended course of treatment.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising compiling an electronic medical record containing the received information from all of the receiving steps and the textual summary.

19. A method for receiving information from a user regarding an injury received by a patient comprising:

displaying an interface having a series of inquiries relating to a generic injury including

a type of the injury,

a classification of the injury,

a graphical representation of a body,

a medication section, and

a vital signs section;

receiving from the user identification of the type of injury and classification of the injury,

receiving from the user a location of the injury based on the user tapping at least one body part,

receiving additional information from the user regarding the injury selected from a list that is based on the injury classification,

creating and providing an injury summary for the patient'"'"'s injury based on the received information to the user,

estimating a level of consciousness of the patient for the user based on the received information,

receiving confirmation of the estimated level of consciousness from the user,

receiving information regarding medications given,

receiving vital sign information,

preparing and recommending a course of treatment to the user based on the information received from the user,

requesting information about the disposition of the patient,

receiving identification of the patient from a computer readable medium,

compiling a digital record of the information entered by the user, and

copying the digital record to the computer readable medium containing the identification of the patient; and

wherein the receiving identification of the patient, compiling a digital record, and copying the digital record steps are performed when the user is unable to communicate with a main medical records database.

20. A method of operation of a medical records system that receives information regarding a medical condition of a patient by an user and recommends a course of treatment, said method comprising:

displaying an interface having a series of inquiries relating to a generic medical condition including

a type of the medical condition,

a classification of the medical condition,

a graphical representation of a body,

a medication section, and

a vital signs section;

receiving from the user identification of the type and classification of the medical condition,

receiving a location of the medical condition based on the user tapping at least one body part,

receiving additional information regarding the medical condition selected from a list that is based on the medical condition classification,

creating a textual summary based on the received information including at least two of the user identification of the type and classification of the medical condition, the location of the medical condition, and the additional information regarding the medical condition,

storing the created textual summary and received information used to create the textual summary in a database as an electronic medical record for the patient,

determining an estimated level of consciousness of the patient based on the received information,

displaying the estimated level of consciousness of the patient to the user after determining the estimated level of consciousness of the patient,

receiving at least one of confirmation of the estimated level of consciousness from the user or adjustment of the estimated level of consciousness from the user in response to displaying the estimated level of consciousness of the patient,

receiving information regarding medications given to the patient,

receiving vital sign information of the patient, and

recommending a course of treatment based on at least two of the received information, medication information, estimated level of consciousness, and vital sign information;

wherein the steps are performed by the medical records system.

21. A method for receiving information from a user regarding an injury received by a patient comprising:

displaying an interface having a series of inquiries relating to a generic injury including

a type of the injury,

a classification of the injury,

a graphical representation of a body,

a medication section, and

a vital signs section;

receiving from the user identification of the type of injury and classification of the injury,

receiving from the user a location of the injury based on the user tapping at least one body part,

receiving additional information from the user regarding the injury selected from a list that is based on the injury classification,

creating and providing an injury summary for the patient'"'"'s injury based on the received information to the user,

estimating a level of consciousness of the patient for the user based on the received information,

displaying the estimated level of consciousness of the patient to the user after estimating the level of consciousness of the patient,

receiving confirmation of the estimated level of consciousness from the user in response to the displaying the estimated level of consciousness of the patient,

receiving information regarding medications given,

receiving vital sign information,

preparing and recommending a course of treatment to the user based on the information received from the user,

requesting information about the disposition of the patient,

receiving identification of the patient from a computer readable medium,

compiling a digital record of the information entered by the user, and

copying the digital record to the computer readable medium containing the identification of the patient; and

wherein the receiving identification of the patient, compiling a digital record, and copying the digital record steps are performed when the user is unable to communicate with a main medical records database.