Systems and methods for workflow processing

• US 7,937,277 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James G. Marx
• Original Assignee: James G. Marx
• Inventors: Marx, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morgan; Robert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): REYES, REGINALD R
• Application Number:
  US12/726,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• 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 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing a workflow are disclosed. Certain embodiments allow prescreened data to be inserted into a workflow. A user'"'"'s interpretation of prescreened data can be compared with previously obtained characteristics, enabling the user'"'"'s interpretive output to be monitored and improved. The disclosed systems and methods have applications including, but not limited to, training, performance analysis, process improvement, and data analysis and data mining in workflows.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining and disseminating additional information in connection with the processing of medical image files, comprising:

an unscreened medical image files module configured to access unscreened medical image files from one or more databases;

a prescreened medical image files module configured to access prescreened medical image files from one or more databases, wherein each prescreened medical image file is associated with a diagnosis that has been previously determined;

a selection module comprising a selection processor configured to select medical image files from the unscreened medical image files module and the prescreened medical image files module, and further configured to present medical image files to the user such that the files are viewed by the user in a ratio of unscreened files to prescreened files;

an output module configured to allow the user to generate an interpretive output file identifying anatomy or pathology in each medical image file viewed by the user;

an output file monitoring module configured to apply a ranking algorithm to at least some of the interpretive output files generated by the user, such that a rank is assigned to each output file and/or to a corresponding medical image file, wherein the algorithm is configured to assign a neutral or negative rank to normal anatomy or pathology, a low rank to normal anatomy or pathology variants, and a high rank to abnormal anatomy or pathology, and further wherein a higher rank is assigned to increasingly severely abnormal or critical anatomy or pathology;

a transmission module configured to transmit information to internal or remote users concerning at least one or more of selected medical image files, the corresponding interpretive output file for each medical image file, the rank of the corresponding interpretive output file, and a general notification concerning the interpretive output file, the transmission module being further configured to provide more than one form of communication between users comprising at least one form of electronic communication and one form of voice communication; and

a receiving module configured to receive additional information from internal or remote users about at least one or more of the medical image file, the corresponding interpretive output file for the medical image file, the rank of the interpretive output file, and the general notification, and wherein receiving additional information comprises receiving an acknowledgement of receipt of the transmission information;

wherein, based on the rank of a prescreened medical image file, the selection module is configured to adjust the ratio of unscreened to prescreened medical image files, wherein, as the rank becomes higher, the ratio of unscreened medical image files to prescreened medical images files becomes lower, and, based on the rank of an unscreened medical image file, the transmission and receiving modules are configured to;

automatically transmit to an internal or remote user at least the unscreened medical image file and receive a second interpretive output file relating to the file;

or automatically transmit information relating to the unscreened medical image file and receive in real time feedback to assist the user in generating an interpretive output file relating to the unscreened medical image file;

or

automatically notify an internal or remote user on an urgent basis of the criticality of the interpretive output file relating to the medical image file, and, based on a higher rank of the interpretive output file, require an acknowledgement of receipt of the notification, the system further comprising a timing module configured to automatically watch for the receipt of said acknowledgement and, if not received within a predetermined time, cause the transmission module to automatically re-send the notification by a more direct mode of communication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a high rank is a low number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to receive the second interpretive output file before the rank is assigned.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive the second interpretive output file after the rank is assigned.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive the feedback before the rank is assigned.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive the feedback after the rank is assigned.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal or remote user is an ordering physician.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal or remote user is a radiologist.

9. A method for processing medical files comprising:

accessing unscreened medical files from one or more databases, wherein a diagnosis of anatomical or pathological conditions in the medical files has not been previously determined;

accessing prescreened medical files from one or more databases, wherein each prescreened medical file is associated with a diagnosis that has been previously determined;

presenting the medical files to the user such that the files are viewed by the user in a ratio of unscreened files to prescreened files;

detecting that the medical file viewed by the user corresponds with an unscreened medical file;

accessing an interpretive output file associated with the medical file viewed by the user, wherein the output file comprises the user'"'"'s diagnosis of anatomical or pathological conditions in the associated medical file;

transmitting a general notification or other information regarding the subject output file, the corresponding medical file, or the corresponding rank to an internal or remote entity by electronic communication or voice communication; and

in response to the transmission, receiving additional information from the entity about the subject output file, the corresponding medical file, or the corresponding rank, wherein receiving additional information comprises receiving an acknowledgement of receipt of the transmission, and wherein transmitting and receiving comprises;

automatically transmitting the unscreened medical file and receiving a second interpretive output file relating to the file;

or

automatically transmitting information relating to the unscreened medical file and receiving in real time feedback to assist the user in completing the diagnosis in the interpretive output file;

or

automatically transmitting a notification on an urgent basis of the criticality of the anatomical or pathological conditions in the unscreened medical file as diagnosed by the user;

requiring an acknowledgement of receipt of the notification;

automatically watching for the receipt of the acknowledgement; and

, if the acknowledgment is not received within a predetermined time, automatically re-transmitting the notification;

applying a ranking algorithm to at least some of the interpretive output files, such that a rank is assigned to the subject output file and/or to the corresponding medical file, wherein the algorithm assigns an increasingly higher rank depending upon the severity of the anatomical or pathological conditions in the user'"'"'s diagnosis in the subject output file; and

after applying the ranking algorithm, adjusting the ratio of unscreened to prescreened medical files based on the rank, such that as the rank becomes higher, the ratio of unscreened medical image files to prescreened medical images files becomes lower.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a higher rank is a higher number.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second interpretive output file is received before the rank is assigned.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the second interpretive output file is received after the rank is assigned.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback is received before the rank is assigned.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback is received after the rank is assigned.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the internal or remote entity is a hospital, a case review committee, a peer review committee, a government agency, or an ordering physician.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the internal or remote entity is a radiologist.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein automatically re-transmitting the notification uses a different electronic communication or voice communication than the initial transmission.

18. A system for obtaining and disseminating additional information in connection with the processing of medical image files, comprising:

an unscreened medical image files module configured to access unscreened medical image files from one or more databases;

a prescreened medical image files module configured to access prescreened medical image files from one or more databases, wherein each prescreened medical image file is associated with a diagnosis that has been previously determined;

a selection module configured to select medical image files from the unscreened medical image files module and the prescreened medical image files module, and further configured to present medical image files to the user such that the files are viewed by the user in a ratio of unscreened files to prescreened files;

an output module configured to allow the user to generate an interpretive output file identifying anatomy or pathology in each medical image file viewed by the user;

an output file monitoring module configured to apply a ranking algorithm to at least some of the interpretive output files generated by the user, such that a rank is assigned to each output file and/or to a corresponding medical image file, wherein the algorithm assigns an increasingly higher rank depending upon the severity of the anatomy or pathology identified by the user;

a transmission module configured to transmit information to internal or remote users concerning at least one or more of selected medical image files, the corresponding interpretive output file for each medical image file, the rank of the corresponding interpretive output file, and a general notification concerning the interpretive output file, the transmission module being further configured to provide more than one form of communication between users comprising at least one form of electronic communication and one form of voice communication; and

a receiving module configured to receive additional information from internal or remote users about at least one or more of the medical image files, wherein, based on the rank of an unscreened medical image file, the transmission and receiving modules are configured to;

automatically transmit to an internal or remote user at least the unscreened medical image file and receive a second interpretive output file relating to the file;

or

automatically transmit information relating to the unscreened medical image file and receive additional information to assist the user in generating an interpretive output file relating to the unscreened medical image file,

and wherein, based on the rank of a medical image file, the selection module is configured to adjust the ratio of unscreened to prescreened medical image files, wherein, as the rank becomes higher, the ratio of unscreened medical image files to prescreened medical images files becomes lower.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the additional information is received as real-time feedback.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmission and received modules are configured to automatically notify an internal or remote user on an urgent basis of the criticality of the interpretive output file relating to the medical image file and, based on a higher rank, of the interpretive output file require an acknowledgment of receipt the notification.