System for providing expert care to a basic care medical facility from a remote location
First Claim
1. A system for providing expert care simultaneously to a plurality of basic care medical facilities (BCMFs) in seperate geographic locations comprising:
- a network;
a remote command center dedicated to monitoring and managing the care of BCMF patients, which is apart from the BCMFs and is connected to the network, wherein the remote command center has access to an organized collection of electronic information (database);
monitoring stations located in the plurality of BCMFs, wherein the monitoring stations comprise instructions for obtaining data elements from patients who are located in the plurality of BCMFs (monitored patient data elements) and for communicating the monitored patient data elements to the database via the network, wherein the database comprises stored patient data elements comprising the monitored patient data elements and other patient data elements associated with medical conditions of the BCMF patients; and
wherein the remote command center has access to a patient care management system, which comprises instructions for;
accessing patient data elements from the stored patient data elements in the database;
utilizing a rules engine to apply rules repeatedly and automatically to at least two patient data elements according to the rules of the rules engine 24 hours per day 7 days per week, wherein the rules identify medical conditions that may warrant management by a health care provider;
using information generated by the rules engine to determine if an alert should be provided; and
simultaneously displaying alerts at the remote command center for all patients for whom the patient care system determines that an alert should be displayed at the remote command center.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing expert care to a basic care medical facility (BCMF) from a remote location. The system facilitates real-time, continuous assessment of patients receiving care in a BCMF that is not generally equipped to provide expert medical care on a twenty-four basis. Patient monitoring equipment acquires monitored data elements from a patient monitoring station and transmits the monitoring data over a network to a remote command center. The remote command center also receives other patient data to the extent available from the BCMF. Alternatively, the patient monitored data is sent to a remote command center along with patient data at a pre-established time or when requested by remote command center. The delivery of stored monitoring data and patient data may be expedited if an urgent consultation is warranted. A rules engine continuously applies a patient-specific rule or rule set to the data elements selected from the assessment data from each BCMF monitored patient to determine whether intervention is warranted. Patient specific rules may be created that are consistent with the capabilities of the BCMF.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A system for providing expert care simultaneously to a plurality of basic care medical facilities (BCMFs) in seperate geographic locations comprising:
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a network; a remote command center dedicated to monitoring and managing the care of BCMF patients, which is apart from the BCMFs and is connected to the network, wherein the remote command center has access to an organized collection of electronic information (database); monitoring stations located in the plurality of BCMFs, wherein the monitoring stations comprise instructions for obtaining data elements from patients who are located in the plurality of BCMFs (monitored patient data elements) and for communicating the monitored patient data elements to the database via the network, wherein the database comprises stored patient data elements comprising the monitored patient data elements and other patient data elements associated with medical conditions of the BCMF patients; and wherein the remote command center has access to a patient care management system, which comprises instructions for; accessing patient data elements from the stored patient data elements in the database; utilizing a rules engine to apply rules repeatedly and automatically to at least two patient data elements according to the rules of the rules engine 24 hours per day 7 days per week, wherein the rules identify medical conditions that may warrant management by a health care provider; using information generated by the rules engine to determine if an alert should be provided; and simultaneously displaying alerts at the remote command center for all patients for whom the patient care system determines that an alert should be displayed at the remote command center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for providing, from a remote command center, expert care simultaneously to a plurality of basic care medical facilities (BCMFs) in separate geographic locations, wherein the remote command center is a dedicated location for monitoring and managing BCMF patients, is apart from the BCMFs and has access to an organized collection of electronic information (database), the method comprising:
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obtaining patient data elements from patients who are located in the plurality of BCMFs, wherein the monitoring stations obtain data elements from patients who are located in the plurality of BCMFs (monitored patient data elements); communicating the monitored patient data elements to the database via the network, wherein the database comprises stored patient data elements comprising the monitored patient data elements and other patient data elements associated with medical conditions of the BCMF patients; receiving at the remote command center alerts, wherein the alerts are provided by a patient care system, which system utilizes a rules engine to apply rules, repeatedly and automatically to at least two patient data elements according to the rules of the rules engine 24 hours per day 7 days per week, wherein the rules applied by the rules engine identify existing or potential conditions that may warrant management by a health care provider, and wherein the computerized patient care system; uses information generated by the rules engine to determine if an alert should be provided, and simultaneously displays alerts at the remote command center for all patients for whom the computerized patient care management system determines that an alert should be displayed at the remote command center. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification