Dynamic user prompting for pertinent clinical information

• US 8,086,552 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Randazzo, Michael Thomas, Secrist, Randy Kent, Steiner, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernandez Rivas, Omar
• Application Number:
  US11/743,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 706/8, 706/21, 706 45- 47, 706/52, 706/59, 706/62, 706/924, 707/1, 707/3, 707/6, 705/2, 705/3, 600/300, 600/301
• US Class Current: 706/47
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for dynamically prompting a caregiver for pertinent information about a patient uses a computer or processor operating as a rule-based system. The method includes receiving a first data input triggering a rule in a first rule queue requiring both a first data input and at least a second data input. The method further includes determining that the second data input is not available or is outdated, placing the rule in a second rule queue for later execution, and, when the second data input is available within a selected period of time, executing the rule, or otherwise, after the selected period of time, sending an electronic message to a caregiver to take action to provide the second data input.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically prompting a caregiver for pertinent information about a patient, said method using a computer or processor operating as a rule-based system, each rule indicating a particular action to be taken for the patient based on a monitored condition, said method comprising:

receiving a first data input triggering a first rule in a first rule queue requiring both a first data input and at least a second data input;

determining that the second data input is not available or is outdated;

placing the first rule in a second rule queue for later execution while awaiting the second data input; and

when the second data input is available within a selected period of time, executing the first rule;

or otherwise, after the selected period of time, sending an electronic message to a caregiver to take action to provide the second data input.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the method is performed on the same computer or processor for a plurality of patients, and the selected period of time is the same for all of said patients.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the method is performed on the same computer or processor for a plurality of patients, and the selected period of time is selected separately for each said patient.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the method is performed on the same computer or processor for a plurality of patients, and the selected period of time is selected separately for each said rule.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving data specifying which inputs are required for the first rule to execute and how or to whom to send an electronic message to take action to provide the second data input.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving an electronic message from the caregiver to cancel the first rule.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving an electronic message from the caregiver containing the second data input.

8. An apparatus for dynamically prompting a user for pertinent clinical information, said apparatus comprising a computer or processor, a rule processing engine having a first rule queue and a second rule queue, the second rule queue associated with a timer configured to determine a wait time for rules in the second rule queue, and an electronic communication engine, each rule indicating a particular action to be taken for the patient based on a monitored condition, said apparatus configured to:

receive a first data input triggering execution of a first rule in the first rule queue requiring both a first data input and at least a second data input;

determine whether the second data input is not available or is outdated;

place the first rule in the second rule queue for later execution while awaiting the second data input when the second data input is not available or is outdated; and

when the second data input is available within a selected period of time as determined by the timer, execute the first rule;

or otherwise, after the selected period of time, send an electronic message to a caregiver to take action to provide the second data input.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the apparatus is configured to apply the selected period of time to all rules for all patients.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the apparatus is configured to apply a different selected period of time to rules for different patients.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the apparatus is configured to apply a different selected period of time for each rule for each patient.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further configured to receive data specifying which inputs are required for the first rule to execute and how or to whom to send an electronic message to take action to provide the second data input.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further configured to receive an electronic message from the caregiver to cancel the first rule.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further configured to receive an electronic message from the caregiver containing the second data input.

15. A machine readable medium or media having instructions recorded thereon that are configured to instruct a computer or processor to:

receive a first input triggering execution of a first rule in a first rule queue requiring both a first data input and at least a second data input, the first rule indicating a particular action to be taken for the patient based on a monitored condition;

determine whether the second data input is not available or is outdated;

place the first rule in the second rule queue for later execution while awaiting the second data input when the second data input is not available or is outdated; and

when the second data input is available within a selected period of time as determined by a timer, execute the first rule;

or otherwise, after the selected period of time, send an electronic message to a caregiver to take action to provide the second data input.

16. A medium or media in accordance with claim 15 wherein said instructions include instructions that are configured to instruct the computer or processor to apply the selected period of time to all rules for all patients, each rule indicating a particular action to be taken for the patient based on a monitored condition.

17. A medium or media in accordance with claim 15 wherein said instructions include instructions that are configured to instruct the computer or processor to apply a different selected period of time to rules for different patients.

18. A medium or media in accordance with claim 15 wherein said instructions include instructions that are configured to instruct the computer or processor to apply a different selected period of time for each rule for each patient.

19. A medium or media in accordance with claim 15 wherein said instructions further configured to instruct the computer or processor to receive data specifying which inputs are required for the first rule to execute and how or to whom to send an electronic message to take action to provide the second data input.

20. A medium or media in accordance with claim 15 wherein said instructions further configured to instruct the computer or processor to receive an electronic message from the caregiver to cancel the first rule, to receive an electronic message from the caregiver containing the second data input, or both.