Hospital display terminal

• US 8,240,550 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: PatientSafe Solutions, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Steusloff, Patrick M, Swenson, David D
• Primary Examiner(s): Trail, Allyson
• Application Number:
  US12/605,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• 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 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 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system is described for managing administration of medical care. The system can include a patient record system that contains electronic records for patients in a hospital. The electronic records may include scheduling information for medicine administration to the patient. A display terminal can be connected to the patient record system and be configured to read an RFID tag on the patient. The display terminal can then identify the patient and display the patient'"'"'s medicine schedule.

Claims

1. A system for managing administration of medical care, comprising:

a patient record system comprising an electronic record for a patient, the electronic record comprising a schedule of medication being administered to the patient;

a portable handheld terminal in wireless communication with the patient record system and comprising a display, the handheld terminal having a code scanner and being configured to read an identifier on the patient; and

a scheduling module configured to retrieve the schedule of medication for the patient and output at least a portion of the schedule to the display, the schedule of medication retrieved in response to reading the patient identifier,

wherein the handheld terminal is further configured to transmit data regarding medication administration together with a time of the medication administration to the patient record system, and wherein after receipt of an indication of medication administration the scheduling module is configured to schedule a follow-up task.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the schedule of medication comprises a type of medication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the schedule of medication comprises a quantity of medication to be administered.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the schedule of medication comprises a method of how the medication is to be administered.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the schedule of medication comprises a predetermined time the medication is to be administered.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the handheld terminal comprises an alarm configured to activate if administration of medication is overdue.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the handheld terminal is configured to track an elapsed time after the predetermined medication administration time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the handheld terminal is configured to transmit a message to the patient record system if a predetermined medication administration time has been exceeded.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld terminal is configured to read the identifier on the patient using radio frequency identification (RFID).

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of handheld terminals in wireless communication with the patient record system, wherein at least two of the plurality of handheld terminals are in wireless communication for the same patient record.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the follow-up task is a visit by a nurse.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the follow-up task is measurement of a heart rate or pain score of the patient.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one peripheral system includes at least one of a messaging system, a pharmacy system, a laboratory system, and a patient record system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld terminals are configured to be uniquely activated by a caregiver for administering medication to the patient.

16. A system for managing administration of medical care, comprising:

a server comprising an electronic record for a patient, wherein the electronic record comprises a schedule of medication being administered to the patient;

a plurality of portable handheld terminals in wireless communication with the server, each terminal comprising a display, wherein the handheld terminals are configured to maintain a copy of the same electronic record for the same patient, the handheld terminals including a code scanner configured to read scan codes, and the handheld terminals being configured to transmit medication administration data together with a time of the medication administration to the server to become part of the electronic record for the patient; and

a scheduling module configured to retrieve the schedule of medication for the patient from the copy of the electronic record and output at least a portion of the schedule to the display, wherein after receipt of a time of medical administration the scheduling module is configured to schedule a follow-up task.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the handheld terminals are configured to read an identifier on the patient.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the handheld terminals comprise a radio frequency ID (RFID) reader for reading the identifier on the patient.

19. A method of scheduling medical treatment, comprising:

wirelessly receiving a copy of an electronic record for a patient into a portable handheld device, the electronic record including a schedule of treatment administered to the patient;

displaying the schedule of treatment on a display in the handheld device;

receiving a signal in the handheld device indicating the administration of the scheduled treatment to the patient;

after administration of the scheduled treatment to the patient, wirelessly transmitting the administration of the scheduled treatment together with a time of the administration from the handheld device to a server; and

after receiving an indication of administration of the scheduled treatment to the patient, scheduling notification of a follow-up task.