Automated patient management system
First Claim
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1. A method of managing a plurality of patients in a healthcare facility, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a server communicatively connected to a computer communications network;
providing in said server a database having stored therein data relating to the plurality of patients,providing in said data (i) names of the plurality of patients, (ii) names of at least two departments within the healthcare facility, (iii) at least one listing of names of at least two patients of the plurality of patients who are queuing to visit one of the at least two departments, (iv) demographic information pertaining to the plurality of patients, and (v) treatment status of each patient of the plurality of patients,configuring the server to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device that is accessible by the plurality of patients and to a network access device accessible to staff of the healthcare facility;
(b) determining an approximate amount of time each patient of the plurality of patients will wait before receiving treatment;
(c) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the communications network from the network access device accessible to staff of the healthcare facility, providing the input signal with data including (i) the name of a patient of the plurality of patients, (ii) the name of at least one department within the healthcare facility, and (iii) demographic information pertaining to the at least one patient, and storing the data comprised in the output signal in the database;
(d) transmitting from the server an output signal comprising at least a portion of the input signal data and an approximate amount of time the patient will wait before receiving treatment across the communications network to the network access device accessible by the plurality of patients;
(e) tracking, on a patient tracking screen, to allow said staff to track said patients through both registration and the at least two different departments within the healthcare facility, generating a number associated with waiting patients for each of said at least two different departments, and generating a wait time for each patient for each of said at least two different departments; and
,(f) displaying, on a dashboard screen, said number of waiting patients and the wait time for the at least two different departments;
said dashboard screen displays the following information;
a meter displaying the total number of patients waiting for service;
an odometer gauge displaying the total number of patient users in process of being serviced; and
,an identifier counter box displaying the total number of completed patients; and
a plurality of publicly accessible screens displaying patient queuing information; and
,(f) automatically routing said patients to designated ones of said at least two different departments based on estimated wait times for said at least two different departments.
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Abstract
A system for making the process of registering at and receiving treatment in a healthcare facility more efficient and safe has been developed. The system utilizes computer communications network-based systems, software, various input and output stations, and a patient identification card (e.g., Loyalty Card) that work together to allow (a) providers to direct, track, and optimize the efficiency of patient activity and (b) patients to have ready access to their status and, in some cases, control of the healthcare process.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of managing a plurality of patients in a healthcare facility, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a server communicatively connected to a computer communications network; providing in said server a database having stored therein data relating to the plurality of patients, providing in said data (i) names of the plurality of patients, (ii) names of at least two departments within the healthcare facility, (iii) at least one listing of names of at least two patients of the plurality of patients who are queuing to visit one of the at least two departments, (iv) demographic information pertaining to the plurality of patients, and (v) treatment status of each patient of the plurality of patients, configuring the server to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device that is accessible by the plurality of patients and to a network access device accessible to staff of the healthcare facility; (b) determining an approximate amount of time each patient of the plurality of patients will wait before receiving treatment; (c) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the communications network from the network access device accessible to staff of the healthcare facility, providing the input signal with data including (i) the name of a patient of the plurality of patients, (ii) the name of at least one department within the healthcare facility, and (iii) demographic information pertaining to the at least one patient, and storing the data comprised in the output signal in the database; (d) transmitting from the server an output signal comprising at least a portion of the input signal data and an approximate amount of time the patient will wait before receiving treatment across the communications network to the network access device accessible by the plurality of patients; (e) tracking, on a patient tracking screen, to allow said staff to track said patients through both registration and the at least two different departments within the healthcare facility, generating a number associated with waiting patients for each of said at least two different departments, and generating a wait time for each patient for each of said at least two different departments; and
,(f) displaying, on a dashboard screen, said number of waiting patients and the wait time for the at least two different departments; said dashboard screen displays the following information; a meter displaying the total number of patients waiting for service; an odometer gauge displaying the total number of patient users in process of being serviced; and
,an identifier counter box displaying the total number of completed patients; and a plurality of publicly accessible screens displaying patient queuing information; and
,(f) automatically routing said patients to designated ones of said at least two different departments based on estimated wait times for said at least two different departments.
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2. An automated, computer-implemented patient management system comprising:
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said system adapted for managing a plurality of patients in a healthcare facility, comprising a server communicatively connected to a computer communications network, and operatively connected to a database;
having stored therein data relating to the plurality of patients,said data comprising; (a) names of first, second, third and fourth patient users; (b) names of at least two different departments adapted to provide services to patient users of said system; (c) a first listing of names of at least said first patient user and said second patient user of said system, said first patient user and said second patient user selected from said plurality of patients who are queuing to visit one of the at least two different departments; (d) a second listing of names of at least said third patient user and said fourth patient user of said system, said third patient user and said fourth patient user selected from said plurality of patients who are queuing to visit another of the at least two different departments; (e) demographic information pertaining to the plurality of patients; and
,(f) treatment status of each patient user of said system; said server configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across said computer communication network to a plurality of network access devices accessible to staff users of said system; the plurality of network access devices accessible by said staff users comprising; (g) a patient tracking screen adapted to allow said staff users to track said patient users of said system through both registration and the at least two different departments within the healthcare facility, adapted to generate a number associated with waiting patient users for each of said at least two different departments, and adapted to generate a wait time for each patient user for each of said at least two different departments; and
,(h) a dashboard screen adapted to display said number of waiting patient users and the wait time for the at least two different departments; said dashboard screen comprising; a meter adapted to display total number of patient users waiting for service; an odometer gauge adapted to display total number of patient users in process of being serviced; and
,an identifier counter box adapted to display total number of completed patients; and
,a plurality of publicly accessible screens adapted to display patient user queuing information; and
,wherein said system is adapted to automatically route said patient users to designated ones of said at least two different departments based on estimated wait times for said at least two different departments. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification