Location-based management of healthcare environments

• US 8,700,423 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Eaton, James D. Jr., Compton, David L., Nelson, Justin, Cannon, Paul, Nolte, Mark Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan, Luke
• Application Number:
  US12/612,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3, 701/400
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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
• 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, methods, and computer-readable media for managing healthcare environments are provided. In embodiments, a real-time status of a clinical device, along with a location, is received. The location of the clinical device is obtained via a clinical device identifier that is tracked by a plurality of sensors in a healthcare environment. A clinical device may be identified as inappropriate for use and an alert presented to a clinician including the problem of the clinical device and the location thereof. A replacement clinical device may be located, using clinical identifiers, and presented to the clinician. Such monitoring and location awareness facilitates efficient responses to healthcare situations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing healthcare environments, the method comprising:

receiving from a first clinician, utilizing a first computer process, a healthcare order input into a patient'"'"'s electronic health record to be completed for the patient;

in response to receiving the healthcare order, displaying the healthcare order to a second clinician;

automatically associating, utilizing a second computer process, the healthcare order with one or more tangible items required to fulfill the healthcare order, wherein the one or more tangible items required to fulfill the healthcare order are automatically associated with the healthcare order without user input;

identifying a location of one or more tangible items required to fulfill the healthcare order, wherein the location of one or more tangible items required to fulfill the healthcare order is based on an item identifier that is tracked via a plurality of sensors in a healthcare environment;

displaying the location of the one or more tangible items required to fulfill the healthcare order to the second clinician; and

navigating the second clinician, via turn-by-turn directions, to the one or more tangible items required to fulfill the healthcare order;

wherein the first and second computer processes are executed utilizing one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more tangible items to fulfill the healthcare order is equipment, a clinical device, or supplies.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the one or more tangible items to fulfill the healthcare order is presented within a blueprint of the healthcare environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors utilize ultrasound technology, infrared technology, or radio frequency identification technology.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second clinician is associated with the patient in the patient'"'"'s electronic health record.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the one or more tangible items to fulfill the order is determined based on proximity of the tangible item to the second clinician.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the one or more tangible items to fulfill the order is determined based on proximity of the tangible item to the patient.