Pandemic protocol for emergency dispatch

• US 8,712,020 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Inventors: Clawson, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US13/605,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/45
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to guide an emergency dispatcher in responding to emergency calls involving a patient manifesting symptoms of a pandemic illness. The systems and methods may include an emergency dispatch protocol configured to facilitate uniform and consistent gathering of information concerning the emergency situation. The emergency medical dispatch protocol may include one or more dispatch protocols configured for particular emergency situations, such as to aid the dispatcher in processing calls relating to a pandemic illness (e.g., severe respiratory infection like influenza). The emergency dispatch protocol may present a pre-scripted interrogation, including preprogrammed inquiries for a dispatcher to ask the caller. The pre-scripted interrogation of the dispatch protocol facilitates uniform and consistent gathering of symptom information relating to a pandemic outbreak. The information may be received and stored and/or processed to determine a determinant value corresponding to an appropriate emergency dispatch response.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to guide a dispatcher when communicating vocally with a caller via a communication device regarding a medical emergency involving a patient manifesting symptoms of a pandemic illness and for dispatching an emergency response by emergency responders, the computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting on a dispatch center computer device a pre-scripted interrogation comprising a plurality of preprogrammed inquiries for the dispatcher to ask the caller to systematically obtain a description of the medical emergency including information concerning symptoms of the pandemic illness that the patient is manifesting, the description of the medical emergency comprising caller responses to the plurality of preprogrammed inquiries, wherein the dispatch center computer device includes a logic tree configured to determine the preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation and automatically determine one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values based on dispatcher-entered input representative of caller responses to the preprogrammed inquires;

receiving dispatcher-entered input on the dispatch center computer device representative of caller responses to the preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation;

assigning on the dispatch center computer device the pre-established determinant value determined by the logic tree and the pre-scripted interrogation; and

generating an emergency medical dispatch response by emergency responders based on the assigned pre-established determinant value.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising presenting preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation as the method traverses a path along the logical tree of the pre-scripted interrogation based on caller responses to the preprogrammed inquiries, and wherein the path along the logical tree ends at the pre-established determinant value.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing preprogrammed inquiries to the dispatcher via a user interface on an output device of the dispatch center computer device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing preprogrammed inquiries to said dispatcher on a medium readable by the dispatcher.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing on the dispatch center computer device instructions to the dispatcher, including instructions to inquire for specific information from the caller and to provide input to the dispatch center computer device corresponding to the specific information received from the caller.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the instructions to the dispatcher provided by the dispatch center computer device include an instruction to enter the locally designated pandemic triage level.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the instructions to the dispatcher provided on the dispatch center computer device include an instruction to enter the most prominent complaint of the patient.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the logic tree determining the one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values includes determining from dispatcher-entered input whether the patient'"'"'s most prominent complaint is one of a headache, difficulty breathing and chest pain, and if so, the pre-scripted interrogation includes presenting preprogrammed inquiries for the dispatcher to ask the caller to systematically obtain additional description relating to the most prominent complaint.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein if the most prominent complaint of the patient is a headache, the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include asking the caller to indicate whether the headache occurred as a sudden onset of severe pain.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein if the most prominent complaint of the patient is difficulty breathing, the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include:

asking the caller to identify the quality of the patient'"'"'s breathing; and

asking the caller whether the patient has had any prior flu symptoms.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein if the most prominent complaint of the patient is chest pain and the patient is thirty-five years old or older, the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include:

asking the caller whether the patient is vomiting; and

asking the caller whether the patient has chills or sweats.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include:

asking the caller whether the patient is completely awake; and

asking the caller whether the patient is changing color.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include inquiries asking the caller to identify whether the patient has flu symptoms including:

vomiting, sweats or chills, fever, recent onset of coughing, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, and headache.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing post-dispatch instructions to the caller.

15. A computer system to guide a dispatcher when communicating with a caller vocally via a communication device regarding a medical emergency involving a patient manifesting symptoms of a pandemic illness and for dispatching an emergency response by emergency responders, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

an output device in communication with the processor;

an input device in communication with the processor;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising;

a pandemic protocol module comprising a logic tree that is configured to determine one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values, the pandemic protocol module configured to;

present on the output device a pre-scripted interrogation comprising a plurality of preprogrammed inquiries for the dispatcher to ask the caller to systematically obtain a description of the medical emergency including information concerning symptoms of the pandemic illness that the patient is manifesting, wherein the description of the medical emergency comprises caller responses to the plurality of preprogrammed inquiries, wherein the preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation are determined according to the logic tree, and wherein one of the plurality of pre-established determinant values is determined in accordance with the logic tree based on dispatcher-entered input representative of caller responses to the preprogrammed inquires,

receive via the input device dispatcher-entered input representative of caller responses to the preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation, and

assign the pre-established determinant value determined by the logic tree and the pre-scripted interrogation.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein said preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation are provided as a path along the logic tree is traversed based on responses to the preprogrammed inquiries, and wherein the path along the logical tree ends at the pre-established determinant value.

17. The computer system of claim 15, the memory further comprising a user interface to be presented on the output device and configured to facilitate presentation of preprogrammed inquiries and to facilitate receiving dispatcher-entered input.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the pandemic protocol module is further configured to provide on the output device instructions to the dispatcher, including instructions to inquire for specific information from the caller, and to provide input to the computer system corresponding to the specific information received from the caller.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the instructions to the dispatcher include an instruction to enter the locally designated pandemic triage level.

20. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the instructions to the dispatcher include an instruction to enter the most prominent complaint of the patient.

21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the logic tree determining the one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values includes determining from dispatcher-entered input whether the patient'"'"'s most prominent complaint is one of a headache, difficulty breathing and chest pain, and if so, the pre-scripted interrogation includes presenting preprogrammed inquiries for the dispatcher to ask the caller to systematically obtain additional description relating to the most prominent complaint.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein if the most prominent complaint of the patient is a headache, the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include asking the caller to indicate whether the headache occurred as a sudden onset of severe pain.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein if the most prominent complaint of the patient is difficulty breathing, the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include:

asking the caller to identify the quality of the patient'"'"'s breathing; and

asking the caller whether the patient has had any prior flu symptoms.

24. The computer system of claim 21, wherein if the most prominent complaint of the patient is chest pain and the patient is thirty-five years old and older, the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include:

asking the caller whether the patient is vomiting; and

asking the caller whether the patient has chills or sweats.

25. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include:

asking the caller whether the patient is completely awake; and

asking the caller whether the patient is changing color.

26. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the preprogrammed inquires of the pre-scripted interrogation include inquiries asking the caller to identify whether the patient has flu symptoms including:

vomiting, sweats or chills, fever, recent onset of coughing, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, and headache.

27. The computer system of claim 15, the memory further comprising a pandemic diagnostic tool.

28. The computer system of claim 15, the memory further comprising a case entry protocol module.

29. A computer-readable storage medium including computer-readable instruction code for a dispatch center computer performing a method to assist a dispatcher when communicating vocally with a caller via a communication device regarding a medical emergency of a patient, the method comprising:

presenting on a dispatch center computer device a pre-scripted interrogation comprising a plurality of preprogrammed inquiries for the dispatcher to ask the caller to systematically obtain a description of the medical emergency including information concerning symptoms of the pandemic illness that the patient is manifesting, the description of the medical emergency comprising caller responses to the plurality of preprogrammed inquiries, wherein the dispatch center computer device includes a logic tree configured to determine the preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation and automatically determine one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values based on dispatcher-entered input representative of caller responses to the preprogrammed inquires;

receiving dispatcher-entered input on the dispatch center computer device representative of caller responses to the preprogrammed inquiries of the pre-scripted interrogation;

assigning on the dispatch center computer device the pre-established determinant value determined by the logic tree and the pre-scripted interrogation; and

generating an emergency medical dispatch response by emergency responders based on the assigned pre-established determinant value.