Critical health information profile and emergency communication system

• US 8,837,683 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medsign International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Medsign International Corp.
• Inventors: Conroy, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US13/006,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20120088466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 379 38- 49, 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 379/38
• 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 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A microprocessor-based emergency response communication system used to call and communicate with the 9-1-1 operator and also allows emergency responder'"'"'s immediate access to a user'"'"'s Critical Health Information Profile stored in the device at the point and location of crisis. The device is used to create individual Critical Health Information Profiles which is Health Level-7 compliant enabling it to seamlessly communicate with major hospital networks worldwide. This functional capability provides a system that can retrieve and transmit user-stored personal and health information by emergency responders at the point of care. The emergency responder can access the customer'"'"'s Critical Health Information Profile database, review the data for pertinent information and then transmit that data to a designated receiving hospital or medical center. The device provides an electronic means of dialing and communicating directly with the 9-1-1 operator. A wireless remote transmitter unit can be activated from the wireless transmitter or the base unit to dial and connect with the 9-1-1 operator, broadcast a canned message with or without a personal-recorded message, and personally communicate with the 9-1-1 operator through a two-way speakerphone system. The device contains software enabling the user and medical personnel the ability to input, store, retrieve and analyze the user'"'"'s vital sign data and other pertinent health information.

Claims

1. A critical health information profile and emergency communication system, comprising:

a base unit including

a microphone;

a speaker;

a user interface;

a communication system comprising an interface for communicating via a telephone system and or a broadband network;

a memory system;

an extractable portable memory embedded in said base unit, said portable memory separate from said memory system, said extractable portable memory being configured to be accessible from the exterior of said base unit and extractable from said base unit by emergency responders;

a microprocessor coupled to said communication system, said memory system, and said extractable portable memory when said extractable portable memory is embedded in said base unit, said microprocessor configured with software that operates to receive an input to said base unit indicating to retrieve a previously stored critical health information profile of a user from a remote location and based on said input receive at said base unit the previously stored critical health information profile of the user via said communication system, store the critical health information profile in said memory system, and automatically store a duplicate of the critical health information profile in said extractable portable memory in multiple formats, the critical health information profile comprising medical history information of a user, wherein the critical health information profile is HL-7 compliant and the duplicate of the critical health information profile is stored in the extractable portable memory in multiple formats including HL-7 and plain text,

said microprocessor further configured to store an emergency notification list that includes contact information of people that the base unit calls and notifies that the 9-1-1 system was activated;

a display screen;

a case holding said communication system, memory system, extractable portable memory, microprocessor, display screen, and user interface, said case comprising a coupling port on a surface of case for receiving said extractable portable memory; and

at least one preprogrammed hot button, said base unit configured to, upon actuation of said hot button;

call a 9-1-1 operator and play the pre-recorded message stored in said memory system to the 9-1-1 operator,

communicate the critical health information profile including the medical history stored in said memory system to the 9-1-1 operator in a format displayable on the 9-1-1 operator screen,

allow two-way voice communication between the 9-1-1 operator and a user at said base unit using said microphone and said speaker,

automatically call the people on the emergency notification list and play an alert message stating that the base unit'"'"'s emergency communication system has been activated; and

receive inputs via said interface to display the critical health information profile including said received medical history on said display screen of said base unit.

2. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, wherein said base unit is configured to receive a signal from a wireless transmitter to operate said hot button.

3. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 2, wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to be worn on an arm.

4. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 2, wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to be worn around a neck.

5. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a means to create, edit, delete, store, upload and retrieve the critical health information profile.

6. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 5, further comprising a website configured to create and edit the critical health information profile, and wherein said base unit is configured to receive the critical health information profile from the website.

7. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises a means for transmitting the critical health information profile to a medical center or hospital through email, fax, or text.

8. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises an AC/DC power supply, a circuit-testing module, and a visual alarm annunciator, said circuit-testing module configured to energize said visual alarm annunciator upon failure of either said AC or DC power supply.

9. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a means to enable medical personnel to review, update, download and analyze vital sign data of a user stored in the base unit, and a means for setting notification parameters to said vital sign data.

10. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 9, wherein the vital sign data includes blood pressure, cardio, and diabetes information.

11. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, further comprising an input/output means for connecting said base unit to a conventional telephone line or a broadband-based telephone system.

12. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one preprogrammed hot button is a large dome-base illuminated emergency call key.

13. The critical health information profile and emergency communication system according to claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises a video camera, and said base unit is further configured to enable a 9-1-1 operator to view the user after actuation of the preprogrammed hot button.

14. A method of providing emergency communications, the method comprising:

receiving at a base unit a populated critical health information profile of a user from a remote storage location, the critical health information profile comprising medical history information;

storing a critical health information profile of a user in a memory system of the base unit and automatically storing a duplicate of the critical health information profile in multiple formats on a portable memory that is extractably coupled to the base unit via a port on a surface of the base unit, wherein the critical health information profile is HL-7 compliant and the duplicate of the critical health information profile is stored in the extractable portable memory in multiple formats including HL-7 and plain text;

storing an emergency notification list on the memory system of the base unit, the emergency notification list including contact information of people that the base unit calls and notifies that the 9-1-1 system was activated;

calling a 9-1-1 operator upon actuation of a preprogrammed hot button, and automatically

playing a pre-recorded message, stored in said memory system, to a 9-1-1 operator;

communicating the critical health information profile including the medical history stored in said memory system to the 9-1-1 operator in a format displayable on the 9-1-1 operator'"'"'s screen,

connecting two-way voice communication between the 9-1-1 operator and the base unit;

calling the people on the emergency notification list and playing an alert message stating that the base unit'"'"'s emergency communication system has been activated; and

displaying controls on a touch-screen of the base unit to display the received critical health information profile on a display screen of the base unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the base unit comprises a speaker phone for two-way voice communication between the 9-1-1 operator and the base unit.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting the pre-recorded message from a pre-canned message or a recording of a personalized message.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein playing a pre-recorded message comprises playing the pre-recorded message repeatedly to the 9-1-1-operator, and wherein the method further comprises stopping the playing of the pre-recorded message upon receiving a signal from the 9-1-1 operator allowing the operator to verbally communicate with the user.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating the preprogrammed hot button by a wireless transmitter.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises delaying calling the 9-1-1 operator for a pre-selected time interval after the preprogrammed hot button is activated, and displaying a visual annunciator on the base unit and sounding an audio annunciator from the base unit to indicate that a 9-1-1-call has been requested.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling a silent mode of the base unit which dials 9-1-1 immediately and allows the operator to ‘

listen in’

on the conversation through a speakerphone.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising including a step of interfacing with a modem to connect to an emergency communication system.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising logging of those emergency responders who have accessed the base unit'"'"'s critical health information profile information on the base unit.

23. The method of claim 14, providing an editing interface on the base unit to change information or add additional information to records of a user stored on the base unit memory and on the portable memory.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the critical information profile of a user comprises receiving the critical information profile of a user from further comprising an Internet based storage system.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising encrypting the critical health information profile.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing User name and password in reference to the User'"'"'s telephone number.

27. The method of claim 14, further comprising accessing the critical health information profile-from the USB memory stick.