Mobile self-management compliance and notification method, system and computer program product

• US 9,144,381 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LifeWIRE Corporation (LifeWIRE Corp., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LifeWIRE Corporation (LifeWIRE Corp., Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosen, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US11/616,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,198 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 330/0
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

A remote interactive method, system and computer program product is provided for self-managing a person'"'"'s regular lifestyle needs through controlled notification and feedback. The invention provides a simple, cost effective and flexible self-management and compliance scheme that does not require third party intervention or treatment options typical with immediate-response or alert-based systems. The invention also provides for long term management and analysis for the benefit of the individual. In implementing the invention in a healthcare environment, the individual will gain a better understanding of managing their lifestyle and behaviour. A related business model is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computerized method of monitoring patient health using a patient-managed monitoring scheme, the method being performed by a server configured to manage a patient account associated with a patient and an administrator account associated with an administrator of the patient, the method comprising:

providing a patient interface configured to authenticate a patient and enable communication between the patient and the server during a patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing an administration interface configured to authenticate an administrator and enable communication between the administrator and the server during an administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

receiving, from a device associated with the patient account, a proposed monitoring scheme including settings for notifications and monitoring parameters manually selected during the patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing, by the server, an indication of the proposed monitoring scheme to a device associated with the administrator account;

receiving approval information from the device associated with the administrator account, the approval information including an approval indication of the proposed monitoring scheme input during the administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

based on the approval information, updating a database entry associated with the patient account and activating the proposed monitoring scheme;

generating instructions for monitoring quantitative and qualitative data based on the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters, wherein the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters include;

one or more messages chosen or manually-created during the patient-authenticated session, the one or more messages including personalized queries for lifestyle attributes,

one or more alert and reminder threshold settings for alerts and reminders defined to be sent in relation to at least one of response data associated with a query sent to the device associated with the patient account, a schedule, or specific events, and

one or more schedules for providing the personalized queries to the patient;

sending at least one query to the device associated with the patient account, based on the personalized queries chosen or manually created during the patient-authenticated session;

one of;

receiving response data from the device associated with the patient account, or

generating response data indicating a lack of a response from the device associated with the patient;

analyzing the response data based on the one or more alert and reminder threshold settings;

choosing at least one alert or reminder from the settings, based on at least one of the one or more schedules or the analysis of the received response data; and

transmitting the chosen alert or reminder to at least one of the device associated with the patient account or one or more other devices associated with one or more other third parties.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device associated with the patient comprises at least one of the following:

a personal computer;

a cellular phone;

one or more health sensors for temperature, blood pressure measurement, or heart rate;

a smart phone;

a short-range wireless device;

or a cellular phone having one or more health sensors embedded therein.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising the further steps of:

receiving, from the patient, a request to modify the one or more notifications to;

monitor at least one of the one or more attributes relevant to a health or lifestyle condition of the registered patient;

track medication ingested by or administered to the registered patient;

choose the number of notifications;

schedule the notifications;

or

require information to be transferred to any of the one or more other persons that may be a family member or a healthcare provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting the response data from one or more of:

a glucometer;

a heart rate monitor;

a blood pressure monitor;

a distance monitor;

a global positioning system;

or any other lifestyle or health attribute monitor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming the response data by a confirmation means for providing said confirmation before analyzing the response data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a patient to choose or create the one or more queries to include content relating to a lifestyle protocol including data parameters prescribing a range of acceptable response data values for the lifestyle attribute relating to said query; and

(b) receiving a request from a patient to choose or create the one or more alerts or reminders relating to the lifestyle protocol to include at least one of the following;

(i) an alert relating to at least one of a lifestyle attribute, the failure of the patient to respond to one or more of the one or more queries, the response data being outside any data parameters set for the query;

the response data being erroneous; and

any other warning; and

(ii) feedback or one or more reports relating to one or more lifestyle attributes and the lifestyle protocol and showing analysis or identification of trends or deterioration in relation to said one or more lifestyle attributes in accordance with the collected response data; and

(c) analyzing the response data, identifying trends in the response data, and monitoring compliance by the patient, in accordance with the lifestyle protocol to generate the feedback or the one or more reports.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving health information associated with the patient including at least one of temperature, heart rate, glucose levels, or blood pressure results, the health information being received from the device associated with the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving qualitative data associated with the patient including at least one of diet information or exercise management information, the qualitative data being received from the device associated with the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the response data further comprises at least one of:

(a) identifying trends in the response data;

(b) comparing the response data to one or more response parameters;

(c) identifying trends in the response data and comparing the trends to the one or more response parameters; and

(d) generating an alert specific to the analysis of the response data and transmitting the alert to the device associated with the patient in accordance with the one or more schedules.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a request from the patient to generate one or more alerts specific to particular response parameters, whereby response data above a limit in the alert and reminder threshold settings is associated with a serious condition and a critical alert, and response data below the limit in the alert and reminder threshold settings is associated with a less serious condition and a non-critical alert.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a request from a patient choosing at least one of:

one or more response parameters relating to response data or the content of the alert specific to the one or more response parameters.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying one or more patients registering similar lifestyle attributes with the monitoring scheme and facilitating chats and support amongst the identified one or more patients.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving response data from the device associated with the patient further comprises providing the patient with an incentive related to a telecommunications company providing service for the personal communication device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving response data from the personal communication device further comprises providing the patient with an incentive related to a healthcare provider providing service to the patient. 09oijh.

15. A computerized system for monitoring patient health using a patient-managed monitoring scheme, the system being configured to manage a patient account associated with a patient and an administrator account associated with an administrator of the patient, the system comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the stored instructions to perform operations including;

providing a patient interface configured to authenticate a patient and enable communication between the patient and the server during a patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing an administration interface configured to authenticate an administrator and enable communication between the administrator and the server during an administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

receiving, from a device associated with the patient account, a proposed monitoring scheme including settings for notifications and monitoring parameters manually selected during the patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing, by the server, an indication of the proposed monitoring scheme to a device associated with the administrator account;

receiving approval information from the device associated with the administrator account, the approval information including an approval indication of the proposed monitoring scheme input during the administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

based on the approval information, updating a database entry associated with the patient account and activating the proposed monitoring scheme;

generating instructions for monitoring quantitative and qualitative data based on the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters, wherein the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters include;

one or more messages chosen or manually-created during the patient-authenticated session, the one or more messages including personalized queries for lifestyle attributes,

one or more alert and reminder threshold settings for alerts and reminders defined to be sent in relation to at least one of response data associated with a query sent to the device associated with the patient account, a schedule, or specific events, and

one or more schedules for providing the personalized queries to the patient;

sending at least one query to the device associated with the patient account, based on the personalized queries chosen or manually created during the patient-authenticated session;

one of;

receiving response data from the device associated with the patient account, or

generating response data indicating a lack of a response from the device associated with the patient;

analyzing the response data based on the one or more alert and reminder threshold settings;

choosing at least one alert or reminder from the settings, based on at least one of the one or more schedules or the analysis of the received response data; and

transmitting the chosen alert or reminder to at least one of the device associated with the patient account or one or more other devices associated with one or more other third parties.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein,

at least one of the personalized queries requires response data that is within an acceptable range of values defined by the alert or reminder threshold settings for the lifestyle attribute, and

the one or more alerts or reminders are transmittable to the patient or the other persons in accordance with the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters, to alert or remind the patient or optionally the other persons of any of the following:

a lack of response by the patient to one or more queries, and response data outside set parameters for the one or more queries;

results of analysis of the response data to identify trends relating to one or more of the lifestyle attributes;

or

feedback for the patient and optionally the other persons, in accordance with the one or more notification settings, said feedback relating to the identified trends or the compliance of the response data with one or more lifestyle management standards or parameters, such feedback being provided as one or more notifications.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a telephony server in communication with the at least one processor and operable to:

support a connection between one or more personal communication devices and the at least one processor; and

/or

support an Internet connection between one or more personal communication devices and the at least one processor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more devices associated with the patient comprise at least one of:

a personal computer;

a cellular phone;

one or more health sensors for measuring at least one of temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate;

a smart phone;

a short-range wireless device; and

a cellular phone having one or more health sensors embedded therein.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein sending the at least one query comprises transmitting one or more text messages.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is linked to a database, and includes a database management utility operable to manage the storage and retrieval of response data in the database, said database management utility being operable to encrypt the response data provided by the patient.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the patient interface includes at least one of the following:

(a) one or more web pages defining the patient interface;

(b) a patient account login page;

(c)notification scheme setup page including notification content creation and selection means for selecting notification content that includes a selection means for selecting at least one of one or more lifestyle attributes, one or more intervals or one or more input selections;

(d) a database access page including a response data input means for inputting response data, a data review means for inputting data reviews, a notification scheme modification means for inputting notification scheme modifications, and a data printing means for inputting data printing commands; and

wherein the administration interface includes;

(a) an administrator login page to access the administration interface; and

(b) an administrator approval request page.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the device associated with the patient is operable to do any of the following:

(a) incorporate, or be linked to, one or more sensors operable for wireless communication and relating to one or more of the one or more lifestyle attributes, said one or more sensors including at least one of a glucometer, a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor;

a distance monitor, a global positioning system;

or any other lifestyle or health attribute monitor;

(b) generate and transmit response data as one or more of a text message or a voice-activated response; and

(c) receive the one or more notifications as at least one of a text message, an voice alert, a musical alert, a ring tone, a specific sound produced by the personal communication device, an instant message, an email, a link to one or more websites, phone numbers, or suppliers relevant to the notification, or a communication link to any health provider or the other persons via text, cell, email, web, video or other connection.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the response data comprises information including one or more of glucose levels or blood pressure.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the response data comprises qualitative data relevant to diet or exercise management.

25. A system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform at least one of reminder generation, bulk messaging, account review, administrator compliance review, patient group reminder review, unique patient reminder review, glucose level review, blood pressure review, medication usage review, patient created reminder creation and modification, administration created reminder creation and modification, administration interface event log, compliance review response, or patient report module.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure at least one processor to perform a computerized method of monitoring patient health using a patient-managed monitoring scheme, the at least one processor being configured to manage a patient account associated with a patient and an administrator account associated with an administrator of the patient, the method comprising:

providing a patient interface configured to authenticate a patient and enable communication between the patient and the server during a patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing an administration interface configured to authenticate an administrator and enable communication between the administrator and the server during an administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

receiving, from a device associated with the patient account, a proposed monitoring scheme including settings for notifications and monitoring parameters manually selected during the patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing, by the server, an indication of the proposed monitoring scheme to a device associated with the administrator account;

receiving approval information from the device associated with the administrator account, the approval information including an approval indication of the proposed monitoring scheme input during the administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

based on the approval information, updating a database entry associated with the patient account and activating the proposed monitoring scheme;

generating instructions for monitoring quantitative and qualitative data based on the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters, wherein the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters include;

one or more messages chosen or manually-created during the patient-authenticated session, the one or more messages including personalized queries for lifestyle attributes,

one or more alert and reminder threshold settings for alerts and reminders defined to be sent in relation to at least one of response data associated with a query sent to the device associated with the patient account, a schedule, or specific events, and

one or more schedules for providing the personalized queries to the patient;

sending at least one query to the device associated with the patient account, based on the personalized queries chosen or manually created during the patient-authenticated session;

one of;

receiving response data from the device associated with the patient account, or

generating response data indicating a lack of a response from the device associated with the patient;

analyzing the response data based on the one or more alert and reminder threshold settings;

choosing at least one alert or reminder from the settings, based on at least one of the one or more schedules or the analysis of the received response data; and

transmitting the chosen alert or reminder to at least one of the device associated with the patient account or one or more other devices associated with one or more other third parties.

27. A computerized method of providing a patient health service based on a patient-managed monitoring scheme, the method comprising:

hosting, by a server, a lifestyle self-management system, by;

managing a patient account associated with a patient and an administrator account associated with an administrator of the patient;

providing a patient interface configured to authenticate a patient and enable communication between the patient and the server during a patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing an administration interface configured to authenticate an administrator and enable communication between the administrator and the server during an administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

receiving, from a device associated with the patient account, a proposed monitoring scheme including settings for notifications and monitoring parameters manually selected during the patient-authenticated session on the patient account;

providing, by the server, an indication of the proposed monitoring scheme to a device associated with the administrator account;

receiving approval information from the device associated with the administrator account, the approval information including an approval indication of the proposed monitoring scheme input during the administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

based on the approval information, updating a database entry associated with the patient account and activating the proposed monitoring scheme;

generating instructions for monitoring quantitative and qualitative data based on the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters, wherein the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters include;

one or more messages chosen or manually-created during the patient-authenticated session, the one or more messages including personalized queries for lifestyle attributes,

one or more alert and reminder threshold settings for alerts and reminders defined to be sent in relation to at least one of response data associated with a query sent to the device associated with the patient account, a schedule, or specific events, and

one or more schedules for providing the personalized queries to the patient;

sending at least one query to the device associated with the patient account, based on the personalized queries chosen or manually created during the patient-authenticated session;

one of;

receiving response data from the device associated with the patient account, or

generating response data indicating a lack of a response from the device associated with the patient;

analyzing the response data based on the one or more alert and reminder threshold settings;

choosing at least one alert or reminder from the settings, based on at least one of the one or more schedules or the analysis of the received response data; and

transmitting the chosen alert or reminder to at least one of the device associated with the patient account or one or more other devices associated with one or more other third parties;

partnering the lifestyle self-management system with at least one telecommunications or healthcare provider server;

providing, by the telecommunications or healthcare provider server, a subscription-based service associated with the lifestyle self-management system;

collecting, by the telecommunications or healthcare provider server, subscription fees from the patient.

28. A computerized method of monitoring patient health and compliance using a patient-managed monitoring scheme, the method being performed by a server configured to manage a patient account associated with a patient and an administrator account associated with an administrator of the patient, the method comprising:

receiving, from a device associated with the patient account, a proposed monitoring scheme including settings for notifications and monitoring parameters manually selected during the patient-authenticated session on the patient account, wherein the proposed monitoring scheme is received from a patient interface configured to authenticate a patient and enable communication between the patient and the server during a patient-authenticated session on the patient account

receiving approval information from the device associated with the administrator account, the approval information including an approval indication of the proposed monitoring scheme input during the administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account, wherein the approval information is received from an administration interface configured to authenticate an administrator and enable communication between the administrator and the server during an administrator-authenticated session on the administrator account;

based on the approval information, updating a database entry associated with the patient account and activating the proposed monitoring scheme;

generating instructions for monitoring quantitative and qualitative data based on the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters, wherein the settings for notifications and monitoring parameters include;

one or more messages chosen or manually-created during the patient-authenticated session, the one or more messages including personalized queries for lifestyle attributes,

one or more alert and reminder threshold settings for alerts and reminders defined to be sent in relation to at least one of response data associated with a query sent to the device associated with the patient account, a schedule, or specific events, and

one or more schedules for providing the personalized queries to the patient;

sending at least one query to the device associated with the patient account, based on the personalized queries chosen or manually created during the patient-authenticated session;

one of;

receiving response data from the device associated with the patient account, or

generating response data indicating a lack of a response from the device associated with the patient;

analyzing the response data based on the one or more alert and reminder threshold settings;

choosing at least one alert or reminder from the settings, based on at least one of the one or more schedules or the analysis of the received response data; and

transmitting the chosen alert or reminder to at least one of the device associated with the patient account or one or more other devices associated with one or more other third parties.