Method and apparatus for real-time measurement and analysis of occupational stress and fatigue and performance outcome predictions

• US 9,380,978 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Reiner
• Original Assignee: Bruce Reiner
• Inventors: Reiner, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAHAKIS, MANOLIS Y
• Application Number:
  US13/537,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/20 Workers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/24 Computer workstation operators
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to objectively measure stress and fatigue using measurement tools, record stress and fatigue related data in a standardized database, create automated prompts and alerts based upon pre-defined stress and fatigue thresholds (which are derived based upon individual end-user and task performance), provide a number of interventions (which can be preferentially selected by the individual end-user), create data-driven best practice guidelines though meta-analysis of the database, and provide an objective tool for comparative technology assessment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing stress or fatigue in users, comprising:

acquiring and recording real-time stress or fatigue measurements from a user performing a workflow using at least one sensor, the workflow including a task having a level of complexity;

adjusting a threshold value of stress or fatigue dynamically by taking into account a historical baseline stress or fatigue variability percentage of the user performing a task of said level of complexity;

comparing said measurements with the threshold value of stress or fatigue stored in a database of a computer system;

notifying the user of said measurements increasing and approaching the threshold value of stress or fatigue by electronic means;

displaying on a display of said computer system an option to stop said workflow, an option to adjust said workflow, an option to modify the task in said workflow to a task of lower complexity, and an option to continue said workflow;

determining whether said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded by said measurements, wherein on condition that said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded, issuing an alert to said user by said electronic means and displaying on the display an alert override option to allow the workflow to continue upon the user entering a reason for overriding the alert into said database; and

triggering increased monitoring frequency of said stress or fatigue measurements of said user using said at least one sensor by initiating a fatigue escalation pathway responsive to the user overriding the alert by said alert override option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensor takes visual, physiologic, and cognitive measurements of stress and/or fatigue.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

on a condition that said override option is initiated, issuing alerts to designated parties by said electronic means.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

on a condition that said override option is initiated, initiating a stop of said workflow in said computer system, when said stress or fatigue measurements of said user reach a predetermined critical amount.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user profile on stress or fatigue from said database; and

allowing editing of said user profile.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of issuing alerts to designated parties includes issuing alerts to one or more of a quality assessment (QA) or compliance officer, a hospital administrator, a department chief, or a chief information officer, for taking action.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, on a condition that said override option is initiated, sending continuing, periodic prompts to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, on a condition that said override option is initiated, and said stress or fatigue measurements acquired from said user have reached a predetermined critical amount, automatically logging off the user, and preventing the user'"'"'s further log-in or activation of any device, without authorization by at least one of a chief information officer or a department chief.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, on a condition that said override option is initiated, and said stress or fatigue measurements acquired from said user have not reached a predetermined critical amount, providing options for adjustment of workflow, modification of task, or simply continue as-is.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, on a condition that said override option is initiated and an over-ride period has commenced, further initiating a verification request, where all tasks performed during the over-ride period require secondary verification before completion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, on a condition that said override option is initiated and an over-ride period has commenced, referring any quality assessment (QA) discrepancies or safety violations during the over-ride period to an institutional QA committee for review and potential disciplinary action of the user.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing includes at least one of end-user classification schema, tasks performed, customizable preferences, threshold criteria or notification options, or analytics.

13. A computer system for managing stress or fatigue in users, comprising:

a processor;

a database containing a threshold value of stress or fatigue of a user; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium including executable instructions that configure the computer system to perform a method comprising;

acquiring and recording real-time stress or fatigue measurements from the user performing a workflow using at least one sensor, the workflow including a task having a level of complexity;

adjusting a threshold value of stress or fatigue dynamically by taking into account a historical baseline stress or fatigue variability percentage of the user performing a task of said level of complexity;

comparing said measurements with the threshold value of stress or fatigue;

notifying the user of said measurements increasing and approaching the threshold value of stress or fatigue by electronic means;

displaying on the display an option to stop said workflow, an option to adjust said workflow, an option to modify the task in said workflow to a task of lower complexity, and an option to continue said workflow;

determining whether said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded by said measurements, wherein on condition that said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded, issuing an alert to said user by said electronic means and displaying on the display an alert override option to allow the workflow to continue upon the user entering a reason for overriding the alert into said database; and

triggering increased monitoring frequency of said stress or fatigue measurements of said user using said at least one sensor by initiating a fatigue escalation pathway, responsive to the user overriding the alert by said alert override option.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium including stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method of:

acquiring and recording real-time stress or fatigue measurements from a user performing a workflow using at least one sensor, the workflow including a task having a level of complexity;

adjusting a threshold value of stress or fatigue dynamically by taking into account a historical baseline stress or fatigue variability percentage of the user performing a task of said level of complexity;

comparing said measurements with the threshold value of stress or fatigue stored in a database of a computer system;

notifying the user of said measurements increasing and approaching the threshold value of stress or fatigue by electronic means;

displaying on a display of said computer system an option to stop said workflow, an option to adjust said workflow, an option to modify the task in said workflow to a task of lower complexity, and an option to continue said workflow;

determining whether said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded by said measurements;

on condition that said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded, issuing an alert to said user by said electronic means and displaying on the display an alert override option to allow the workflow to continue upon the user entering a reason for overriding the alert into said database; and

triggering increased monitoring frequency of said stress or fatigue measurements of said user using said at least one sensor by initiating a fatigue escalation pathway, responsive to the user overriding the alert by said alert override option.

15. A system for managing stress or fatigue in users, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to monitor stress or fatigue in real time;

a computer system including;

a processor;

a database containing a threshold value of stress or fatigue of a user;

a display; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium including executable instructions that configure the computer system to perform a method comprising;

acquiring and recording real-time stress or fatigue measurements from the user performing a workflow using at least one sensor, the workflow including a task having a level of complexity;

adjusting a threshold value of stress or fatigue dynamically by taking into account a historical baseline stress or fatigue variability percentage of the user performing a task of said level of complexity;

comparing said measurements with the threshold value of stress or fatigue;

notifying the user of said measurements increasing and approaching the threshold value of stress or fatigue by electronic means;

displaying on the display an option to stop said workflow, an option to adjust said workflow, an option to modify the task in said workflow to a task of lower complexity, and an option to continue said workflow;

determining whether said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded by said measurements, wherein on condition that said threshold value of stress or fatigue has been exceeded, issuing an alert to said user by said electronic means and displaying on the display an alert override option to allow the workflow to continue upon the user entering a reason for overriding the alert into said database; and

triggering increased monitoring frequency of said stress or fatigue measurements of said user using said at least one sensor by initiating a fatigue escalation pathway, responsive to the user overriding the alert by said alert override option.