Method, system and computer program product for internet-enabled, patient monitoring system

• US 20030036683A1
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Informedix, Inc. (Informedix Holdings, Inc.), Madrigal Health, LLC
• Original Assignee: Madrigal Health, LLC
• Inventors: Kehr, Bruce A., Benson, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/845,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• 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 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• 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

The present invention describes methods and apparatus useful in remotely modifying medical protocols by subgroups that are defined by specific database characteristics. In addition individual patient protocols may also be remotely modified. The method has application in medical databases containing the data collected by remote device monitoring of outpatients. These outpatients may be managed by one or more medical treatment or clinical research protocols or regimens involving pharmaceutical drugs, physiological data, educational content, and health status assessment or quality of life questionnaires. This method of mass customization of medical protocols, present in a medical database, is useful in efficiently monitoring and managing medical outpatients, through simultaneously instructing selected patient subgroups present in the database to make a change in their respective medical protocols. These changes are to be applied to all members of the selected medical subgroup; and in addition the method provides for specific patient instructions for the individualized components of the medical protocols. By using the mass customization method whereby subgroup selected changes are combined with individualized changes, both population management and individual patient management goals may be realized

The present invention further describes methods and apparatus useful in translating a complex medical treatment plan of a medical outpatient into a sequential series of automated, prompt and record events presented over time. In addition, individual patient medical treatment plans may be remotely created, modified, or viewed depending upon role-based assignments that permit different levels of access to and modification of the patient'"'"'s time-and-event-driven medical treatment plan, depending upon the assigned role of the caregiver in the patient'"'"'s treatment. The method has application in creating and linking medical databases containing data points that define the outpatient'"'"'s medical treatment plan or protocol, with devices that can prompt the outpatient to carry out the sequential steps of a medical treatment plan, in proximity to the database, or while mobile at remote locations from the database.

This method facilitates converting a complex medical treatment plan into a series of simple steps presented by the remote prompting and monitoring device, to assist patients and their caregivers in proper health management. By using the real-time, time-and-event-driven method, individual patient management goals and improved patient treatment outcomes may be realized by outpatients with chronic and complex conditions.

Claims

1. A method for mass-modification of protocols in an information system, comprising the steps of:

determining target characteristics pertaining to target patients having protocol information capable of being updated;

comparing said target characteristics with source characteristics contained in profiles of source patients to find a match between said target characteristics and said source characteristics;

updating protocol information of said target patients, said protocol information of target patients being copied from said profiles of said source patients; and

transmitting the updated protocol information to a corresponding patient monitoring device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of instructing said corresponding patient monitoring device to convert the updated protocol information into a series of queries, whereby responses from said queries are communicated to a remote device for report generation to medical personnel.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating said responses to the information system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of converting said protocol information of said target patients into a series of messages.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of requiring said target patients to carry out a detailed series of events related to taking medication.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of requiring said target patients to follow a series of instructions.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of accessing health status of said target patient.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of relating said messages to any other information of value in monitoring of said target patient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said source characteristics from the group comprising:

age, gender, occupation, disease state, medical history event, medication categories, medication dosages, physiological measurement, psychological measurement, geographical location, organ failure, clinical setting, pharmaceutical company responsible for medication, and organ dysfunction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of relating said source characteristics to a combination of said source characteristics pertaining to said source patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the information system is a standard ODBC compliant database.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the information system can be imported into other preexisting databases.

13. A method for modifying medical protocols in an information system, comprising the steps of:

entering elements of a medical protocol specific to a particular patient in an information system file pertaining to said patient;

transmitting said file to a monitoring device of said patient;

converting said file into a series of queries; and

communicating responses gathered by said queries back to a device for report-generation to medical personnel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

communicating said responses to said database.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

remotely entering said elements of a medical protocol from one or more of the following;

said monitoring device;

cellular telephones;

pagers;

interactive televisions;

custom-manufactured medical monitoring devices;

separate personal computers; and

“

thin-client”

Internet terminals.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

remotely entering said elements of a medical protocol by one or more of the following means;

direct dial-in, and Internet access.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

relating said elements of a medical protocol to one or more of the following;

medication type;

medication dosage, dietary regimen, and reminders.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

relating said elements of a medical protocol to any algorithm-driven events that are based upon data entered by an information system user into the information system.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the information system is a standard ODBC compliant database.

20. A method for providing services involving the use of remote devices communicating with a database comprising:

providing a database containing data, including one or more inputted transaction terms for one or more users of remote devices linked to the database;

providing one or more remote devices capable of communicating with said database;

communicating data residing in the database to one or more of said devices;

communicating between said devices and the database for an authorized period of time;

whereby the transaction terms determine the authorized period of time of communication; and

whereby the transaction terms are agreed upon by a customer and the provider of the database and communication services; and

whereby at least a portion of the communicated data is stored in the database, and is specifically related to the user of the device.

21. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing two or more remote patient devices capable of communicating with said database;

said patients interacting with said two or more remote devices in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said devices;

communicating said patient interactions from said devices to the database;

providing rules that correlate the information communicated to the database with financial transaction terms to determine whether said communication is continued or discontinued.

22. A method for assigning a suite of software applications stored in a database comprising:

providing a database containing one or more software applications;

providing a device capable of communicating with said database;

communicating with the database, to select one or more software applications based upon a specific device user characteristic;

making said software application available to be used on the information device of a user based upon one or more characteristics of the user;

downloading said software application to said device, or enabling said device to use the application via a client-server mechanism;

the device user using said software to modify his or her behavior or life experience.

23. An apparatus for storing the medication of a patient comprising:

providing one or more medication containers of different sizes;

providing different functional features for each container;

providing means whereby the container may communicate with an information device;

whereby said container communicates information to said information device, to include information about the medication use of the patient.

24. A method for providing medication consumption information stored in a database comprising:

providing a database;

providing remote patient devices capable of communicating with said database, and capable of storing medication consumption information;

communicating said medication consumption information to said database using said device;

using said database to communicate said medication consumption information to one or more suppliers along the pharmaceutical supply chain.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said remote patient device is selected from the group comprising Medi-Monitor, Med-eMonitor, Palm Pilot, portable telephone, mobile interactive pager, interactive television, or personal digital assistant.

26. A method for providing analysis of the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical compound comprising:

providing a database containing one or more types of medical data for one or more patients, said data captured in real-time from the patient using one or more patient monitoring devices;

whereby at least of portion of said data relates to the record of medication taken by said patients;

whereby said record of medication is correlated with at least one additional data element related to the health of the patient.

27. A method for providing medical treatment protocols resident in a database comprising:

providing a database containing one or more medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing a patient device capable of communicating with said database;

communicating to said device the medical treatment protocol resident in the database;

using said patient device to communicate to the patient or caregiver said medical treatment protocol by electronic communication means, wherein said medical treatment protocol is converted into a sequence of specific events delivered in a specific order and at specific times;

whereby the medical treatment protocol is converted into a sequence of prompt-and-record messages communicated by the device to the patient or caregiver

28. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing a remote patient device capable of communicating with said database;

said patient interacting with said remote device in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said device;

communicating said patient interactions from said device to the database;

providing rules that determine whether and how users of the information system may access the database to enter data representing the medical treatment protocol.

29. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing a remote patient device capable of communicating with said database;

said patient interacting with said remote device in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said device;

communicating said patient interactions from said device to the database;

providing rules that determine whether and how users of the information system may read the communications from said device to said database.

30. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing a remote patient device capable of communicating with said database;

said patient interacting with said remote device in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said device;

communicating said patient interactions from said device to the database;

providing rules that determine which information services provided by the database may be accessed by the patient.

31. A method for providing medical treatment protocols resident in a database comprising:

providing a database containing one or more medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing two or more patient devices capable of communicating with said database;

communicating to said two or more devices the medical treatment protocol resident in the database;

using said patient devices to communicate to the patient or caregiver said medical treatment protocol by electronic communication means, wherein said medical treatment protocol is converted into a sequence of specific events delivered in a specific order and at specific times;

whereby the medical treatment protocol is converted into a sequence of prompt-and-record messages synchronously communicated by the two or more devices to the patient or caregiver

32. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing two or more remote patient devices capable of communicating with said database;

said patient interacting with said two or more remote devices in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said devices;

communicating said patient interactions from said devices to the database;

providing rules that synchronize the information communicated to the database such that the database is updated, and communicates updated information to the two or more patient monitors.

33. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing two or more remote patient devices capable of communicating with said database;

said patient interacting with a selected one of said remote devices in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said device;

communicating said patient interactions from said device to the database;

providing rules that update said data in said database such that future communications from said database to additional patient monitors reflect the updated data.

33-1. A method for providing medical treatment protocols stored in a database which is part of a patient information system comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing two or more remote patient devices used by a single patient capable of communicating with said database;

said patient interacting with said two or more remote devices in response to a series of messages provided to the patient by said devices;

communicating said patient interactions from said two or more devices to the database;

providing rules that enable the database to properly synchronize the operation of the two or more devices such that the patient can use a suite of monitoring devices whereby the instructions for the proper operation of the suite of devices is continuously updated by the database

35. A method for providing icon-driven screens displayed on a device and stored in a database comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for one or more patients;

providing a remote patient device capable of communicating with said database;

communicating using said device with the database;

using said database to communicate to said device one or more icons to be displayed on said patient device screen, whereby selecting an icon displayed on said screen provides a link to medical information related to the patient.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said device is selected from the group comprising Medi-Monitor, Med-eMonitor, Palm Pilot, portable telephone, mobile interactive pager, interactive television, or personal digital assistant.

37. A method for modifying medical protocols stored in a database comprising:

providing a database containing medical protocols for three or more patients;

providing a patient device capable of communicating with said database;

communicating using said device with the database to select a group containing two or more patients based upon a specific patient characteristic;

using said patient device to modify the group of selected patient protocols by electronic communication means wherein each protocol in the selected group is modified in the same way.