System and method for managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility

• US 20030074222A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allscripts Software LLC (Veradigm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eclipsys Corporation (Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adam, Joe, Roth, Chris, Rosow, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An integrated health care delivery network with enabling software and network technology to maximize bed resources, manage varying census levels, and avoid patient diversions through real-time monitoring, automation and communication, is disclosed. Preferably, the present invention is embodied in a bed management system that interfaces with and complements existing Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) systems. The bed management system is an easy-to-use business intelligence application that is designed to allow administrators, clinicians and managers to easily access, analyze and display real-time patient and bed availability information from ancillary information systems, databases and spreadsheets. It enables users to see trends and relationships in hospital (bed) management data directly from their desktop personal computers.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for managing bed occupancy levels in a health care facility comprising:

a server computer;

a system interface for coupling said server computer to a patient admissions/discharge system of a health care facility;

a database coupled to said server computer for storing patient data and bed attribute data for said healthcare facility;

at least one client computer coupled to said server computer, said client computer having a user interface including a display monitor coupled thereto;

said server computer for monitoring said admissions/discharge system and updating said stored data according to patient admission/discharge transactions and for retrieving, processing and updating said stored data in response to requests from said client computer;

said client computer receiving user requests through the user interface and transmitting said requests to said server computer wherein a user can selectively access, analyze and display bed occupancy data for said health care facility.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said system interface coupling said server computer to an admissions/discharge system is an input device coupled to said server computer.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said server computer is a Web server and said client computer is connectable thereto via the Internet.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said server computer is an Intranet server and said at least one client computer is coupled thereto via a network.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said server computer includes at least one intelligent agent for monitoring predetermined conditions related to said data stored in the database.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said at least one intelligent agent also provides user notification upon the occurrence of said predetermined conditions.

9. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein the conditions monitored by said intelligent agents are variable.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said server computer in response to request from the client computer for a bed assignment for a patient has the capacity to access the data stored in the database and compare said patient data with said bed attribute data for available beds and, upon identification of an appropriate bed, assign the patient thereto.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said server computer has the additional capability to further process the client request for a bed assignment for the patient by updating said stored data according to said bed assignment and transmitting a confirmation thereof to said client computer.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein if the comparison of said patient data and bed attribute data results in no available bed being identified for the patient, said server computer has the additional capability to analyze said stored data as to patient bed assignments for at least a portion of said health care facility and transmit to said client computer at least one proposed rearrangement of said bed assignments wherein a bed is made available for said patient.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein if the comparison of said patient data and bed attribute data results in no available bed being identified for the patient, said server computer has the additional capability to transmit an appropriate notification to said client computer.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said server computer has a bed management module for generating graphical or tabular representations of said bed assignment data and bed attribute data for at least a portion of said health care facility.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said server computer automatically assigns a patient to a bed in said health care facility in accordance with the results of a comparison of said patient data with said bed assignment data and bed attribute data of said health care facility.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second data base coupled to said server computer for parallel storage of at least a portion of said patient data and data pertaining to beds in said healthcare facility wherein said second database is connectable to a back-up processor for access to said stored data in the event of a malfunction of a component of said system.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said system interface is configured to couple said server computer to an Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) system of a health care facility.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said system interface further comprises a Health Level Seven (HL7) receiver.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data mining and reporting module associated with said server computer for processing said stored data in response to a user request for a summary or an analysis thereof wherein results of said processing are forwarded to said client computer for display or output.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said graphical user interface utilizes multiple colors for indicating attributes of said patient data or said data pertaining to beds in said health care facility.

19. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said graphical user interface further comprises an indicator for selectively providing current data as to total occupancy for said health care facility or a portion thereof.

20. A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said application server analyzes said stored data and displays predictions for bed occupancy levels and bed availability at future times in response to a user request for same via said client computer.

21. A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said displayed predictions include graphical representations thereof.

22. A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said application server employs intelligent agents for monitoring and user notification of certain predetermined conditions related to said bed occupancy data and said bed assignment data for said health care facility.

23. A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said predetermined conditions monitored by said intelligent agents are user defined and variable.

24. A system as defined in claim 16 further comprising a data mining and reporting module coupled to said server computer for processing said stored data in response to a user request for a summary or an analysis thereof.

25. A system as defined in claim 24 wherein results of said processing are forwarded to said client computer for display or output thereof.

26. A system as defined in claim 24 wherein said data mining and reporting module employs statistical and analytical methods including utilization of Statistical Process Control (SPC) tools.

27. A system as defined in claim 24 wherein said data mining and reporting module employs statistical and analytical methods including utilization of Six Sigma analysis and techniques.

28. A system as defined in claim 16 further comprising a security module coupled to said application server for controlling user access to said system.

29. A system as defined in claim 28 wherein said security module includes security measures for compliance with current Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) requirements.

30. A system as defined in claim 28 wherein said security module further comprises a login authentication module interfaced with an authentication server or system for a computer network for said health care facility such that a common password provides a user access to both the health care facility network and said system.

31. A system as defined in claim 16 further comprising an audit module coupled to said application server for monitoring and storing selected information related to transactions completed during a patient'"'"'s stay in said health care facility for recording said transactions and information pertaining to the state of said health care facility at the time of the occurrence of said transaction.

32. A system as defined in claim 16 further comprising an emergency department application coupled to said application server for providing emergency department staff access to said system for providing expedited bed assignment for selected patients in said emergency department and for notifying appropriate personnel of said health care facility as to the status and needs of said selected patients.

33. A system as defined in claim 16 further comprising a communications module coupled to said application server for processing messages to and from the application server and said client computer and between client computers or users thereof within the system.

34. A system as defined in claim 16 further comprising a utility module coupled to said application server for configuring, diagnosing and maintaining said system.

16-1. A computer implemented system for managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility comprising:

a database server;

an interface coupling said database server to a patient admissions/discharge/transfer system of a health care facility;

a database coupled to said database server for storing patient data and data pertaining to beds in said healthcare facility;

an application server coupled to said database server;

at least one client computer coupled to said application server, said client computer having a user interface and a display monitor coupled thereto;

said database server for monitoring said admissions/discharge/transfer system and updating said stored data according to patient admission/discharge/transfer transactions and for storing, retrieving and updating said patient data and data pertaining to said beds in said database;

said application server for retrieving, updating and processing said stored data from said database server in response to client requests;

said client computer for user updating of said stored data and for processing client requests wherein a user can selectively access, analyze, update and display current and historical bed occupancy data and bed assignment data for said health care facility.

17-2. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said user interface further comprises a graphical user interface for displaying graphical representations of said bed occupancy data and bed assignment data.

35. A computer implemented method for managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility comprising the steps of:

monitoring an admission/discharge/transfer system for the health care facility;

storing patient data and data pertaining to beds in a health care facility;

updating said stored data upon receipt of transaction information from said admission/discharge/transfer system regarding a patient; and

displaying at least a portion of said patient data and said data pertaining to beds in the health care facility wherein a user can manage patient bed assignments and bed occupancy levels in a health care facility by accessing and analyzing said stored data.

36. The method of managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility as defined in claim 35 further comprising a step of:

updating said stored data upon assignment or departure of a patient to/from a particular bed in said health care facility.

37. The method of managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility as defined in claim 35 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user request for accessing, analyzing, or updating said stored data;

retrieving and processing said stored data in response to said request; and

selectively displaying results of said processing, wherein a user can manage patient bed assignments and bed occupancy levels in a health care facility by selectively accessing, analyzing and updating said stored data.

38. The method of managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility as defined in claim 35 further comprising a step of:

employing intelligent agents for monitoring and notifying users of the occurrence of a predetermined condition related to said stored data.

39. The method of managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility as defined in claim 35 further comprising the steps of:

employing data mining, analysis and reporting techniques for processing said stored data upon a user request therefor; and

displaying and/or outputting results of said processing for providing summaries, and analysis of said stored data.

40. The method of managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility as defined in claim 35 further comprising a step of:

employing a security system for controlling user access to said computer implemented method for managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility.

41. The method of managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility as defined in claim 35 wherein said step of employing a security system includes complying with current Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) requirements.

43. The system as defined in claim 36 wherein:

the client computer also accepts user requests for patient and bed assignments, and transmits the requests to the server computer; and

the server responds to the client computer and confirms or rejects the assignments.

44. The system as defined in claim 36 wherein the server computer generates graphical or tabular display data representing the patient and bed assignments and transmits the display data to the client computer for display to the user.

45. The system as defined in claim 36 wherein said server computer is a Web server and said client computer is connectable thereto via the Internet.

46. The system as defined in claim 36 wherein said server computer is an Intranet server and said at least one client computer is coupled thereto via a network.

42. A computer implemented system for managing bed assignments in a health care facility having a patient admissions/discharge system comprising:

a database for storing patient data and bed assignment data for a healthcare facility having a patient admissions/discharge system;

a server computer monitoring the patient admissions/discharge system of the health care facility, for admissions and discharges, and inputting, updating and retrieving patient and bed assignment data stored in the database accordingly;

at least one client computer coupled to said server computer and having a user interface for receiving user requests for patient and bed assignment data and transmitting said requests to said server computer, the client computer also having a display for displaying the requested data;

said server computer being responsive to the user requests from the client computer whereby a user can selectively request, analyze and display patient and bed assignment data for said health care facility.

47. A computer implemented method for managing patient bed assignments in a health care facility comprising the steps of:

monitoring an admission/discharge/transfer system for a health care facility;

storing patient data and data pertaining to beds in the health care facility;

updating said stored data upon receipt of transaction information from said admission/discharge/transfer system regarding a patient and data pertaining to bed assignments in the health care facility; and

retrieving at least a portion of said stored patient data and said data pertaining to beds in the health care facility; and

selecting a bed assignment in the health care facility for a new or transferred patient based upon the retrieved data and data pertaining to the new or transferred patient.

48. The method of managing patient bed assignments in a health care facility as defined in claim 47 further comprising a step of:

updating said stored data upon assignment or discharge of a patient to/from a particular bed in said health care facility.

49. The method of managing patient bed assignments'"'"' in a health care facility as defined in claim 47 wherein the step of selecting includes:

receiving a user request for a bed assignment; and

displaying the retrieved data graphically in response to the user request whereby a user can select from the graphic display a bed assignment.