System and method for intake of a patient in a hospital emergency room

• US 20040138924A1
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medisolve, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medisolve, Inc.
• Inventors: Pristine, Gorsev
• Application Number:
  US10/733,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel system and method for intake of medical patients to emergency rooms at hospitals. An embodiment of the invention includes a kiosk with an audio assisted touch screen that presents a number of intake questions to a patient in their preferred language to automate the repetitive component of the interviews. In response to the questions, the kiosk generates an intake report for presentation to a health care worker such as a doctor or a nurse to create a jump-start for the live interview. In this manner, waiting times at hospital emergency rooms can be used to initiate the patient care, even before they see the health care staff, safely since the application can also streamline the waiting room population and save time for all involved parties including the patients, nurses, the physicians and the health care facility. The application has desktop and web versions. The interview is customizable at every level for the questions, flow and language. The suggested consistent and methodical screening for all system/organs and documentation of the interview'"'"'s findings helps to reduce physician errors and provides a malpractice shield.

Claims

1. A computing device for location proximal to a waiting area of a hospital emergency room and for intake of a patient in said hospital emergency room comprising a touch-screen operable to receive input by allowing said patient to depress active portions along the surface of said touch-screen, said touch screen further operable to display information to said patient;

said computing device further comprising a set of headphones connected to said computing device for presenting audio output to said patient; and

wherein said computing device is configured to receive an identification of said patient and a preferred language of said patient, and further operable to present on said touch screen at least one main question and a plurality of dependent questions linked to a response of said main question and each other, said questions presented in said preferred language of said patient, said questions pertaining to an intake procedure of said patient to said hospital, said device further operable to receive responses to each of said of said questions by touch screen input from said patient, said device further operable to generate an intake report based on said responses in a preferred language of a hospital staff member responsible for further processing of said intake of said patient.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said computing device is attachable to a printing device local to said computing device and wherein said report is generated at said printing device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said computing device is connected to an intake server via a network, and wherein said report is delivered to said intake server.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said intake server is attachable to a printing device local to said intake server and wherein said report is generated at said printing device.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said intake server is connected to a plurality of treatment room client computing devices via said network, and wherein said treatment room clients include an output device.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is mounted within the housing of a kiosk.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is a stand-alone personal computer.

8. In a computing device for location proximal to a waiting area of a hospital emergency room comprising a touch-screen operable to receive input by allowing depression of active portions along the surface of said touch-screen, said touch screen further operable to display information, a method for intake of a patient in said hospital emergency room comprising the steps of:

receiving input from said touch screen representing a preferred language of said patient;

receiving input from said touch screen representing an identification of said patient;

presenting an intake question to said patient on said touch-screen;

receiving input from said touch screen representing responses to said intake questions;

repeating said presenting and receiving of said responses steps until a desired number of intake question responses have been received; and

generating an intake report in a preferred language of a hospital staff member responsible for further intake of said patient.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said computing device is attachable to a printing device local to said computing device and wherein said report is generated at said printing device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said computing device is connected to an intake server via a network, and wherein said report is delivered to said intake server.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said intake server is attachable to a printing device local to said intake server and wherein said report is generated at said printing device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said intake server is connected to a plurality of treatment root client computing devices via said network, and wherein said treatment room clients include an output device, said intake server operable to determine an available one of said treatment rooms and to direct said report to said treatment room client computing device respective to said available one.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said computing device is mounted within the housing of a kiosk.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said computing device is a stand-alone personal computer.

15. A computer readable media for storing programming instructions for use with a computing device for location proximal to a waiting area of a hospital emergency room comprising a touch-screen operable to receive input by allowing depression of active portions along the surface of said touch-screen, said touch screen further operable to display information, and a method for intake of a patient in said hospital emergency room comprising the steps of:

receiving input from said touch screen representing a preferred language of said patient;

receiving input from said touch screen representing an identification of said patient;

presenting an intake question to said patient on said touch-screen;

receiving input from said touch screen representing responses to said intake questions;

repeating said presenting and receipt of said responses steps until a desired number of intake question responses have been received; and

generating an intake report in a preferred language of a hospital staff member responsible for further intake of said patient.

16. A system for intake of a patient in said hospital emergency room comprising at least one computing device associated with a waiting area of a hospital emergency room and a comprising a touch-screen operable to receive input by allowing said patient to depress active portions along the surface of said touch-screen, said touch screen further operable to display information to said patient;

said computing device further comprising a set of headphones connected to said computing device for presenting audio output to said patient; and

wherein said computing device is configured to receive an identification of said patient and a preferred language of said patient, and further operable to present on said touch screen at least one main question and a plurality of dependent questions linked to a response of said main question and each other, said questions presented in said preferred language of said patient, said questions pertaining to an intake procedure of said patient to said hospital, said computing device further operable to receive responses to each of said questions by touch screen input from said patient, said computing device further operable to generate an intake report based on said responses in a preferred language of a hospital staff member responsible for further processing of said intake of said patient;

said system further comprising an intake server for connection to said computing devices and for receiving intake reports generated thereby;

said system further comprising a plurality of treatment room clients connected to said intake server, said treatment room clients including an output device operable to present said intake reports;

said server operable to direct said intake reports to an appropriate one of said treatment room clients according to a prioritization criteria.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein said device is a kiosk located in said waiting room.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein said device is a wireless portable computing device operable to connect with said server via a wireless network such that a patient en route to said hospital can complete at least some of said questions prior to arrival at said hospital.