Method and System for Representation of Current and Historical Medical Data

• US 20070198301A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Fotiades, Anestes, Dieffenbach, David, Brazell, Robert, Ayers, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for reporting medical data including both current and past medical results for medical tests performed on a patient is provided. The medical data is output in columns, and the current results and past results of the same medical test are presented in the same row. In this manner, the report is provided in a layout that has rows and columns, so that all current results are presented in one column, and all past results are presented in a separate column. In addition, graphs of the medical results can be displayed to illustrate current and past medical results in a view that allows for trend and comparative diagnosis.

Claims

1. A method of reporting medical data comprising:

receiving current result data of medical tests performed on a patient;

outputting the current result data of the medical tests in a graph; and

outputting previous result data of the medical tests performed on the patient in the graph, so that the previous result data and the current result data of the medical tests are associated, wherein the medical tests are selected from a group of tests relevant to kidney or liver function.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the current result data of the medical tests in a layout having rows and columns; and

outputting the previous result data of the medical tests performed on the patient in the layout in a separate column, so that the previous result data and the current result data of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying instances in which a current result of the medical test is abnormal and at least one previous result exists for the medical test; and

outputting in the graph data points including the abnormal current result and the at least one previous result.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

indicating a type of instrument used to perform each medical test; and

indicating within each row of result data in separate columns the following information;

a type of test performed, the current result data, the previous result data, a range of reference data that defines values for results of the medical test pertaining to a low and a high result, and a graphical indicator that indicates whether the current result data of the medical test is low, normal or high.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

outputting a graphical indicator for each medical test that indicates whether the current result data of the medical test is low, normal or high, wherein the graphical indicator is a slidebar that illustrates a measurement value for the medical test, wherein the graphical indicator is output in the layout in a column between the current result data and the previous result data so that the previous result data, the current result data and the graphical indicator of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout; and

outputting a range of reference data pertaining to each medical test in the layout in a column between the current result data and the previous result data so that the previous result data, the current result data and the range of reference data of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout, wherein the range of reference data defines values for results of the medical test pertaining to a low and a high result.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising also outputting on the graphical indicator for each medical test whether the previous results of the medical test have been low, normal or high.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising a textual indicator that indicates whether the current result data is out of the reference range.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the graph to a remote location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the previous result data of the medical tests performed on the patient in the graph, so that the previous result data and the current result data of the medical tests are associated comprises outputting a printed document.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the previous result data of the medical tests performed on the patient in the graph, so that the previous result data and the current result data of the medical tests are associated comprises outputting the layout on a computer display.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising if a current or previous result data of a medical test is abnormal, outputting data pertaining to the current or previous result data in a color different from normal results.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical tests are selected from the group of tests consisting of alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) tests, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests, aspirate aminotransferase (AST) tests, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests and creatinine (CREA) tests.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical tests comprise alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) tests, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests, aspirate aminotransferase (AST) tests, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests and creatinine (CREA) tests.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the graph is of a form selected from the group consisting of a bar graph, a line graph, and a pie graph.

15. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing a processing unit to execute the method of claim 1.

16. A graphical interface for displaying medical data, the graphical interface comprising:

medical data pertaining to current results of medical tests performed on a patient in a layout having rows and columns;

medical data pertaining to previous results of the medical tests in the layout in a column by the current results, so that previous results and current results of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout; and

a graph in the layout illustrating medical data for the medical tests in which the graph includes illustrations indicating both current result data and previous result data,

wherein the medical tests are selected from a group of tests relevant to kidney or liver function.

17. The graphical interface of claim 16, further comprising a graphical indicator for each medical test that indicates whether the current result data of the medical test is low, normal or high, wherein the graphical indicator is a slidebar that illustrates a measurement value for the medical test, wherein the graphical indicator is output in the layout in a column between the current result data and the previous result data so that the previous result data, the current result data and the graphical indicator of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout.

18. The graphical interface of claim 17, further comprising a range of reference data pertaining to each medical test in the layout in a column between the current result data and the previous result data so that the previous result data, the current result data and the range of reference data of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout, wherein the range of reference data defines values for results of the medical test pertaining to a low and a high result.

19. A computer readable medium having program code recorded thereon for execution on a computer to provide a report of medical data, comprising:

a first program code for receiving current result data of medical tests performed on a patient;

a second program code for outputting the current result data of the medical tests in a graph; and

a third program code for outputting previous result data of the medical tests performed on the patient in the graph, so that the previous result data and the current result data of the medical tests are associated,

wherein the medical tests are selected from a group of tests relevant to kidney or liver function.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

a fourth program code for outputting the current result data of the medical tests in a layout having rows and columns; and

a fifth program code for outputting the previous result data of the medical tests in the layout in a column, so that previous results and current results of the same medical test are in the same row in the layout.