System and method for remotely evaluating patient compliance status

• US 20080319272A1
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Cazares, Shelley Marie, Patangay, Abhilash
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for remotely evaluating patient compliance status is presented. Compliance to a course of treatment is periodically checked through qualitative inquiry of a patient under remote management. Physiometry of the patient, that indicates emotional state, is remotely monitored contemporaneously with the qualitative state. Patient status is evaluated, including at least one of corroborating the compliance and identifying an emotional imbalance, based upon the indicated emotional state of the patient.

Claims

1. A system for remotely evaluating patient compliance status, comprising:

a query module to periodically check compliance to a course of treatment through qualitative inquiry of a patient under remote management and to remotely monitor physiometry of the patient, that indicates emotional state, contemporaneously with the qualitative state; and

an evaluation module to evaluate patient status, comprising at least one of corroborating the compliance and identifying an emotional imbalance, based upon the physiometry and the indicated emotional state of the patient.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

stored factors bearing on patient compliance selected from the group comprising medication, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle modifications.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a relative scale to determine emotional stability along a continuum or discrete set of emotional levels.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more of:

a strictly formatted qualitative inquiry, comprising questions and answers;

an intermediately formatted qualitative inquiry, comprising one or more of visual analog scales, five factor wellness scales, comfort scales, pain scales, stress scales, and spiritual wellness scales; and

a loosely formatted qualitative inquiry, comprising one or more of written wellness journals, spoken wellness journals, present-time day logs, and time-to-time day logs.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation module performs the evaluation following one or more of each response to the qualitative inquiry, at an end of a section of the qualitative inquiry, and upon completion of the qualitative inquiry.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation module dynamically modifies at least one of a nature, ordering, and directness of the evaluation.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the dynamic modification is based upon a perceived departure from normative or expected values.

8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

one or more of stored thresholds, trending, and baseline data to define the normative or expected values.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the physiometry is selected from the group comprising temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, skin resistance, pulmonary arterial pressure, heart rate variability, heart sounds, oxygen saturation, sympathetic drive, and tidal volume.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a post processing module to post process the evaluation on a patient specific, patient peer group, or general patient population basis.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the post processing comprises one or more of following up, alerting, analyzing, sharing, and storing the evaluation.

12. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a compliance checking device comprising at least one of a self-contained communicator-type device and a general purpose programmable device; and

a physiometry monitor comprising at least one of an internal sensor and an external sensor.

13. A method for remotely evaluating patient compliance status, comprising:

periodically checking compliance to a course of treatment through qualitative inquiry of a patient under remote management;

remotely monitoring physiometry of the patient, that indicates emotional state, contemporaneously with the qualitative state; and

evaluating patient status, comprising at least one of corroborating the compliance and identifying an emotional imbalance, based upon the physiometry and the indicated emotional state of the patient.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

setting factors bearing on patient compliance selected from the group comprising medication, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle modifications.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining emotional stability using a relative scale along a continuum or discrete set of emotional levels.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising one or more of:

formatting the qualitative inquiry in a strict format, comprising questions and answers;

formatting the qualitative inquiry in an intermediate format, comprising one or more of visual analog scales, five factor wellness scales, comfort scales, pain scales, stress scales, and spiritual wellness scales; and

formatting the qualitative inquiry in a loose format, comprising one or more of written wellness journals, spoken wellness journals, present-time day logs, and time-to-time day logs.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising one or more of:

performing the evaluation following each response to the qualitative inquiry;

performing the evaluation at an end of a section of the qualitative inquiry; and

performing the evaluation upon completion of the qualitative inquiry.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

dynamically modifying at least one of a nature, ordering, and directness of the evaluation.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

basing the dynamic modification upon a perceived departure from normative or expected values.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

defining the normative or expected values as one or more of thresholds, trending, and baseline data.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the physiometry is selected from the group comprising temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, skin resistance, pulmonary arterial pressure, heart rate variability, heart sounds, oxygen saturation, sympathetic drive, and tidal volume.

22. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

post processing the evaluation on a patient specific, patient peer group, or general patient population basis.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the post processing comprises one or more of following up, alerting, analyzing, sharing, and storing the evaluation.

24. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

compliance checking the patient using at least one of a self-contained communicator-type device and a general purpose programmable device; and

physiometry monitoring using at least one of an internal sensor and an external sensor.

25. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 13.

26. An apparatus for remotely evaluating patient compliance status, comprising:

means for periodically checking compliance to a course of treatment through qualitative inquiry of a patient under remote management;

means for remotely monitoring physiometry of the patient, that indicates emotional state, contemporaneously with the qualitative state; and

means for evaluating patient status, comprising at least one of means for corroborating the compliance and means for identifying an emotional imbalance, based upon the physiometry and the indicated emotional state of the patient.