METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO IDENTIFY CODE HIERARCHY BIAS IN MEDICAL PRIORITY DISPATCH SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method to improve the clinical accuracy of determinant level codes generated by medical priority dispatch systems, the method comprising:
- a computer system receiving from a medical priority dispatch system a determinant level code selected by a dispatcher utilizing the medical priority dispatch system;
the computer system receiving from the medical priority dispatch system one or more reported aspects collected from a caller who responds to questions asked by the dispatcher, wherein the questions are provided to the dispatcher by the medical priority dispatch system;
the computer system generating a determinant level sub-code and pairing it with the determinant level code, wherein the determinant level sub-code is generated by the computer system based on the reported aspects;
the computer system comparing the determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pair to other determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pairs to identify whether a situation involving the reported aspects is susceptible to introducing code hierarchy bias; and
the computer outputting information resulting from the comparison of determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pairs that can be used to improve the clinical accuracy of the determinant level codes generated by the medical priority dispatch system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method assists an emergency medical dispatcher in responding to emergency calls by generating a determinant level code. A computer implemented method to determine Code Hierarchy Bias generates a determinant level sub-code that can be stored and analyzed with the determinant level code to determine the nature of Code Hierarchy Bias, to reveal hidden signs, symptoms, and conditions, to improve the accuracy and usefulness of determinant level codes, and to tailor emergency medical response structure for a more efficient use of emergency response personnel and resources.
116 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method to improve the clinical accuracy of determinant level codes generated by medical priority dispatch systems, the method comprising:
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a computer system receiving from a medical priority dispatch system a determinant level code selected by a dispatcher utilizing the medical priority dispatch system; the computer system receiving from the medical priority dispatch system one or more reported aspects collected from a caller who responds to questions asked by the dispatcher, wherein the questions are provided to the dispatcher by the medical priority dispatch system; the computer system generating a determinant level sub-code and pairing it with the determinant level code, wherein the determinant level sub-code is generated by the computer system based on the reported aspects; the computer system comparing the determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pair to other determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pairs to identify whether a situation involving the reported aspects is susceptible to introducing code hierarchy bias; and the computer outputting information resulting from the comparison of determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pairs that can be used to improve the clinical accuracy of the determinant level codes generated by the medical priority dispatch system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented method for enabling evaluation and research of code hierarchy bias in medical priority dispatch systems, the method comprising:
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a medical priority dispatch computer system receiving caller responses to questions provided by the medical priority dispatch system; the medical priority dispatch computer system generating a determinant level code based on the caller responses; the medical priority dispatch computer system generating a determinant level sub-code based on the caller responses by selecting a sub-code representing a combination of reported signs, symptoms, and conditions from a list of sub-codes representing potential combinations of signs, symptoms, and conditions that can be reported in the caller responses; and the medical priority dispatch system storing the determinant level sub-code in combination with the determinant level code in a computer-readable storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method for emergency medical dispatch response, the method comprising:
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a computer system receiving caller responses to questions asked by a dispatcher, wherein the responses are input into the computer system by the dispatcher, and wherein the questions are provided to the dispatcher according to a pre-scripted protocol by a medical priority dispatch system running on the computer system; the computer system and dispatcher generating a determinant level code indicative of the criticality of the call based on the caller responses; the computer system generating a determinant level sub-code based on a combination of signs, symptoms, and conditions that may be reported in the caller responses to the protocol questions; the computer system storing the determinant level code and the determinant level sub-code pair; and the computer system communicating to an emergency response agency the determinant level code and determinant level sub-code. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer system for identifying code hierarchy bias in a medical priority dispatch system, the computer system comprising:
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a medical priority dispatch system to generate a determinant level code indicative of the criticality of the call based on caller responses to questions asked by a dispatcher, wherein the questions are provided to the dispatcher according to a pre-scripted protocol by the medical priority dispatch system; a code hierarchy system in communication with the medical priority dispatch system, the computer system configured to receive the determinant level code generated on the medical priority dispatch system, to generate a determinant level sub-code based on a combination of signs, symptoms, and conditions that may be reported in the caller responses to the questions asked by the dispatcher, to store the determinant level code and the determinant level sub-code pair; and
communicate to an emergency response agency the determinant level code and determinant level sub-code,wherein the computer system compares the determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pair to other determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pairs to identify whether a combination of reported aspects of a situation is susceptible to code hierarchy bias and outputs information resulting from the comparison of determinant level code and determinant level sub-code pairs that can be used to improve the clinical accuracy of the determinant level codes generated by the medical priority dispatch system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A computer system for identifying code hierarchy bias in medical priority dispatch systems, the computer system comprising:
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a processor; an output device; an input device; a memory having stored thereon; pre-scripted inquiries to be directed to an emergency caller by a dispatcher utilizing the computer system; pre-scripted instructions to be provided to an emergency caller by the dispatcher; a protocol module configured to present, on the monitor, the pre-scripted inquiries and instructions to the dispatcher; and a calculator module configured to determine a determinant level code and determinant level sub-code based on caller responses to the pre-scripted inquiries. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification