Method and system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system with an emergency medical dispatch protocol

• US 7,106,835 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Priority Consultants, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Priority Consultants, Inc.
• Inventors: Saalsaa, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/124,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/37, 379/49, 340/505, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/540, 340/5.61, 340/825.49, 340/573.1, 455/404.2, 455/457, 455/11.1, 700/108, 705/2, 705/7, 705/11
• US Class Current: 379/45
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An interface between a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol is provided. Able to operate in either a resident or a non-resident mode, this invention coordinates the transfer of control and information between the computer aided dispatch system and the emergency medical dispatch protocol to improve the efficiency of emergency medical response resources while maintaining the certainty of the use of an established medical response and instruction protocol.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, comprising:

(A) initiating a computer aided dispatch system;

(B) receiving an incident call;

(C) calling an expert emergency medical dispatch system, said expert emergency medical dispatch system interrogating for information;

calculating a determinate value based on said information; and

setting a dispatch process state for use by said computer aided dispatch system;

(D) returning control to saId computer aided dispatch system, said computer aided dispatch system testing for said desired dispatch process states, wherein said dispatch process states provide a control for the operation of said computer aided dispatch system; and

(E) returning control to said expert emergency medical dispatch system.

2. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, further comprising writing a computer aided dispatch incident to a communication file.

3. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, further comprising reporting errors to a user.

4. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states fwlher comprises testing if an operator has selected a release to pending option.

5. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing if an operator of said computer aided dispatch system needs to retrieve a case.

6. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether said expert emergency medical dispatch system has recommended that a dispatch should occur.

7. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether said expert emergency medical dispatch system has changed a recommended dispatch level.

8. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether a user has aborted a case.

9. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether a case has been completed.

10. A method for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 1, wherein said testing for desired process states further comprises testing whether an error has occurred.

11. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, comprising:

(A) a computer device; and

(B) a computer program operating on said computer device, wherein said computer program further comprises;

(1) an operating system, managing the operation of said computer device;

(2) a computer aided dispatch system operating in cooperation with said operating system to manage emergency response resources;

(3) an emergency medical response protocol system for guiding a dispatcher'"'"'s response to a caller, wherein said emergency medical response protocol system further comprises a set of specified inquiries, a calculated determinate value based one or more responses to said set of specified inquiries, and a defined emergency medical response based on said determinate value; and

(4) an interface between said computer aided dispatch system and said emergency medical response protocol system, wherein said interface is a process for communicating information between said computer aided dispatch system and said emergency medical response protocol system, wherein said interface further comprises a miscellaneous file containing information unique to a workstation;

a configuration file containing configuration variables;

a communication file which is a bidirectional file for use in communicating data between said computer aided dispatch system and said emergency medical response protocol system, a set of state flags set by said emergency medical response protocol system and detected by said computer aided dispatch system to control operation of said computer aided dispatch system; and

an export file.

12. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 11, wherein said computer device further comprises:

(1) a processor, wherein said processor is capable of opelating both a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical response protocol system;

(2) a memory unit in electronic communication with said processor;

(3) a display device in electronic communication with said processor; and

(4) an input device in electronic communication with said processor.

13. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 11, wherein said operating system is selected from the group consisting of MS-DOS, Windows, Unix, AIX, CLIX, QNX, OS/2, and Apple.

14. A system for integrating a computer aided dispatch system and an emergency medical dispatch protocol, as recited in claim 11, wherein said interface further comprises a method comprising:

(a) initiating a computer aided dispatch system;

(b) receiving an incident call;

(c) calling an expert emergency medical dispatch system, said expert emergency medical dispatch system setting one or more desired process states;

(d) returning to said computer aided dispatch system, said computer aided dispatch system testing for said one or more desired process states; and

(e) returning control to said expert emergency medical dispatch system.