Method of an apparatus for monitoring the processing cycle of a job and instructing workers to perform events or steps according to a standard

• US 7,764,179 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenn G. Strawder
• Original Assignee: Glenn G. Strawder
• Inventors: Strawder, Glenn G.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/472,292
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/506, 340/507, 340/524, 340/525, 340/527, 340/529, 340/3.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

A method for recording information about a particular patient being processed through a hospital or medical facility that has a number of departments, each of which may perform a different type of procedure on a patient is described. A physician may enter an order into a computer which describes the procedure to be performed on the patient. A computer has various inputs respectively operable by different workers in various departments of the hospital to provide information about the patient and which is compared with a standard protocol for medical procedures performed in the various departments. The computer may then print out a description of the patients stay in the hospital including an variations from the standard protocol.

Claims

1. Apparatus for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility, the apparatus comprising:

a) a computer system including a display screen, and memory which stores a plurality of procedures for at least one department at the facility, and entries from medical facility workers that order and perform events and steps involved in the processing of the procedures, wherein each procedure comprises a standard protocol involved in processing the procedure, including various events, steps, worker performance instructions, and specified amounts of time allowed for workers to perform at least one of the events and steps involved in processing the procedure;

wherein a specified amount of time is allotted for a complete processing of a procedure, such that when any worker involved in a particular event or step of the procedure does not perform the event or step within the specified amount of time, the computer compares the actual performance time to the specified amount of time of the selected procedure and issues a warning accordingly,

b) medical equipment for performing medical functions involved in at least one of the procedures, wherein the equipment is operated by workers in at least two different ways;

c) said computer system having stored instructions for operating said equipment in said at least two different ways, respectively; and

d) said computer system recording at least one of the events, steps, or functions that the workers perform during the procedure, such that at least one of the events or steps involved in the performed functions is compared with at least one of said stored instructions, thereby causing the computer system to issue a message,

wherein, when the comparison shows that the at least one event or step was performed correctly, a reminder message including a reminder pertaining to at least one future event or step is issued, when at least one future event or step is required; and

when the comparison shows that the at least one event or step was performed incorrectly, a warning message including instructions on how to correct the performed function is issued; and

when a set number of warning messages are sent to a particular worker pertaining to a specific event or step performed by the worker, an alarm is issued to a manager of that particular worker indicating that the set number of warning messages have been reached.

2. The apparatus for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer renders a report that shows whether or not a worker has been given a warning message.

3. The apparatus for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility as defined in claim 1, wherein, when said worker does not respond to said warning message, said computer gives notice to respond to said warning message.

4. The apparatus for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer creates a report showing a worker'"'"'s responses to the computer instructions.

5. A method for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility, comprising:

a) providing a computer system including a display screen including a memory which stores more than one procedure for at least one department at the facility, and entries from medical facility workers that order or perform the procedures, wherein each procedure comprises a standard protocol involved in processing the procedure, including various events, steps, worker performance instructions, and specified amounts of time allowed for workers to perform at least one of the events and steps involved in processing the procedure;

wherein a specified amount of time is allotted for a complete processing of a procedure, such that when any worker involved in a particular event or step of the procedure does not perform the event or step within the specified amount of time, the computer compares the actual performance time to the specified amount of time of the selected procedure in accordance with the standard protocol, and issues a warning accordingly

b) providing medical equipment for performing medical functions involved in at least some of the procedures, wherein said equipment is operated by workers in at least two different way;

c) storing instructions for operating said equipment in said at least two different ways, respectively; and

d) storing in said computer, some of the events and steps that the workers perform during the processing of a procedure, such that at least one of the events or steps involved is compared with at least one of said stored instructions, thereby causing a message to be issued,

wherein, when the comparison shows that an event or step was performed according to said standard protocol, a reminder message including a reminder pertaining to a future event or step of the procedure is issued, when a future event or step of the procedure is required; and

when the comparison shows that an event or step was not performed according to said standard protocol, a warning message indicating that the event or step was not performed according to said standard protocol is issued; and

when a set number of warning messages are sent to a particular worker pertaining to a specific event or step, an alarm is issued to another worker indicating that the set number or warning messages have been reached.

6. The method for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility as defined in claim 5, wherein the computer system renders a report that shows whether or not a worker has been given a warning message.

7. The method for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility as defined in claim 5, wherein when a worker does not respond to a notification of a warning message, said computer gives notice to respond to said warning message.

8. The method for performing at least one of a plurality of medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one of a plurality of departments at a medical facility as defined in claim 5, wherein the computer system creates a report showing a worker'"'"'s responses to said instructions.

9. An apparatus for performing events and steps involved in the processing of one or more medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one department at a medical facility, the apparatus comprising:

a) a computer system including a display screen, and memory which stores one or more procedures for one or more departments at the facility, and entries from medical facility workers that order and perform the processing of events and steps of the procedures, wherein each procedure comprises a standard protocol including various events, steps and worker performance instructions involved in processing the procedure;

wherein processing of a procedure is performed within a specified amount of time and there is also a specified amount of time for some events and steps to be performed within, the computer compares the actual time that a worker at the facility takes to perform an event or step, to a specified amount of time allotted in accordance with a standard protocol of the selected procedure, and when a worker does not perform the event or step within the specified amount of time, the computer issues a warning,

b) medical equipment for performing medical functions involved in at least some of the procedures, wherein the equipment is operated by workers in at least two different ways;

c) said computer system having stored instructions for operating said equipment in said at least two different ways, respectively; and

d) said computer system recording at least one of the events and steps that the workers perform during the processing of the procedure, such that at least one of the events or steps performed is compared with at least one of said stored instructions, thereby causing the computer system to issue a message,

wherein, when the comparison shows that the event or step was performed correctly, a reminder message including a reminder pertaining to a future event or step of the procedure is issued, when a future event or step of the procedure is required; and

when the comparison shows that the event or step was performed incorrectly, a warning message including instructions on how to correct the event or step is issued; and

when a set number of warning messages are sent to a particular worker pertaining to a specific event or step in the process, an alarm is issued to a manager of that particular worker indicating that the set number of warning messages has been reached.

10. The apparatus for performing the events and steps involving the processing of one or more medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one department at a medical facility as defined in claim 9, wherein said computer renders a report that shows when a worker has been given a warning message.

11. The apparatus for performing the events and steps involving the processing of one or more medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one department at a medical facility as defined in claim 9, wherein when a worker does not respond to the notification of a warning message, said computer alerts another worker to respond to the notification.

12. The apparatus for performing the events and steps involving the processing of one or more medical procedures on a patient, each procedure being associated with at least one department at a medical facility as defined in claim 9, wherein said computer creates a report showing a worker'"'"'s responses to the computer instructions.