Diagnostic and intervention tools for emergency medical dispatch

• US 8,103,523 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Inventors: Clawson, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan, Luke
• Application Number:
  US12/268,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20090067585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3, 600/300, 607/5
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/357 Autocues for dialog assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/401 Performance feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

A system and method assists an emergency medical dispatcher in responding to emergency calls. A computer implemented emergency medical dispatch protocol includes interrogatories for a dispatcher to ask a caller to generate an appropriate response. A diagnostic tool is provided to determine a vital sign of a patient based on a timer and caller relayed information about the patient. An intervention tool is provided to administer assistance and determine a compression rate based on a timer and caller relayed information.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method performed on a stand-alone dispatch center computer to assist a dispatcher in responding to a caller regarding a medical emergency of a patient, comprising:

providing on the dispatch center computer an emergency medical dispatch protocol to assist emergency dispatchers, the protocol including a plurality of interrogatories for a dispatcher to ask a caller over a telephone communication device to gather information that is input by the dispatcher into the dispatch center computer and used to generate an emergency medical dispatch response by emergency responders;

initiating an intervention tool on the dispatch center computer to assist in aiding a patient;

the intervention tool providing a user interface on a display of the dispatch center computer, the user interface including a start input configured to enable the dispatcher to start a timer to time a period during which the caller administers compressions to the patient'"'"'s chest;

the intervention tool running the timer in response to the dispatcher manipulating the start input and during the period that the caller administers a predetermined number of compressions to the patient'"'"'s chest;

the intervention tool providing a finished input on the user interface to enable the dispatcher to terminate the timer in response to the caller communicating over the telephone communication device a completion of the predetermined number of compressions;

the intervention tool recording a final time recorded by the timer in response to the dispatcher manipulating the finished input; and

the intervention tool determining and providing to the dispatcher a recommendation based on the predetermined number of compressions and in relation to the final time.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user interface of the intervention tool providing a close input; and

terminating operation of the intervention tool in response to the close input.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user interface providing an age input to enable the dispatcher to input an age of the patient; and

receiving input indicative of the age of the patient, wherein the intervention tool determines performance based on the age of the patient.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user interface providing a plurality of number inputs, wherein each number input corresponds with a predetermined number of compressions to be administered to the patient.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user interface displaying the final time and an ideal final time.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user interface displaying an actual compression rate.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing thereon computer readable instructions that, if executed by a stand-alone dispatch center computer, cause the stand-alone dispatch center computer to perform operations to assist a dispatcher in responding to a caller requesting emergency medical assistance for a medical emergency of a patient, the operations comprising:

providing on the dispatch center computer an emergency medical dispatch protocol to assist emergency dispatchers, the protocol including a plurality of interrogatories for a dispatcher to ask a caller over a telephone communication device to gather information that is input by the dispatcher into the dispatch center computer and used to generate an emergency medical dispatch response by emergency responders;

initiating an intervention tool on the dispatch center computer to assist in aiding a patient;

the intervention tool providing a user interface on a display of the dispatch center computer, the user interface including a start input configured to enable the dispatcher to start a timer to time a period during which the caller administers compressions to the patient'"'"'s chest;

the intervention tool running the timer in response to the dispatcher manipulating the start input and during the period that the caller administers a predetermined number of compressions to the patient'"'"'s chest;

the intervention tool providing a finished input on the user interface to enable the dispatcher to terminate the timer in response to the caller communicating over the telephone communication device a completion of the predetermined number of compressions;

the intervention tool recording a final time recorded by the timer in response to the dispatcher manipulating the finished input; and

the intervention tool determining and providing to the dispatcher a recommendation regarding whether the compressions were administered at an appropriate compression rate based on the predetermined number of compressions and in relation to the final time.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

the user interface of the intervention tool providing a close input; and

terminating operation of the intervention tool in response to the close input.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 wherein the operations further comprise:

the user interface providing an age input to enable the dispatcher to input an age of the patient;

receiving input indicative of the age of the patient; and

the intervention tool determining whether the chest compressions were administered at an appropriate compression rate, based on the age input.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

the user interface providing a plurality of number inputs, wherein each number input corresponds with a predetermined number of compressions to be administered to the patient.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

the user interface displaying the final time and an ideal final time.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

the user interface displaying an actual compression rate.

13. A computer system to assist a dispatcher in responding to a caller regarding a medical emergency of a patient, comprising:

a processor;

a display;

a non-transitory computer-readable memory in electrical communication with the processor, and having stored thereon;

an emergency medical dispatch protocol including a plurality of interrogatories for a dispatcher to ask a caller over a telephone communication device to gather information that is input by the dispatcher into the dispatch center computer and used to generate an emergency medical dispatch response by emergency responders;

an intervention tool to assist in aiding a patient, the intervention tool configured to;

provide a user interface on the display of the computer system, the user interface including a start input configured to enable the dispatcher to start a timer to time a period during which the caller administers compressions to the patient'"'"'s chest,

run the timer in response to the start input and during the period that the caller administers a predetermined number of compressions to the patient'"'"'s chest,

provides a finished input on the user interface to enable the dispatcher to terminate the timer in response to the caller communicating over the telephone communication device a completion of the predetermined number of compressions,

record a final time recorded by the timer in response to the dispatcher manipulating the finished input, and

determine and provide to the dispatcher a recommendation based on the predetermined number of compressions and in relation to the final time.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the intervention tool is further configured to:

provide on the user interface a close input; and

terminate operation in response to the close input.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the intervention tool is further configured to:

provide on the user interface an age input to enable the dispatcher to input an age of the patient; and

receive input indicative of the age of the patient, wherein the intervention tool determines performance based on the age of the patient.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the intervention tool is further configured to:

provide on the user interface a plurality of number inputs, wherein each number input corresponds with a predetermined number of compressions to be administered to the patient.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the intervention tool is further configured to:

display on the user interface the final time and an ideal final time.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the intervention tool is further configured to:

display on the user interface an actual compression rate.

19. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a determinant value calculator stored on the memory, the determinant value calculator to calculate a determinant value to prioritize an emergency response.

20. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a reporting module to measure the performance of a dispatcher.