System for processing and consolidating records

Abstract

A system prevents the creation of duplicate records and identifies, groups, and consolidates duplicate records and manages the associated workload. A method consolidates multiple records that are associated with a single entity and are stored in at least one record repository. The method involves identifying first and second records and applying record matching criteria to compare data element content of the first and second identified records to determine commonality data. The commonality data is indicative of a likelihood the first and second records are associated with a common entity. The first and second record content is merged into a composite record in response to the determined commonality data. One of the first and second records are selected as a surviving record based on earliest date of record creation or relative content of the first and second records.

1 . A method for providing a user interface supporting consolidating multiple healthcare records associated with a patient and stored in at least one record repository, comprising the steps of: 
 initiating generation of at least one display window supporting merging data elements from first and second records into a composite record, said at least one display window including, 
 a display element prompting a user to select one of a plurality of predetermined rules to be applied in merging non-clinical data of said first and second records,  
 a display element prompting a user to select one of said first and second records as a surviving record, and  
   initiating merger of data elements from first and second records into a composite record by excluding at least a portion of replicated and redundant information occurring in said records in response to user selection of a displayed icon.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said at least one display window includes, 
 a display element prompting a user to select one of a plurality of predetermined rules to be applied in merging clinical data of said first and second records.  
   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said at least one display window includes,    a display element prompting a user to at least one of, (a) delete a redundant identifier identifying an item common to both said first and second record from said composite record, and (b) amend an identifier identifying an item common to both said first and second record in said composite record.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of, 
 selecting one of said first and second records as a surviving record based on at least one of, (a) earliest date of record creation and (b) relative content of said first and second records and    transferring a first identified element of the non-selected record into said surviving record to form said composite record.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , including the step of, 
 substituting identified elements of the selected record for corresponding elements of the non-selected record for inclusion in said composite record.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of, 
 initiating generation of a record comparison menu showing a first data item of said first record and a corresponding second data item of said second record and prompting a user to select one of said first and second data items for inclusion in said composite record.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said record comparison menu shows said first data item of said first record and said corresponding second data item of said second record side by side for comparison.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of, 
 initiating generation of a record comparison menu showing a first data item of said first record and a corresponding second data item of said second record in response to detection of at least one of, (a) a particular data element in either of said first or said second record and (b) a difference in data content of a record field common to said first and second records.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said step of initiating merger of data elements includes the step of applying record matching criteria and parsing said first and second records to identify presence of a plurality of predetermined record fields using probabilistic matching for particular text items.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said step of initiating merger of data elements includes merging clinical data comprising at least one of (a) electrocardiograph (ECG) or electro-encepholograph (EEG) data, (b) x-ray data, (c) laboratory test result data, (d) physical characteristic data, (e) previous diagnosis data, (f) allergy data, (g) ventilation data, (h) blood oxygen or pressure data, (i) infusion pump data and (j) pulse data.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of, 
 at least one of, (a) deleting a redundant identifier identifying an item common to both said first and second record from said composite record, and (b) amending an identifier identifying an item common to both said first and second record in said composite record.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of, 
 selecting one of said first and second records as a surviving record based on at least one of, (a) earliest date of record creation and (b) relative content of said first and second records and    automatically transferring a first identified element of the non-selected record into said surviving record to form said composite record.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said transferred first identified element comprises at least one of, (a) a user identifier, and (b) record entries concerning medical services delivered to said patient.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 14 , including the step of, 
 automatically substituting identified non-clinical elements of the selected record for corresponding elements of the non-selected record for inclusion in said composite record.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein 
 said substituted identified elements comprise at least one of, (a) patient address information, (b) patient name, (c) patient physical characteristics and (d) patient non-clinical data.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 16 , including the step of, 
 applying a substitution rule for automatically substituting a particular element of said identified elements, said rule comprising at least one of, (a) include only said particular element of said first record in said composite record, (b) include only said particular element of said second record in said composite record, (c) include only a first record particular element, if present in said first record, in said composite record, and (d) include only a second record particular element, if present in said second record, in said composite record.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of 
 incorporating clinical data of both said first and second records in said composite record.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of, 
 applying different rules in merging clinical data than in merging non-clinical data of said first and second records.    
     
     
         19 . A system for providing a user interface supporting consolidating multiple healthcare records associated with a patient and stored in at least one record repository, comprising: 
 a display processor for initiating generation of at least one display window supporting merging data elements from first and second records into a composite record, said at least one display window including,    a display element prompting a user to select one of a plurality of predetermined rules to be applied in merging non-clinical data of said first and second records,    a display element prompting a user to select one of said first and second records as a surviving record, and    a consolidation processor for initiating merger of data elements from first and second records into a composite record by excluding at least a portion of replicated and redundant information occurring in said records in response to user selection of a displayed icon.