Disease management system including a no response method

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a patient to access an automated process for managing a specified health problem called a disease. The system performs disease management in a fully automated manner, using periodic interactive dialogs with the patient to obtain health state measurements from the patient, to evaluate and assess the progress of the patient's disease, to review and adjust therapy to optimal levels, and to give the patient medical advice for administering treatment and handling symptom flare-ups and acute episodes of the disease. The medical records are updated, the progression of the disease is stored and tracked, and the patient's preferences for treatment are stored and then used to offer medical advice based on the current state of the disease. A prestored general disease trend curve is compared against a patient specific disease trend curve, and the system makes an automated response such as adjusting therapy.

1 . A computerized no-response method comprising:
 retrieving, by a computing device, a prestored question with a medical aspect of a patient;   setting up, by a computing device, one or more no-response parameters;   determining, by a computing device, that a time out condition defined by the one or more no-response parameters exists; and   executing, by a computing device, one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the no-response parameters are based on a medical history of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the no-response parameters are based on one or more medications being taken by the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, by a computing device, that no valid response to the question is forthcoming comprises:
 measuring, by a computing device, a passage of time since displaying the prestored question; and   comparing, by a computing device, the passage of time against one of the no-response parameters,   wherein the one of the no-response parameters defines a maximum passage of time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters comprises:
 retrieving contact information for an emergency contact person associated with the patient; and   contacting the emergency contact person.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters comprises contacting a nearest emergency facility. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising informing the patient, by a computing device, that one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters will be executed if no valid response to the prestored question is received. 
     
     
         8 . An automated disease management system for reacting when no valid response to a question is forthcoming, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 retrieve a prestored question with a medical aspect of a patient; 
 set up one or more no-response parameters; 
 determine that a time out condition defined by the one or more no-response parameters exists; and 
 execute one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the no-response parameters are based on a medical history of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the no-response parameters are based on one or more medications being taken by the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 measure a passage of time since displaying the prestored question; and   compare the passage of time against one of the no-response parameters,   wherein the one of the no-response parameters defines a maximum passage of time.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 retrieve contact information for an emergency contact person associated with the patient; and   contact the emergency contact person.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising informing the patient, by a computing device, that one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters will be executed if no valid response to the prestored question is received. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code for reacting when no valid response to a question is forthcoming, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for:
 retrieving a prestored question with a medical aspect of a patient;   setting up one or more no-response parameters;   determining that a time out condition defined by the one or more no-response parameters exists; and   executing one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer usable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the no-response parameters are based on a medical history of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer usable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the no-response parameters are based on one or more medications being taken by the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer usable medium of  claim 14 , wherein determining, by a computing device, that no valid response to the question is forthcoming comprises:
 measuring a passage of time since displaying the prestored question; and   comparing the passage of time against one of the no-response parameters,   wherein the one of the no-response parameters defines a maximum passage of time.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer usable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters comprises:
 retrieving contact information for an emergency contact person associated with the patient; and   contacting the emergency contact person.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer usable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters comprises contacting a nearest emergency facility. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer usable medium of  claim 14 , further comprising informing the patient that one or more actions defined by the no-response parameters will be executed if no valid response to the prestored question is received.