Knowledge based electronic clinical record for dentistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic records management system. More specifically, the present invention is a comprehensive knowledge based clinical records management solution that encompasses the need for accurate records, while reducing the time and effort required to enter complete and accurate information.

1 . A computer based patient records system for dental practices, with the dental practices having a collection of general patient information and a related collection of dental treatment information, said dental patient records system comprising a computer and non-transitory computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions for enabling operation of said computer, said computer comprising:
 a processor accessing the computer readable storage media, the computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions;   said plurality of instructions including:   a. a first plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain a particular patient record from a first collection of general patient information;   b. a second plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain dental treatment information from a second collection of related dental examination and treatment data that are specific to the particular patient; and   c. a third plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to display a plurality of windows on a display of the computer, with a first window displaying general patient information of the particular patient, a second window displaying a dental chart, and a third window displaying an editable window having at least one of dental examination information and dental treatment information related to the particular patient, said third window providing a item entry module including a procedure selection plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to specify a procedure and a rules plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to limit user item selection to a plurality of items based on the specified procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further including a sessions data storage storing a plurality of session, entries comprising dental treatment and dental examination information related to a particular patient session, said sessions data storage being accessible to said processor, each said session entry associated with a particular patient from the first general patient information collection and with data in the second collection, wherein the third plurality of instructions populates information in the first, second, and third windows based in part on the dental treatment and examination information stored in a particular one of the session entries. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further including a session initiation plurality of instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, the session initiation instructions for execution by a computer to allow a user to create a new session entry with the new session entry inheriting data from the most recent session of a particular patient. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the sessions data storage is configured to prevent editing of a session entry except for a current session entry. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  further including a form generation plurality of instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, the form generation instructions for execution by a computer to allow a user selection of a form from a plurality of category/sub-category forms for user selection relating to a session entry. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the form generation instructions further enables user editing of the plurality of category/sub-category forms. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the form generation instructions are for execution by a computer to provide multiple tab data entry screens for a user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of category/sub-category forms include categories including at least one of: examinations, procedures, and surgeries. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the form generation instructions for execution by a computer to provide a user data entry screens having at least one of: check boxes, pull-down selections, and free text entry. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the form generation instructions for execution by a computer to allow user creation of documents having text relating to data entered on a form. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the form generation instructions for execution by a computer to allow user creation of at least one of a brief narrative text document, and a comprehensive narrative text document. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the third plurality of instructions for execution by a computer to allow user editing of information displayed in at least one of the first, second, and third window. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain prior documents information from the second collection that are specific to the particular patient, and the third plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to display a separate window displaying at least one of (a) prior documents related to the particular patient; (b) patient alerts and modifiers information related to the particular patient; (c) general health information related to the particular patient; and (d) medication prescribed information related to the particular patient. 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A computer based patient records management system for dental practices, with the dental practices having a collection of general patient information and a related collection of periodontal information, said dental patient records system comprising non-transitory computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions for execution by a computer, said computer comprising:
 a processor having access to the computer readable media, the computer readable media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions;   said plurality of non-transitory instructions including:   a. a first plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain a particular patient record from the collection of general patient information;   b. a second plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain periodontal information from the related periodontal collection that are specific to the particular patient; and   c. a third plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to display periodontal information including at least one of dental examination information and dental treatment information, related to the particular patient as a plurality of alphanumeric data associated with each tooth in a spreadsheet format adjacent to a graphic display of each associated tooth.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the third plurality of instructions further enables the computer to display the alphanumeric data in spreadsheet format around graphics of individual teeth and implants. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the third plurality of instructions further enables the computer to display graphic depictions of teeth corresponding to the spreadsheet entries. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the third plurality of instructions further enables the computer to display an overlay of one of periodontal supporting bone and gingiva over the graphic depictions of teeth. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the third plurality of instructions further enables the computer to display an overlay of both periodontal supporting bone and gingiva over the graphic depictions of teeth. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a fourth plurality of instructions enabling the computer to allow the user to configure the procedure for entry of periodontal information from one of a circular entry procedure and a single tooth entry procedure. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the single tooth entry procedure involves one of entering a single value on a single tooth and entering multiple values on a single tooth. 
     
     
         25 . A computer based patient clinical records system for dental practices, with the dental practices having a collection of general patient information and a related collection of dental examination and treatment information, said dental patient clinical records system comprising a computer and non-transitory computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions for execution by said computer, said computer comprising:
 a processor accessing the computer readable storage media, the computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions;   said plurality of instructions including:   a. a first plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain a particular patient record from the collection of general patient information;   b. a second plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain dental treatment information from the related dental examination and treatment collection that are specific to the particular patient; and   c. a third plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to display a plurality of windows on a display of the computer, with a first window displaying general patient information of the particular patient, a second window displaying a dental chart, and a third window displaying a dental clinical record, said dental clinical record being editable in said third window including selection of a procedure and having at least two of the following template entries selectively accessible according to a selected procedure: examination information template entries, treatment information template entries, radiographic information template entries, laboratory information template entries, anesthetic information template entries, all such template entries related to the particular patient and selected procedure, said template entries being selectively displayed in said third window based on predetermined rules.   
     
     
         26 . A computer based patient clinical records system for dental practices, with the dental practices having a collection of general patient information and a related collection of dental examination and treatment information, said dental patient clinical records system comprising a computer and non-transitory computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions for execution by said computer, said computer comprising:
 a processor accessing the computer readable storage media, the computer readable storage media storing a plurality of non-transitory instructions;   said plurality of instructions including:   a. a first plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain a particular patient record from a first collection of general patient information;   b. a second plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to obtain information from a second collection of related dental examination and treatment data that are specific to the particular patient; and   c. a third plurality of instructions for execution by the computer to display a plurality of windows on a display of the computer, with a first window displaying general patient information of the particular patient, a second window displaying a dental chart, and a third window displaying an editable window having at least one of dental examination information and dental treatment information related to the particular patient, said third window having at least one editable field restricting user item selection to a predetermined glossary of items dependent on predetermined rules and the said at least one of dental examination information and dental treatment information related to a particular patient.