System and method of event sequencing and record automation for healthcare

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for healthcare action sequencing and record keeping. The method may involve scanning a patient care area for tags for entities present in the area, a given patient being located in the area. The method may involve reading identity data from a tag, in response to detecting the tag for an entity in the area. The method may involve receiving input data regarding the given patient by a healthcare personnel via a user-interface. The method may involve communicating with a management system that includes a first database storing rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for, a second database storing rules for how the input data are to be used, and a third database storing rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the healthcare personnel.

1 . A method for healthcare action sequencing by a bedside device, comprising:
 scanning a patient care area for tags for entities present in the area, a given patient being located in the area;   in response to detecting a tag for an entity in the area, reading identity data from the tag;   receiving input data regarding the given patient by at least one healthcare personnel via a user-interface;   sending the identity data and the input data to a management system that includes a first database storing first rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for, a second database storing second rules for how the input data are to be used, and a third database storing third rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the at least one healthcare personnel;   receiving action data for the given patient from the management system based at least in part on (a) the identity data, (b) the input data, and (c) at least one of the first rules, the second rules, and the third rules; and   displaying information on the user-interface based at least in on the received action data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tag comprises at least one of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, bar-coding, a magnetic stripe, and a bluetooth tag. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the patient care area comprises a patient room of a hospital ward;   the entity comprises one of a nurse, a doctor, the given patient, a medication container, and a physical patient file for the given patient.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reading the identity data comprises reading at least one of a name, a role, and a password for the at least one healthcare personnel from the tag. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises task details for at least one task to be performed by the at least one healthcare personnel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a patient care procedure and confirmation screen. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 sending comprises sending the identity data and the input data to the management system via at least one of wireless communication and wired communication; and   the user-interface comprises a touch screen interface.   
     
     
         8 . A method for healthcare action sequencing by a management computer, comprising:
 receiving identity data regarding a given patient from a bedside computer in a patient care area, the bedside computer reading the identity data from a tag for an entity in the area;   receiving input data regarding the given patient by at least one healthcare personnel;   cross-referencing the identity data and the input data with a first database storing first rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for, a second database storing second rules for how the input data are to be used, and a third database storing third rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the at least one healthcare personnel;   determining action data for the given patient based at least in part on the cross-referencing of the identity data and the input data with the first database, the second database, and the third database; and   sending the action data for the given patient to the bedside computer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tag comprises at least one of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, bar-coding, a magnetic stripe, and a bluetooth tag. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the patient care area comprises a patient room of a hospital ward;   the entity comprises one of a nurse, a doctor, the given patient, a medication container, and a physical patient file for the given patient.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving the identity data comprises receiving at least one of a name, a role, and a password for the at least one healthcare personnel from the tag. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the action data comprises information regarding task details for at least one task to be performed by the at least one healthcare personnel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the action data comprises information regarding a patient care procedure and confirmation screen to be displayed to the at least one healthcare personnel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending comprises sending the action data to the beside computer via at least one of wireless communication and wired communication. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for healthcare action sequencing, comprising:
 at least one processor configured to: scan a patient care area for tags for entities present in the area, a given patient being located in the area; read identity data from a tag, in response to detecting the tag for an entity in the area; receive input data regarding the given patient by at least one healthcare personnel via a user-interface; send the identity data and the input data to a management system that includes a first database storing first rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for, a second database storing second rules for how the input data are to be used, and a third database storing third rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the at least one healthcare personnel; receive action data for the given patient from the management system based at least in part on (a) the identity data, (b) the input data, and (c) at least one of the first rules, the second rules, and the third rules; and display information on the user-interface based at least in on the received action data;   a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the information comprises task details for at least one task to be performed by the at least one healthcare personnel. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the information comprises a patient care procedure and confirmation screen. 
     
     
         18 . A system for healthcare action sequencing, comprising:
 a first database storing first rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for;   a second database storing second rules for how the input data are to be used;   a third database storing third rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the at least one healthcare personnel;   at least one processor coupled to the first, second, and third databases and configured to: receive identity data regarding a given patient from a bedside computer in a patient care area, the bedside computer reading the identity data from a tag for an entity in the area; receive input data regarding the given patient by at least one healthcare personnel; cross-reference the identity data and the input data with at least one of the first, second, and third databases to determine action data for the given patient; and send the action data for the given patient to the bedside computer; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the action data comprises information regarding task details for at least one task to be performed by the at least one healthcare personnel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the action data comprises information regarding a patient care procedure and confirmation screen to be displayed to the at least one healthcare personnel. 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:
 scan a patient care area for tags for entities present in the area, a given patient being located in the area; 
 read identity data from a tag, in response to detecting the tag for an entity in the area; 
 receive input data regarding the given patient by at least one healthcare personnel via a user-interface; 
 send the identity data and the input data to a management system that includes a first database storing first rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for, a second database storing second rules for how the input data are to be used, and a third database storing third rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the at least one healthcare personnel; 
 receive action data for the given patient from the management system based at least in part on (a) the identity data, (b) the input data, and (c) at least one of the first rules, the second rules, and the third rules; and 
 display information on the user-interface based at least in on the received action data. 
   
     
     
         22 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:
 receive identity data regarding a given patient from a bedside device in a patient care area, the bedside device reading the identity data from a tag for an entity in the area; 
 receive input data regarding the given patient by at least one healthcare personnel; 
 cross-reference the identity data and the input data with a first database storing first rules for how patients with known sets of conditions are to be cared for, a second database storing second rules for how the input data are to be used, and a third database storing third rules relating to procedures and restrictions for the at least one healthcare personnel; 
 determine action data for the given patient based at least in part on the cross-referencing of the identity data and the input data with the first database, the second database, and the third database; and 
 send the action data for the given patient to the bedside device.