Electronic patient record documentation with push and pull of data to and from database

Abstract

A medical records software apparatus and method is described that allows a clinician, e.g., nurse or doctor, to combine entry of new patient orders, prescriptions, flowsheet observations, etc. into the documentation process or workflow. A documentation user interface is provided that pulls patient data from a database into the display. The user can select on the user interface a category of a patient record, e.g., Significant Events or Orders, view or edit prior entries in the database in these categories, and add additional documentation for that category. The documentation is written or pushed to two areas of the database, one devoted to patient documentation and a second area corresponding to the selected category, e.g., Orders. The method and apparatus improves workflow efficiency and promotes a smooth transition from the thought process of the clinician to the ordering or prescription process, without the need for changing venues or screen displays.

1 . A medical records information apparatus for use with a database storing patient data comprising;
 an application comprising a set of machine readable code stored on a machine readable medium and executable on a workstation, the application providing a user interface for display of data regarding a patient and entry of documentation by a user, and   wherein the code pulls patient data from the database for inclusion into the display of documentation as well as allows for entry of new documentation, and   wherein the entry of new documentation is pushed to a first location in the database devoted to documentation regarding the patient and to a second location in the database devoted to a predetermined category of an electronic patient record for the patient other than documentation regarding the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second location in the database is directed to at least one of the following predetermined categories: health issues, past medical history, outpatient medications, prescriptions, orders, care providers, significant events, allergies, patient problems, and flow sheet observations. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pull of patient data from the database comprises the pull of one or more rows of data from the database. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface provides a first display area displaying categories of data corresponding to a plurality of separate locations in the database, and wherein the selection of one of the categories pulls one or more rows of data from the database into the user interface for display in a second display area corresponding to the selection of the category. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined area comprises an order area, and wherein the entry of documentation via the user interface is pushed to a documentation area of the database for the patient and an order area of an electronic patient record for the patient in the database. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pushing of data to the database results in substantially immediate updating of the database. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the system is installed at a medical enterprise and the application is loaded on a plurality of computing platforms at the medical enterprise. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the designation of categories are selected by the medical enterprise. 
     
     
         9 . A method for storing information regarding a patient in a database, comprising the steps of:
 a) presenting a user interface on a computing platform for entry of documentation for a patient,   b) pulling at least one row of data from the database comprising a portion of an electronic patient record for the patient and presenting, at least in part, the row of data on the user interface;   c) providing tools for entry of documentation from a user via the user interface, and   d) pushing the entry of documentation to the database, and wherein the entry of documentation is pushed to a first area of the database devoted to documentation regarding the patient and to a second location in the database devoted to a predetermined category of an electronic patient record for the patient other than documentation regarding the patient.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of: selecting from a menu of categories of data corresponding to a plurality of separate locations in the database, a category for which to add documentation regarding the patient, and
 wherein the selection of the category pulls one or more rows of data from the database into the user interface for display, at least in part on the user interface, and   wherein the entry of documentation regarding the category is pushed to both the portion of the database directed to documentation and to the location in the database directed to the selected category.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the categories comprise at least one of the following categories: health issues, past medical history, outpatient medications, prescriptions, orders, care providers, significant events, allergies, patient problems, and flowsheet observations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined category comprises an order category, and wherein the entry of documentation via the user interface is pushed to a documentation area of the database for the patient and an order area of an electronic patient record for the patient in the database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method is implemented in software at a workstation, and wherein the method is performed in parallel by a plurality or workstation in a medical enterprise. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pull of data from the database comprises the pull of a multitude of rows of data from the database corresponding to a category of a medical record of a patient stored in the database and selected by the user on the user interface. 
     
     
         15 . A medical records information system comprising:
 a database storing patient data,   at least one computing platform operatively connected to the database and providing a workstation for obtaining data in an electronic patient record stored in the database and for writing new documentation to the database, the computing platform comprising:   a processing unit;   a display device, and   a memory storing machine readable instructions for execution by the processing unit, wherein the instructions provide a user interface on the display device for the workstation for display of documentation regarding a patient and entry of documentation by a user, and   wherein the instructions pulls patient data from the database for inclusion into the display of documentation on the user interface as well as allows for entry of new documentation, and   wherein the entry of new documentation via the user interface is pushed to a first location in the database devoted to documentation regarding the patient and to a second location in the database devoted to a predetermined category of an electronic patient record for the patient other than documentation regarding the patient.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the categories comprise at least one of the following categories: health issues, past medical history, outpatient medications, prescriptions, orders, care providers, significant events, allergies, patient problems, and flowsheet observations. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pull of patient data from the database comprises the pull of one or more rows of data from the database. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface provides a first display area displaying categories of data corresponding to a plurality of separate locations in the database, and wherein the selection of one of the categories pulls one or more rows of data from the database into the user interface for display in a second display area corresponding to the selection of the category. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined area comprises an order area, and wherein the entry of documentation via the user interface is pushed to a documentation area of the database for the patient and an order area of an electronic patient record for the patient in the database. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pushing of data to the database results in substantially immediate updating of the database. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled)