Healthcare Communication and Workflow Management System and Method

Abstract

A communication and workflow management system and method is provided for integrating a wide range of health care organization workflow management functions, generated by automated systems, manual and automated events associated with patients and staff interactions, through input-output devices such that requests and dispatch requests can be handled locally or over a widely distributed network, and can be tracked and escalated as required. The invention features a rules engine and database that identifies and defines resources, patients, tasks, and task handling. The invention uses extensive logic for the assignment of tasks and communication with resources that can execute tasks, tracking, completion of task, and escalation of tasks. The communication system can be integrated with staff and equipment tracking for automated closure of tasks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing workflow of a healthcare facility, comprising:
 (a) a computer network, comprising at least two computers, that receives an invocation condition over a healthcare facility information network, said invocation condition having one or more associated task requests, wherein said invocation condition is triggered by a monitored medical device reaching a pre-determined monitored medical device reading threshold;   (b) where the computer network identifies a plurality of staffers, each having associated qualifications to respond to one or more task requests, a physical location and a workload, wherein information about the qualifications, physical location and workload of said staffers is stored in a database located in an electronically readable media within the computer network;   (c) where the computer network automatically associates patient information with the one or more task requests, and where the patient information comprises a patient name, a room number, a monitored medical device reading, and a summary of relevant patient allergic condition, wherein the patient information is stored in a database comprising a transactional database and a federated data model, and where the federated data model stores current processes and data, and where the federated data model purges historical data;   (d) where the computer network assigns one or more primary staffers to complete the task request, wherein the primary staffers assigned to the task request are determined at least in part by the qualifications, physical location and workload of the primary staffers;   (e) where the computer network communicates the task request to the assigned primary staffers;   (f) where the computer network assigns a primary escalation timer value based at least in part on the nature of the task request and starts the primary escalation timer;   (g) where the computer network tracks progress towards completion of the task request;   (h) where the computer network escalates the task request if the task request is not completed by the end of the primary escalation timer by notifying one or more secondary staffers of the uncompleted task request and a secondary escalation timer value is assigned and started as part of such notification;   (i) where the computer network further escalates the task request by notifying one or more tertiary staffers of the uncompleted task request if the task request is not completed by the end of the secondary escalation timer, and   (j) where the computer network repeats step (i) until the task request is completed.