System, Method, and Apparatus for Electronic Patient Care

Abstract

A system for electronic patient care is provided. The system includes a monitoring server comprising middleware configured to communicate with a plurality of databases. A database of the plurality of databases includes a data formatting or a communications protocol different from another database of the plurality of databases. The monitoring client communicates with the plurality of databases via the monitoring server. The monitoring server translates communication between the monitoring client and the plurality of databases utilizing the middleware. The system includes a first medical pump coupled to the monitoring client and a second medical pump coupled to the first medical pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for electronic patient care, the system comprising:
 a monitoring server comprising middleware configured to communicate with a plurality of databases, wherein at least one of the plurality of databases includes a data formatting or a communications protocol different from another database of the plurality of databases;   a monitoring client configured to communicate with the plurality of databases via the monitoring server, wherein the monitoring server translates communication between the monitoring client and the plurality of databases utilizing the middleware;   a first medical pump coupled to the monitoring client; and   a second medical pump coupled to the first medical pump.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring server is adapted to format data from the plurality of databases to download the formatted data into the monitoring client. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring server is configured to interrogate an electronic health records database to receive patient information therefrom using the middleware. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the monitoring server is further configured to populate the monitoring client with a predefined set of information in accordance with patient information. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the middleware is configured to mediate communication between the monitoring client and intra-facility databases or extra-facility databases. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the middleware is configured to provide an application programming interface for communicating with the plurality of databases. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of databases has disparate organization protocols, wherein the application programming interface provides a common interface to the disparate organization protocols. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of databases has disparate formatting protocols, wherein the application programming interface provides a common interface to the disparate formatting protocols. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of databases has disparate communication protocols, wherein the application programming interface provides a common interface to the disparate communication protocols. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the middleware is configured to provide ephemeral storage of at least one of orders, medications, progress notes, monitoring data, treatment data, patient-treatment parameters, patient-monitoring parameters, and operating parameters received from the monitoring client for uploading into an electronic health records database of the plurality of databases. 
     
     
         11 . The system according  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring server is configured to update the monitoring client. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring server is configured to update the first medical pump. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the middleware is configured to provide an application programming interface for communicating with the plurality of databases, wherein the application programming interface includes a secure data class. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring client includes a sandbox component configured to control access to the at least one of a hardware resource and a software resource. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bus, wherein:
 the first medical pump in operative communication with the bus; and   the second medical pump in operative communication with the bus.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first medical pump is configured to communicate an alarm or an alert to the monitoring client. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first medical pump is configured to determine if the treatment is safe for a patient. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first medical pump is configured to display data on a display of the monitoring client. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first medical pump is configured to communicate to the monitoring client. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein data received from the first medical pump is analyzed by the monitoring client for a predefined condition to issue an alarm or an alert. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bus, wherein:
 the first medical pump in operative communication with the bus; and   the second medical pump in operative communication with the bus,   wherein the first medical pump and the second medical pump are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other when communication via the bus is inoperative.   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first medical pump retransmits data to a respective adjacent device of the monitoring client and the second medical pump.