367results about "Medical information" patented technology

A method and system are provided for consolidating and distributing information. Implementation of system functionalities for both restricted local and unrestricted system-wide uses are permitted. Open standards for hardware, software and firmware components and standardized medical codes, definitions and formats are supported. The preferred embodiment of the invention provides an integrated health care system. The invention can also be used to allow secure access to Social Security, annuity, retirement account, and benefit information, allowing individuals a unified view of their benefit and payment status. A centralized host maintains, consolidates, and redistributes information generated at all networked locations. Information is electronically transferred among the system components to link an individual's local records to those stored remotely. The individual information device, centralized host computer, and any other computers or networks linked to the system can therefore be automatically updated. An individual information device stores a service recipient's insurance information, a emergency records and critical health care histories. This information is accessed by the system for use in managing any aspect of the service recipient's health care. Portable terminals can be used to access the system. A portable terminal can also be used independently from the system to perform health care functions. Unrestricted system-wide, or restricted local uses are supported. Insurance coverage for services and treatments can be determined and the information transmitted directly from the carrier(s) to the service recipient and service provider(s). Supported features include service authorization, messaging, diagnostic services,coverage determination, billing, and electronic payment.

An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with a particular code. A controller receives request signals and in response generates dispense signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the controller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals therefrom in response to a dispense signal sent from the controller. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the code on the dispensed package matches the code of the requested package.

A system and method of managing therapy provided to patients in an institution. The system monitors all aspects of the medication delivery to a patient, as well as other information related to the patient, such as values of vital signs, laboratory results and patient factors such as history, diagnosis, allergies and the like. The system includes one or more databases of information, including institutionally developed rules, guidelines and protocol representing the best medical practices of the institution. The system provides alerts and / or recommendations based on the application of the rules to the information being monitored, and alerts care givers accordingly, providing for dynamic adjustment of the patient's therapy. The system also monitors the status of the alerts, and if no action is taken in a selected period of time, may escalate the priority of the alert and / or halt the delivery of medication to the patient until the alert is resolved.

A system and method for monitoring, managing and controlling medication delivery from a central location is provided. A central computer displays medication orders and ongoing medication administrations for a health care facility. The central computer checks medication delivery against a database of medication administration guidelines, including guidelines for medication interactions with other medications and with patient conditions and provides an indication of any detected incompatibilities. A clinician at the central location may adjust the medication administration parameters in response to detected incompatibilities and communicate with a caregiver at the point of care to provide decision support. In one embodiment, the central location is a pharmacy at the healthcare facility.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for operating a medical device with a screen having an improved graphical user interface, which selectively reallocates screen display for both single and multi-channel pumps. Channel indicators associate operation information with a specific delivery channel. Patient or drug order verification is facilitated with a rendering of the patient or the entire drug order / label on the screen. Decimal numbers are presented in vertically offset decimal format. A dual function button cancels the current operation and, after a delay, clears entered parameters. An area sensitive scrollbar cycles through information at various speeds. Screen brightness is adjusted based on an ambient light detector. A screen saver mode activates based on several operating conditions. The screen is incorporated in a removable user interface.

A method and system are provided for consolidating and distributing information. Implementation of system functionalities for both restricted local and unrestricted system-wide uses are permitted. Open standards for hardware, software and firmware components and standardized medical codes, definitions and formats are supported. The preferred embodiment of the invention provides an integrated health care system. The invention can also be used to allow secure access to Social Security, annuity, retirement account, and benefit information, allowing individuals a unified view of their benefit and payment status. A centralized host maintains, consolidates, and redistributes information generated at all networked locations. Information is electronically transferred among the system components to link an individual's local records to those stored remotely. The individual information device, centralized host computer, and any other computers or networks linked to the system can therefore be automatically updated. An individual information device stores a service recipient's insurance information, a emergency records and critical health care histories. This information is accessed by the system for use in managing any aspect of the service recipient's health care. Portable terminals can be used to access the system. A portable terminal can also be used independently from the system to perform health care functions. Unrestricted system-wide, or restricted local uses are supported. Insurance coverage for services and treatments can be determined and the information transmitted directly from the carrier(s) to the service recipient and service provider(s). Supported features include service authorization, messaging, diagnostic services, coverage determination, billing, and electronic payment.

A system utilizing a personal security device to provide access to a computer terminal where the personal security device includes circuitry and transceiver components for transmitting identification information and exchanging other digital information with a computer terminal and other compatible devices and the personal security device establishes a communication link with a computer terminal to allow a user to logon to the terminal so that when a user leaves the computer terminal, the communication link is terminated, causing the computer terminal to lock the keyboard, blank the monitor, and / or logoff the user if the communication link is not restored within a sufficient time period and also allowing the personal security device to facilitate subsequent computer access within a time range by providing time related access codes to the terminal that can be used to reestablish computer terminal access.

A medication management system (MMS) includes a medication management unit (MMU) associated with a medical device. The MMU downloads medication delivery code based on a medication delivery order to the medical device only if information from a first input matches information from a second input. The medical device receives delivery information electronically only from the MMU. The medication order is performed only after delivery data validation. The MMU also determines drug-drug incompatibility. The MMU can modulate (start, stop, sequence and dynamically adjust) medication order performance.

A system for maintaining drug information and communicating with medication delivery devices includes software designed for use in a hospital, pharmacy or biomedical technical service environments. The software may be provided on a computer readable medium. The software allows a facility to customize a drug library with both hard and soft drug limits and other parameters for use with an infuser having a plug and play module removably inserted into a slot within a housing, or for use with an infuser having a connectivity engine enclosed within the housing. The system supports data transfer to one or more infusers connected to one or more computers. The connection between the computer and the pump can be hard wired or wireless.

An identification system and method for medication management comprises a controller, a drug library accessible by the controller, the drug library containing drug library profiles including a data set of drug information, and an identification module configured to read patient identification information from machine-readable identification devices worn by patients and to read drug information from machine-readable identification devices affixed to drugs or containers of drugs. The controller compares the read information to each other and to the drug library profile and provides alerts or error signals in the event of an inconsistency. In one case, identification devices are read by an optical reader fixedly mounted to the identification module. In another case, identification devices are read by an optical reader that is hand-held and mobile and can be moved to the location of the identification device. The hand-held reader communicates with the identification module by wired or wireless means. In another case, a third reader that is non-optical and wireless is fixedly mounted to the identification module. The controller is also configured to provide alerts or error messages in the event that there is an inconsistency between the drug information on the drug or drug container when compared to the drug library profile associated with the controller.

A method of assessing risk for an individual to experience a specific outcome within a disease entity within a specified time frame is provided. Peer-reviewed scientific publications are analyzed to identify pertinent risk factors (212) for developing disease processes and their possible complications. Information that characterizes an individual (218) in relation to the identified risk factors is then received, preferably responsive to question (224) regarding any demographic values of an individual under test and questions regarding medical chracterisitics of the individual under test. An estimate of risk of the individual acquiring the outcome within a specified time frame is performed based on the identified plurality of risk factors (212). Assessment of medical risk and condition may include analyzing peer-reviewed scientific publications to identify populations affected by a medical outcome and for each population respective risk factors that affect risk of acquiring the medical outcome within a specified time-frame, associating an individual with one of the identified population, identifying information that characterizes the individual (218) in relation to the respective risk factors other associated population, and estimating risk of the individual having the medical outcome within the specified the time frame responsive to the identified information. Promotion of business on a site of a computer network is provided by supplying an on-line questionnaire (224) regarding characteristics of individual (218) under test, receiving information regarding characteristics of the individual under test, and responsive to the received information, providing an assessment of the individual under test having a medical outcome within a specified time frame.