METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING ENTRY AND UPDATE OF MULTI-SOURCE MEDICAL INFORMATION
This is a continuation-in-part of USSN 09/233,869 filed on January 20, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 . Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method, device and system for
facilitating entry and updating of multi-source medical information, and
more specifically, a method, device and system for facilitating entry and
updating multi-source medical information using a medical information
unit. Additionally, this invention relates to information carrying units
which utilize RFID technology for providing information about wearers of
the unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Smart cards are generally plastic cards having an embedded
integrated circuit that is used for storing information. Plastics used for
substrates for the smart card typically may include materials such as
ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) as a soft copolymer located on an inside surface
of the card and a tough polyester located on the outside surface. A hot
melt adhesive such as EVA, phenolic butyral or silicone adhesive is
generally used to seal the inner layer of the smart card to the tough outer
polymeric layer which is typically polyester, mylar, polyimide or
polyethylene. The above examples may be used to provide a thin, flexible
smart card.
Chips are generally attached to circuitry on the substrate by
soldering, ultrasonic single point bonding, thermo-compression, or
conductive adhesive.
There are two types of smart cards: contact smart cards and
contactless smart cards. Contact smart cards must be inserted into a
smart card reader in order for the stored information to be accessed. For
example, a contact smart card may employ an integrated circuit on a small
gold plate about one-half inch in diameter (a chip) on the front of the card.
When the smart card is inserted into the smart card reader, the gold plate
portion of the smart card makes electrical contact with electrical
connectors of the smart card reader so that data may be transferred to
and from the chip. Typical uses of smart cards are identification of user,
serving as electronic keys for access, controlling of access to information,
etc.
A contactless smart card has an embedded electronic microchip and
an antenna. When the contactless smart card is passed near an antenna
or coupler, the contactless smart card communicates with the antenna or
coupler using a radio frequency signal. Thus, the contactless smart card
does not require direct contact with an electrical circuit in order to
function. Typical uses of the contactless smart card are for processes that
must be accomplished quickly, such as toll collection or mass-transit fund
collection.
When a victim enters an emergency room in an unconscious state,
the medical personnel may be unaware that the victim is carrying a smart
card with this information. Also, where an outside laboratory has run
medical tests on the victim, the outcomes of the tests from the outside
laboratory may not be in the victim's file, and such information may be
critical to treatment of the victim. The medical information needs to be
convenient to access, available spontaneously with a minimum of effort,
accurate and reliable. In addition, the system needs to be able to
download medical information for an individual from a variety of sources
to provide an updated medical profile of the individual.
Thus, there is a need for a method, device and system for
facilitating an update of multi-source medical information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system for entering and updating
multi-source medical information on a medical information unit
immediately upon an individual's receiving medical service, or during the
time that a patient is resident at a medical facility, including: a plurality of
medical information units, one per individual or patient, each medical
information unit configured to identify the individual or a patient and to
include at least certain predetermined personal and medical information
concerning the individual and/or patient; and a plurality of portable
individual and/or patient input/output units, each co-located with the
individual and/or patient, for inputting and displaying information from the
medical information unit of the individual and/or patient. Each of the
portable input/output units may include an interface with a central
database for downloading to, and retrieving information, for the individual
and/or patient, from a central database. The database can have an
interface with a plurality of input databases including, for example, at
least one of: a pharmacy database, a medical laboratory test facility
database, a billing database or an insurance database. Typically, a central
database can be accessible by at least one network. The medical
information unit may be one of: a smart card, a pendant, or a "dog tag".
The medical information unit can typically be attachable to an
identification bracelet of a patient. The medical information unit may also
be a pendant, wrist watch or an i-'entification bracelet and a radio
frequency identification unit.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system for
facilitating a medical information entry and update for an individual
arriving in a medical treatment area using multi-source medical
information, including: at least two sensor arrays, arranged to provide a
sensing field for an individual arriving at a medical treatment area, for
indicating whether the individual is carrying a medical information unit;
and an updating information unit for combining medical information for the
individual on the medical information unit with information for the
individual in a database to generate an updated medical profile of the
individual. The medical identification unit may be one of: a smart card, a
radio frequency tag or a pendant. The database is typically arranged to
receive and store, automatically, information updates for the individual
from a plurality of sources. The information entries and updates from the
plurality of sources may include information for the individual from at least
one medical laboratory and/or information for the individual from at least
one physician's office.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for
facilitating a medical information entry and/or update for an individual
arriving in a medical treatment area using multi-source medical
information, including the steps of:
using at least two arrays of sensors forming a sensing field to identify
whether the individual is carrying a medical information unit; and where
the individual is carrying a medical information unit, combining medical
information for the individual from the medical information unit with
information for the individual in a database to generate an updated
medical profile of the individual. The method may further include
receiving and storing date and information, automatically, by the
database, information entries and/or updates for the individual from a
plurality of sources. The information entries and/or updates from the
plurality of sources may include information for the individual from at least
one medical laboratory and/or information for the individual from at least
one physician's office.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides device for
facilitating a medical information update for an individual arriving in a
medical treatment area using multi-source medical information, including:
an alarm unit for indicating whether the individual is carrying a medical
smart card; or a device information unit, coupled to the alarm unit, for,
where the individual is carrying a medical smart card, combining medical
information for the individual on the medical smart card with information
for the individual in a to generate an updated medical profile of the
individual. The database is generally arranged to receive and store,
automatically, information entries and/or updates for the individual from a
plurality of sources. The information updates from the plurality of sources
may include information for the individual from at least one medical
laboratory and/or information for the individual from at least one
physician's office.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device for
using a medical smart card or combination card to generate a medical
identification bracelet for an individual, including: a reader unit for reading
a name of the individual from the medical smart card; and a bracelet
generating unit for generating the medical identification bracelet with the
name of the individual printed thereon. The device may further include a
unit for generating an electronic information unit for the medical
identification bracelet. The electronic information unit may include
updatable predetermined medical information for the individual.
In one embodiment the present invention provides a device for
using a medical smart card to generate a medical identification unit for an
individual, including: a reader unit for reading a name of the individual
from the medical smart card; and a medical identification generating unit
for generating a medical identification unit that includes electronic
identification of the individual. The medical identification unit may include
updatable predetermined medical information for the individual. The
medical identification unit typically is one of: a bracelet or a pendant.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system for
entry and updating multi-source medical information on a medical
information unit immediately upon a patient's receiving medical service,
including: a plurality of patient medical information units, one per patient,
each medical information unit configured to identify a patient and to
include at least certain predetermined medical information concerning the
patient; a plurality of provider medical information units, each medical
information unit configured to identify the provider and the individual
providing a provider service; and a plurality of portable input/output units,
for inputting and displaying information from at least one patient medical
information unit and from at least one provider medical information unit.
Each of the portable input/output unit generally includes an interface with
a database for downloading to, and retrieving information, for the at least
one patient, from the database. The database typically has an interface
with a plurality of input databases including at least one of: a pharmacy
database, a medical laboratory test facility database, a billing database or
an insurance database. A central database is generally accessible by at
least one network. The medical information unit may be one of: a smart
card, a pendant or a "dog tag". The medical information unit is generally
attachable to an identification bracelet of the patient. The medical
information unit may be one of a pendant or a radio frequency
identification unit. At least one patient medical information unit and at
least one provider medical information unit are typically utilized in
accordance with a predetermined scheme to provide security for the
medical information. When the provider service is provided, an identity of
an individual providing the provider service, an identity of the patient, and
a time and date of the provider service are generally entered on the
medical information unit. At least one of the portable input/output units
may be a computer with two processors that is used to segment input
data in accordance with a predetermined scheme. The input/output unit
can be a portable reader/writer capable of reading bar codes, radio
frequency (RF) and dual cords.
Bar code taps can be attached to medication in a hospital pharmacy
and matched to a patient's medical information unit for confirmation. The
medical information unit can also be used to ensure proper meal service in
an analogous manner.
In one embodiment of the invention, an RF interface board capable
of reading both contact and contactless smart cords automatically can be
employed. A transceiver, e.g., a 900Mhz transceiver can be used to
transmit data to a database when the transceiver is employed in
conjunction with a portable reader/writer. The transceiver will enable a
user to access remote databases, PCs or mainframes. In addition to
portable terminals, it is contemplated that various connected organizers,
pen based electronic organizers, palm pilots or similar devices can be
employed to input and/or receive data about an individual and/or patient.
Programs similar to or analogous to the Microsoft CE operating system
can be employed.
With the present system, accountability in medical services can be
assured. The administration of proper medication or medical services or
the serving of proper meals can be monitored using the instant system.
The present invention further relates to an information carrying unit
which utilizes RFID technology for providing information about wearers of
the unit and the use of the unit to identify and provide proper medical
services to an individual. In general, the information carrying unit
comprises a substrate capable of being worn by, attached to or imbedded
within a carrier. The information is installed on an appropriate memory
chip which is attached to the information carrying unit. It is envisioned
that a possible use for the information carrying unit would be as a uniform
identification system.
The present information carrying unit can be used in non-
communicative situations. An individual carrier of the information carrying
unit can be identified and vital information about the individual carrier can
be accessed in emergency situations. Access may be by use of the
input/output devices and portable readers described above. The
information could be accessed from the information carrying unit in a
secure manner by authorized personnel and information would be stored
on the information carrying unit in a memory chip attached to the unit.
Possible forms for the unit could be for example, a bracelet, a pendant
and wrist watch.
It is envisioned by the information carrying units could be used to
provide vital information to care providers in EMS, hospital emergency
rooms, nursing homes or nursery schools. As also described above, the
present unit could provide a system to ensure accountability by identifying
both a service provider and the recipient of the service as well as the time
and date of the services which were provided. In nursery schools,
attendance records and special needs of children could be maintained on
the present RFID information carrying unit.
Errors in services provided to patients could be avoided by the
instant RFID information carrying unit. Hence, confusion in meals,
medication or procedures can be avoided.
The present invention also provides an improvement in card tags.
Such tags are worn by employees such as in hospital meal services and
pharmacy with the present RFID information carrying unit can provide
employee identification and access to an order entry computer system.
One an order is entered the RFID information carrying unit can be used to
verify that the order is correct.
RFID information units can be used for identifying employees in the
time-and-attendance management, in addition to access control. Passive
RFID "proximity" cards and tags can record time in and out data and
permit positive employee ID for contact with individuals with access to
secured areas.
The RFID can provide basic personal health information. This
includes, for example. Medical history, shots, allergies and specific
medical problems as well as current medication. When appropriate, an
individuals medical records can be accessed at the physician's office in
the normal visit.
An RFID in the form of a card or pendant can be employed with
basic information. Readers to access the information could be present in
all physicians, offices, ambulances, police cars, emergency medical
vehicles and fire department vehicles. The obvious benefits for quickly
obtaining vital information becomes apparent with the additional
information that may assist in identifying existing medical and/or
identification problems.
Additional information not found on other medical ID cards could be
incorporated, such as, for example:
1 . EKG for comparative evaluation analysis
2. DNA section for positive identification
3. Organ donor consent form
4. Do Not Resuscitate
5. Global Position Location Chip
In the event of hospitalization, the RFID enables the transfer of
patient information through the treatment process with precision and
accountability. The events that would become an electronic record would
follow the patient through the following procedures:
1 . Admissions (normal or emergency)
2. Radiology if required
3. Surgery if required
4. Recovery if required
5. Patient contracts by:
a. nurse
b. physician
c. pharmacy
d. meal attendants
e. therapists
6. Release
In order to update information, the attending physician, nurse,
therapist or qualified attendant may access the individual memory chip
with a RF reader writer of the types described above. The time, date and
care providing identification would be recorded on the memory chip.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention which are shown in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing one embodiment of steps in
accordance with the method of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a device for
facilitating a medical information update in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a system in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a device in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a device in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of a
system for updating multi-source medical information on a medical
information unit immediately upon a patient's receiving medical service in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of a
system for updating multi-source medical information on a medical
information unit immediately upon a patient's receiving medical service
including intravenous treatment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a system in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of the
system of the present invention shown with greater particularity including
exemplary information carrying units.
FIG. 1 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system in
accordance with the present invention in which a dual card reader is
utilized.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The cost for manufacturing a smart card is slightly more than ten
times the cost for the manufacture of a credit card with a magnetic strip
on the back. However, smart cards have the benefit of providing
centralization of information since they have more functionality than credit
cards, which operate without use of a user code recognition system.
Thus, the greater functionality and security of the smart cards make such
cards a preferred choice for medical information storage.
FIG. 1 , numeral 1 00, shows a block diagram of a system in
accordance with the present invention. A medical treatment facility 102
has an entrance room 1 04 with a plurality of sensors 1 06 arranged on
both sides of the entrance to detect the presence of a radio frequency tag
on a medical smart card when an individual having a medical information
unit with a radio frequency (RF) tag passes through the sensing field
between the sensors.
The RF tag contains in its memory an information code identifying
its owner and any other selected information. For added security, certain
information may be encrypted. Typically, however, information such as
the name of the individual, blood type, presence of a diabetic condition
and the like will typically not be encrypted.
In one embodiment, an encryption key may be a software code that
is only available to the issuer of the medical smart card. The de-
encryption key may be public so that anyone having the de-encryption key
may read information in the memory of the tag, but only the issuer of the
medical smart card can write information on the tag. For example, medical
insurance billing information may be selected to be encrypted.
Information on a smart card typically may be divided into four
groups: read only, added information, updated information, and secure
information. Access to the information on the smart card may be open to
anyone, such as access to a person's blood type, allergies, diabetic
condition and the like. In contrast, certain information on the smart card
may be protected by password or a personal identification number (PIN).
A PIN usually consists of four or five numbers, symbols or alphabetic
characters, individually or in combination, often with a backup security
that disables the smart card when a predetermined number of inaccurate
PIN entries have been executed. Alternatively, some smart cards are
arranged so that only the issuing body, e.g., a metro office, can reload the
smart card. Though authenticated biometrics such as fingerprints and
voiceprints have been suggested as security measures, since biometrics
data are generally stored in electronic form, such data is reproducible, and
thus also represents security risk.
RF tags are known in the art. The use of RF anti-theft tags that
cause a sound to be emitted when an item that was not paid for passes
through the sensor field is known. Such RF tags may be deactivated
when a purchase is made so that no sound is caused to be emitted when
the purchased item passes through the sensor field. In the present
invention an RF tag is typically embedded in a medical smart card or in a
pendant, may be used alone, or, for example in a "dog tag" version
wherein the RF tag is embedded in a "dog tag" similar to those used in
the armed forces. In the present invention the RF tag is used to activate
the alarm sensors as the individual enters the medical treatment facility.
As shown in FIG. 1 , numeral 1 00, at least two sensor arrays 1 06
are typically placed proximate to the vertical sides of a doorway of an
entrance room 104 of the medical treatment facility 1 02. The two sensor
arrays 1 06 provide a sensing field as is known in the art. When the two
sensor arrays 1 06 detect the presence of a medical information unit,
typically a medical smart card, dog tag or pendant, the sensor arrays alert
the medical personnel, generally by causing a sound to be emitted, and
the individual passing through the entrance is identified as having a
medical information unit on his person. Clearly, the system may
alternately, or in addition, provide flashing lights or any other type of
predetermined notification of the presence of the medical information unit.
When the alert is generated, the medical personnel may ask the
individual for the medical information unit, or, where this is not an option,
may search the individual and obtain the medical information unit. It may
be a contact medical smart card, a contactless medical smart card, a dog
tag or a pendant. A reader 1 1 0 for a smart card, dog tag or a pendant is
a data extraction unit that is utilized to obtain the name, the identification
code and any other medical information on the medical smart card
together with other information, if any, for the individual in the database
1 1 2 and any other sources coupled to transfer information to the
database 1 1 2. The reader may, where desired, also have the capability of
writing to the medical information unit or to any other unit (not shown -
for example, a database) that is coupled to the reader 1 1 0. Thus, medical
personnel may update information on the medical information unit each
time a medical service and/or medicine is administered to a patient. For
example, a reader/writer may be installed in each patient room or at the
bedside of each patient. Upon treatment by the physician or other
medical personnel, information describing what has taken place may be
entered on the medical information unit, and, where selected, may also be
used to update a central medical database as well as a centralized billing
system.
The identification code or social security number on the medical
information unit serves as a type of backup system for being sure that the
medical information is being correlated with the correct individual. Thus,
in the event that there is more than one "John Smith", the identification
code clarifies which "John Smith" the individual is. The smart card
reader, dog tag reader or pendant reader 1 1 0 may be arranged with, or be
a part of, an updating information unit 108 (typically a computer system)
that is used to access the medical facility database 1 1 2. The medical
facility database 1 1 2 may be coupled to receive information from a
physician's office 1 14, a medical laboratory 1 1 6 or the like. Thus the
individual, even if he is unconscious and unable to identify himself or
provide vital information such as blood type, may be aided by the updated
medical information provided by the system of the present invention and
medical personnel have the advantage of having access to updated
medical information for the individual, including historical as well as recent
medical information.
FIG. 2, numeral 200, is a flow chart showing one embodiment of
steps in accordance with the method of the present invention. The
method facilitates medical information update for an individual by
combining multi-source medical information based on an information code
on a medical smart card that identifies the individual and predetermined
medical facts about the individual. The individual may be in a hospital, an
emergency medical service vehicle, a police vehicle, a physician's office or
any other place where medical information is needed to assist an
individual. The method includes the steps of: using 202 at least two
arrays of sensors forming a sensing field to identify whether the individual
is carrying a medical information unit; and where the individual is carrying
a medical information unit, combining 204 medical information for the
individual from the medical information unit with information for the
individual in a database to generate an updated medical profile of the
individual. Where selected, the method may further include receiving and
storing 206, automatically, by the database, information updates for the
individual from a plurality of sources. For example, the information
updates from the plurality of sources include information from at least one
medical laboratory and/or information from at least one physician's office.
In another embodiment the sensors for detecting the presence of
the medical information unit may be incorporated into a portable alarm
device or scanner 302. In a preferred embodiment, the portable device is
handheld.
FIG. 3, numeral 300, is a block diagram of one embodiment of the
portable device 302 for facilitating a medical information update. The
device 302 has an alarm unit 304 for indicating whether the individual is
carrying a medical information unit 308. In addition, the device 302 has a
device information unit 306, coupled to the alarm unit 304, for, where the
individual is carrying a medical information unit 308, combining medical
information associated with a name of an individual and/or an
identification code of the medical information unit 308 with information
associated with the name of the individual and/or the identification code in
a database to generate an updated medical profile of the individual. The
alarm unit 304 includes a plurality of sensors that, when the device 302 is
passed in proximity to the body of the individual, detect whether the
individual is carrying a medical information unit 308. Operation of sensors
is known to those skilled in the art and will not be described further here.
Where the plurality of sensors detect a medical information unit 308, a
detection alert is typically indicated by a light or light emitting diode on
the device turning on or a sound being emitted from the device 302.
Thus, the alarm unit 304 generally includes a detection alert system to
implement the alert.
When medical personnel use the portable alarm device 302 and the
detection alert system provides an alert, the personnel locate the medical
information unit 308. The device information unit 306 includes a reader
31 0 which has the capability of reading contactless and contact smart
cards as well as pendants, dog tags and RF tags. Where the medical
information unit 308 is a contactless medical smart card, RF tag, dog tag
or pendant, the smart card, RF tag, dog tag or pendant is held in proximity
to the reader 31 0 to allow the information on the smart card to be
transmitted to the device. Current technology allows a reader-writer to be
up to five (5) feet away from the medical information unit. Where the
medical smart card is a contact smart card, the smart card is inserted into
the reader 31 0. The device may include a display screen 31 2 with
controls for selectively viewing the information, e.g., by scrolling. In
addition or alternatively, as desired, the device information unit 306 may
be arranged to provide downloading to or exchanging of information with
a database. Typically, this is accomplished either by an RF transfer with
the database or by plugging a database connection 31 4 of the portable
device directly into a wire connection or placing the database connection
314 of the portable device into contact with a cradle (not shown) that is
designed to facilitate information transfer between a database and the
portable device or synchronize information between them. Since the
technology for cradles and wire connections for handheld computing
devices to permit data transfer is known, it will not be described further
here.
FIG. 4, numeral 400, sets forth a block diagram of another
embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention. A
smart card 402, a card with a magnetic strip 404 (a "swipe" card), a dog
tag or a radio frequency identification (RFID) device 406 such as a
pendant or RFID smart card may be read by a dual reader writer unit 408
coupled to a monitor 410. The dual reader writer unit 408 provides the
capability of security, accountability and adding further information to the
smart card 402, the swipe card 404, dog tag or the RFID device 406. In
one embodiment, the dual reader writer unit provides a two medical
information unit system in which the patient and the person attending to
the patient must both have their medical information units accessed and
recorded with the identity, time and date of contact. Thus, in all contacts
that involve medical treatment, both the care provider's medical
information unit and the patient's medical information unit are accessed,
providing current medical information for the patient at the time of
treatment. Where selected, computers with two processors may be used
to segment the input data in accordance with a predetermined scheme.
Where the medical treatment facility is arranged to serve a number of
individuals, there may be a plurality of dual reader writer units 408, 424
and monitors 41 0, 426 coupled to the database 41 2.
Thus, in a medical treatment room of a medical treatment facility
for example, any vital information such as medication administered may
be added and, where desired, may also be recorded in a database 41 2
(database with database interface) . Where desired, the database 414
may be coupled to a network 41 4, which may be accessed by a computer
41 6, a handheld device, a cellular device 41 8 or the like. The database
41 2 may also be coupled to a plurality of selected databases, for example,
databases for a radiology unit 428, a pharmacy 430, a laboratory 432, a
nurses' station 434, a billing or accounting unit 420, a smart card case
specific unit 422 or the like, any of which may be located at the medical
treatment facility or offsite.
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, numeral 500, the device
502 may be embodied in an identification unit that uses a medical smart
card to generate a medical identification bracelet 51 0 for an individual.
The identification unit includes a reader unit 504 for reading a name of the
individual from the medical smart card; and a bracelet generating unit 506
for generating the medical identification bracelet with the name of the
individual printed thereon. For example, the bracelet generating unit 506
may be a computer coupled to a device for printing the medical
identification bracelet 510. The identification unit may also include an
electronic information generating unit 508 for generating an electronic
information unit for the medical identification bracelet 510 or alternatively,
may allow the medical information unit to be affixed thereto. The
electronic information unit may be attached to the medical identification
bracelet 51 0 so that additional information is readily available. Typically,
the electronic information unit includes updatable predetermined medical
information for the individual.
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 6, numeral 600, a device
602 may use a medical smart card to generate a medical identification
unit 61 0 for an individual. The device 602 includes a reader unit 604 for
reading a name of the individual from the medical smart card; and a
medical identification generating unit 606 for generating a medical
identification unit 610 that includes electronic identification of the
individual. As above, the medical identification unit 61 0 may include
updatable predetermined medical information for the individual, and may
also include an electronic information generating unit 608 for generating
an electronic information unit 61 2 for the medical identification unit 610.
The electronic information unit 61 2 may be attached to or incorporated
into the medical identification unit. The medical identification unit 61 0 is
typically a bracelet or a pendant to be worn by the individual.
As shown in FIG. 7, numeral 700, the present invention may
include a system for updating multi-source medical information on a
medical information unit immediately upon a patient's receiving medical
service. The system includes a plurality of medical information units
702, ...(one per patient), a plurality of portable patient input/output units
706, ...(each co-located with at least one patient), and a central database
714. Each medical information unit includes information that identifies
the patient wearing or having the medical information unit 702. If
desired, selected predetermined medical information, such as blood type,
whether the patient has diabetes, the type of diabetes, etc., may also be
included on the medical information unit. Each of the plurality of portable
patient input/output units is co-located with at least one patient and
includes a reader for obtaining information from the medical information
unit 702, a display unit 71 2 for displaying the information obtained, and
where selected, a writer for adding information to the medical information
unit and/or a central database. The co-location of the portable patient
input/output unit 706 with the patient being treated facilitates the input
and display of information from the medical information unit for the
patient. Also, this arrangement aids personnel in downloading and
retrieving medical and/or billing information for the particular patient from
a central database. The central database has an interface with each of
the portable patient input/output units and may also include an interface
with a plurality of medical input databases. For example, interfaces to
receive pharmaceutical and/or laboratory test information may be utilized.
The central database may be coupled to each portable patient input/output
unit via wireless or wired connection. The input unit 708 for the portable
patient input/output unit 706 may utilize speech recognition, touchscreen
technology using alphabetic and numeric characters, or any other known
input technology. The central database may also accessible by at least
one network. For example, the central database may be accessible by cell
phone, a personal digital assistant, a computer, the internet or the like.
Again, security for the system will be typically be predetermined by the
system's owner. Typically, the medical information unit is one of: a smart
card, a pendant or a "dog tag".
Typically where the size of the medical information unit has been
minimized, such as where the medical information unit is a pendant or a
small RFID device, the medical information unit 702 may be attachable to
an identification bracelet 704 of the patient, as shown in FIG. 7.
Generally, the medical information unit is either a pendant or another
version of a radio frequency identification unit.
FIG. 8, numeral 800, is a diagrammatic representation of an
embodiment of a system for updating multi-source medical information on
a medical information unit immediately upon a patient's receiving medical
service including intravenous treatment in accordance with the present
invention. Note that, in addition to the plurality of medical information
units 802, ...(one per patient), the plurality of portable patient input/output
units 806, ...(each co-located with at least one patient), and a central
database 81 4, the system includes an intravenous attaching unit 81 6 that
allows medical personnel to attach the intravenous connecting apparatus
to the bracelet 804 to stabilize the intravenous connection to the patient.
The portable patient input/output unit 806 includes an input unit 808, a
reader 81 0 and a display unit 81 2 as described above for FIG. 7.
By incorporating RFID transceivers in every area that a patient may
occupy in a medical treatment setting, a record may be maintained
showing the data and time of each treatment. For example, an order of
events might be: arrival via an Emergency Medical Service Vehicle,
ambulance, police car or fire vehicle, emergency room treatment,
treatment from radiology, admission information input, input from a
nurse's station, hospital room input, operating room input, recovery room
input, and discharge station input. The above events would include input
from and identification of all persons that had contact with the patient,
including physicians, nurses, aides, drug dispensers, admission stations,
and food dispensers. Thus, all billable services are recorded at the time of
patient contact, expediting the billing process. In addition, other services
such as reception desk services, recovery room services, and pharmacy
services may be entered directly on the medical information unit.
Placement of RFID transceivers for the medical information unit in police
vehicles, fire department vehicles, emergency medical service vehicles,
police stations and fire stations would facilitate access and update of
medical information.
An office visit to a physician is a shorter version of the hospital
system described above, since typically fewer services are utilized during
a patient's visit with a physician. The physician carries out his
examination of the patient, records the examination using a patient
input/output unit and adds any other information needed.
FIG. 9, numeral 900, shows a block diagram of another
embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention. An
RFID pendant 902, smart card 904, smart card with RFID 906, or a "dog
tag" (SC-RFID 908) is a medical information unit having information that
may accessed using a transmitter/receiver 91 0 with a monitor 91 2, server
91 4 with a monitor 91 2, or reader/writer 91 6 with a monitor 91 8.
Medical information may further include information from radiology 920, a
work station 922, a pharmacy 924, a billing unit 926, or the like, typically
coupled to the transmitter/receiver 91 0, server 91 3 or reader/writer 91 6
by another server 928.
In the diagrammatic representation shown in FIG. 1 0, numeral
1 000, the system of the present invention wherein the RFID pendant is
shown attached to an identification bracelet 1 004 that includes an
intravenous device holder. Input from the pendant 1 002, a smart card
with RFID 1 006, a smart card 1 008 or military dog tags 1 01 0 is read by a
hand held scanner/reader 1 01 2, a dual card reader 1 01 4, or a reader-
writer 101 6 and may be shared with a central office 1 01 8 and/or a
branch office 1020. In one configuration, the smart card may be
implemented with an RFID chip. In the field, the hand held
scanner/reader may provide emergency information for an individual. In
the embodiment of FIG. 1 0, a Windows NT Primary Domain Controller
controls client authentication from the central office, and a management
station, i.e., any personal computer equipped with a Web browser, is used
to configure the boot server at each branch and to set user and group
rights and privileges. Medical history may be maintained such that it may
only be accessed by authorized personnel. Typically a wide-area network
couples the central office 101 8 to the branch office 1 020. In one
embodiment, the branch office 1 020 includes an IBM Network Station
Manager that runs as the boot server and applications server, running on a
Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 3.0. Clients may obtain their
applications and management tasks from the boot server, and their host
connections through a 56 Kbps link to the central office's 3270 host.
FIG. 1 1 , numeral 1 1 00, is a block diagram of an embodiment of a
system in accordance with the present invention in which a dual card
reader is utilized. In this embodiment a medical information unit such as a
RFID pendant/pendant on a wristband 1 1 02, an RFID plus a smart card
1 1 04, or a smart card 1 106 is read by a fixed scanner 1 1 08 or a hand¬
held scanner 1 1 1 0 and the information is sent to a computer 1 1 1 2 by
wireline or by wireless. A computer 1 1 1 2 suitable for use in the present
invention typically includes a keyboard 1 1 28 and monitor 1 1 26 and may,
where selected, include a dual card security system 1 1 24. The dual card
security system 1 1 24 generally requires input of a smart
card/pendant/dog tag of a patient together with input of a smart
card/pendant/dog tag of a preapproved service provider in order for access
to be allowed to medical information/billing and the like. The computer
1 1 1 2 is generally coupled (wireless or wireline) to at least one server that
may be coupled to a plurality of information sources such as a records
unit 1 1 1 8, a pharmacy 1 1 20, a billing unit 1 1 22 or the like and may also
be coupled to receive and transfer information using the internet 1 1 1 6.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to
particular preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and
modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the
art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by
the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.