U.S. patent application number 09/956827 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-07 for medical care schedule and record aiding system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kameda Medical Information Laboratory. Invention is credited to Kameda, Toshitada.
Application Number | 20020016722 09/956827 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18350195 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020016722 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kameda, Toshitada |
February 7, 2002 |
Medical care schedule and record aiding system and method
Abstract
A medical care system includes a first unit with medical care
data storage, a first receiving device receiving identification
data, a selecting device selecting medical care data related to the
patient, and a first transmitting device transmitting selected
medical care data to a second unit via the communication line; the
second unit with a patient identification data inputting device, a
second transmitting device, and an output data generating device
generating output data in a table, in which the medical care
actions indicated by the received medical care data are arranged in
first rows for each type of the medical care actions and in second
rows orthogonal to the first rows for each date.
Inventors: |
Kameda, Toshitada;
(Kamogawa-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Assignee: |
Kameda Medical Information
Laboratory
Chiba-ken
JP
|
Family ID: |
18350195 |
Appl. No.: |
09/956827 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09956827 |
Sep 21, 2001 |
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09158606 |
Sep 23, 1998 |
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6321203 |
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09158606 |
Sep 23, 1998 |
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08746175 |
Nov 7, 1996 |
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5913197 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/3 ;
705/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/63 20180101;
G16H 10/60 20180101; G16H 40/67 20180101; G16H 40/20 20180101; G16H
15/00 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/3 ;
705/2 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 27, 1995 |
JP |
P07-341972 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A medical care schedule and record aiding system comprising: an
inputting device for inputting patient identification data which
indicate one of a plurality of patients; an output data generating
device for generating output data to be graphically outputted in a
format of a table, in which medical care actions indicated by
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data among the medical care data which
indicate a plurality of types of the medical care actions with
respect to each of the plurality of patients and each date
respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and an outputting device for
graphically outputting the generated output data, wherein said
output data generating device generates the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data such that the medical
care actions are arranged per each time of the day in each frame of
the table as for at least one portion of the medical care data, on
the basis of the medical care data for each time of the day.
2. A medical care schedule and record aiding system comprising: an
inputting device for inputting patient identification data which
indicate one of a plurality of patients; an output data generating
device for generating output data to be graphically outputted in a
format of a table, in which medical care actions indicated by
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data among the medical care data which
indicate a plurality of types of the medical care actions with
respect to each of the plurality of patients and each date
respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and an outputting device for
graphically outputting the generated output data, wherein said
output data generating device generates the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data such that the medical
care actions are arranged in the table divided into each
predetermined time interval instead of each date, as for at least
one portion of the medical care data, on the basis of the medical
care data for each time of the day.
3. A medical care schedule and record aiding system comprising: an
inputting device for inputting patient identification data which
indicate one of a plurality of patients; an output data generating
device for generating output data to be graphically outputted in a
format of a table, in which medical care actions indicated by
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data among the medical care data which
indicate a plurality of types of the medical care actions with
respect to each of the plurality of patients and each date
respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and an outputting device for
graphically outputting the generated output data, wherein said
output data generating device generates the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data in a format of a table
in which the medical care actions are arranged in the second rows
for each predetermined consecutive dates instead of each date, as
for at least one portion of the medical care data.
4. A medical care schedule and record aiding system comprising: an
inputting device for inputting patient identification data which
indicate one of a plurality of patients; an output data generating
device for generating output data to be graphically outputted in a
format of a table, in which medical care actions indicated by
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data among the medical care data which
indicate a plurality of types of the medical care actions with
respect to each of the plurality of patients and each date
respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and an outputting device for
graphically outputting the generated output data, wherein said
output data generating device selectively generates at least one of
(i) the output data for graphically outputting the medical care
data such that the medical care actions are arranged per each time
of the day in each frame of the table as for at least one portion
of the medical care data, on the basis of the medical care data for
each time of the day, (ii) the output data for graphically
outputting the medical care data such that the medical care actions
are arranged in the table divided into each predetermined time
interval instead of each date, as for at least one portion of the
medical care data, on the basis of the medical care data for each
time of the day, and (iii) the output data for graphically
outputting the medical care data in a format of a table in which
the medical care actions are arranged in the second rows for each
predetermined consecutive dates instead of each date, as for at
least one portion of the medical care data.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the table comprises a
plurality of columns divided by each date and a plurality of lines
divided by each type of the medical care action, and the medical
care actions are arranged in said each frame of the table such that
time information is indicated beside each of the arranged medical
care actions.
6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the table comprises a
plurality of columns divided by each predetermined time interval
and a plurality of lines divided by each type of the medical care
action, and the medical care actions are arranged in said each
frame of the table such that time information is indicated beside
each of the arranged medical care actions.
7. A system according to claim 3, wherein the table comprises a
plurality of columns divided by each predetermined consecutive
dates and a plurality of lines divided by each type of the medical
care action, and the medical care actions are arranged in said each
frame of the table such that date information is indicated beside
each of the arranged medical care actions.
8. A system according to claim 4, further comprising a format
information storing device for storing format information, which
prescribes a plurality of formats for graphical output and which
includes the predetermined format information prescribing the
framework of the table, said inputting device being constructed to
specify one of the plurality of formats, said output data
generating device selectively generating the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data by the format
specified by said inputting device, on the basis of the format
information corresponding to the specified format.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a
unit for medical examination and said output data generating device
generates the output data for graphically outputting a medical
examination report by use of the medical care data.
10. A system according to claim 2, wherein said system comprises a
unit for medical examination and said output data generating device
generates the output data for graphically outputting a medical
examination report by use of the medical care data.
11. A system according to claim 3, wherein said system comprises a
unit for medical examination and said output data generating device
generates the output data for graphically outputting a medical
examination report by use of the medical care data.
12. A system according to claim 4, wherein said system comprises a
unit for medical examination and said output data generating device
generates the output data for graphically outputting a medical
examination report by use of the medical care data.
13. A program storage device readable by a medical care schedule
and record aiding apparatus, tangibly embodying a program of
instructions executable by the medical care schedule and record
aiding apparatus to perform method steps for aiding a preparation
of medical care schedule and record, said method steps comprising:
inputting patient identification data which indicate one of a
plurality of patients; generating output data to be graphically
outputted in a format of a table, in which medical care actions
indicated by medical care data related to the patient indicated by
the inputted patient identification data among the medical care
data which indicate a plurality of types of the medical care
actions with respect to each of the plurality of patients and each
date respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and graphically outputting the
generated output data, wherein said graphically outputting step
generates the output data for graphically outputting the medical
care data such that the medical care actions are arranged per each
time of the day in each frame of the table as for at least one
portion of the medical care data, on the basis of the medical care
data for each time of the day.
14. A program storage device readable by a medical care schedule
and record aiding apparatus, tangibly embodying a program of
instructions executable by the medical care schedule and record
aiding apparatus to perform method steps for aiding a preparation
of medical care schedule and record, said method steps comprising:
inputting patient identification data which indicate one of a
plurality of patients; generating output data to be graphically
outputted in a format of a table, in which medical care actions
indicated by medical care data related to the patient indicated by
the inputted patient identification data among the medical care
data which indicate a plurality of types of the medical care
actions with respect to each of the plurality of patients and each
date respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and graphically outputting the
generated output data, wherein said graphically outputting step
generates the output data for graphically outputting the medical
care data such that the medical care actions are arranged in the
table divided into each predetermined time interval instead of each
date, as for at least one portion of the medical care data, on the
basis of the medical care data for each time of the day.
15. A program storage device readable by a medical care schedule
and record aiding apparatus, tangibly embodying a program of
instructions executable by the medical care schedule and record
aiding apparatus to perform method steps for aiding a preparation
of medical care schedule and record, said method steps comprising:
inputting patient identification data which indicate one of a
plurality of patients; generating output data to be graphically
outputted in a format of a table, in which medical care actions
indicated by medical care data related to the patient indicated by
the inputted patient identification data among the medical care
data which indicate a plurality of types of the medical care
actions with respect to each of the plurality of patients and each
date respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and graphically outputting the
generated output data, wherein said graphically outputting step
generates the output data for graphically outputting the medical
care data in a format of a table in which the medical care actions
are arranged in the second rows for each predetermined consecutive
dates instead of each date, as for at least one portion of the
medical care data.
16. A program storage device readable by a medical care schedule
and record aiding apparatus, tangibly embodying a program of
instructions executable by the medical care schedule and record
aiding apparatus to perform method steps for aiding a preparation
of medical care schedule and record, said method steps comprising:
inputting patient identification data which indicate one of a
plurality of patients; generating output data to be graphically
outputted in a format of a table, in which medical care actions
indicated by medical care data related to the patient indicated by
the inputted patient identification data among the medical care
data which indicate a plurality of types of the medical care
actions with respect to each of the plurality of patients and each
date respectively are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to said first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
medical care data related to the patient indicated by the inputted
patient identification data; and graphically outputting the
generated output data, wherein said graphically outputting step
selectively generates at least one of (i) the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data such that the medical
care actions are arranged per each time of the day in each frame of
the table as for at least one portion of the medical care data, on
the basis of the medical care data for each time of the day, (ii)
the output data for graphically outputting the medical care data
such that the medical care actions are arranged in the table
divided into each predetermined time interval instead of each date,
as for at least one portion of the medical care data, on the basis
of the medical care data for each time of the day, and (iii) the
output data for graphically outputting the medical care data in a
format of a table in which the medical care actions are arranged in
the second rows for each predetermined consecutive dates instead of
each date, as for at least one portion of the medical care
data.
17. A program storage device according to claim 67, wherein said
method steps further comprise specifying one of a plurality of
formats for graphical output, said output data generating step
selectively generating the output data for graphically outputting
the medical care data by the format specified by said specifying
step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a technical field
of managing, storing, processing, inputting and outputting the
medical care information, and more particularly to a technical
field of a new system for aiding or directing a person related to
medical care such as a medical doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a
medical office worker, a patient and so on, to make up a better
medical care schedule and record.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, each medical doctor, nurse, etc. makes up
the medical care schedule as for medical care actions such as a
test, an examination, an inspection, a reservation for
hospitalizing, an operation, a medication and so on, by thinking
and summarizing it in his or her mind on the basis of his or her
experience and sense. Therefore, a better medical care schedule can
be made up by a well trained medical doctor etc., who carefully
considers the needed care.
[0005] On the other hand, as a system for processing medical
information by use of a computer, there is a computer system for
medical office work, to which data indicating types of medical
examination, medication, medical insurance etc. are inputted and
which speedily calculates the medical care out of those inputted
data and outputs a bill. Under the development of the computer
communication technique nowadays, an order system is also proposed
which quickly transmits the computer readable information in place
of a paper chit on which the message is written, from one terminal
device at one department to the other terminal device at the other
department so as to speed up the preparation of the medicine, the
account and the like. Further it has been tried to communicate
medical information by use of a personal computer communication
such as the internet, the nifty and the like.
[0006] Since the medical care schedule is related to a human life
and thus very important, it is desirable to standardize the medical
care schedule to some extent and keep its quality high, regardless
of the discretion or skill of the individual doctor.
[0007] However, first of all, the aforementioned medical care
schedule, which is made up by each doctor, nurse, etc., needs a
means to summarize it to each user in such a way as "the
prescription will be performed on X day, the test will be performed
on Y day, . . . " for example, which basically cannot function as a
schedule table related to the medical care actions or processes.
And, above all, this kind of conventional medical care schedule
depends very much upon the individual discretion and skill of each
doctor, nurse, etc., so that it is almost impossible to schedule
and program the medical care processes which are the objectively
best in case of serving various medical care actions and processes
with respect to numbers of patients who have various kinds of
chronic and disease. As a result, there is a serious problem that a
less effective medical treatment may be applied by an erroneous
judgment of the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist or the like, and
that the condition or disease, which would have been cured by
applying the most suitable treatment, is not finally cured.
Furthermore, depending upon the type of medical care actions, the
medical care schedule may include information, which should be
referred to by all of the staff related to the medical care such as
the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist, the medical engineer, the
patient himself, the family of the patient, etc., or may include
the information which should not be referred to by persons other
than the very limited staff. On the other hand, it may be that only
limited staff are allowed to make up the schedule, such as only a
doctor, only a specialized doctor, only a nurse, only a reservation
staff and so on. Accordingly, it requires great effort to make up
the medical care schedule, refer to it and change or modify it
without any trouble.
[0008] On the other hand, the quality itself of the medical care
can be hardly improved by the aforementioned computer system for
the medical office work and the order system, although the burden
on the office works and the waiting time of the patients can be
reduced by those systems. Further, according to the aforementioned
communication technique for the medical information by use of the
personal computer communication, it is still at the stage of
transmitting and receiving the computer readable information which
content is substantially the same as that of the information
written on the paper, and the improvement thereof lies mostly on
the high communication speed. Thus, this communication technique
works for improving the quality of the medical care in a sense that
a doctor may be informed very quickly by chance of a specific
medical care method from another doctor who is the personal
computer communication colleague. But this communication technique
is hardly reliable or useful for scheduling an appropriate, stable
and subjective medical treatment processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a medical care schedule and record aiding system, a medical
care schedule and record aiding apparatus and a medical care
schedule and record aiding method, which can aid or direct the
staff relating to the medical care to make up an appropriate and
objective medical care schedule and record toward the best medical
care for each patient.
[0010] The above mentioned object of the present invention can be
achieved by a medical care schedule and record aiding system
including at least one first unit and at least one second unit
connected to each other via a communication line. The first unit is
provided with: a medical care data storing device for storing
medical care data which indicate a plurality of types of medial
care actions with respect to each of a plurality of patients and
each date respectively; a first receiving device for receiving
patient identification data which indicate one of the plurality of
patients via the communication line; a selecting device for
selecting the medical care data related to the patient indicated by
the received patient identification data; and a first transmitting
device for transmitting the selected medical care data via the
communication line. The second unit is provided with: an inputting
device for inputting the patient identification data; a second
transmitting device for transmitting the inputted patient
identification data to the first receiving device via the
communication line; a second receiving device for receiving the
medical care data transmitted from the first transmitting device
via the communication line; an output data generating device for
generating output data to be graphically outputted in a format of a
table, in which the medical care actions indicated by the received
medical care data are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to the first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
received medical care data; and an outputting device for
graphically outputting the generated output data. The inputting
device is constructed to input the medical care data with respect
to each patient, each date and each type of the medical care
action, the second transmitting device further transmitting the
medical care data, inputted by the inputting device, to the first
receiving device via the communication line, the first receiving
device further receiving the medical care data transmitted from the
second transmitting device, the medical care data storing device
storing the received medical care data.
[0011] According to the system of the present invention, at least
one first unit and at least one second unit are connected to each
other via the communication line such as a connector cable, a
telephone line, an exclusive communication line and the like. The
medical care data, which indicate a plurality of types of medial
care actions with respect to each of a plurality of patients and
each date respectively, are stored by the medical care data storing
device provided in the first unit. Here, the "date" may be the date
in the past on which each medical care action has been already
performed or the date in the future on which each medical care
action will be performed. Namely, the "medical care data" indicate
at least one of the medical care action which has been already
performed in the past and the medical care action which will be
performed in the future. The medical care data with respect to
"each date" may be with respect to each time of the day in addition
to the date, or Dust with respect to the date having no information
as for the time of the day.
[0012] Firstly, at the second unit, when the patient identification
data are inputted through the inputting device by an operation of
the operator such as the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist, etc.,
the inputted patient identification data are transmitted from the
second transmitting device to the first receiving device via the
communication line. Corresponding to this, when the patient
identification data indicating an arbitrary one of the plurality of
patients are received by the first receiving device via the
communication line, the medical care data as for the patient
indicated by the received patient identification data are selected
from the medical care data storing device by the selecting device.
Nextly, the selected medical care data are transmitted by the first
transmitting device via the communication line. Corresponding to
this, the medical care data transmitted from the first transmitting
device are received by the second receiving device via the
communication line. Then the output data to be graphically
outputted in a format of a table, in which the medical care actions
indicated by the received medical care data are arranged in first
rows for each type of the medical care actions and in second rows
orthogonal to the first rows for each date, are generated by the
output data generating device on the basis of the predetermined
format information, which prescribes the framework of the table,
and the received medical care data. Then, the generated output data
are graphically outputted by the outputting device such as the
displaying device, the printer and the like. Further, when the
medical care data with respect to each patient, each date and each
type of the medical care action are inputted through the inputting
device by an operation of the operator such as the doctor, the
nurse, the pharmacist, etc., the inputted medical care data are
further transmitted from the second transmitting device to the
first receiving device via the communication line. Then, the
transmitted medical care data are received by the first receiving
device and the received medical care data are stored by the medical
care data storing device. Consequently, the whole staff in the
hospital such as the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist, etc., can
watch the same table at once, can share the same information as for
the condition of each patient, and can appropriately input the
medical care data while watching the table.
[0013] In one aspect of the system of the present invention, the
second unit is further provided with a format information storing
device for storing format information, which prescribes a plurality
of formats for graphical output and which includes the
predetermined format information prescribing the framework of the
table, the inputting device being constructed to specify one of the
plurality of formats, the output data generating device generating
the output data for graphically outputting the medical care data by
the format specified by the inputting device, on the basis of the
format information corresponding to the specified format.
[0014] According to this aspect of the system, when one of the
formats which information are stored in the format information
storing device is specified through the inputting device by an
operation of the operator, the output data for graphically
outputting the medical care data by the specified format are
generated by the output data generating device on the basis of the
format information corresponding to the specified format. Then, the
generated output data are graphically outputted in the specified
format of the table by the outputting device. Consequently, a table
suitable for the usage circumstance or the usage object of the
system can be appropriately displayed and printed on demand, which
is very convenient for the various staff in the hospital.
[0015] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the outputting device is provided with a displaying device having a
picture plane for displaying the generated output data, the
inputting device being constructed to add, change, modify and/or
delete the output data displayed on the picture plane of the
displaying device, the second transmitting device further
transmitting new medical care data corresponding to the output
data, which have been added, changed, modified and/or deleted by
the inputting device, to the first receiving device via the
communication line, the medical care data storing device updating
its stored content by the new medical care data received by the
first receiving device.
[0016] According to this aspect of the system, when the output data
displayed on the picture plane of the displaying device are added,
changed, modified and/or deleted through the inputting device by an
operation of the operator, the new medical care data, which
correspond to the added, changed, modified and/or deleted output
data, are transmitted by the second transmitting device via the
communication line, and are received by the first receiving device.
Then, the stored content of the medical care data storing device
are updated by the new medical care data received by the first
receiving device. Consequently, by such a rather simple input
operation that the output data are added, changed, modified and/or
deleted on the picture plane by the inputting device on the side of
the second unit, the stored content of the medical care data
storing device on the side of the first unit can be updated.
[0017] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the outputting device is provided with a displaying device having a
picture plane for displaying the generated output data, the
inputting device being constructed to specify at least one of an
arbitrary date included in a plurality of dates indicated by the
output data displayed on the picture plane and an arbitrary type
included in a plurality of types indicated by the output data
displayed on the picture plane, the output data generating device
generating the output data for displaying the medical care data
related to the at least one of the date and type specified by the
inputting device, in a format different from that of the table, on
the basis of the format information corresponding to the different
format.
[0018] According to this aspect of the system, when at least one of
an arbitrary date and an arbitrary type indicated by the output
data displayed on the picture plane is specified through the
inputting device by an operation of the operator, the output data
for displaying the medical care data related to the date and type
specified by the inputting device in the format different from that
of the table are generated by the output data generating device.
Then, the medical care date in the format of, for example, a list
which is different from the table is graphically outputted by the
outputting device. Consequently, as the operator just specifies the
date and/or type by the inputting device, the medical care data
related to the specified date and/or type can be graphically
outputted in the format different from that of the table e.g. the
list, so that various medical care data and various detail medical
data can be easily obtained in the graphic output suitable for
respective data.
[0019] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the inputting device is constructed to specify the number of dates
to be included in one table outputted from the outputting device,
the output data generating device constituting at least a portion
of the output data to fill each frame of the table by a font, and
harmonizing the size of the font to a size of each frame of the
table, which is determined by the number of dates specified by the
inputting device.
[0020] According to this aspect of the system, when the number of
dates to be included in one table is specified through the
inputting device by the operator, the size of the font is
harmonized to the size of each frame of the table which is
determined by the specified number of dates, by the output data
generating device, which constitutes at least a portion of the
output data to fill each frame of the table by the font. Then, the
font which has the size harmonized to the size of each frame of the
table can be graphically outputted in the table by the outputting
device. Consequently, by such a simple operation of merely
specifying the number of dates a table, easy to watch in which the
font size is suitable for the size of each frame of the table, can
be automatically obtained.
[0021] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the inputting device is constructed to input operator
identification data for identifying an operator in addition to the
patient identification data, the second transmitting device
transmitting the operator identification data inputted from the
inputting device in addition to the patient identification data,
the first receiving device receiving the transmitted operator
identification data in addition to the patient identification data,
the selecting device selecting only the medical care data
indicating the medical care action of a type, which is
predetermined as a type able to be referred to with respect to the
operator indicated by the received operator identification data, as
for the patient indicated by the received patient identification
data.
[0022] According to this aspect of the system, when the operator
identification data for identifying the operator are inputted
together with the patient identification data through the inputting
device by an operation of the operator, the inputted operator
identification data are transmitted with the patient identification
data by the second transmitting device, and are received by the
first receiving device. Then, only the medical care data indicating
the medical care action of the type, which is predetermined as the
type able to be referred to with respect to the operator indicated
by the received operator identification data, as for the patient
indicated by the received patient identification data, are selected
from the medical care data storing device by the selecting device.
Consequently, the table including only the medical care data of the
type set as the type able to be referred to are graphically
outputted from the outputting device. Thus, the medical care
information can be positively provided to staff of a certain kind
and at the same time can be made secret to staff of other kinds, so
that the secret information can be prevented from being leaked.
[0023] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the inputting device is constructed to input operator
identification data for identifying an operator together with the
medical care data, the second transmitting device transmitting the
operator identification data inputted from the inputting device
with the medical care data, the first receiving device receiving
the transmitted operator identification data together with medical
care data, the medical care data storing device storing only the
received medical care data indicating the medical care action of a
type, which is predetermined as a type able to be inputted with
respect to the operator indicated by the received operator
identification data.
[0024] According to this aspect of the system, when the operator
identification data for identifying the operator are inputted in
addition to the medical care data through the inputting device by
an operation of the operator, the inputted operator identification
data are transmitted with the medical care data by the second
transmitting device, and are received by the first receiving
device. Then, only the medical care data indicating the medical
care action of the type, which is predetermined as the type able to
be referred to with respect to the operator indicated by the
received operator identification data, as for the patient indicated
by the received patient identification data, are stored to the
medical care data storing device. Consequently, the table including
only the medical care data of the type set as the type able to be
referred to are graphically outputted from the outputting device.
Thus, the medical care information as well as the medical care
schedule can be added, changed, modified and/or deleted positively
by authorized staff. At the same time, it is possible to prevent
the medical care data as well as the medical care schedule from
being destroyed by unauthorized staff, and it is finally possible
to construct the most appropriate medical care schedule in the
medical care data storing device by the integration or accumulation
of the medical care data inputted in this manner.
[0025] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the inputting device is provided with a reading out device for
reading out the patient identification data from a record medium to
which the patient identification data are recorded.
[0026] According to this aspect of the system, the patient
identification data are inputted by the reading out device from the
record medium. In this case, as the record medium, a card type
medium such as the magnetic card, the IC card, etc. to which the
patient identification data are electro-magnetically,
magneto-optically or optically recorded, are very useful. As the
reading out device, the device for electro-magnetically,
magneto-optically or optically reading the data in correspondence
with the record medium, can be utilized. The operator
identification data may be recorded on and read out from the
magnetic card etc. in the same manner as the patient identification
data. Further, the patient identification data and the operator
identification data may be inputted from the same reading out
device. Thus, the patient identification data can be easily read
out from the magnetic card, the IC card, etc., which is
convenient.
[0027] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the inputting device is provided with a reading out device for
reading out the medical care data from a record medium to which the
medical care data are recorded.
[0028] According to this aspect of the system, the medical care
data are inputted by the reading out device from the record medium.
In this case, as the record medium, a known large volume data
record medium such as the magnetic disk, the optical disk, the ROM,
the IC card, the magnetic tape, etc. to which the medical care data
for each patient, each date and each type are electro-magnetically,
magneto-optically or optically recorded, are very useful. As the
reading out device, the device for electro-magnetically,
magneto-optically or optically reading the data in correspondence
with the record medium, can be utilized. Thus, the medical care
data can be easily read out in a large volume from the magnetic
disk, the optical disk, etc., which is convenient.
[0029] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the table has a plurality of columns divided by each date and a
plurality of lines divided by each type of the medical care
action.
[0030] According to this aspect of the system, the table having a
plurality of columns divided by each date and a plurality of lines
divided by each type of the medical care action can be graphically
outputted from the outputting device. Thus, the medical treatment
process, the program for the medical care schedule, etc. can be
easily understood from the table which is very convenient.
[0031] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the types of the medical care actions may include at least one of a
medical cure, a treatment, an injection, an examination, a test, an
evaluation, a medication, a meal, an activity restriction, an
observation, a rehabilitation, a coordination, a hospitalization,
leaving the hospital, an education for a family of the patient, a
record of a doctor and a record of a nurse.
[0032] According to this aspect of the system, the table indicating
the various medical care actions is graphically outputted by the
outputting device. In this case, the medical care data may be text
data expressing each action by the text or code data obtained by
coding the content of the medical care action according to a
predetermined rule. Thus, it is possible to understand each type of
medical care action in association with the date visually at a
moment's notice.
[0033] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the second unit is further provided with a counter for counting the
date, the output data generating device generating the output data
such that one portion of graphical output related to the date
corresponding to a present day is displayed in a display manner
different from that of the other portions of graphical output, on
the basis of the date counted by the counter.
[0034] According to this aspect of the system, the date is counted
by the counter, and the output data are generated by the output
data generating device such that one portion of graphical output
related to the date corresponding to a present day is displayed in
a display manner different from that of the other portions of
graphical output, on the basis of the date counted by the counter.
Here, the different display manner may be such a display manner
that the color, the brightness, the styles, the kind of lines, the
concentration, the half tone meshing, etc. may be changed on the
displayed image. Consequently, the table in which one portion of
graphical output corresponding to the present day is displayed in
the different display manner is outputted by the outputting device.
Thus, it is possible to visually recognize at a moment's notice
where is the present day i.e. up to which date the medical care
treatment has been performed at the present time in the table in
which the items are arranged for each date.
[0035] In another aspect of the system of the present invention, a
result flag indicating whether or not the medical care action has
been already performed is attached to the medical care data, the
output data generating device generating the output data such that
one portion of graphical output related to the medical care action
which has been already performed is displayed in a display manner
different from that of another portion of graphical output related
to the medical care action which has not been performed yet, on the
basis of the result flag.
[0036] According to this aspect of the system, the output data are
generated by the output data generating device on the basis of the
result flag such that one portion of graphical output related to
the medical care action which has been already performed is
displayed in a display manner different from that of another
portion of graphical output related to the medical care action
which has not been performed yet. Consequently, the table by which
it is possible to visually recognize at a moment's notice whether
or not each medical care action has been performed can be
graphically outputted by the outputting device. Further, it is also
possible to visually recognize whether or not the detail medical
data indicating the result of the medical care action exist
logically under the medical care data, which is very
convenient.
[0037] In another aspect of the system of the present invention, at
least one of the second units may be a unit for medical examination
which is provided with an output data generating device for
generating the output data for graphically outputting a medical
examination report by use of the medical care data received by the
second receiving device.
[0038] According to this aspect of the system, the output data for
graphically outputting the medical examination report can be
generated by the output data generating device, and the medical
examination report is outputted by the outputting device in the
unit for medical examination. Thus, this unit for medical
examination adapted to output the medical examination report as
well as the table is very useful as the unit for the medical doctor
who actually performs the medical examination.
[0039] In another aspect of the system of the present invention, at
least one of the second units may be a unit for accounting which is
provided with an output data generating device for further
performing a calculation for medical care accounting by use of the
medical care data received by the second receiving device and
generating the output data for graphically outputting a medical
care account record on the basis of a calculation result.
[0040] According to this aspect of the system, the calculation for
medical care accounting is performed by use of the received medical
care data and the output data for graphically outputting the
medical care account record are generated on the basis of the
calculation result. Thus, the medical care account record is
graphically outputted by the outputting device in the unit for
accounting. Thus, this unit for accounting is very useful as the
unit for the office workers for executing the accounting.
[0041] In another aspect of the system of the present invention, at
least one of the second units may be a pharmaceutic unit which is
provided with an output data generating device for generating the
output data for graphically outputting a medicine list by use of
the medical care data received by the second receiving device.
[0042] According to this aspect of the system, the output data for
graphically outputting a medicine list by use of the received
medical care data are generated by the output data generating
device. Consequently, the medical list is graphically outputted by
the outputting device in the pharmaceutic unit. Thus, this
pharmaceutic unit for outputting the medicine list as well as the
table is very useful as the unit for the pharmacist or the worker
for delivering the medicine.
[0043] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the medical care data storing device stores at least one portion of
the medical care data for each time of the day in addition to the
date, the output data generating device generating the output data
for graphically outputting the medical care data such that the
medical care actions are arranged per each time of the day in each
frame of the table as for the at least one portion of the medical
care data, on the basis of the medical care data for each time of
the day.
[0044] According to this aspect of the system, the output data
generating device generating the output data for graphically
outputting the medical care data such that the medical care actions
are arranged per each time of the day in each frame of the table as
for the stored portion of the medical care data, are generated by
the output data generating device on the basis of the medical care
data for each time of the day which are stored in the medical care
data storing device. Consequently, the table in which the medical
care actions are arranged per each time of the day in each frame is
graphically outputted from the outputting device. Thus, the timely
arrangement of each medical care actions in each frame of the table
can be visually understood at a moment's notice.
[0045] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the medical care data storing device stores at least one portion of
the medical care data for each time of the day in addition to the
date, the output data generating device generating the output data
for graphically outputting the medical care data such that the
medical care actions are arranged in the table divided into each
predetermined time interval instead of each date, as for the at
least one portion of the medical care data, on the basis of the
medical care data for each time of the day.
[0046] According to this aspect of the system, the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data such that the medical
care actions are arranged in the table divided into each
predetermined time interval instead of each date, as for the at
least one portion of the medical care data, are generated by the
output data generating device on the basis of the medical care data
for each time of the day. Consequently, the table divided into each
predetermined time interval such as 6 hours, 12 hours or the like
is graphically outputted by the outputting device. Thus, the table
is useful in case of making up a fine medical care schedule with
respect to each time of the day e.g. in the case of the schedule
for the hospitalization.
[0047] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the output data generating device generates the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data in a format of a table
in which the medical care actions are arranged in the second rows
for each predetermined consecutive dates instead of each date, as
for at least one portion of the medical care data.
[0048] According to this aspect of the system, the output data for
graphically outputting the medical care data in the format of the
table in which the medical care actions are arranged in the second
rows for each predetermined consecutive dales are generated by the
output data generating device, as for at least one portion of the
medical care data. Consequently, the table in which the medical
care actions are arranged in the second rows for each predetermined
consecutive dates such as one week, one month or the like is
graphically outputted by the outputting device. Thus, the table is
useful in case of watching the medical care action which is
performed at the time far from the time of the hospitalization in
one table, for example.
[0049] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the first unit is further provided with: the inputting device; the
output data generating device; and the outputting device, the first
transmitting device and the first receiving device functioning as
the second transmitting device and the second receiving device
respectively, and the second unit is further provided with: the
medical care data storing device; and the selecting device, the
second transmitting device and the second receiving device
functioning as the first transmitting device and the first
receiving device respectively, the first and second units each
having a construction same to each other.
[0050] According to this aspect of the system, the same table
outputted by the outputting device and the medical care data are
inputted by the inputting device in each of the first and second
units. Thus, the medical care schedule and record aiding system can
be constructed by use a plurality of personal computers of the same
kind connected in one network, which is convenient in a medical
practice. Instead, the first unit may be one central unit, which is
provided with a large data volume storing device and is connected
with the second unit, while the second unit maybe a terminal device
for individual use which is rather simply constructed without large
data volume storing device.
[0051] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the medical care data storing device further stores detail medical
data related to the medical care action indicated by each medical
care data, in connection with each medical care date, the selecting
device selecting the detail medical data as for the patient
indicated by the received patient identification data together with
the medical care data, the first transmitting device transmitting
the selected detail medical data together with the medical care
data via the communication line, the second receiving device
receiving the detail medical data transmitted from the first
transmitting device together with the medical care via the
communication line, the inputting device being constructed to
specifying desirable ones of the medical care data among the
medical care data outputted as the table by the outputting device,
the output data generating device generating the output data for
graphically outputting the detail medical data related to the
desirable one of the medical care data specified by the inputting
device in a predetermined format different from that of the table,
on the basis of the detail medical data.
[0052] According to this aspect of the system, the detail medical
data related to each medical care action are stored in the medical
care data storing device in connection with each medical care date.
The detail medical data as for the patient indicated by the
received patient identification data together with the medical care
data are selected by the selecting device, and are transmitted by
the first transmitting device. Then, the selected detail medical
data together with the medical care data are received by the second
receiving device via the communication line. At this stage, when
the desirable one of the medical care data is specified through the
inputting device by an operation of the operator among the medical
care data outputted as the table by the outputting device, the
output data for graphically outputting the detail medical data
related to the specified desirable one of the medical care data in
the predetermined format different from that of the table, are
generated by the output data generating device on the basis of the
detail medical data. Consequently, the detail medical data related
to the specified desirable one of the medical care data are
graphically outputted by the predetermined format by the outputting
device.
[0053] Thus, as the operator such as the doctor, the nurse, the
pharmacist etc. just specifies the desirable one of the medical
care actions indicated in the table, the detail medical data can be
graphically outputted in the display format different from the
table or in the window picture plane, which is very advantageous
from a view point of dealing with various data in the limited
picture plane area.
[0054] In this aspect of the present invention, the format
information storing device may store the format information, which
prescribes a plurality of formats for graphically outputting the
detail medical data such as the list, the graph, the chart, etc.,
and the output data for graphically outputting the detail medical
data by the specified format may be generated by the output data
generating device when one of the plurality of formats is specified
by the inputting device, so that the list, the graph, the chart,
etc. can be outputted in place of the table. Alternatively, in this
aspect of the present invention, the output data for graphically
outputting the list, the graph, the chart, etc. may be generated by
the output data generating device by use of the detail medical data
related to the date and/or type specified by the inputting device
on the picture plane of the displaying device as the outputting
device, so that the operator can specify and call the detail
medical data related to the medical care action while watching the
medical care action in the displayed table, according to
circumstances.
[0055] In another aspect of the system of the present invention,
the detail medical data include numerical data, which are related
to a predetermined type of the medical care action and are recorded
with respect to a plurality of dates, the output data generating
device generating the output data for graphically outputting the
table at one portion of an output image and further generating the
output data for graphically outputting the numerical data as a
graph having a time axis corresponding to an arrangement of the
dates of the table at another portion of the output image on the
basis of the numerical data.
[0056] According to this aspect of the system, the output data for
graphically outputting the table at one portion of the output image
and the output data for graphically outputting the numerical data
as a graph having a time axis corresponding to an arrangement of
the dates of the table at another portion of the output image are
generated by the output data generating device on the basis of the
numerical data. Consequently, the numerical data are graphically
outputted as the graph having the time axis together with the table
in the same picture plane, by the outputting device. Thus, the
relationship between the medical care actions which have been
performed and the numerical data which indicate the condition of
the patient can be visually understood.
[0057] The above mentioned objects of the present invention can be
achieved by a medical care schedule and record aiding apparatus,
which is connected via a communication line to a medical care
center unit provided with: a medical care data storing device for
storing medical care data, which indicate a plurality of types of
medial care actions with respect to each of a plurality of patients
and each date respectively; a first receiving device for receiving
patient identification data which indicate one of the plurality of
patients via the communication line, and further receiving the
medical care data to be stored into the medical care data storing
device via the communication line; a selecting device for selecting
the medical care data related to the patient indicated by the
received patient identification data; and a first transmitting
device for transmitting the selected medical care data via the
communication line. The apparatus is provided with: an inputting
device for inputting the patient identification data and the
medical care data with respect to each patient, each date and each
type of the medical care action; a second transmitting device for
transmitting the inputted patient identification data and the
inputted medical care data to the first receiving device via the
communication line; a second receiving device for receiving the
medical care data transmitted from the first transmitting device
via the communication line; an output data generating device for
generating output data to be graphically outputted in a format of a
table, in which the medical care actions indicated by the received
medical care data are arranged in first rows for each type of the
medical care actions and in second rows orthogonal to the first
rows for each date, on the basis of a predetermined format
information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and the
received medical care data; and an outputting device for
graphically outputting the generated output data.
[0058] According to the apparatus of the present invention, the
advantageous effect same as that of the aforementioned system of
the present invention can be achieved.
[0059] The above mentioned objects of the present invention can be
achieved by a medical care schedule and record aiding method for a
medical care schedule and record aiding apparatus, which is
connected via a communication line to the above described medical
care center unit. The method includes the steps of: transmitting
the patient identification data, which are inputted by an inputting
device for inputting the patient identification data, to the
receiving device via the communication line; receiving the medical
care data transmitted from the transmitting device via the
communication line; generating output data to be graphically
outputted in a format of a table, in which the medical care actions
indicated by the received medical care data are arranged in first
rows for each type of the medical care actions and in second rows
orthogonal to the first rows for each date, by an outputting device
on the basis of a predetermined format information, which
prescribes a framework of the table, and the received medical care
data; and transmitting the medical care data with respect to each
patient, each date and each type of the medical care action, which
are inputted by the inputting device, to the receiving device via
the communication line.
[0060] According to the method of the present invention, the same
advantageous effects as that of the aforementioned system of the
present invention can be achieved.
[0061] The above mentioned objects of the present invention can be
achieved by a program storage device readable by a medical care
schedule and record aiding apparatus, tangibly embodying a program
of instructions executable by the medical care schedule and record
aiding apparatus to perform method steps for aiding in the
preparation of a medical care schedule and record. The medical care
schedule and record aiding apparatus is connected via a
communication line to the above described medical care center unit.
The method steps comprise: transmitting the patient identification
data, which are inputted by an inputting device for inputting the
patient identification data, to the receiving device via the
communication line; receiving the medical care data transmitted
from the transmitting device via the communication line; generating
output data to be graphically outputted in a format of a table, in
which the medical care actions indicated by the received medical
care data are arranged in first rows for each type of the medical
care actions and in second rows orthogonal to the first rows for
each date, by an outputting device on the basis of a predetermined
format information, which prescribes a framework of the table, and
the received medical care data; and transmitting the medical care
data with respect to each patient, each date and each type of the
medical care action, which are inputted by the inputting device, to
the receiving device via the communication line.
[0062] According to the program storage device of the present
invention, the same advantageous effects as that of the
aforementioned system of the present invention can be achieved.
[0063] The nature, utility, and further features of this invention
will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed
description with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings briefly
described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0064] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a medical care navigation
system as a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0065] FIG. 2. which consist of FIGS. 2A and 2B, are diagrams each
showing a data structure of medical care data used in the first
embodiment;
[0066] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed construction of
an input device of the first embodiment;
[0067] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing one example of a table which
is graphically outputted by the first embodiment;
[0068] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing one example of a list which is
graphically outputted by the first embodiment;
[0069] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of a table
which is graphically outputted by the first embodiment;
[0070] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another example of a table
which is graphically outputted by the first embodiment;
[0071] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another example of a table
which is graphically outputted by the first embodiment;
[0072] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another example of a table
which is graphically outputted by the first embodiment;
[0073] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a referring process of the
medical care navigation system of the first and second
embodiments;
[0074] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an inputting process of the
medical care navigation system of the first and third
embodiments;
[0075] FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a selecting process in the
referring process of the second embodiment;
[0076] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a storing process in the
inputting process of the third embodiment;
[0077] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a construction of a
medical care navigation system of a fourth embodiment;
[0078] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a construction of a
medical care navigation system of a fifth embodiment; and
[0079] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing functions of the medical care
navigation system of the embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0080] Referring to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the
present invention will be now explained.
[0081] 1. First Embodiment
[0082] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a medical care navigation
system for navigating the staff in the hospital e.g. the doctor,
the nurse, the pharmacist as well as the patient to the appropriate
medical care, as an example of the medical care schedule and record
aiding system of an first embodiment of the present invention.
[0083] In FIG. 1, a medical care navigation system 1 is provided
with a medical care navigation center unit 101, and a plurality of
medical care navigation operation units 201 which are connected to
the center unit 101 via a communication line 2.
[0084] The center unit 101 is provided with: a memory device 102
for storing medical care data which indicate medical care actions
of various types with respect to each of a plurality of patients at
least per date as the time information when each medical care
action is to be performed; a communication device 103 for receiving
various data e.g. patient identification data, which indicate one
of a plurality of patients, medical care data; and a control device
104 for selecting the medical care data corresponding to the
patient, who is indicated by the received patient identification
data, from the memory device 102. The communication device 103 also
transmits the selected medical care data onto the communication
line 2.
[0085] Each of the operation units 201 is provided with: an input
device 202 for inputting various data e.g. the patient
identification data, and the medical care data; a communication
device 203 for transmitting the patient identification data, etc.
to the communication device 103 via the communication line 2, and
for receiving the medical care data transmitted from the
communication device 103 via the communication line 2; a control
device 204 for generating output data to graphically output the
medical care data, which are received by the communication device
203, as a table in which the medical care actions of various types
are arranged for each type of action and each date, on the basis of
predetermined format information prescribing the format of the
table; a memory device 207 for storing the predetermined format
information; a display device 205 for displaying the generated
output data; and a printer 206 for printing the generated output
data.
[0086] The input device 202 is constructed such that the medical
care data can be inputted therethrough for each patient, each data
and each type of action, separately. The communication device 203
is adapted to transmit the medical care data inputted through the
input device 202 to the communication device 103 via the
communication line 2. On the other hand, the communication device
103 is adapted to receive the transmitted medical care data, and
the memory device 102 is adapted to store the received medical care
data under the control of the control device 104.
[0087] Each operation unit 201 is also provided with a record
medium reading device 208 such as an optical disk driver device, a
floppy or flexible disk driver device and so on, and a record
medium 209 readable by the record medium reading device 208, such
as an optical disk, a floppy or flexible disk and so on. The record
medium 209 as one example of a program storage device, tangibly
embodies a program of instructions executable by the operation unit
201 to perform method steps for aiding in the preparation of a
medical care schedule and record as explained in detail later with
reference to flow charts of FIGS. 10 and 13. The program read by
the record medium reading device 208 may be stored in the memory
device 207, so as to speedily execute the program.
[0088] Nextly, each of the constitutional elements shown in FIG. 1
will be described in more detail with referring to FIGS. 1 to
9.
[0089] In FIG. 1, the communication line 2 may be an exclusive
communication line constituting a LAN (Local Area Network) or an
exclusive communication line of other types. For example, the
communication line 2 may be a line of wire-type such as a connector
cable, a telephone communication line, an optical fiber cable,
etc., or a line of wire-less type such as a satellite communication
line.
[0090] In FIG. 1, the memory device 102 is a device for storing the
medical care data, which indicate medical care actions of various
types (e.g. a test, a treatment, an injection, an examination, an
evaluation, a medication) and the detail medical data related to
each medical care action (e.g. temperature data, blood pressure
data, blood constituent data) for each patient, each date and each
type of actions. The memory device 102 is preferably a known large
data volume memory device such as a hard disc device, an optical
disc device or the like. The medical care data stored in the memory
device 102 includes the data indicating the medical care actions
which have been already performed in the past and which are
scheduled to be performed in the future.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of first layer files 102a,
each of which stores the medical care data for one of the patients
and its accompanied detail medical data (e.g. his or her
temperature data, his or her blood pressure data) are logically
constituted in the memory device 102, for example. More concretely,
the patient code assigned to each patient x, y, z . . . , is
recorded to the header portion of the corresponding first layer
file 102a. In each of the first layer files 102a, a plurality of
second layer files 102b, each of which stores the medical care data
and its accompanied detail medical data for each date indicated by
the date data, are logically constituted. More concretely, the date
code assigned to each date (e.g. Jul. 1, 1995) is recorded to the
header portion of the corresponding second layer file 102b. By
constituting the files in the multiple layered structure in this
manner, the medical care data with respect to the patient indicated
by the patient identification data can be speedily selected from
the memory device 102 by the control device 104. Further, the
transmission and reception of the medical care data can be
performed in a data unit of the first layer file 102a by the
communication devices 103 and 208 via the communication line 2, and
that, the output data, which constitute the table speedily by
arranging the received first layer file 102a in the order of the
second layer files 102b by the control device 204, can be generated
by this multiple layered structure. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
2B, in each of the first layer files 102c, a plurality of second
layer files 102d, each of which stores the medical care data and
its accompanied medical data for one of the types of actions, may
be logically constituted. By constituting the files logically in
this manner, the selection, the transmission and the reception of
the medical care data as well as the generation of the output data
can be speedily performed in the same manner as the case of FIG.
2A. In the present embodiment, a result flag, which indicates
whether or not each medical care action has been already performed,
i.e. whether or not the detail medical data indicating the result
of each medical care action exists, may be attached to each medical
care data.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 3, the input device 202 is provided with:
an input operation device 202a for manually inputting the patient
identification data, the medical care data for each patient, each
date and each type separately, and its accompanied detail medical
data. In the present embodiment especially, when the detail medical
data, which have been obtained as a result of the medical care
action, are inputted, the result flag is set ON which indicates the
fact that the pertinent medical care action has been performed. The
input operation device 202a may be a known input operation device
such as a key board, a ten key switch, a mouse, a track ball, an
input pen, an input tablet and so on. By the input operation device
202a, each item in the table displayed on the picture plane of the
display device 205 can be added, changed, modified and deleted.
[0093] In FIG. 3, in addition to the input operation device 202a,
the input device 202 is also provided with a reading out device
202b for reading out the patient identification data from a record
medium to which the patient identification data are recorded. As
the record medium in this case, a card type medium, on which the
patient identification data are magnetically, magneto-optically or
optically recorded such as a magnetic card, an IC card, etc., is
convenient. As the reading out device 202b, a device for
magnetically, magneto-optically or optically reproducing the data
in correspondence with the type of record medium is utilized.
[0094] The input device 202 is further provided with a reading out
device 202c for reading out the medical care data from a record
medium to which the medical care data are recorded. As the record
medium in this case, a known large data volume type record medium
to which the medical care data indicating the medical care actions
for each patient, each date and each type of actions for example,
are magnetically, magneto-optically or optically recorded such as a
magnetic disc, a magneto-optical disc, an optical disc, a ROM, an
IC card, a magnetic tape, etc., may be utilized. As the reading out
device 202c, a device for reading the record medium magnetically,
magneto-optically or optically in correspondence with the kind of
record medium is utilized.
[0095] In FIG. 1 again, the communication device 203 is provided
with a buffer memory, which may consist of a RAM for example, for
temporarily storing the medical care data and its accompanied
detail medical data in a predetermined data volume which have been
sent from the center unit 101 and which are to be sent to the
center unit 101. The control device 204 is adapted to generate the
output data by use of the medical care data and its accompanied
detail medical data transmitted from the center unit 101 and
temporarily stored in this buffer memory of the communication
device 203. The communication device 203 is adapted to transmit the
medical care data for each patient, each date and each type of
actions, which have been inputted by the input device 202, to the
communication device 103 via the communication line 2. The
communication device 203 is adapted to transmit the updated medical
care data and its accompanied detail medical data, which have been
generated by adding, changing, modifying or deleting the data on
the picture plane of the display device 205 by use of the input
operation device 202a, and also transmit the patient identification
data and the medical care data etc. which have been inputted by the
reading out devices 202b and 202c. The communication device 103 is
adapted to receive the medical care data transmitted in the above
explained manner, and the memory device 102 is adapted to store the
medical care data and its accompanied detail medical data which
have been received by the communication device 103.
[0096] In FIG. 1, the operation unit 201 is provided with the
memory device 207 for storing the format information which
indicates a plurality of different formats for graphically
outputting the medical care data and its accompanied detail medical
data, including the format which prescribes the framework of the
table. The input device 202 is adapted to specify one of the
formats indicated by this format information.
[0097] The control device 204 is adapted to generate the output
data for graphically outputting the medical care data by the format
specified by the input device 202. Particularly, the control device
204 generates the output data for graphically outputting the table
having a column (i.e. a vertical row) divided into each date and a
line (i.e. a horizontal row) divided into each type of the medical
care actions, on the basis of the received medical care data and
the format information, which are stored in the memory device 207
and which indicates the framework of the table, when the desired
format of the table is specified by the input device 202.
[0098] More concretely, for example, the control device 204 firstly
exchanges the medical care data, which have been received by the
communication device 203, have the format for communication and
include various data (e.g. the code data such as character code
data, control code data or the like, the image data such as drawing
data, the numerical data etc.) to the intermediate data, which can
be easily developed to bit map data. Outline data, which indicate
the outline of each character, mark, sign etc., partial bit-map
data, which correspond to each frame of the table and the like may
be employed here as the intermediate data. On the other hand, the
control device 204 reads out the format information, which
prescribes the framework of the table to be graphically outputted,
from the format information storing area of the memory device 207.
Then, the control device 204 calculates the data volume in each
frame in case of making the table by use of this format according
to the data volume of the medical care data converted in the
intermediate data as for each type and each date, so as to
determined the size of each frame of the table. Further, the
control device 204 calculates the font size of the character, the
mark, the sign etc. which are to be displayed or printed in each
frame, and determines the displayed or printed position of the
character, the mark, the sign etc., in each frame. At this time,
the output data may be generated so as to display and print the
character, the marks, the sign etc., by use of one constant font
size all over the table or various font sizes for each frame or for
each character in one table. The output data may be generated for
each frame independently such that a relatively small font size is
used with respect to one frame in which the number of characters to
be displayed or printed is relatively large while a standard font
size is used with respect to another frame in which the number of
characters to be displayed or printed is relatively small.
Furthermore, such an adjustment may be added to the intermediate
data that the characters to be displayed or printed are partially
omitted with respect to a frame in which the number of characters
to be displayed is vary large, according to a predetermined
standard which prescribes the content to be displayed or printed
and the content to be omitted on the display or print.
[0099] After the control device 204 determines the font size and
position corresponding to the intermediate data (medical care data)
to be displayed or printed with respect to the framework of the
specified table in the above explained manner, the control device
204 develops the intermediate data to the bit map data, which can
be immediately outputted by the display device 205 and/or the
printer 206, on the based on the determined font size, the
determined font position and the format information indicating the
framework of the table. Namely, the control device 204
bit-map-develops the intermediate data for one table onto the image
data memory area of the memory device 207 or onto the output buffer
in the display device 205 or the printer 206 by the unit of one
table. Here, if the outline data are used as the intermediate data,
the magnification of the display and printed character, mark, etc.,
can be freely changed with respect to the arbitrarily size of the
framework, which is very convenient. If the outline data are not
used but the font data are used here, which have only several
predetermined kinds of font sizes, as the intermediate data, the
construction and process of the control device 204 can be
simplified.
[0100] When the output data are generated by the control device 204
in the above explained manner, the display device 205, which may
consist of a CRT display device, a LCD device, etc., and the
printer 205, which may consist of a laser beam printer, an ink jet
printer etc., output a table 10 as shown in FIG. 4, for
example.
[0101] In FIG. 4, the table 10 has a plurality of lines (horizontal
rows) 11, which are divided into each type of medical care actions,
and a plurality of columns (vertical rows) 12, which are divided
into each date. The medical care actions of various types
consisting each line 11, may be the record by the doctor or nurse,
the process, the injection, the examination, the test, the
evaluation, the medication, the meal (food), the practice, the
monitor, the treatment, the activity restriction, the observation,
the rehabilitation, the coordination, the hospitalization and the
leave of hospital, the education for the family of the patient and
so on. As for those items of medical care activities, an arbitrary
item can be set depending upon the usage condition of the operator
unit 201. Since various formats each of which has a possibility to
be used are stored in the memory device 207 of FIG. 1 in advance,
the desired one of the formats can be selected, which is very
convenient. This selection of the format may be performed by
displaying a menu for format selection on the display device 205.
In this case, as the medical care data indicating each medical care
action may be text data in which each medical care action is
expressed by the text in certain language, or specific code data in
which each medical care action is coded according to a
predetermined rule. Especially, the medical care data, which
indicate the record of the doctor or the record of the nurse, may
include the text data indicating the pathobiology of the patient by
the text, or the code data indicating the pathobiology of the
patient by the specific code according to the predetermined rule,
and further, the data in which the medical care result are
expressed by the text or code data.
[0102] As shown in FIG. 4, the record of the doctor and the record
of the nurse, which are recorded conventionally on different
ledgers, can be displayed or printed on the same display picture
plane or the same printed sheet, so that the canalization of the
intentions and the team work between the doctor and the nurse can
be promoted.
[0103] In the present embodiment, although the detail medical data
indicating the detail record related to the medical care action of
"record" in the table of FIG. 4 are not seen on the table, the
detail medical data are stored in the memory device 207 in a form
of hanging from the displayed medical care data in the logical data
structure. For example, by clicking the mouse of the input
operation device 202a of FIG. 3 on the picture plane of the display
device 205 at a display position in a certain frame of the table of
FIG. 4, the detail medical data corresponding to the item in the
frame are displayed in the format different from this. Then, a time
stamp is stamped to the medical care data and its accompanied
detail medical data related to the "record" in the record of FIG. 4
each time when recording is performed by the doctor or the nurse.
Namely, the date and the time of recording are recorded as the
detail medical data. Thus, the doctor and the nurse can share the
information in a conversation manner by use of the table.
[0104] The input device 202 is adapted to add, change, modify and
delete the output data in each frame of the table 10 when the table
10 is displayed on the display device 205. The communication device
203 is adapted to transmit the updated medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data, which are corresponding to the
added, changed, modified or deleted output data, to the
communication device 103 via the communication line 2 under the
control of the control device 204. The memory device 102 updates
the stored data content by use of the new medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data which are received by the
communication device 103 under the control of the control device
104. Because of the construction as described above, a table, which
has a framework as shown in FIG. 4 and which major frames are
originally blanked or which include only the medical care data
indicating one standard medical care schedule initialized as the
default values according to the predetermined standard, is firstly
displayed on the display device 205. After that, the doctor in
charge etc. can newly input the data by use of the input operation
device 202a, and can add, change, modify or delete the data by use
of the input operation device 202a, so as to making the medical
care record and schedule one item by one item, which is very
convenient. Further, the medical care data displayed on the table
can be wholly or partially replaced by the medical care data stored
in the floppy disk etc. and read out by the reading out device
202c, which indicate the medical care schedule appropriately
applied to the patient in the past.
[0105] The operation unit 201 may be provided with a timer or
counter for counting the date, and the display data may be
generated such that the graphically outputted portion related to
the date coincident with "today" is displayed in a manner different
from the other graphically outputted portion, on the basis of the
date counted by the timer or counter. Here, as the display and/or
print in a different manner, there are display methods of
displaying or printing the image different in the brightness, the
color, the style, the kind of lines, the concentration, the
half-tone dot meshing etc. on the picture plane or the printed
sheet.
[0106] In FIG. 1, the input device 202 is adapted to specify at
least one of an arbitrary date, which are included in the dates of
the table displayed on the picture plane of the display device 205,
and/or an arbitrary type of actions, which are included in the
types of actions in the table displayed on the picture plane of the
display device 205. The controller 204 is adapted to generate the
output data for displaying the medical care data and its
accompanied detail data, which are related to this specified one of
the date and/or type, in the format different from that of the
table, on the picture plane of the display device 205. Namely, the
control device 204 generates the output data for displaying only
some portion of the medical care data and its accompanied detail
medical data, which are related to the specified data and/or type
among the dates and types in the table, fully on the picture plane
in a list format as shown in FIG. 5 or in a magnified manner.
[0107] The switching operation from the display of the table in
FIG. 4 to the display of the list in FIG. 5 can be performed when
the mouse is clicked after the cursor is moved to a desirable item
(e.g. frame) in the table 10 of FIG. 4 by use of the input
operation device 202a of FIG. 3. Namely, by use of the detail
medical data accompanied by the medical care data corresponding to
the item (e.g. frame) where the cursor is positioned on the display
picture plane of FIG. 4, the list of FIG. 5 is displayed. In this
case, the list of FIG. 5 may be displayed by opening a window on
the table of FIG. 4. Alternatively, by omitting the display of the
table shown in FIG. 4, the detail medical data display as shown in
FIG. 5 or the magnified display may be directly performed.
[0108] The input device 202 is adapted to specify the number of
dates to be included in one table. The controller 204 is adapted to
make at least one portion of the output data, which fill one frame
of the table by the font, and to set the size of the font in
harmonize with the size of each frame in the table, which is
determined according to the dates specified by the input device
202. Namely, for example, if 14 days are specified as the dates
included in one table such as "July 1st to July 14th", the font
size corresponding to this relatively small size of the frame is
used to generate the output data. On the other hand, if 3 days are
specified as the dates included in one table such as "July 1st to
July 3rd", since the frame size is rather large, the font size
corresponding to this relatively large size is used to generate the
output data.
[0109] In the present embodiment, the result flag is attached to
the medical care data, which indicates whether or not the medical
care action indicated by the medical care data has been already
performed. The control device 204 is adapted to generate the output
data such that the graphically outputted portion corresponding to
the medical care action, which has been already performed, and the
graphically outputted portion corresponding to the medical care
action, which has not been performed yet, are displayed in a manner
different from each other on the basis of the result flag. For
example, the action which has not been performed yet may be
outputted by use of blue colored characters, while the action which
has already been performed may be outputted by use of black colored
characters. Further, the medical care data, which can be displayed
in a special format different from that of the table e.g. the
medical care data which accompanies the numerical data such as the
body temperature data, the blood constituent data or the like as
the detail medical data, may be outputted by use of red colored
characters. Other than the color, the brightness, the styles, the
kind of lines, the concentration, the half tone meshing etc. may be
changed on the displayed image. In this manner, by changing the
display manner in accordance with the result flag, it is easy for
the operator to recognize at a moment notice whether or not there
exists the detail medical data as for each medical care data and
whether or not the item in the table is actually completed or is in
the stage of planning, which is very convenient.
[0110] FIG. 6 shows another example of the table which can be
outputted by the display device 205 and the printer 205 in the
present embodiment. In this case, the memory device 102 stores at
least some portion of the medical care data with respect to each
time of the day in addition to the date. The control device 204 is
adapted to generate the output data for graphically outputting each
medical care action in the order of time of the day in each frame
of the table as for at least some portion of the medical care data.
Corresponding to this, the display device 205 and the printer 206
output the table 20 in which the content of each frame 21 forms a
list for each time of the day as shown in FIG. 6. By this, since
the medical care actions are arranged in each frame of the table in
the order of time of the day, it is easy for the operator to
visually recognize the medical care actions performed in one day.
This is especially convenient in a case where many medical care
actions to be scheduled and recorded exist in one day such as the
day in the hospitalization.
[0111] FIG. 7 shows another example of the table which can be
outputted by the display device 205 and the printer 206 in the
present embodiment. In this case, the memory device 102 is adapted
to store at least some portion of the medical care data with
respect to each time of the day in addition to the date. The
control device 204 is adapted to generate the output data for
graphically outputting each medical care action in a table, which
columns are finely divided by a predetermined time unit in stead of
just date (see FIGS. 4 and 6) in the table as for at least some
portion of the medical care data. Corresponding to this, the
display device 205 and the printer 206 output the table 30, in
which the medical care actions in each 6 hours are put in one frame
of the table and the columns are arranged every 6 hours as shown in
FIG. 7. By this, if it is the case where a lot of medical care
actions are to be recorded or scheduled such as the day in the
hospitalization, a fine schedule for each time can be scheduled and
recorded. Other than 6 hours, although a unit such as 1, 2, 3, 4,
8, or 12 hours which can easily divide 24 hours (one day) can be
preferably used here, an arbitrary time unit can be used such that
a time unit of long time length may be used with respect to the day
time while a time unit of short time length may be used with
respect to the night time. By graphically outputting the table 30
having the arrangement in the time unit, it is easy for the
operator to visually recognize the medical care actions performed
in one day.
[0112] FIG. 8 shows another example of the table which can be
outputted by the display device 205 and the printer 206 in the
present embodiment. In this case, the control device 204 is adapted
to generate the output data for graphically outputting the medical
care data in a format of a table in which the medical care data are
integrated by a unit of a plurality of successive dates for at
least some portion of the medical care data. Corresponding to this,
the display device 205 and the printer 206 output the table 40 in
which the medical care actions in each one month period are put in
one frame of the table and the columns are arranged ever month as
shown in FIG. 8. Other than one month, although a time unit such as
3 days, one week, one year or 10 years which are easily understood,
can be preferably used here, an arbitrary time unit can be used
such that a short time length may be used for the time unit with
respect to the period of the hospitalization while a long time
length may be used for the time unit with respect to the period for
the outpatient. By graphically outputting the table 40 integrating
the data depending upon the frequency of the medical care actions,
it is easy for the operator to visually recognize the aspect of the
medical care actions in a long time span.
[0113] FIG. 9 shows another example of the table which can be
outputted by the display device 205 and the printer 206 in the
present embodiment. In this case the detail medical data include
the numerical data related to a certain medical care action which
is repeatedly recorded with respect to a plurality of dates (e.g.
the body temperature, the blood pressure, the specific content
concentration in the blood). The control device 204 is adapted to
generate the output data for graphically outputting table 52 at one
portion of the picture plane 51 of the display device 205 and at
the same time graphically outputting the numerical data as a graph
having the abscissa corresponding to the arrangement of the dates
of the table 52 at another portion of the picture plane 51. As a
result, as shown in FIG. 9, the table 52 is displayed at the lower
portion of the display picture plane 51. A polygonal line graph 53
indicating the numerical data as for the A item (e.g. the body
temperature) and the polygonal lime graph 54 indicating the
numerical data as for the B item (e.g. blood pressure), each of
which have the time axis of the date of the table 52, are displayed
in the upper margin of the table 52. Accordingly, since the
numerical data can be shown as the graph in correspondence with the
date of the table 52, it is easy for the operator to visually
recognize the relationship between the medical care actions which
have been performed in the past and the numerical data which
indicate the body condition etc. of the patient to which the
medical care actions were applied. As shown in the example of FIG.
9, if there are several data obtained by the measurements several
times in one day, by drawing the graph such that the width of each
frame of the table 52, which expresses one day, is converted to 24
hours, and that the upper line of the table 52 is made
corresponding to the time axis of the graph, the time relationship
between the numerical data and the table 52 can be still easily
recognized. On the other hand, even if the numerical data do not
always exist for every date, it is still possible to draw the
polygonal line graph by use of the existing data and/or by
interpolating the existing data.
[0114] The format information indicating the display formats of the
tables such as the tables shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 as explained above,
are stored in the memory device 207 in advance, so that desirable
one of them can be selected by use of the menu picture plane for
selecting the format, for example.
[0115] Nextly, the operation of the present embodiment will be
explained in detail. The operation explained hereinbelow is
performed by the operation unit 201 in cooperation with the center
unit 101, in accordance with the program of instructions to perform
the method steps for aiding the preparation of medical care
schedule and record, which is recorded on the record medium 209 and
is read by the record medium reading device 208. The read program
may be stored in the memory device 207.
[0116] First of all, the operation for referring to the table will
be explained with referring to a flow chart of FIG. 10.
[0117] In FIG. 10, when the referring operation is started, on the
side of the operation unit 201, it is checked by the control device
204 whether or not there is the input of the patient identification
data from the input device 202 (step S1). When there is the input
from the input device 202 (step S1:YES), the inputted patient
identification data are transmitted from the communication device
203 via the communication line 2 (step S2). Corresponding to this,
on the side of the center unit 101, the transmitted patient
identification data are received by the communication device 103
via the communication line (step S3). The medical care data
corresponding to the received patient identification data and its
accompanied detail medical data are selected from the memory device
102 (step S4). This selection can be performed speedily by
searching the header information of the file for each patient
constructed in the memory device 102 as shown in FIG. 2. Nextly,
the selected medical care data are transmitted from the
communication device 103 via the communication line 2 (step S5).
Corresponding to this, on the side of the operation unit 201, the
transmitted medical care data and its accompanied detail medical
data are received by the communication device 203 via the
communication line 2 (step S6). The output data for graphically
outputting the table are generated by the control device 204 on the
basis of the received medical care data and the format information
stored in the memory device 207 in advance (step S7). Finally, the
output data are displayed by the display device 205 and printed out
by the printer 206 (step S8), and the referring process is
ended.
[0118] Nextly, the operation for inputting the medical care data
will be explained with referring to a flow chart of FIG. 11.
[0119] In FIG. 11, when the input process is started, on the side
of the operation unit 201, it is checked by the control device 204
whether or not there is the input of the medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data from the input device 202 (step
S11). When there is the input from the input device 202 (step
S11:YES), the inputted medical care data or detail medical data are
transmitted by the communication device 203 via the communication
line 2 (step S12). Corresponding to this, on the side of the center
unit 101, the transmitted medical care data or detail medical data
are received by the communication device 103 via the communication
line 2 (step S13). The received medical care data or detail medical
data are stored to the storing area for the medical care data or
detail medical data for each patient and each date in the memory
device 102 (step S14), and the input process is ended. This storing
area in the memory device 102 can be determined speedily with
respect to the files constructed in the multiple-layered structure
for each patient and each date, or for each types of actions in the
memory device 102 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0120] 2. Second Embodiment
[0121] In a second embodiment, the input device 202 is adapted to
input operator identification data for identifying an operator as
well as the patient identification data in FIG. 1. The
communication device 203 is adapted to transmit the operator
identification data inputted by the input device 202 in addition to
the patient identification data. The communication device 103 is
adapted to receive the transmitted operator identification data as
well as the patient identification data. The control device 104 is
adapted to select only the medical care data, which correspond to
the received patient identification data and which indicate the
medical care action of the type set in advance as the type able to
be referred to by the respective operator depending upon the
operator indicated by the received operator identification data,
from the memory device 102. For example, in the memory device 102,
there is stored an operator table, which indicates whether or not
each of the doctor, the trainee doctor, the trainee medical
student, the nurse, the semi-nurse, the cook, the driver and so on
is allowed to refer to the medical care data in each type of
action, so that the medical care data in the type of action
authorized to be referred to by the pertinent operator indicated by
the received operator identification data can be speedily extracted
by checking this operator table.
[0122] Nextly, the operation of the present embodiment will be
explained. The operation explained hereinbelow is performed by the
operation unit 201 in cooperation with the center unit 101, in
accordance with the program of instructions to perform the method
steps for aiding the preparation of medical care schedule and
record, which is recorded on the record medium 209 and is read by
the record medium reading device 208. The read program may be
stored in the memory device 207.
[0123] First of all, the operation of referring to the table will
be explained with referring to flow charts of FIGS. 10 and 12.
[0124] In FIG. 10, when the referring operation is started, on the
side of the operation unit 201, it is checked by the control device
204 whether or not there is the input of the patient identification
data and the operator identification data from the input device 202
(step S1). When there is the input from the input device 202 (step
S1:YES), the inputted patient identification data and the operator
identification data are transmitted from the communication device
203 via the communication line 2 (step S2). Corresponding to this,
on the side of the center unit 101, the transmitted patient
identification data and the transmitted operator identification
data are received by the communication device 103 via the
communication line (step S3). At this time, the process for
selecting the medical care data in FIG. 12 is performed (step
S4).
[0125] In FIG. 12, it is judged to which occupation category (e.g.
the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist) the operator indicated by
the received operator identification data belongs to, and it is
also judged whether or not the operator indicated by the received
operator identification data is in charge of the patient indicated
by the received patient identification data, so that the range of
the medical care data which are authorized and enabled to be
referred to by the operator is specified (step S41). This
specifying process can be speedily performed by referring to the
aforementioned operator table.
[0126] Nextly, the medical care data are selected as the object for
judgment, which indicate the first type of the medical care action
corresponding to the patient identification data (step S42). Then,
it is judged whether or not the medical care data selected as the
object for judgment are authorized to be referred to by the
operator on the basis of the range able to be referred to specified
at the step S41 (step S43). If the type belongs to the range
authorized to be referred to (step S43: YES), the medical care data
and its accompanied detail medical related to this type are read
out from the memory device 102 as the selected medical care data
(step S44), and it is judged whether or not it is the final type of
the medical care action corresponding to the received patient
identification data (step S45). At the step S43, if the type does
not belong to the range able to be referred to (step S43: NO), the
medical care data and its accompanied detail medical data are not
read out from the memory device 102 under the control of the
control device 104 and the process at the step S45 are directly
performed. At the step S45, if it is not judged to be the final
type (step S45: NO), the same processes are performed with respect
to the next type of the medical care actions corresponding to the
received patient identification data (step S46 to S45). At the step
S45, if it is judged to be the final type (step S45: YES), the
selecting process is ended. In the above explanations, "the first
type", "the next type" and "the final type" are counted by an
exclusive counter by assigning numbers "1" to "n" (n: natural
number) respectively to the types of the medical care actions.
[0127] In FIG. 10 again, the selected medical care data are
transmitted from the communication device 103 via the communication
line 2 (step S5). Corresponding to this, on the side of the
operation unit 201, the transmitted medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data are received by the communication
device 203 via the communication line 2 (step S6) The output data
for graphically outputting the table are generated by the control
device 204 on the basis of the received medical care data and the
format information stored in the memory device 207 in advance (step
S7). Finally, the output data are displayed by the display device
205 and/or printed out by the printer 206 (step S8), and the
referring process is ended.
[0128] In this manner, according to the present embodiment, since
only the medical care data and its accompanied detail medical data,
which belong to the range specified as the range able to be
referred to depending on the operator category in advance, can be
actually referred to, the disclosure of the secret information or
the infringement of the patient privacy can be efficiently
prevented.
[0129] 3. Third Embodiment
[0130] In a third embodiment, the input device 202 is adapted to
input the operator identification data for identifying the operator
together with the medical care data. The communication device 203
is adapted to transmit the operator identification data together
with the medical care data inputted from the input device 202. The
communication device 103 is adapted to receive the transmitted
operator identification data together with the medical care data.
The memory device 102 is adapted to store only the received medical
care data which indicate the medical care action or actions of the
type or types set in advance as the type or types authorized and
enabled to be inputted by the respective operator depending upon
the operator indicated by the received operator identification
data. For example, in the memory device 102, there is stored an
operator table, which indicates whether or not each of the doctor,
the trainee doctor, the trainee medical student, the nurse, the
semi-nurse, the cook, the driver and so on is allowed to input the
medical care data to the memory device 102 in each type of actions,
so that the medical care data in the type of action able to be
inputted by the pertinent operator indicated by the received
operator identification data can be speedily extracted by checking
this table.
[0131] Here, the input device 202 is adapted to add, change, modify
and delete the output data displayed on the picture plane of the
display device 205. The communication device 203 is adapted to
transmit the new medical care data corresponding to the output
data, which have been added, changed, modified and deleted by the
input device 202, to the center unit 101 via the communication line
2. The memory device 102 is adapted to update the content of
storage by use of the received medical care data if the new medical
care data received by the communication device 103 are directed to
the types able to be inputted.
[0132] According to the above described second and third
embodiments, the operator identification data may be inputted from
the input operation device 202a of FIG. 3.
[0133] Further, both of the patient identification data and the
operator identification data may be inputted by the same input
operation unit 202a. On the other hand, the operator identification
data may be inputted from the reading out device 202b. Further,
both of the patient identification data and the operator
identification data may be inputted from the same reading out
device 202b.
[0134] Nextly, the operation of the present embodiment will be
explained. The operation explained hereinbelow is performed by the
operation unit 201 in cooperation with the center unit 101, in
accordance with the program of instructions to perform the method
steps for aiding the preparation of medical care schedule and
record, which is recorded on the record medium 209 and is read by
the record medium reading device 208. The read program may be
stored in the memory device 207.
[0135] First of all, the operation for inputting the medical care
data will be explained with referring to flow charts of FIGS. 11
and 13.
[0136] In FIG. 11, when the input process is started, on the side
of the operation unit 201, it is checked by the control device 204
whether or not there is the input of the medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data as well as the operator
identification data from the input device 202 (step S11). When
there is the input from the input device 202 (step S11: YES), the
inputted medical care data and/or detail medical data and the
operator identification data are transmitted by the communication
device 203 via the communication line 2 (step S12). Corresponding
to this, on the side of the center unit 101, the transmitted
medical care data and/or detail medical data and the operator
identification data are received by the communication device 103
via the communication line 2 (step S13).
[0137] In FIG. 13, it is judged to which occupation category (e.g.
the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist) the operator indicated by
the received operator identification data belongs and it is also
judged whether or not the operator indicated by the received
operator identification data is in charge of the patient indicated
by the patient identification data. By those judgments, the range
able to be inputted by the operator is specified (step S51). This
specifying process can be performed speedily by referring to the
aforementioned operator table.
[0138] Nextly, the medical care data are selected as the object for
judgment, which indicate the first type of the medical care action
corresponding to the patient identification data (step S52). Then,
it is judged whether or not the medical care data selected as the
object for judgment are able to be inputted to by the operator on
the basis of the range able to be inputted specified at the step
S51 (step S53). If the type belongs to the range able to be
inputted (step S53: YES), the medical care data and its accompanied
detail medical data related to this type are stored to the memory
device 102 as the updated new medical care data (step S54), and it
is judged whether or not it is the final type of the medical care
action corresponding to the received patient identification data
(step S55). At the step S55, if it is not judged to be the final
type (step S55: NO), the same processes are performed with respect
to the next type of the medical care actions corresponding to the
received patient identification data (step S56 to S55). At the step
S55, if it is judged to be the final type (step S55: YES), the
storing process is ended. In the above explanations, "the first
type", "the next type" and "the final type" are counted by an
exclusive counter by assigning numbers "1" to "In" (n: natural
number) respectively to the types of the medical care actions.
[0139] At the step S53, if the type does not belong to the range
able to be inputted (step S53: NO), the medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data related to this type are not stored
to the memory device 102. Then, the control device 104 generates
message data indicating an error message and transmits it from the
communication device 103. Corresponding to this, the display device
205 in the operation unit 201 displays the error message such as
"This item cannot be inputted by you !", so as to inform the
operator of the fact that the input is prohibited for him (step
S57), and the storing process is ended.
[0140] In FIG. 11 again, when the storing process is ended in this
manner (step S14), the input process is ended. The storing area is
determined speedily with respect to the files constructed in the
multiple layered structure for each patient and each data or for
each type of action in the memory device 102 as shown in FIG.
2.
[0141] The operator table which indicates the types of medical care
actions able to be inputted and the types of medical care actions
unable to be inputted by each operator may be set on the side of
the operation unit 201 under the control of the control device 204,
and, when the operator tries to input the data, the control device
204 checks whether or not the operator is able to input the data
according to this operator table. Then, if the operator is not
judged to be able to input, the control device 204 does not
transmit the data by the communication device 203, but immediately
displays an error message such as "This item is not able to be
inputted by you !" and stops the inputting operation. By this,
although the burden on the operation unit 201 is increased, the
dead time and the dead operation of the system (e.g. the processes
at the steps S12 to S14) can be diminished.
[0142] As described above, since only the medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data in the range specified as able to
be inputted depending on the operator can be stored, it can
efficiently prevent the erroneous data from being stored into the
memory device or the medical care data which have been accumulated
to construct the medical care schedule from being destroyed by
human error.
[0143] Fourth Embodiment
[0144] FIG. 14 shows a medical care navigation system in a network
form as a fourth embodiment, which is provided with the center unit
101, a plurality of operation units 201a for examination areas, an
operation unit 201b for accounting, and a pharmaceutic operation
unit 201c connected to each other by the communication line 2.
[0145] In FIG. 14, the operation unit 201a for examination areas,
as one example of the operation unit 201 in FIG. 1, is provided
with the control device which has the capability of generating the
output data for graphically outputting the medical care record by
use of the medical care data received through the network from the
center unit 101 in addition to the capability
[0146] of the control device 204 in FIG. 1. The operation unit 201a
for examination areas is preferably disposed at the location of
each doctor. By this, each doctor can output the medical care
record by the display device 205 and the printer 206 as the
graphical data to explain them to the patient and his family. By
switching the display picture plane, the table as shown in FIG. 4
can be displayed and printed in this case, if there are some
medical care data or its accompanied detail medical data not to be
disclosed to the patient, the format to display only the data
permitted to be seen by the patient can be selected from the memory
device 207 and can be displayed, which is very convenient.
[0147] The operation unit 201b for accounting, another example of
the operation unit 201 of FIG. 1, is provided with the control
device which has the capability of performing the calculation for
medical care financial records by use of the medical care data
received through the network from the center unit 101 and
generating the output data for graphically outputting the medical
care financial record based on the calculation result in addition
to the capability of the control device 204 of FIG. 1. The
operation unit 201b for accounting constructed to perform the
calculation of the medical point for each medical care actions and
the expense for the medicine, on the basis of the kind of the
insurance of each patient registered in the memory device 207 etc.,
and is preferably disposed at the location of the official workers
in the accounting section. In this case, the operation unit 201a
for examination areas may be provided with an order device for
ordering the operation unit 201b for accounting to perform the
calculation of the medical care account via the network.
[0148] By this, the patient, who has just finished an examination,
can his account speedily updated.
[0149] The pharmaceutic operation unit 201c, as another example of
the operation unit 201 of FIG. 1, is provided with the control
device capable of generating the output data for graphically
outputting a medicine list by use of the received medical care
data, in addition to the capability of the control device 204 of
FIG. 1. In this case, the operation unit 201a for examination areas
may be provided with an order device for ordering the pharmaceutic
operation unit 201c to graphically output the medicine list via the
network. By this, the patient, who has just finished the
examination, can be presented with prescribed medicine
speedily.
[0150] Fifth Embodiment
[0151] In the medical care navigation systems in the above
described embodiments, the center unit 101 is provided with the
memory device 102 of large data volume storing type while each of
the operation units 201 is a unit for individual usage which is
rather simply constructed without the memory device 102 of large
data volume storing type. The medical care navigation system is
provided with a plurality of computer units of the same type.
[0152] Namely, as shown in FIG. 15, each of medical care navigation
units 301 is provided with a memory device 302 of large data volume
storing type in addition to the communication device, the control
device, the display device and the printer in the construction of
the operation unit 201 of FIG. 1.
[0153] In this construction, it is not convenient if the contents
of the medical care schedule displayed or printed in each of the
navigation units 301 differ after newly inputting, modifying and
deleting the medical care data at each of navigation units 301.
Therefore, in order to make all of the medical care data coincident
to each other in all of the memory devices 302, each time when the
new medical care data are inputted at each navigation unit 302, or
each time when the data are added, changed, modified and deleted,
the new medical care data are transmitted and received by the
communication device in each of the navigation units 301, so that
the stored content of each memory device 302 are updated by the
received medical care data. However, the stored content of each
memory device 302 may be unified to the new medical care data
periodically e.g. at a time of opening or closing the work ever
day, or may be unified to the medical care data inputted at one
navigation unit 201, which is predetermined to have the
priority.
[0154] Finally, the function of the medical care navigation systems
used in the above described embodiments are conceptually indicated
in FIG. 16.
[0155] In FIG. 16, the function of the medical care navigation
system 1 unifies: a function of "operation on the picture plane" 3
realized by the display device 205, the input device 202 etc. shown
in FIG. 1; a function of "display" 4 realized by the display device
205 etc., a function of "various system interface" 5 realized by
the communication device 203, the control device 204 etc. The
function of "operation on the picture plane" 3 unifies a function
of "new input" 3a, a function of "add/modify input" 3b and a
function of "delete" 3c. The function of "display" 4 unifies a
function of "displaying the table" 4a by use of the medical care
data, a function of "displaying the result" 4b by use of the
medical care data and/or the detail medical data, a function of
"displaying the graph" 4c for displaying the graph by use of the
detail medical data, and a function of "magnification change" 4d
for changing the magnification of picture plane of the display
device 205. Further, the function of "various system interfaces" 5
unifies a function of "various order" 5a for sending an order
between each medical care navigation units, a function of
"electronic clinical chart" 5b used by the operation unit for
medical examination, and a function of "medical account" 5c used by
the operation unit for account. In this manner, since the functions
are unified in the multiple layered structure, each function can be
efficiently called and mutual functions organically combined to
each other can be performed by the navigation system 1, which is
convenient.
[0156] As described above in detail, according to the present
embodiments, since all of the staffs in the hospital can
simultaneously see the same table, they can share the information
as for the condition of the patient. Further, it is possible for
each staff to suitably add, modify, change and delete the medical
care schedule while watching the table, and suitably input the
result data indicating the result of the medical care actions
performed in accordance with the table while watching the table.
Therefore, the medical care schedule which is the most suitable for
each patient can be accumulated to be constructed in the memory
device by the continuous data input operations of each staff i.e.
by the team work of the whole staff in the hospital, while adding
some suitable adjustment toward the medical care object such as the
cure of the sickness or disease. The medical care data and its
accompanied detail medical data, which construct the medical care
schedule scheduled in this manner, can be reserved as the record in
the strict format. Further more, since the types of medical care
actions able to be referred to and the types of medical care
actions able to be inputted by respective staffs are predetermined
in advance, it is possible to prevent the secret information form
being inadvertently disclosed and prevent the schedule from being
erroneously made or being destroyed.
[0157] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
* * * * *