Abstract: A system and a method for monitoring computer application and resource utilization are presented. In one embodiment, a list of different users associated with different entities or customers of a shared computer is maintained. A second list of different applications invoked by one or more of the different users is also maintained. A third list including different programs employed by the different applications invoked by the different users, including a weighting factor for each program is also maintained. These records are then used to identify operation usage and/or cost characteristics of the different applications by particular users associated with different entities of the shared computer, in response to an event.

Abstract: A system (100) for providing multiple facility healthcare corporations the ability to assign and maintain shared medical record numbers (43) across multiple entities. The system establishes a parent/child relationship among the entities to share medical record number ranges, formats, and data. A patient record identifier database (102) contains patient records in a searchable unit record file (50) and an identification number file (3). A search processor (105) locates relevant records and a rules processor (104) applies various tests to the returned data in order to assign a medical record number (43, 13) to a single unique unit reference number (2, 5, 11) to a person without duplication or conflict with identifiers used at other entities (4, 9, 190). The reference numbers and their associated medical records are shared among the various entities. The sharing relationships may be altered by authorized users accessing on line file maintenance (312) and programs (311).

Abstract: A system and user interface integrates and processes event associated messages affecting healthcare delivered to a patient and supports creation, initiation and modification of currently operating workflow processes involving processing of event messages. A method for processing an event representing a change in circumstances potentially affecting healthcare delivered to a patient involves receiving a message identifying an event potentially affecting healthcare delivered to a patient. Predetermined rules are applied to interpret the identified event to determine particular tasks to be performed in response to occurrence of the identified event. The particular tasks are scheduled to be performed by at least one individual in response to the occurrence of the identified event. In addition a database containing records indicating active process instances is searched to identify active process instances of a target process to be replaced by a process comprising the particular tasks.

Abstract: A structure for an instrument or device, such as a hearing aid instrument, having a shell for enclosing the instrument components and an opening through a wall or face of the shell for access to the components wherein the shell has relatively large dimensional tolerances while the components are to be mounted within relatively close dimensional tolerances. A unitary or multi-part interface frame for mounting the components into the shell is mounted to the shell, typically in the opening therein, and has an outer contour adapted to the dimensional and shape tolerances of the shell and an inner contour adapted to the dimensional tolerances of the components.

Abstract: An automatic cash accounting system for use in a healthcare enterprise includes a message processor and a data processor. The message processor receives message data including an income amount value, representing cash income received during a time period, an associated income source identifier, and a patient identifier. The income source identifier identifies a department internal to the healthcare enterprise providing the associated income amount value. The patient identifier identifies a patient. The data processor processes the received message data to identify an income account associated with the department based on the income source identifier, and updates the identified income account with the income amount value to indicate the income amount value received by the identified income account during the time period.

Abstract: A system and user interface according to invention principles supports concurrently managing and maintaining multiple medical devices (e.g., infusion pumps) and processing and displaying the data produced by the medical devices within a Healthcare enterprise. An information system supports a plurality of network connected infusion pumps. The system includes an acquisition processor for acquiring fluid infusion related data from a plurality of concurrently operating infusion pumps. A data processor processes the acquired fluid infusion related data to provide data suitable for presentation in a single display image identifying the plurality of concurrently operating infusion pumps together with status information identifying status of individual pumps of the plurality of concurrently operating infusion pumps.

Abstract: In a method and a system for supporting the evaluation of a picture of a patient's eye the picture is displayed on a screen. An image-processing algorithm from a number of image processing algorithms is selected due to a preliminary diagnosis selected from a number of diagnoses which are related to diabetes. Each image-processing algorithm of the number of image processing algorithms is associated with a diagnosis of the number of diagnoses and is designed to search for a pattern which is specific to the respective diagnosis. The selected image-processing algorithm then is applied to the picture and a pattern which is detected by the selected image-processing algorithm is marked on the screen in the picture.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for an improved patient information management system in a medical setting. The present invention relates to a remote patient information system and method comprising workstations, handheld computers, and wireless portable printers or portable-computing and labeling systems that facilitate the fulfillment of orders for patient specimen collection performed manually in hospital environments. A handheld device receives and uses printer identifier information in order to establish a wireless temporary local area network thereby causing the printer to be dedicated to printing information solely from the handheld device for a predetermined number of patients. Information such as labels or messages are printed in order to facilitate tracking of patient information.

Abstract: A user interface system employed in retrieving information from an information repository used in exchanging data between different electronic data systems includes the following method. A first menu is displayed which supports user selection of a bi-directional communication interface from a plurality of interfaces. The bi-directional communication interface is used for communicating data between a particular source and destination. In response to user selection of a bi-directional communication interface, a second menu is disolved which supports user entry of data determining communication characteristic information to be retrieved from the information repository for the selected communication interface.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hearing instrument for positioning in the ear of a user, incorporating a faceplate having first and second spatially separated sound openings for receiving sound to be provided to respective inlets of a microphone; at least one screen partially blocking the sound openings and positioned to increase effective distance between the first and second spatially separated sound openings; and a housing for containing the microphone, the housing having the faceplate mounted thereon and being sized to fit within the ear of a hearing instrument wearer.

Abstract: A system customizes and generates data representing an electronic form for storage on a target workstation ready for use prior to execution time of a procedure used to generate the form. An adaptive user interface generator generates code representing an executable procedure for use in providing a user interface display including a plurality of displayed user interface display elements. A source of presentation control information determines a user interface presentation format of a display image capable of being adaptively scaled to fit different display image sizes. The presentation control information specifies relative location and size of the interface display elements. A transformation processor transforms the presentation control information into executable procedure representative code for use in providing a user interface display image with a format suitable for a desired display size.

Abstract: A system facilitates the secure access, transfer and update of patient record information and the creation and navigation of image menus supporting the location and access of desired patient record data by a user. A system provides a user interface for use by a portable processing device for accessing and navigating patient record information. The system receives user identification information for use in authorizing user operation of the portable processing device and initiates display of an image including a plurality of links to a corresponding plurality of individual patients. The system also initiates display of a patient record content index image including a plurality of links to a corresponding plurality of items of patient record information in response to user selection of a link to one of the plurality of individual patients.

Abstract: A system automatically adaptively modifies a fail-over configuration priority list of back-up devices of a group (cluster) of processing devices to improve availability and reduce risks and costs associated with manual configuration. A system is used by individual processing devices of a group of networked processing devices, for managing operational failure occurrences in devices of the group. The system includes an interface processor for maintaining transition information identifying a second processing device for taking over execution of tasks of a first processing device in response to an operational failure of the first processing device and for updating the transition information in response to a change in transition information occurring in another processing device of the group. An operation detector detects an operational failure of the first processing device.

Abstract: A method and a system to interface in order to interrogate a target application. The method and system includes an interface processor receiving data representing a query for information from a target application; a validation processor for validating whether the query representative data is suitable for initiating a search for information on the target application; a data formatting processor for formatting the query representative data into a format suitable for communication to the target application in response to the validation; and a communication processor for communicating the formatted query representative data to the target application.

Abstract: A quality control system in disease management services for the enlightenment, development and motivation of patients in conjunction with telemonitoring of critical body values and, resulting from this, early recognition of risk situations, wherein random generators are used to create a virtual patient from the admissible patient data, wherein a random selection is made from the available hardware components, and wherein, likewise randomly generated, a random event is selected from a list of possible events in the disease management process, the system reaction when this event is run through being assessed by an expert system by using the reference responses known to the system in order to trace errors.

Abstract: In a method and system for retrieving a medical image from a data base, an image processing algorithm is applied to a first medical image. The result of the applied image processing algorithm to the first medical image is compared with a plurality of results being stored in a data base. Each result of the plurality of results is the result of the image-processing algorithm being applied to each medical image of a plurality of medical images which is stored in the data base. Then, a second medical image belonging to the plurality of medical images is determined and retrieved from the data base, wherein the relevant result is comparable to the relevant result related to the first medical image.

Abstract: Quality control system in Disease Management Services involving education, development and motivation of patients suffering from widespread chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma or hypertension, possibly involving telemonitoring of critical body values and resultant early identification and avoidance of risk situations, where an automatic delivery monitoring facility is provided which monitors the receipt of all messages and information by the patients and, if appropriate, informs a control station in order to eliminate access problems.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for converting a graphical trace of acquired patient data into digital data suitable for digital signal processing, which includes the steps of receiving data representative of an image including the graphical trace of acquired patient data; analyzing the received data to identify individual pixels comprising the graphical trace in the image representative data; generating a plurality of pixel representative data elements in a desired data format identifying the relative location of the individual pixels in relation to a reference point; generating the desired data format by identifying the relative location of the individual pixels and identifying at least one of, (a) color of said individual pixels and (b) luminance amplitude of said individual pixels; and storing the generated pixel representative data elements in a file.

Abstract: A system facilitates the secure access, and update of patient record information and the creation and navigation of image menus supporting the location and access of desired patient record data by a user. A method for use by a portable processing device for accessing patient record information involves receiving user entered information identifying at least one patient record to be acquired and a content portion of a patient record to be acquired. A patient record repository is accessed by generating a URL link including an address of the repository and containing fields incorporating the information identifying the content portion and the patient record. The generated URL link is communicated to an application used for accessing the repository and the identified patient record content portion is received in response to the communication.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that addresses the need for an improved microbiology validation system that monitors and validates clinical culture laboratory test results as they occur throughout the testing lifecycle of a clinical culture. Techniques are provided that consider the results of earlier performed tests when entering results for later performed tests so that inconsistent or wrong test results of a patient are not inadvertently released to a physician for review.