Abstract: The present system generates output signals conveying information related to a position of one or more body parts of the subject, location of the body of the subject and/or physiological information related to the subject; obtains a set of fall criteria that describe whether the subject is likely to fall; determines one or more body position parameters, one or more physiological parameters, and/or one or more body location parameters; compares the determined one or more physiological parameters, the one or more body position parameters, and/or the one or more body location parameters to criteria in the set of fall criteria; and, responsive to the one or more body position parameters, the one or more physiological parameters, and or the one or more body location parameters satisfying individual fall criteria in the set of fall criteria, generate an alert.

Abstract: An interactive communication system (400) includes a plurality of in-room video communications system (1250) each including an audio microphone (460), a video camera (440), an audio speaker (470), a patient operated control (420) and a television/video monitor (430). The message sender, e.g. a medical professional, enters a request to contact a selected patient at a terminal (190). A hierarchical access control (130, 135) arbitrates among persons trying to reach a patient based on an accesses hierarchy (200). The requester with the highest role in the hierarchy establishes a video communication link with the patient and appears on the television monitor (430) in place of previously viewed video entertainment.

Abstract: A remote command center for providing services to geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. A datastore accessible to the remote command center receives patient data from geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. Monitored data elements of geographically dispersed hospitalized patients are also received at the remote command center and stored in the datastore. A smart alert module generates and applies patient specific rules to data elements. If a patient-specific rule for a hospitalized patient has been contravened, an alert is issued from the remote command center. A patient care module displays selected data elements of the hospitalized patients. A decision support module applies decision support algorithms to selected data elements of a hospitalized patient and to user input to provide patient care advice. Patient care advice comprises a diagnosis, a method of treatment, and a laboratory protocol.

Abstract: A rules-base patient care method for managing the care of a plurality of pregnant patients from a remote command center for use in healthcare locations using patient-specific rules for each of the plurality of pregnant patients. A patient rules generator creates rules for the patients. Performance measures indicative of the ability of a rule to predict changes in the condition of the patient are acquired by the rules generator. A determination is made from the rules performance measures whether to revise the rule. A rules engine applies a rule to selected data elements stored in the database to produce an output indicative of a change in the medical condition of a pregnant patient and/or a fetal patient. The output from the rules engine is used to determine when intervention is warranted.

Abstract: A system for providing expert care to a basic care medical facility (OPCL) from a remote location. The system facilitates real-time, continuous assessment of patients receiving care in an OPCL that is not generally equipped to provide expert medical care on a twenty-four basis. Patient monitoring equipment acquires monitored data elements from a patient monitoring station and transmits the monitoring data over a network to a remote command center. The remote command center also receives other patient data to the extent available from the OPCL. Alternatively, the patient monitored data is sent to a remote command center along with patient data at a pre-established time or when requested by remote command center. The delivery of stored monitoring data and patient data may be expedited if an urgent consultation is warranted.

Abstract: A remote command center for providing services to geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. A datastore accessible to the remote command center receives patient data from geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. Monitored data elements of geographically dispersed hospitalized patients are also received at the remote command center and stored in the datastore. A smart alert module generates and applies patient specific rules to data elements. If a patient-specific rule for a hospitalized patient has been contravened, an alert is issued from the remote command center. A patient care module displays selected data elements of the hospitalized patients. A decision support module applies decision support algorithms to selected data elements of a hospitalized patient and to user input to provide patient care advice. Patient care advice comprises a diagnosis, a method of treatment, and a laboratory protocol.

Abstract: A remote command center for providing services to geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. A datastore accessible to the remote command center receives patient data from geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. Monitored data elements of geographically dispersed hospitalized patients are also received at the remote command center and stored in the datastore. A smart alert module generates and applies patient specific rules to selected data elements. If a patient-specific rule for a hospitalized patient has been contravened, an alert is issued from the remote command center. A patient care module displays selected data elements of the hospitalized patients at the remote command center. A decision support module applies decision support algorithms to selected data elements of a hospitalized patient and to user input to provide patient care advice. Patient care advice comprises a diagnosis, a method of treatment, and a laboratory protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for providing continuous expert network critical care services from a remote location. A plurality of healthcare locations with associated patient monitoring instrumentation is connected over a network to a command center which is manned by intensivists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The intensivists are prompted to provide critical care by a standardized series of guideline algorithms for treating a variety of critical care conditions. Intensivists monitor the progress of individual patients at remote intensive care units. A smart alarm system provides alarms to the intensivists to alert the intensivists to potential patient problems so that intervention can occur in a timely fashion. A data storage/data warehouse function analyzes individual patient information from a plurality of command centers and provides updated algorithms and critical care support to the command centers.

Abstract: An interactive communication system (400) includes a plurality of in-room video communications system (1250) each including an audio microphone (460), a video camera (440), an audio speaker (470), a patient operated control (420) and a television/video monitor (430). The message sender, e.g. a medical professional, enters a request to contact a selected patient at a terminal (190). A hierarchical access control (130, 135) arbitrates among persons trying to reach a patient based on an accesses hierarchy (200). The requester with the highest role in the hierarchy establishes a video communication link with the patient and appears on the television monitor (430) in place of previously viewed video entertainment.

Abstract: A system for providing expert care to a basic care medical facility (BCMF) from a remote location. The system facilitates real-time, continuous assessment of patients receiving care in a BCMF that is not generally equipped to provide expert medical care on a twenty-four basis. Patient monitoring equipment acquires monitored data elements from a patient monitoring station and transmits the monitoring data over a network to a remote command center. The remote command center also receives other patient data to the extent available from the BCMF. Alternatively, the patient monitored data is sent to a remote command center along with patient data at a pre-established time or when requested by remote command center. The delivery of stored monitoring data and patient data may be expedited if an urgent consultation is warranted.

Abstract: A video visitation system and method for dispersed health care locations. A patient data server, a teleconferencing server, a patient visual monitoring system and a visitor visual monitoring system are connected to a network. A patient data server receives patient data indicative of the condition of a patient and serves the patient data continuously and in real time to the teleconferencing server. The patient visual monitoring system acquires patient imaging data from a patient location and conveys the patient imaging data to the teleconferencing server. The visitor visual monitoring system acquires visitor imaging data from a visitor location and conveys the visitor imaging data to the teleconferencing server. The patient visual monitoring system displays the visitor imaging data and the visitor visual monitoring system simultaneously displays patient imaging data and the continuous real time feed of the patient data.

Abstract: A system for providing expert care to a basic care medical facility (OPCL) from a remote location. The system facilitates real-time, continuous assessment of patients receiving care in an OPCL that is not generally equipped to provide expert medical care on a twenty-four basis. Patient monitoring equipment acquires monitored data elements from a patient monitoring station and transmits the monitoring data over a network to a remote command center. The remote command center also receives other patient data to the extent available from the OPCL. Alternatively, the patient monitored data is sent to a remote command center along with patient data at a pre-established time or when requested by remote command center. The delivery of stored monitoring data and patient data may be expedited if an urgent consultation is warranted.

Abstract: A rules-base patient care method for managing the care of a plurality of pregnant patients from a remote command center for use in healthcare locations using patient-specific rules for each of the plurality of pregnant patients. A patient rules generator creates rules for the patients. Performance measures indicative of the ability of a rule to predict changes in the condition of the patient are acquired by the rules generator. A determination is made from the rules performance measures whether to revise the rule. A rules engine applies a rule to selected data elements stored in the database to produce an output indicative of a change in the medical condition of a pregnant patient and/or a fetal patient. The output from the rules engine is used to determine when intervention is warranted.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for inputting physician notes associated with the admission, diagnosis and treatment of patients in a healthcare system. It can be used for those who are critically ill as well as those who are engaged in more routine medical care. The present invention reduces the risk of medical treatment by populating specific patient information throughout the patient care system so that current physician notes are combined with other information and made available rapidly to hospital personnel at all levels of patient care. The present invention also assists in analyzing data in relation to risk associated with management choices and managing the patient care to reduce assessed risk.

Abstract: A system and method for accounting and billing patients in a hospital environment. A hospitalized patient is associated with a patient identifier. Billable services provided to the hospitalized patient are associated with the patient identifier. If the billable service is provided by a physician, a physician identifier is also associated with the billable service. The hospitalized patient is scored and a current procedural terminology (CPT) assignment manager assigns CPT codes to the billable service. A bill generator receives the patient data, patient insurance information, physician insurance information, and CPT codes and generates a bill for the billable services provided to the hospitalized patient.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a health status of hospitalized patients. Patient data associated with hospitalized patients is selected according to display rules. A display module selects selected patient data, applies display rules to the selected patient data, and displays the selected patient data. A smart alert module generates and applies patient specific rules to other selected patient data elements. If a patient-specific rule for a hospitalized patient has been contravened, an alert is issued from the remote command center. Graphical attributes may be assigned to patients for whom an alert has been issued and to selected patient data elements that fall outside of an acceptable range. The graphical attributes determine how selected patient data appear on a display screen.

Abstract: An order evaluation system for use in a healthcare location evaluates an order against a first set of patient assessment data elements to determine whether the order should be issued. If the order is issued, a rules generator generates a patient-specific rule that is consistent with the order. The patient-specific rule is continuously applied to a second set of patient assessment data to determine whether the rule has been contravened. If the rule is contravened, an alert is issued. An alert may direct changes in, or cancellation of, an order.

Abstract: A system and method for standardizing care in a hospital environment. Information concerning the latest care and practice standards for a given condition is provided to a decision support module. The decision support module comprises decision support algorithms that reflect a standardize guideline of practice for a particular medical condition. The general categories of cardiovascular, endocrinology, general, gastrointestinal, hematology, infectious diseases, neurology, pharmacology, pulmonary, renal, surgery, toxicology, trauma all have guidelines and practice standards associated with them. Patient data and user input are inputted to the decision support algorithm. The user may be prompted for user input, and an assessment is made of the patient so as provide patient care advice for the patient. Examples of patient care advice are a diagnosis, a method of treatment, and a laboratory protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for observing patients in geographically dispersed health care locations. A portable monitoring station is associated with a patient assigned to a health care location. The portable monitoring station comprises monitoring equipment that monitors physiological measures of the patient. A remote command center receives the monitored data elements, accesses patient data elements indicative of a medical condition associated with the patient, and applies a patient-specific rule to selected data elements to determine whether the patient-specific rule has been contravened. The monitored equipment may further comprise video and audio equipment that captures patient video data and patient audio data and provides these data to the central command center.

Abstract: A system for determining a treatment plan for a patient comprises a database of patient data elements indicative of a medical condition associated with a patient. A predictive model is applied to patient assessment data and used to prepare a treatment plan. A rules engine applies a patient rule consistent with the treatment plan to selected data elements stored in the database to produce an output indicative of a change in the medical condition of the patient. The output from the rules engine is used to determine if intervention is warranted. The predictive model is applied continuously to determine whether to update the treatment plan and, if necessary, the patient rule.