CA2390879A1 - Communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers - Google Patents
Communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers Download PDFInfo
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- CA2390879A1 CA2390879A1 CA002390879A CA2390879A CA2390879A1 CA 2390879 A1 CA2390879 A1 CA 2390879A1 CA 002390879 A CA002390879 A CA 002390879A CA 2390879 A CA2390879 A CA 2390879A CA 2390879 A1 CA2390879 A1 CA 2390879A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
- G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G16H10/00—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data
- G16H10/40—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
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- G—PHYSICS
- G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
- G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G16H80/00—ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
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- Medical Treatment And Welfare Office Work (AREA)
- Measuring And Recording Apparatus For Diagnosis (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers. Centralized laboratories already make use of data communication for transmitting analytical data while they still accept or handle orders in a conventional manner. According to the invention, all relevant laboratories and their specialized departments on the one hand and the medical treatment centers on the other hand are interconnected via data communication devices with an integrative central laboratory data base that is provided with a server computer.
Description
i ' CA 02390879 2002-05-09 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR THE INTERACTION BETWEEN MEDICAL
LABORATORIES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT CENTERS
Description The invention relates to a communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers.
Due to the high cost for material and personnel, a medical laboratory is typically operated centrally. For physicians in an individual practice, such laboratory is frequently set up as a shared laboratory, whereas university hospitals and other hospitals tend to operate a central laboratory with several specialized departments.
Many laboratories have started to format the test results in such a way that they can be recalled from the commissioning hospital ward or medical practice via data transmission. Although this expedites the transmission of the completed test data, accepting and processing orders is still handled in a conventional manner.
A laboratory is therefore unable to fully plan its workload ahead of time, since a decision about the equipment and materials, etc., can only be made after an order and the corresponding sample materials have been received. Frequently, orders have to transferred to a second, more highly specialized laboratory, or ~i tests cannot be started due to a high workload, which can delay order processing, often to the detriment of the patient.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a communication system for the aforementioned purpose which can optimize and accelerate order processing and balance the workload.
The object is solved by the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 in conjunction with the features recited in the preamble. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.
Accordingly, all laboratories participating in the communication system and their specialized laboratory departments, on one hand, and medical treatment facilities on the other hand are networked with an integrated central laboratory database via data transmission systems 6. The integrated central laboratory database 1 is used for the following purposes:
- the required patient and laboratory data are acquired in an acquisition module of a data input device located at the commissioning treatment facility and forwarded to the respective laboratory or laboratory department via data output devices located at that laboratory or laboratory department under coordination by the integrated central laboratory database 1, si - samples to be tested are labeled andlor encoded in the treatment facilities by acquisition modules according to predetermined criteria and sent to the respective laboratory or laboratory department, - any already preordered tests are activated when the samples arrive at the laboratory or laboratory department, and - the test results are stored after completion of the tests in the integrated central laboratory database 1 and transmitted via data transmission devices 6 to the commissioning treatment facility.
The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to embodiments that are at least in part illustrated in the drawings.
It is shown in:
Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a communication system, Fig. 2 a network environment of a local laboratory site.
The client requests that the laboratory determines certain parameters. To determine these parameters, the laboratory has to examine the received test materials. The test samples are distributed from the material receiving station to the appropriate laboratory site, where they are logged in. The test result is then immediately transmitted via data transmission.
~i ~ ' ~ ' CA 02390879 2002-05-09 All the data generated during this process - from the initial inquiry, through ordering process, gathering the test results, to obtaining information about treatment methods andlor previous illnesses - are stored for each patient in an integrated central laboratory database 1. This database can be located at a separate database server 3. Advantageously, however, the integrated central laboratory database can also exist in form of several identical copies 2 which are stored on different servers 3 connected to a data transmission network 6. Each of these copies 2 provides complete functionality. All information concerning changes made on one copy 2 are transmitted to the other copies via the data transmission network 6, which guarantees that all copies have identical information and data. For this reason, reference is made herein to only a single virtual integrated central laboratory database 1, even if copies are distributed across several servers.
An exemplary detailed process flow is as follows:
Each client 5, i.e., each commissioning hospital ward and/or each commissioning physician's office has a data input module that is networked with the integrated central laboratory database 1 in the laboratory. When an order is initiated, the required patient data and order data are entered in the data input module.
These include: requester, patient, all parameters to be determined on the sample, optionally also the diagnosis, and the tests and equipment, on which the tests are to be performed and which are required to determine the parameters. This can ~i be accomplished by using direct ISDN connections, WAN connections via ISDN, Internet connections or email. Labels required for the samples are also printed.
Annotations related to pre-analysis, completion date and the like can also be added. Pre-analysis refers to the treatment of the samples before testing and can relate to merely storing the samples or to their preparation for the subsequent tests.
After the suspected diagnoses or the diagnoses according to the ICD 9 and ICD
classification (International Classification of Diseases) have been entered, the requisition module identifies stored laboratory diagnostic guidelines and proposes a standardized palette of laboratory tests reflecting the major and minor diagnoses. The generated process can be reviewed and has a defined quality standard for the prevention as well as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Any tests that are not indicated for the selected diseases are eliminated.
Test that are absolutely necessary for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy cannot be missed. The patient identification system also checks any laboratory test results that remain unchanged during a predefined interval. The client is informed about the results that are already confirmed, even if he did not request the tests.
Diagnoses are thereby available online to each participating medical facility to facilitate cooperative treatment.
The data input module is advantageously executed on an IBM-compatible PC.
For example, any documents accompanying the order can be scanned in.
i After the data are entered, the order can be immediately confirmed or set aside.
Orders that have been set aside are collected in an order wait queue and can be confirmed at a later date. Optionally, another laboratory can be selected to accept the order. The labels are preferably printed after the order is confirmed, so that all laboratory data can be considered.
With this method, work locations can be concentrated at a single laboratory site;
however, the work locations can also be spread over several laboratory sites.
The system is adapted to provide laboratory test results to regional health facilities (a hospital, a physicians' network, rehab clinics, nursing homes, a physician's office). It is an important feature that the database 1 associates all diagnoses with the patient. Every partner in the health organization who is part of the supply network can view this electronic patient folder, if the patient grants permission. This approach eliminates duplication of procedures, accelerates the course of the treatment andlor time for a diagnosis, and enhances quality. A
complex system of this type will advantageously employ the aforedescribed integrated central laboratory database that is distributed across several servers.
This takes advantage of the particular feature of the invention, since the integrated central laboratory database 1 optimizes the process flow in this complex system. According to the invention, when an order is placed, the laboratories are selected based on the compatibility of their equipment with the ~i requested tests and their actual workload at that time, whereby transportation and traffic routes can be optimized for economy and convenient scheduling.
Appropriate nearby laboratories are selected and new orders are assigned based on the most favorable shipping routes. In special situations and emergencies, the most suited facilities can be identified, since the associated facilities are listed in hierarchical order.
When the material arrives, the laboratory activates the previously placed order.
Samples that are intended, for example, for a clinical or hematology laboratory can hence be routed directly to the corresponding laboratory site.
A sample can be logged in at the laboratory by placing the sample in front of a barcode reader, with the data associated with the sample being displayed, for example, on a monitor.
The received patient data are transmitted to a patient identification module.
This module can return several results:
- If the patient is uniquely identified, the order is processed immediately.
- If no patient was identified, then the patient data included with the order are checked for completeness. If the data are sufficient, then a new patient data set is generated and the order is processed immediately. If the data are insufficient, then a message is generated that individual data will first have to be collected in the laboratory, for example, by a telephone inquiry.
si After the tests are completed, the results are transmitted to the communication system and subjected to a delta-check. In a delta-check, the measured value is compared to a previously determined parameter for the patient, to a standard parameter range and/or to a fixed technical limit. Any detected errors are immediately processed at designated work places. Optionally, a follow-up test can be requested during the delta-check. Conversely, all results falling in a "release" range are released. In addition, some results may need to be validated by a medical specialist.
The communication system also allows the laboratory physician to access the medical record of the patient, because the medical history of the patient provides important information about a possible diagnosis and treatment strategy. At a minimum, data relating to diagnoses, drugs and any chronic illnesses of the patient should be accessible.
A patient is frequently treated at different facilities. The facilities connected to the communication system (hospitals, physicians' offices, laboratories, nursing homes, ...) can hereby advantageously view the electronic patient folder, since the integrated central laboratory database 1 stores all information about the entire course of the treatment relating to the patient. The result is a cumulative summary of all ambulatory and in-patient services. This transparency of events i ' ' ' CA 02390879 2002-05-09 makes it easier to arrive at a diagnosis and can accelerate the therapy and make it more successful.
The test results advantageously include an editable section where the laboratory physician can insert annotations and comments.
For some parameters, a decision is made based on the results from a single test to optionally perform additional tests, which can be requested automatically.
Some diseases have to be reported by law. If a laboratory detects such a disease in a patient, then this event is reported to the health department and the attending physician. A similar procedure applies to highly infectious bacteria. If these are detected, the finding is reported to the hospital ward and/or the physician so as to immediately initiate preventive measures.
The data can be transmitted from the integrated central laboratory database 1 via email, network printer, fax or LDT. Transmission via LDT should be feasible as an email attachment or directly via ISDN. Several parallel transmission paths can also be provided.
Advantageously, all transmissions of the test results are logged with date and time, laboratory department, type of diagnosis and the like.
A custom result layout can be designed for each hospital ward andlor physician's office, wherein the parameters obtained in the tests can be presented in a certain order andlor arrangement.
The fundamental process flow can be summarized as follows, regardless if the communication system is used by an individual laboratory, a group of laboratories or an entire health service region:
A client (a physician in a hospital or in private practice) initiates a laboratory order. The database books the order and prints at the client's site corresponding labels for the materials. When the client enters the patient's diagnosis according to the international diagnostic code ICD or DRG, certain tests that should be ordered are proposed to the client. The client is also informed about available possibilities for receiving and shipping the samples.
After the order is submitted, the order is activated in the system and the database plans, based on a predetermined hierarchical structure, at which work site (laboratory A, B, C, ...) the tests should be performed. The condition of the test equipment (load, quality) plays hereby a significant role. The workflow through the laboratory is optimized through specific order disposition, allowing the results to be returned to the client in less time than would otherwise be possible.
The communication system has the advantage that the requester as well as the laboratory always have an overview over the current status of arriving, activated io and completed requests for testing, allowing them to react promptly. When problems with materials are encountered, actions can be taken in close cooperation with the patient.
The database automatically reacts to critical test results after their technical release, contacts immediately the requester who ordered the laboratory tests and optionally orders additional tests. A complex diagnosis can be generated at a display monitor across several sites by consulting with another colleague working at a clinic, optionally directly at the patient's bed.
Repeat examinations are avoided. The system also helps minimizing the amount of information and the cost associated with managing the information. All the data are stored centrally and are available - not only to the original requester - for performing follow-up tests and displaying the patient's history.
Integrated with the system is an inventory administration module which Nlogs out"
consumables and reagents for each test and administers supplies for the workplace by minimizing the inventory for each workplace. The order volume and quantity discounts can be optimally managed across the networked laboratories.
In addition, the module coordinates the shipments of blood-drawing equipment and other accessories to the party that requested the laboratory tests. The hospital wards check in the material received from each supplier. In this way, n i transaction data an be generated automatically and the inventory at the requester's site can be determined.
A local laboratory site advantageously includes in addition to the integrated central laboratory database 1 andlor a local copy of the database 2, the database server 3 and the replication server 4, also laboratory workstations 9 which are connected via device drivers 12 to additional devices, such as card readers 18 or online devices 19. The laboratory database 1 can be accessed externally, for example, from a hospital ward 20, a physician's office 21 or, for a remote diagnosis 22, via a web access server 8. A communication server 7 controls the data exchange between fax machine 14, printer 15, the workstations 17 located at the different stations as well as other devices for file transfer. The basic system advantageously includes a diagnosis server 11, as well as minicomputers connected to the laboratory database 1 via a dedicated server 10.
The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is feasible to arrive at different embodiments by combining the aforedescribed means and features, without deviating form the scope of the invention.
m ~i ~ - CA 02390879 2002-05-09 List of reference numerals 1. (virtual) integrated central laboratory database 2. local database 3. database server 4. replication server 5. client 6. data transmission device 7. communication server 8. web access server 9. laboratory workstation 10.dedicated server 11.diagnosis server 12.device driver 13.minicomputer 14.fax machine, fax software 15.printer 16.file transfer 17.hospital ward workstation 18.card reader 19.online device 20.hospital ward 21.physicians' office 22.remote diagnosis
LABORATORIES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT CENTERS
Description The invention relates to a communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers.
Due to the high cost for material and personnel, a medical laboratory is typically operated centrally. For physicians in an individual practice, such laboratory is frequently set up as a shared laboratory, whereas university hospitals and other hospitals tend to operate a central laboratory with several specialized departments.
Many laboratories have started to format the test results in such a way that they can be recalled from the commissioning hospital ward or medical practice via data transmission. Although this expedites the transmission of the completed test data, accepting and processing orders is still handled in a conventional manner.
A laboratory is therefore unable to fully plan its workload ahead of time, since a decision about the equipment and materials, etc., can only be made after an order and the corresponding sample materials have been received. Frequently, orders have to transferred to a second, more highly specialized laboratory, or ~i tests cannot be started due to a high workload, which can delay order processing, often to the detriment of the patient.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a communication system for the aforementioned purpose which can optimize and accelerate order processing and balance the workload.
The object is solved by the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 in conjunction with the features recited in the preamble. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.
Accordingly, all laboratories participating in the communication system and their specialized laboratory departments, on one hand, and medical treatment facilities on the other hand are networked with an integrated central laboratory database via data transmission systems 6. The integrated central laboratory database 1 is used for the following purposes:
- the required patient and laboratory data are acquired in an acquisition module of a data input device located at the commissioning treatment facility and forwarded to the respective laboratory or laboratory department via data output devices located at that laboratory or laboratory department under coordination by the integrated central laboratory database 1, si - samples to be tested are labeled andlor encoded in the treatment facilities by acquisition modules according to predetermined criteria and sent to the respective laboratory or laboratory department, - any already preordered tests are activated when the samples arrive at the laboratory or laboratory department, and - the test results are stored after completion of the tests in the integrated central laboratory database 1 and transmitted via data transmission devices 6 to the commissioning treatment facility.
The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to embodiments that are at least in part illustrated in the drawings.
It is shown in:
Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a communication system, Fig. 2 a network environment of a local laboratory site.
The client requests that the laboratory determines certain parameters. To determine these parameters, the laboratory has to examine the received test materials. The test samples are distributed from the material receiving station to the appropriate laboratory site, where they are logged in. The test result is then immediately transmitted via data transmission.
~i ~ ' ~ ' CA 02390879 2002-05-09 All the data generated during this process - from the initial inquiry, through ordering process, gathering the test results, to obtaining information about treatment methods andlor previous illnesses - are stored for each patient in an integrated central laboratory database 1. This database can be located at a separate database server 3. Advantageously, however, the integrated central laboratory database can also exist in form of several identical copies 2 which are stored on different servers 3 connected to a data transmission network 6. Each of these copies 2 provides complete functionality. All information concerning changes made on one copy 2 are transmitted to the other copies via the data transmission network 6, which guarantees that all copies have identical information and data. For this reason, reference is made herein to only a single virtual integrated central laboratory database 1, even if copies are distributed across several servers.
An exemplary detailed process flow is as follows:
Each client 5, i.e., each commissioning hospital ward and/or each commissioning physician's office has a data input module that is networked with the integrated central laboratory database 1 in the laboratory. When an order is initiated, the required patient data and order data are entered in the data input module.
These include: requester, patient, all parameters to be determined on the sample, optionally also the diagnosis, and the tests and equipment, on which the tests are to be performed and which are required to determine the parameters. This can ~i be accomplished by using direct ISDN connections, WAN connections via ISDN, Internet connections or email. Labels required for the samples are also printed.
Annotations related to pre-analysis, completion date and the like can also be added. Pre-analysis refers to the treatment of the samples before testing and can relate to merely storing the samples or to their preparation for the subsequent tests.
After the suspected diagnoses or the diagnoses according to the ICD 9 and ICD
classification (International Classification of Diseases) have been entered, the requisition module identifies stored laboratory diagnostic guidelines and proposes a standardized palette of laboratory tests reflecting the major and minor diagnoses. The generated process can be reviewed and has a defined quality standard for the prevention as well as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Any tests that are not indicated for the selected diseases are eliminated.
Test that are absolutely necessary for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy cannot be missed. The patient identification system also checks any laboratory test results that remain unchanged during a predefined interval. The client is informed about the results that are already confirmed, even if he did not request the tests.
Diagnoses are thereby available online to each participating medical facility to facilitate cooperative treatment.
The data input module is advantageously executed on an IBM-compatible PC.
For example, any documents accompanying the order can be scanned in.
i After the data are entered, the order can be immediately confirmed or set aside.
Orders that have been set aside are collected in an order wait queue and can be confirmed at a later date. Optionally, another laboratory can be selected to accept the order. The labels are preferably printed after the order is confirmed, so that all laboratory data can be considered.
With this method, work locations can be concentrated at a single laboratory site;
however, the work locations can also be spread over several laboratory sites.
The system is adapted to provide laboratory test results to regional health facilities (a hospital, a physicians' network, rehab clinics, nursing homes, a physician's office). It is an important feature that the database 1 associates all diagnoses with the patient. Every partner in the health organization who is part of the supply network can view this electronic patient folder, if the patient grants permission. This approach eliminates duplication of procedures, accelerates the course of the treatment andlor time for a diagnosis, and enhances quality. A
complex system of this type will advantageously employ the aforedescribed integrated central laboratory database that is distributed across several servers.
This takes advantage of the particular feature of the invention, since the integrated central laboratory database 1 optimizes the process flow in this complex system. According to the invention, when an order is placed, the laboratories are selected based on the compatibility of their equipment with the ~i requested tests and their actual workload at that time, whereby transportation and traffic routes can be optimized for economy and convenient scheduling.
Appropriate nearby laboratories are selected and new orders are assigned based on the most favorable shipping routes. In special situations and emergencies, the most suited facilities can be identified, since the associated facilities are listed in hierarchical order.
When the material arrives, the laboratory activates the previously placed order.
Samples that are intended, for example, for a clinical or hematology laboratory can hence be routed directly to the corresponding laboratory site.
A sample can be logged in at the laboratory by placing the sample in front of a barcode reader, with the data associated with the sample being displayed, for example, on a monitor.
The received patient data are transmitted to a patient identification module.
This module can return several results:
- If the patient is uniquely identified, the order is processed immediately.
- If no patient was identified, then the patient data included with the order are checked for completeness. If the data are sufficient, then a new patient data set is generated and the order is processed immediately. If the data are insufficient, then a message is generated that individual data will first have to be collected in the laboratory, for example, by a telephone inquiry.
si After the tests are completed, the results are transmitted to the communication system and subjected to a delta-check. In a delta-check, the measured value is compared to a previously determined parameter for the patient, to a standard parameter range and/or to a fixed technical limit. Any detected errors are immediately processed at designated work places. Optionally, a follow-up test can be requested during the delta-check. Conversely, all results falling in a "release" range are released. In addition, some results may need to be validated by a medical specialist.
The communication system also allows the laboratory physician to access the medical record of the patient, because the medical history of the patient provides important information about a possible diagnosis and treatment strategy. At a minimum, data relating to diagnoses, drugs and any chronic illnesses of the patient should be accessible.
A patient is frequently treated at different facilities. The facilities connected to the communication system (hospitals, physicians' offices, laboratories, nursing homes, ...) can hereby advantageously view the electronic patient folder, since the integrated central laboratory database 1 stores all information about the entire course of the treatment relating to the patient. The result is a cumulative summary of all ambulatory and in-patient services. This transparency of events i ' ' ' CA 02390879 2002-05-09 makes it easier to arrive at a diagnosis and can accelerate the therapy and make it more successful.
The test results advantageously include an editable section where the laboratory physician can insert annotations and comments.
For some parameters, a decision is made based on the results from a single test to optionally perform additional tests, which can be requested automatically.
Some diseases have to be reported by law. If a laboratory detects such a disease in a patient, then this event is reported to the health department and the attending physician. A similar procedure applies to highly infectious bacteria. If these are detected, the finding is reported to the hospital ward and/or the physician so as to immediately initiate preventive measures.
The data can be transmitted from the integrated central laboratory database 1 via email, network printer, fax or LDT. Transmission via LDT should be feasible as an email attachment or directly via ISDN. Several parallel transmission paths can also be provided.
Advantageously, all transmissions of the test results are logged with date and time, laboratory department, type of diagnosis and the like.
A custom result layout can be designed for each hospital ward andlor physician's office, wherein the parameters obtained in the tests can be presented in a certain order andlor arrangement.
The fundamental process flow can be summarized as follows, regardless if the communication system is used by an individual laboratory, a group of laboratories or an entire health service region:
A client (a physician in a hospital or in private practice) initiates a laboratory order. The database books the order and prints at the client's site corresponding labels for the materials. When the client enters the patient's diagnosis according to the international diagnostic code ICD or DRG, certain tests that should be ordered are proposed to the client. The client is also informed about available possibilities for receiving and shipping the samples.
After the order is submitted, the order is activated in the system and the database plans, based on a predetermined hierarchical structure, at which work site (laboratory A, B, C, ...) the tests should be performed. The condition of the test equipment (load, quality) plays hereby a significant role. The workflow through the laboratory is optimized through specific order disposition, allowing the results to be returned to the client in less time than would otherwise be possible.
The communication system has the advantage that the requester as well as the laboratory always have an overview over the current status of arriving, activated io and completed requests for testing, allowing them to react promptly. When problems with materials are encountered, actions can be taken in close cooperation with the patient.
The database automatically reacts to critical test results after their technical release, contacts immediately the requester who ordered the laboratory tests and optionally orders additional tests. A complex diagnosis can be generated at a display monitor across several sites by consulting with another colleague working at a clinic, optionally directly at the patient's bed.
Repeat examinations are avoided. The system also helps minimizing the amount of information and the cost associated with managing the information. All the data are stored centrally and are available - not only to the original requester - for performing follow-up tests and displaying the patient's history.
Integrated with the system is an inventory administration module which Nlogs out"
consumables and reagents for each test and administers supplies for the workplace by minimizing the inventory for each workplace. The order volume and quantity discounts can be optimally managed across the networked laboratories.
In addition, the module coordinates the shipments of blood-drawing equipment and other accessories to the party that requested the laboratory tests. The hospital wards check in the material received from each supplier. In this way, n i transaction data an be generated automatically and the inventory at the requester's site can be determined.
A local laboratory site advantageously includes in addition to the integrated central laboratory database 1 andlor a local copy of the database 2, the database server 3 and the replication server 4, also laboratory workstations 9 which are connected via device drivers 12 to additional devices, such as card readers 18 or online devices 19. The laboratory database 1 can be accessed externally, for example, from a hospital ward 20, a physician's office 21 or, for a remote diagnosis 22, via a web access server 8. A communication server 7 controls the data exchange between fax machine 14, printer 15, the workstations 17 located at the different stations as well as other devices for file transfer. The basic system advantageously includes a diagnosis server 11, as well as minicomputers connected to the laboratory database 1 via a dedicated server 10.
The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is feasible to arrive at different embodiments by combining the aforedescribed means and features, without deviating form the scope of the invention.
m ~i ~ - CA 02390879 2002-05-09 List of reference numerals 1. (virtual) integrated central laboratory database 2. local database 3. database server 4. replication server 5. client 6. data transmission device 7. communication server 8. web access server 9. laboratory workstation 10.dedicated server 11.diagnosis server 12.device driver 13.minicomputer 14.fax machine, fax software 15.printer 16.file transfer 17.hospital ward workstation 18.card reader 19.online device 20.hospital ward 21.physicians' office 22.remote diagnosis
Claims (8)
1. Communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers, characterized in that all laboratories and specialized departments participating in the communication system as well as medical treatment centers are networked with an integrated central laboratory database (1) via data transmission devices, - the needed patient and test data are captured in a data input module of a data input device located at the commissioning treatment center and coordinated via the integrated central laboratory database (1) before being transmitted to the responsible laboratory or laboratory department via data output devices located at the commissioned laboratory or laboratory department receiving the order, the samples to be tested are labeled and/or encoded at the treatment centers via the data input modules according to predetermined criteria and transmitted to the responsible laboratory or laboratory department, the previously placed requests for tests are activated when the samples arrive at the laboratory, and the test data are stored in the integrated central laboratory database (1) after the test are completed and transmitted via data transmission devices (6) to the commissioning treatment facility.
2. Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated central laboratory database (1) is implemented at a server (3).
3. Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated central laboratory database is present in form of identical copies locally on several database servers (3) that are connected with each other through data transmission devices (6), with the local databases (2) forming a virtual integrated central laboratory database.
4. Communication system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data stored in the integrated central laboratory database are stored in form of a cumulative diagnosis for a patient.
5. Communication system according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the test results are subjected to a delta-test after the test is completed.
6. Communication system according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an inventory administration module is included.
7. Communication system according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that coordination by the integrated central laboratory database (1) takes place according to a predetermined hierarchical structure depending on the test request and/or the status of the test systems.
8. Communication system according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that during the coordination by the integrated central laboratory database (1), the status of the test systems is rated according to the following aspect:
- the load of the test equipment and/or - the type of devices included in of the test equipment and/or - the location of the test equipment and/or - the required quality of the tests and/or - the duration of the tests.
- the load of the test equipment and/or - the type of devices included in of the test equipment and/or - the location of the test equipment and/or - the required quality of the tests and/or - the duration of the tests.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19955729.2 | 1999-11-15 | ||
| DE19955729A DE19955729A1 (en) | 1999-11-15 | 1999-11-15 | Communication system for the interaction of medical laboratories and medical treatment facilities |
| PCT/EP2000/011313 WO2001037190A2 (en) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-11-15 | Communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2390879A1 true CA2390879A1 (en) | 2001-05-25 |
Family
ID=7929642
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002390879A Abandoned CA2390879A1 (en) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-11-15 | Communication system for the interaction between medical laboratories and medical treatment centers |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1232467A2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2505701A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2390879A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE19955729A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2001037190A2 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1978110B1 (en) * | 2000-09-06 | 2010-05-26 | Transnetyx, Inc. | Computer-based method and system for screening genomic DNA |
| AT413640B (en) * | 2001-09-05 | 2006-04-15 | Ams Engineering Sticht Ges M B | METHOD FOR REMOVING A SAMPLE FROM A SYSTEM |
| AT413791B (en) * | 2001-09-05 | 2006-06-15 | Ams Engineering Sticht Ges M B | Method for taking a sample from a system, e.g. a medical sample, whereby an order placer connects to the analyzing organizations' database to transfer relevant data and receive sampling instructions back |
| DE102004007298A1 (en) * | 2004-02-14 | 2005-09-01 | Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf Anstalt öffendlichen Rechts | Method for monitoring laboratory samples |
| DE102008018489A1 (en) * | 2008-04-11 | 2009-10-22 | Kisielinski, Kajetan Stefan, Dr. med. | Computer-aided device for use in clinical laboratory e.g. microbiology laboratory, establishes automatic communication with physician to communicate critical value of patient to physician, when value reaches or exceeds predetermined limit |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4893270A (en) * | 1986-05-12 | 1990-01-09 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories | Medical information system |
| US5920871A (en) * | 1989-06-02 | 1999-07-06 | Macri; Vincent J. | Method of operating a general purpose digital computer for use in controlling the procedures and managing the data and information used in the operation of clinical (medical) testing and screening laboratories |
| US5366896A (en) * | 1991-07-30 | 1994-11-22 | University Of Virginia Alumni Patents Foundation | Robotically operated laboratory system |
| EP0599022A3 (en) * | 1992-11-23 | 1995-02-22 | Emtek Health Care Inc | A method for displaying microbiological laboratory results. |
| US5841975A (en) * | 1996-12-10 | 1998-11-24 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Method and apparatus for globally-accessible automated testing |
| AU5405798A (en) * | 1996-12-30 | 1998-07-31 | Imd Soft Ltd. | Medical information system |
| DE19736470C2 (en) * | 1997-08-21 | 2001-02-22 | Ulrich Schenck | Data processing-compatible microscopy sample carrier and method for the analysis of microscopic samples |
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- 2000-11-15 WO PCT/EP2000/011313 patent/WO2001037190A2/en active Search and Examination
- 2000-11-15 AU AU25057/01A patent/AU2505701A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-11-15 CA CA002390879A patent/CA2390879A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-11-15 EP EP00988705A patent/EP1232467A2/en not_active Withdrawn
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| WO2001037190A3 (en) | 2002-06-06 |
| EP1232467A2 (en) | 2002-08-21 |
| AU2505701A (en) | 2001-05-30 |
| DE19955729A1 (en) | 2001-05-23 |
| WO2001037190A2 (en) | 2001-05-25 |
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