GB2561544A - Computer network - Google Patents
Computer network Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2561544A GB2561544A GB1704711.9A GB201704711A GB2561544A GB 2561544 A GB2561544 A GB 2561544A GB 201704711 A GB201704711 A GB 201704711A GB 2561544 A GB2561544 A GB 2561544A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- network
- wireless
- access terminal
- patient
- management system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- G16H40/00—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
- G16H40/20—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
-
- 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
- G16H10/60—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
-
- 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
- G16H10/60—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
- G16H10/65—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
-
- 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
- G16H15/00—ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
Abstract
An access terminal 103, e.g. a thin client, for a patient information management system 100, suitable for attachment to a patient bed 104, comprises: a wireless network adapter for provision of and/or connection to a wireless local or personal area network; and a wired network adapter for connection to a wired local area network. In another aspect, a patient information management system for use in a clinical setting includes: the access terminal associated with a patient bed or patient; server 101 containing a patient information database, connected to the wired network; and mobile device 106, e.g. laptop, smart phone or tablet, which includes a network adapter for provision of and/or connection to the wireless local or personal area network and connectable to the database via the access terminal 103. Wireless local or personal area network range may be limited to less than 5 metres. Access terminal 103 may connect to a wireless authentication network which has a shorter range than the wireless local or personal area network. A wrist band, smart watch or ankle band, may identify a bed-occupying patient. May capture, store and communicate patient data e.g. test results, treatment instructions and medical staff observations.
Description
(71) Applicant(s):
Paul Watson
Palm Cottage, La Grande Route de St Martin, St Saviour, Channel Islands, JE2 7GT, Jersey (56) Documents Cited:
WO 2013/165692 A1 WO 2011/083453 A1 US 5867821 A
WO 2011/124993 A2 WO 2006/054190 A1 US 20080065416 A1 (72) Inventor(s):
Paul Watson (58) Field of Search: INT CL G06F
Other: EPODOC; WPI; Patent Fulltext (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
Mewburn Ellis LLP
City Tower, 40 Basinghall Street, LONDON, Greater London, EC2V 5DE, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Computer network
Abstract Title: Patient information management system access terminal having wired and wireless network adapters (57) An access terminal 103, e.g. a thin client, for a patient information management system 100, suitable for attachment to a patient bed 104, comprises: a wireless network adapter for provision of and/or connection to a wireless local or personal area network; and a wired network adapter for connection to a wired local area network.
In another aspect, a patient information management system for use in a clinical setting includes: the access terminal associated with a patient bed or patient; server 101 containing a patient information database, connected to the wired network; and mobile device 106, e.g. laptop, smart phone or tablet, which includes a network adapter for provision of and/or connection to the wireless local or personal area network and connectable to the database via the access terminal 103. Wireless local or personal area network range may be limited to less than 5 metres. Access terminal 103 may connect to a wireless authentication network which has a shorter range than the wireless local or personal area network. A wrist band, smart watch or ankle band, may identify a bed-occupying patient. May capture, store and communicate patient data e.g. test results, treatment instructions and medical staff observations.
Fig. 1
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Fig. 1
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200
104a
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Fig. 3
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Fig. 4
404
COMPUTER NETWORK
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information management system, and particularly a patient information management system for use in a clinical setting.
Background
In clinical settings such as hospitals, patients’ names and information about the patient, such as test results, treatment instructions, and observations made by medical staff about the patient are provided on written notices hanging above the bed or on notes usually attached to the bed. These notes need to be entered manually into the hospital information system for data communication and storage, and may be lost for example by becoming separated from the patient or from the bed. There is a need for a more advanced means of capturing, storing and communicating patient data.
Summary
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a patient information management system for use in a clinical setting, the system including:
an access terminal, associated with a patient, or a patient bed, wherein the access terminal includes a wireless network adapter for the provision of and/or connection to a wireless local or personal area network, and a wired network adapter for connection to a wired local area network;
a mobile device, including a network adapter for the provision of and/or connection to the wireless local or personal area network; and a server, the server connected to the wired local area network and containing a database with patient information therein, wherein the mobile device is connectable to the database via the access terminal.
By provision of a wireless local or personal area network, the security of a database containing patient information is substantially improved. The mobile device then allows users to easily access patient information at the bedside.
In a second aspect, the invention provides an access terminal for a patient information management system, the access terminal comprising:
a wired network adapter for connection to a wired local area network; and a wireless network adapter for the provision of and/or connection to a wireless local or personal area network;
wherein the access terminal is suitable for attachment to a patient bed.
The aspects of the invention may have any one or, to the extent that they are compatible, any combination of the following optional features.
The access terminal, through use of its wireless network adapter, may operate as any one of: (i) a central access point for an infrastructure wireless network; (ii) a peer in an ad-hoc wireless network; or (iii) a bridge between the wired and wireless networks.
The wireless local or personal area network may be limited to a range of less than 5 metres.
The wireless local or personal area network may be any one or more of: a low, high or ultrahigh frequency radio wireless network, a wireless USB network, a near-field communication network, an infra-red network, or similar network.
The access terminal may further comprise a wireless authentication network adapter or protocol for the provision of and/or connection to a wireless authentication network, said wireless authentication network may have a shorter range than the wireless local or personal area network and the access terminal may be configured to not allow connection to the wireless local or personal area network by devices which have not been authenticated by connection to the wireless authentication network; and wherein the mobile device includes an authenticator network adapter or protocol for provision of and/or connection to the wireless authentication network. The wireless authentication network may be a low, high or an ultra-high frequency radio wireless network, a wireless USB network, a near-field communication network, or an infra-red network, and the wireless local or personal area network may be any one of a low, high or ultra-high frequency radio wireless network, a wireless USB network, an ultra-high frequency radio-band wireless network, or similar network. The range of the wireless authentication network may be less than 30 centimetres.
The wireless authentication network can be used in conjunction with the wireless local or personal area network as an additional security layer. When the wireless authentication network is used, the access terminal will deny access to the wireless personal area network by any mobile devices which has not first authenticated itself via the wireless authentication network. For example, the wireless adapter of the access terminal may operate in a peer-to3 peer mode, and a connection will only be established once a mobile device has authenticated itself with the authentication network.
The access terminal may be a thin or zero thickness client. The use of a thin or zero thickness client can further improve security, as patient sensitive data may not reside on the access terminal.
The patient information management system may include a patient-identifying garment (PIG), said PIG being connectable to the access terminal and thereby identifying a patient occupying the bed to the access terminal. The PIG may be a wrist band, smartwatch or bioelectric device or ankle band and may be connectable to the wireless authentication network of the access terminal. For example, the PIG may include a Bluetooth® or a nearfield communication adapter (e.g. an RFID chip) and may interact with the wireless authentication network adapter.
The mobile device may be operable to edit entries in the database. Therefore users may update the patient information at the bedside during, for example, consultation by a clinician.
The access terminal may monitor its location within a hospital or nursing home, and may report the position to the server.
A restricted version of the database may be stored on the access terminal, the restricted version containing information related only to the patient who is occupying the patient bed.
The mobile device may be any one of: a laptop, a smart phone, a personal data assistant a tablet, or similar device.
The access terminal may be configured to deny a mobile device access to the wireless local or personal area network until the mobile device is authenticated through connection to the wireless authentication network.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic of a patient information management system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows an in-situ representation of some of the components of the management system;
Figure 3 shows a schematic of the access terminal and the possible ranges of the wireless local or personal area network as compared with the wireless authentication network; and
Figure 4 shows a flow chart of connecting a mobile device to the access terminal using the wireless authentication network.
Detailed Description and Further Optional Features
Figure 1 shows an embodiment ofthe patient information management system 100 discussed above. The system includes one or more servers 101, which include a database holding patient information. The server(s) are connected, via a wired connection 102, to three access terminals 103a - 103c which are attached to respective beds 104a - 104c. The beds could, for example, be within the ward of a hospital.
The access terminals 103a - 103c each include a wireless local or personal area network (not shown), which can be connected to via a mobile device 106 operated by a user 105.
The user for example may be a clinician or carer, who wishes to obtain and/or update patient information. As the wireless local or personal area network has a limited range, the mobile device has to be in relatively close proximity (i.e. < 5 metres) before the network is accessible.
Figure 2 shows an in-situ schematic of some ofthe components ofthe patient information management system. Here, a ward 200 is defined by a solid exterior wall. Within the ward are three patient beds 104a - 104c, each with a respective access terminal 103a - 103c.
The access terminals are configured so that the range of their respective wireless local or personal area networks are limited. The ranges 201a - 201c of the respective wireless local or personal area networks are indicated by the dashed line. Therefore, as indicated, the user and mobile device must move to be within the range 201c of a particular access point 103c in order to connect to that wireless local or personal area network. The solid wall 200 acts to curtail the range 201a of some of the wireless local or personal area networks.
One ofthe patients in Figure 2 is wearing a PIG 202. The PIG connects to the respective access terminal 103a, and identifies the patient occupying bed 104a. The PIG is always associated with the patient.
The access terminals may be, for example, thin or zero thickness computers or any other mobile or wired device with wireless network adapters. By thin or zero thickness computers, it may be meant that the access terminal does not include a full operating system and/or all of the hardware expected for a full computer and instead functions as a dumb terminal for facilitating access to the server. For example, the zero thickness computer may solely function as a network adapter to allow a mobile device to connect to the server(s) 101 discussed above. In some embodiments, the wireless network adapters may be Wi-Fi ® adapters, Bluetooth ® adapters, near-field communication adapters, infrared adapters, or wireless USB adapters.
The mobile devices may be any one of: a laptop, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, or a tablet. Generally the mobile device will be a hand held computing device, for example a smart phone, personal data assistant or tablet.
Figure 3 shows an access terminal 103a and the possible ranges of the wireless authentication network or protocol and the wireless local or personal area network. The wireless local or personal area network may have a range 302 which is greater than that of the wireless authentication network 301. The wireless authentication network may have a range of no more than a few centimetres. For example, if the wireless authentication network was an infrared communication network, the range 301 may be no more than 10 - 20 cm as projected from an infrared port of the access terminal. Similarly, if the wireless authentication network was a near field communication network, the range 301 may be no more than 5 10 cm as projected from a near field communication pad of the access terminal. The wireless authentication network, however embodied, will be governed by the parameters of such embodiment.
Figure 4 shows the various stages of connecting to the wireless local or personal area network when using the wireless authentication network or protocol. In a first step, step 401, the user presents the authenticator network adapter of the mobile device to the authenticator adapter of the access terminal. In examples where the wireless authentication network is an infrared network, this may comprise holding the mobile device such that an infrared port of the mobile device is aligned with an infrared port of the access terminal. Similarly, if the wireless authentication network is a near field communications network, the user may place or present the mobile device on or near a near field communication pad of the access terminal.
Once positioned correctly, the mobile device will then connect to the wireless authentication network or protocol, as shown in step 402. The mobile device will then exchange authentication information with the access terminal, as shown in step 403. This information may include, for example, the MAC address or physical hardware identifier of the mobile device. Furthermore, if the mobile device includes a Smart card reader, the authentication information may include an identifier of the user who is using the mobile device. The authentication information is then used to authenticate that the mobile device and I or user of the mobile device is authorised to use the access terminal to obtain patient information. This authentication may take place on one of the server(s) 101 discussed previously. The separation of authenticating a user and authenticating the mobile device may allow a single device to be used when users may have different access permissions. For example, a doctor using the mobile device may be allowed to prescribe certain medications via the mobile device (and access terminal) which another clinician may not. However the same mobile device may be used by someone with different access permissions by simply replacing the
Smart card with their own.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (18)
1. A patient information management system for use in a clinical setting, the system including:
an access terminal, associated with either a patient or a patient bed, wherein the access terminal includes a wireless network adapter for the provision of and/or connection to a wireless local or personal area network, and a wired network adapter for connection to a wired local area network;
a mobile device, including a network adapter for the provision of and/or connection to the wireless local or personal area network; and a server, the server connected to the wired local area network and containing a database with patient information therein, wherein the mobile device is connectable to the database via the access terminal.
2. The patient information management system of claim 1, wherein the wireless network adapter operates as any one of: (i) a central access point for an infrastructure wireless network; (ii) a peer in an ad-hoc wireless network; or (iii) a bridge between the wired and wireless networks.
3. The patient information management system of claim 1, wherein the wireless local or personal area network is limited to a range of less than 5 metres.
4. The patient information management system of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wireless local or personal area network is any one or more of: an ultra-high frequency radio wireless network, a wireless USB network, a near-field communication network, an infra-red network, or similar network.
5. The patient information management system of any preceding claim:
wherein the access terminal further comprises a wireless authentication network adapter or protocol for the provision of and/or connection to a wireless authentication network and the access terminal is configured to not allow connection to the wireless local or personal area network by devices which have not been authenticated by connection to the wireless authentication network; and wherein the mobile device includes an authenticator network adapter or protocol for provision of and/or connection to the wireless authentication network.
6. The patient information management system of claim 5, wherein said wireless authentication network has a shorter range than the wireless local or personal area network.
7. The patient information management system of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the wireless authentication network is an infra-red authentication network or a near-field communication network, and the wireless local or personal area network is any one of an ultra-high frequency radio wireless network, a wireless USB network, a super high frequency radio-band wireless network, or similar network.
8. The patient information management system of any preceding claim, wherein the access terminal is a thin or zero thickness client.
9. The patient information management system of any preceding claim, further including a patient-identifying garment, said patient-identifying garment being connectable to the access terminal and thereby identifying a patient occupying the bed to the access terminal.
10. The patient information management system of claim 9 as dependent on any of claims 5-6, wherein the patient-identifying garment is a wrist band, a smartwatch or a bioelectric device or ankle band, and is connectable to the wireless authentication network of the access terminal.
11. The patient information management system of any preceding claim, wherein the mobile device is operable to edit entries in the database.
12. The patient information management system of any preceding claim, wherein the access terminal monitors its location within a hospital or nursing home and reports the position to the server.
13. The patient information management system of any preceding claim, wherein a restricted version of the database is stored on the access terminal, the restricted version containing information related only to the patient who is occupying the patient bed.
14. The patient information management system of any preceding claim, wherein the mobile device is any one of: a laptop, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, a tablet, or similar.
15. An access terminal for a patient information management system, comprising:
a wired network adapter for connection to a wired local area network; and a wireless network adapter for the provision of and/or connection to a wireless local or personal area network;
wherein the access terminal is suitable for attachment to a patient bed.
16. The access terminal of claim 15, wherein the wireless network adapter operates as any one of: (i) a central access point for an infrastructure wireless network; (ii) a peer in an ad-hoc wireless network; or (iii) a bridge between the wired and wireless networks.
17. The access terminal of either claim 15 or 16, further comprising a wireless authentication network adapter for connection to a wireless authentication network, wherein said wireless authentication network has a shorter range than the wireless local or personal area network.
18. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein the access terminal is configured to deny a mobile device access to the wireless local or personal area network until the mobile device is authenticated through connection to the wireless authentication network.
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1704711.9 Examiner: Dr Chris Lester
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1704711.9A GB2561544A (en) | 2017-03-24 | 2017-03-24 | Computer network |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1704711.9A GB2561544A (en) | 2017-03-24 | 2017-03-24 | Computer network |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201704711D0 GB201704711D0 (en) | 2017-05-10 |
| GB2561544A true GB2561544A (en) | 2018-10-24 |
Family
ID=58688168
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1704711.9A Withdrawn GB2561544A (en) | 2017-03-24 | 2017-03-24 | Computer network |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2561544A (en) |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5867821A (en) * | 1994-05-11 | 1999-02-02 | Paxton Developments Inc. | Method and apparatus for electronically accessing and distributing personal health care information and services in hospitals and homes |
| WO2006054190A1 (en) * | 2004-11-16 | 2006-05-26 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Time synchronization in wireless ad hoc networks of medical devices and sensors |
| US20080065416A1 (en) * | 2002-12-17 | 2008-03-13 | Mazar Scott T | Repeater Providing Data Exchange With A Medical Device For Remote Patient Care And Method Thereof |
| WO2011083453A1 (en) * | 2010-01-11 | 2011-07-14 | Card Guard Scientific Survival Ltd. | An adhesive bandage and a method for controlling patient information |
| WO2011124993A2 (en) * | 2010-04-06 | 2011-10-13 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | System and method for highly reliable delivery of life-critical alarms through shared wireless channels |
| WO2013165692A1 (en) * | 2012-04-30 | 2013-11-07 | Stryker Corporation | Patient support apparatus communication systems |
-
2017
- 2017-03-24 GB GB1704711.9A patent/GB2561544A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5867821A (en) * | 1994-05-11 | 1999-02-02 | Paxton Developments Inc. | Method and apparatus for electronically accessing and distributing personal health care information and services in hospitals and homes |
| US20080065416A1 (en) * | 2002-12-17 | 2008-03-13 | Mazar Scott T | Repeater Providing Data Exchange With A Medical Device For Remote Patient Care And Method Thereof |
| WO2006054190A1 (en) * | 2004-11-16 | 2006-05-26 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Time synchronization in wireless ad hoc networks of medical devices and sensors |
| WO2011083453A1 (en) * | 2010-01-11 | 2011-07-14 | Card Guard Scientific Survival Ltd. | An adhesive bandage and a method for controlling patient information |
| WO2011124993A2 (en) * | 2010-04-06 | 2011-10-13 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | System and method for highly reliable delivery of life-critical alarms through shared wireless channels |
| WO2013165692A1 (en) * | 2012-04-30 | 2013-11-07 | Stryker Corporation | Patient support apparatus communication systems |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201704711D0 (en) | 2017-05-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |