DE102020105377A1 - Computer-implemented method and system for managing a medical technology environment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for managing a medical technology environment (10), the medical technology environment (10) being used in a time window sequence (40) made up of time windows (42) joined together, with at least one first time window (46) of the time window sequence ( 40) is assigned to a first user (44), the method being assigned to a surrounding terminal (12) and using a first user terminal (20) assigned to the first user (44) and a second user terminal (22) assigned to a second user (50) is performed, the method comprising the steps of: i. Receiving an emergency signal (48) from the second user terminal (22), ii. Determining an expected treatment time (52) using the emergency signal (48), and iii. Generating and sending a delay signal (56) to the first user terminal (20) if the expected treatment time (52) at least partially overlaps the first time window (46).

Description

[Technical area

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method and a system for managing a medical technology environment.

In the everyday life of service providers who have a lot of customer or patient contact, appointments are usually made with the customer / patient. The waiting times for the customer / patient can be minimized through coordinated appointments. However, it often happens that an unexpected incident, such as an emergency, upsets the carefully maintained appointment calendar, so that once this incident occurs, no appointment can be met.

In such cases, the service provider has to make decisions about the order in which to process the scheduled appointments as efficiently as possible. This in turn requires a high level of attention and ties up human resources in particular. Particularly in medical technology environments such as medical practices, many circumstances must be taken into account in further planning so that individual patients do not have to wait too long or are even endangered due to the risk of infection.

State of the art

It is known from the state of the art that in medical practices the medical assistants usually arrange appointments and take care of patients in emergencies. The staff makes use of technical aids, such as a commercially available computer and data processing software such as a calendar application or an appointment management application.

In particularly stressful situations, however, errors can occur or patients have to wait unduly long, are even forgotten or sent home. Such measures cannot always be prevented, but their need can be reduced through optimized use of technical resources.

Technical task

The object of the invention is to propose a method and a system that automate, optimize, standardize and objectify the technical processes involved in managing a medical technology environment, in particular a doctor's office. With such steps, the work efficiency of a service provider, in particular a doctor, can also be increased and the waiting time for a patient or customer can be minimized and made more predictable.

Technical solution

The aforementioned object of the invention is achieved by the subjects of the independent claims. Further embodiments are claimed with the dependent claims.

• • Empfangen eines Notfallsignals von dem zweiten Benutzerterminal,
• • Bestimmen einer erwarteten Behandlungszeit unter Verwendung des Notfallsignals, und
• • Senden eines Verzögerungssignals an das erste Benutzerterminal, falls die erwartete Behandlungszeit mit dem ersten Zeitfenster zumindest teilweise überlappt.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method for managing a medical-technical environment, the medical-technical environment being used in a time window sequence made up of linked time windows, with at least one first time window of the time window sequence being assigned to a first user, the method being provided by an environmental terminal and using one of the first user ( 44 ) assigned first user terminal and one to a second user ( 50 ) associated second user terminal is executed, the method comprising the following steps:

• • receiving an emergency signal from the second user terminal,
• • Determining an expected treatment time using the emergency signal, and
• • Sending a delay signal to the first user terminal if the expected treatment time at least partially overlaps the first time window.

In the context of the present invention, a medical-technical environment is defined as any device that uses medical-technical devices and is operated by medical personnel. In the context of the present invention, medical-technical personnel are in particular referred to as doctors, medical assistants and / or nurses.

The medical-technical environment can be, for example, a care facility, in particular a care facility for the elderly, a doctor's practice, a hospital, an alternative practitioner's practice, a specialist department of a clinic, such as a radiology department, or a medical center.

In the context of the present invention, a time unit for treatment by medical-technical personnel is referred to as a time window. A time window has a predefined duration t _n , the duration t _n, for example, a duration t _n of 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, one hour, more than an hour or any other for medical treatment can be of usual duration. In the context of the invention, the duration t _n can be any to the respective Values adapted to the medical technical environment can be set.

A time window sequence is a sequence or concatenation of at least two time windows. Depending on the duration t _{n of} the time windows, the time window sequence can comprise a set n of time windows which define a (working) day, a (working) week, a month or a year. Alternatively, the time window sequence can be continuous so that it is not completed. If the duration t _{n of} the time windows is for example 15 minutes, 4 time windows with the duration t _n = 15 minutes result in a time window sequence with a total duration of one hour, 16 time windows correspond to a time window sequence with a total duration of 4 hours, 32 time windows correspond to a time window sequence of 8 hours and so on. The time window sequence can also include empty time windows, for example in order to allow the personnel in the medical-technical environment to take a break or to create a buffer for emergencies.

In the context of the present invention, the term “user” denotes a person who uses the medical-technical environment, using active or passive means in this context. In other words, both patients who are treated in the medical-technical environment and members of the medical staff who treat patients in the medical-technical environment are referred to as users.

For example, a user can register for an appointment in the medical technology environment by sending an emergency signal. However, not all patients in a medical technology environment may want to use or are able to use a user terminal. In such cases, the personnel in the medical-technical environment is able, as the user, to send an emergency signal themselves in order to plan an emergency in the time window sequence.

In the context of the present invention, reference is made to specific users, identified by the designation “first user”, “second user” etc., who always mean a special user, that is to say a certain person. Reference is also made to general users who are marked with an indefinite article, “a user”. The description for general users also preferably applies to the specific users.

In the context of the present invention, an environmental terminal denotes a data processing system, in particular a one-chip system (system-on-a-chip, SoC), a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a notebook, a virtual machine, which is for example on a PC or a server is operated, a container virtualization or another device suitable for digital data processing.

In normal operation, the time windows of the medical technology environment are assigned according to availability. “Assigning a time window” means in the context of this application that a time window is assigned to a user, in particular for medical treatment to or by the user. In other words, “the first time slot is assigned to the first user” is synonymous with “the first user has an appointment in the first time slot”.

The assignment can take place in that a patient makes an appointment with the medical staff and the medical staff manually enters the appointment in an electronic appointment calendar that is communicatively connected to the surrounding terminal.

The assignment is preferably made by a patient sending a request signal to the surrounding terminal via his user terminal in order to request an appointment, whereupon the surrounding terminal automatically determines an expected treatment time and sends a delay signal to the user terminal with a request with at least one time window as an appointment proposal for the user . The user can confirm the request to the surrounding terminal via the user terminal, whereupon the surrounding terminal assigns him the confirmed time window, or reject it, whereupon the surrounding terminal can send him a further appointment proposal.

The determination of the expected treatment time and / or the sending of the delay signal can be configured based on a request signal in exactly the same way as described below based on an emergency signal. In particular, like the emergency signal, the request signal can include symptom specifications that are used to determine the expected treatment time.

In the context of the present invention, reference is made to specific user terminals, characterized by the designation “first user terminal”, “second user terminal” etc., which always mean a special user terminal. Reference is also made to general user terminals marked with an indefinite article, “a user terminal”. The description for general user terminals also preferably applies to the special user terminals. All user terminals in the context of this invention preferably have a uniform Basic equipment, but do not necessarily have to be of the same type.

A user terminal can comprise a single stand-alone device or a plurality of devices that are mechanically and / or communicatively connected to one another. Such a communication system can include, for example: a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, a pager, smart glasses, a smart watch, a navigation device, an activity tracker, a device for recording medical data, in particular physiological data such as a Heart rate monitor or a blood pressure monitor.

A user terminal is preferably assigned to a single user, this assignment being static, e.g., in that the user has his own user terminal, or dynamic, e.g., in that the user terminal is assigned to the user as soon as he logs on to it. In particular, the first user terminal is assigned to the first user, the second user terminal is assigned to the second user, and so on.

In one embodiment, a user terminal can be designed to record and process vital data of the user assigned to it. For example, the user terminal can be designed to monitor vital data, blood pressure and / or pulse, insulin level, blood oxygen saturation, a step frequency, a number of steps, a snoring level or other medical properties of the user assigned to him. In this embodiment, a user terminal can furthermore be designed to generate an emergency signal independently, that is to say without any action on the part of the user, and to send it to the surrounding terminal if a vital date monitored by the user terminal leaves a predetermined range.

In the context of the present invention, signals which are linked to an emergency and to which one or more time windows are to be assigned are referred to as emergency signals. For the purposes of the present invention, an emergency in turn denotes a situation which requires urgent care for a patient by the medical staff in the medical-technical environment, the urgency of the situation being determined by the circumstances of the situation.

For example, acute and serious injury to a patient requires immediate medical attention. While a cold should also be treated, it will certainly have a lower level of urgency than the acute and serious injury to the patient. In other words, the urgency is a measure of which time window of the time window sequence is assigned to the emergency, with a high urgency meaning an early time window and a low urgency meaning a late time window. It should also be pointed out that an emergency in the sense of this invention is not necessarily an emergency in the sense of an emergency call, in particular via an emergency number.

The emergency signal received by the surrounding terminal is preferably generated and sent before it is received by the second user terminal. The emergency signal can be generated automatically or in response to an input by the second user.

An expected treatment time is determined using the emergency signal. Further framework conditions are preferably used to determine the expected treatment time. For example, in addition to the emergency signal, a predetermined availability of the medical staff, the availability of the medical technology environment, in particular of medical devices such as an MRT, an EKG, a CT, a CTG, a sonography device or an X-ray machine, or the availability of the medical technology premises Environment used to determine the expected treatment time.

The expected treatment time corresponds to a duration which can correspond to the duration of a time window, several time windows or fractions of a time window.

Preferably, the expected treatment time is determined by the surrounding terminal. Alternatively, the environmental terminal can be configured to send a request for determining the expected treatment time to a system for determining the expected treatment time upon receipt of the emergency signal and then to receive a response from the system for determining the expected treatment time including the expected treatment time . In each case, the expected treatment time is determined automatically.

The automatic determination of the expected treatment time advantageously enables the delay resulting from the emergency to be determined objectively, uniformly and reliably with high accuracy for the other users.

If the expected treatment time determined using the emergency signal is available, the surrounding terminal checks whether the expected treatment time and the first time window partially or completely overlap. In special cases, the expected duration of treatment may be longer than that Be the duration of the first time window. If this is the case, the generation and transmission of the delay signal (step c of the proposed method) is carried out for all time windows which at least partially overlap with the expected treatment time.

If the expected treatment time and the first time window completely or at least partially overlap one another, the surrounding terminal generates and sends a delay signal to the first user terminal.

The delay signal includes information for the first user that the first time window assigned to him is delayed by the expected treatment time. In one embodiment, the first user terminal is configured to generate a warning signal to the first user upon receiving the delay signal. The warning signal can be generated in the form of a vibration alarm, a screen message, in particular a text message or a so-called notification or an acoustic message. The first user terminal is preferably set up to deliver a push message to the first user when it receives the delay signal.

Upon receiving the delay signal and in particular upon noticing the warning signal, the user is informed that the time window assigned to him is occupied by the emergency that triggered the emergency signal in step a of the method. In this way, the user can avoid an early arrival and thus a prolonged waiting time in the medical-technical environment and use his time in other sensible ways. In particular, the user is not exposed to an increased risk of infection due to an extended waiting time within the medical technology environment.

Because the first user is aware of the emergency and the resulting delay for his own appointment, he can better adapt to the new situation.

Description of the types of execution

In one embodiment, the environmental terminal comprises an implemented calendar system for recording the time slot sequence of the time slots and their assignment to one or more users. The surrounding terminal particularly preferably sends a reminder signal to the first user before the first time window and before receiving the emergency signal. The reminder signal can be sent to the first user terminal, for example, a week, a few days, a day, a few hours or any other length of time before the first time window. The reminder signal is intended to remind the first user of his appointment, the first time window.

The surrounding terminal can also be designed to refrain from sending the reminder signal if the surrounding terminal has received an emergency signal and the expected treatment time at least partially overlaps the first time window.

The method preferably comprises a communicative connection of the environment terminal to an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning System), preferably to a doctor information system, the medical technology environment via a data interface, preferably via a device data transfer interface (GDT interface ) of the doctor information system.

The communicative connection can be, for example, a wired connection or a wireless connection. A GDT interface is advantageously an interface that is regarded as a standard and can be used by a large number of devices. By using the GDT interface that is usually present in doctor information systems, it is not necessary to develop and implement a special interface for the method.

1. a) Exportieren einer Datei, insbesondere einer standardisierten GDT-Datei oder XML-Datei, mit den Benutzerdaten aus dem Arztinformationssystem in einen Ordner eines Dateisystems des Arztinformationssystem-Clients,
2. b) Überwachen des Ordners und Übertragen der Datei an einen Speicher, insbesondere einen lokalen Cloud-Speicher, z.B. einen nextCloud-Server, des Umgebungsterminals durch einen Sync-Client, insbesondere einen nextCloud-Client, beispielsweise über ein lokales Netzwerk, insbesondere via HTTP und/oder HTTPS,
3. c) Untersuchen von in dem Speicher eingehenden Dateien und Übergeben des Inhalts der Dateien in einem strukturierten Format, insbesondere JSON, mit einem Plugin, beispielsweise einem PHP-Plugin, an das Umgebungsterminal, und/oder
4. d) Anlagen oder Aktualisieren des Benutzers mit den Benutzerdaten in einer Datenbank des Umgebungsterminals durch das Umgebungsterminal.

A transfer of user data, including for example the surname, first name, date of birth and / or patient ID of the user, from a doctor information system to the surrounding terminal can include, for example, the following steps, in particular in the order mentioned:

1. a) Exporting a file, in particular a standardized GDT file or XML file, with the user data from the doctor information system to a folder in a file system of the doctor information system client,
2. b) Monitoring the folder and transferring the file to a storage device, in particular a local cloud storage device, e.g. a nextCloud server, of the surrounding terminal by a sync client, in particular a nextCloud client, for example via a local network, in particular via HTTP and / or HTTPS,
3. c) Examining incoming files in the memory and transferring the content of the files in a structured format, in particular JSON, with a plug-in, for example a PHP plug-in, to the surrounding terminal, and / or
4. d) Creation or updating of the user with the user data in a database of the environmental terminal by the environmental terminal.

If a user terminal with the same patient ID is connected to the surrounding terminal, the corresponding patient can be called up in the user terminal for further processing, for example via a websocket connection that the user terminal has established to the surrounding terminal.

The type of transfer described has several advantages: It is independent of the operating systems used, e.g. Windows, Mac or Linux. It allows the client to be identified based on the sending IP address. It enables increased network security, since the memory of the surrounding terminal does not have to be in the same network segment of the doctor information system, in contrast to direct network drives. Accessibility of the memory via firewall rules is sufficient.

By connecting the environmental terminal to the ERP system, the method can advantageously include synchronizing an appointment calendar of the ERP system with the time window sequence. This ensures that the ERP system functions properly, taking into account the dates assigned in the process. In addition, the acceptance of the method by medical staff in the medical-technical environment is increased, since the staff can continue to use the known appointment calendar of the ERP system.

The synchronization takes place preferably bidirectionally and / or automatically as soon as there is a change in the time window sequence or in the appointment calendar, so that there is always synchronicity. However, it is also conceivable that the synchronization is triggered at predetermined times, after predetermined time intervals and / or manually, for example to limit the amount of data to be transmitted.

By connecting the environmental terminal to the ERP system, determining the expected treatment time can advantageously include retrieving user data for the second user from the ERP system, the expected treatment time being determined on the basis of the user data.

The user data can include, for example, a user-specific duration of previous treatments and / or at least one known clinical picture of the user, optionally weighted with a probability value.

1. a) Senden der Symptomspezifikationen an ein Krankheitsklassifikationssystem und
2. b) als Antwort auf das Senden der Symptomspezifikation Empfangen einer Krankheitsbildauswahl von dem Krankheitsklassifikationssystem, wobei die Krankheitsbildauswahl zumindest ein der Symptomspezifikation entsprechendes Krankheitsbild und einen dem zumindest einen Krankheitsbild entsprechenden Wahrscheinlichkeitswert umfasst,

wobei die erwartete Behandlungszeit der Symptomspezifikation zugeordnet und anhand der Krankheitsbildauswahl und dem Wahrscheinlichkeitswert bestimmt wird.In one embodiment, the emergency signal comprises symptom specifications, wherein determining the expected treatment time comprises the following steps:

1. a) Sending the symptom specifications to a disease classification system and
2. b) in response to the sending of the symptom specification, receiving a clinical picture selection from the disease classification system, wherein the clinical picture selection comprises at least one clinical picture corresponding to the symptom specification and a probability value corresponding to the at least one clinical picture,

wherein the expected treatment time is assigned to the symptom specification and is determined on the basis of the clinical picture selection and the probability value.

The expected treatment time can be determined using a machine learning process. According to embodiments of the invention, the machine learning method is an algorithm specially developed for machine learning, such as a random forest algorithm, an artificial neural network, a support vector machine, a naive Bayes classifier or a feedback similar to feedback a linear or non-linear controller. The machine learning process is carried out by the disease classification system.

The disease classification system can be integrated in the medical technology environment, in particular in the environment terminal, or connected to the medical technology environment via a communication network, in particular the Internet. In the latter case, all data relating to the second user are preferably communicated to the disease classification system in encrypted and / or anonymized form.

The symptom specifications, for example, are used as input values for the disease classification system. Furthermore, user-specific data such as known diagnoses, chronic diseases, age, risk group assignments, past interventions, treated injuries or other parameters of the second user can be used as input values.

The output value of the disease classification system is the clinical picture selection. The clinical picture selection comprises one or more clinical pictures which are each assigned to a probability value. The probability values indicate how likely the disease classification system is for a disease pattern assigned to the respective probability value deems. The more input parameters the disease classification system receives as input values, the more precisely the assignment of the probability value or the probability values can take place.

The accuracy of the disease classification system also depends on which and, in particular, how many data sets are available to the disease classification system as a basis for calculation. In other words, the accuracy of the assignment of a probability depends on the number and the scope of the training data sets for the disease classification system.

The expected treatment time is determined from the clinical picture selection. Clinical pictures, the treatment of which usually takes longer, are assigned a higher average duration of treatment than clinical pictures in which the treatment is usually faster.

For example, the most likely clinical picture is used to determine the expected treatment time. An average treatment time is assigned to each clinical picture. In this case, the expected treatment time corresponds to the average treatment time of the most likely clinical picture. Alternatively, the expected treatment time can be determined from the average treatment times of several clinical pictures from the clinical picture selection. To this end, it must be specified how the average treatment times must be offset against each other or how the average treatment times of the various clinical pictures are weighted.

For example, the mean value from all the average treatment times of the clinical pictures in question is used, the individual average treatment times preferably being weighted with the respective probability value of the associated clinical picture. For example, only the three clinical pictures with the three highest probability values are used to determine the expected treatment time.

The symptom specifications can in particular be information that the second user enters into the second user terminal before the emergency signal is sent. The input of the symptom specifications can be freely formulated or preferably via an input mask with a preselection of the symptoms. The input mask particularly preferably asks the second user about the symptoms and thus about the reason for the emergency signal.

Advantageously, the use of an input mask to query the symptom specification has the effect that the symptom specification is normalized. When assigning the symptom specification to the treatment time, errors due to imprecise symptom specifications, inconsistent terms or spelling errors by the second user within the symptom specification are avoided.

In a further embodiment, the second user terminal suggests a remedy for a determined clinical picture to the second user via the input mask and thus tries to avoid sending the emergency signal.

It often happens that users go to a medical technology environment, although this would not be necessary on the basis of the actual clinical picture, since an ordinary pharmacy could also provide a remedy. Such cases can be intercepted, for example, by using the input mask.

For example, the second user terminal sends the symptom specification to the surrounding terminal. When determining the expected treatment time, the disease classification system determines a minor case, i.e. a case in which the most likely clinical picture or the most probable clinical pictures can be treated by visiting a pharmacy and, for example, taking a corresponding drug or home remedy. Alternatively, program instructions can be stored in a memory of the second user terminal which recognize certain symptom specifications upon input and suggest a visit to a pharmacy to the second user.

By sorting out minor cases, the operational sequence of the medical technology environment can advantageously be protected from avoidable emergency signals and the resulting time window shifts.

In a further embodiment, the second user must identify or authenticate himself to the second user terminal before the emergency signal is sent. The authentication can take place, for example, by means of a personal identification number (PIN), face recognition, the photo of the identity card or another identification document, the electronic identity card, the card number of the health insurance card or information stored on the health insurance card, in particular a QR code.

The authentication of the second user advantageously prevents the second user terminal is misused. Furthermore, a memory of the second user terminal can contain personal data, in particular in the form of stored default settings or stored data of the second user. Authentication protects the second user's personal data from unauthorized access.

In a further embodiment, the emergency signal comprises a first treatment time, the expected treatment time starting at the first treatment time.

Defining the first treatment time improves the check as to whether the expected treatment time overlaps with the first time window. For example, it is checked whether the first treatment time is in the first time window. If so, the first treatment time overlaps the first time window. If the first treatment time is not in the first time window, it is checked whether the first treatment time is behind the first time window. If this is the case, the expected treatment time and the first time window do not overlap. Finally, it is checked whether the first treatment time is before the first time window. If so, it is checked whether the expected treatment time from the first treatment time ends before the beginning of the first time window. If so, the expected treatment time and the first time window do not overlap. Otherwise, the expected treatment time and the first time window at least partially overlap one another.

The expected treatment time can be determined by the disease classification system and / or by the surrounding terminal on the basis of the disease picture selection. The disease classification system and / or the environment terminal can be communicatively connected to a traffic database or comprise a traffic database. The expected treatment time can thereby be determined not only from the selection of the clinical picture, but also using the current traffic data from the traffic database. In this way, for example, special traffic situations, such as traffic jams, traffic-intensive rush hours, local public transport connections or other traffic factors can be taken into account when determining the expected treatment time and in particular when determining the first treatment time.

In a further embodiment, the delay signal comprises a request to the first user for a second time window, the second time window being after the expected treatment time has elapsed.

The second time window is a suggestion for the user for a new appointment. For example, the first time window is provided on a morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For example, an emergency signal results in an expected treatment time of 1.5 hours, and the second user is in the medical technology environment for 10:30 a.m. to receive treatment. If the emergency signal arrives at the surrounding terminal early enough, a delay signal is sent to the first user terminal before 10:00 a.m., i.e. before the start of the first time window. The first user is thus informed of the delay in his appointment. At the same time, the first user can receive a request via the first user terminal for a second time window at which an alternative date is possible. For example, the second time window is from 12:00 p.m., i.e. following the expected treatment time (1.5 hours) starting from the first treatment time (10:30 a.m.) and ending at 1:00 p.m.

The first user can confirm the request and thus assign the second time window as the new first time window. In other words, the appointment of the first user has shifted from the first time window to the second time window and the second time window is treated as the first time window from the point in time of the shift. For example, a further emergency signal can be received, whereby the appointment of the first user would be postponed again. In this case, the new first time window is treated like the previous first time window.

It should be pointed out that within the scope of the present invention, a second time window does not necessarily have to follow a first time window directly or indirectly. In the above example, if the emergency signal was received early enough by the surrounding terminal, the request for the second time window can relate to a time window from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. or from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., whereby the appointment of the first user would be dragged forward. In this case, the second time window is before the first time window.

For example, if the first user is already on the way, the delay signal and the associated request for the second time window can still be useful for the first user. In response to the delay signal, the first user can spend the time in another way, for example in a cafe, in a shopping center, in his business premises or in another suitable environment, instead of having to wait in a waiting room in the medical technology environment. In particular, if the second time window is shortly after the first time window, it may not be worthwhile for the first user to drive home in the meantime.

In one embodiment, the second time window which was assigned to the first user on the basis of an emergency signal is treated as a new emergency signal which at least partially overlaps with a further time window. By chaining the time windows in this way, all time windows following the expected treatment time are shifted until no time windows completely or partially overlap. For example, the medical staff can make up the time later or work beyond the planned time, or the surrounding terminal shifts a time window to a not yet assigned (“empty”) time window. Alternatively, a buffer time between the time windows can be planned for such a case. The buffer time can be, for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or any other suitable duration. Within the scope of the invention, the duration of the buffer time can be set to any values that are adapted to the respective medical-technical environment.

In a further embodiment, the availability of the medical-technical devices and / or rooms of the medical-technical environment is taken into account in the request for the second time window. For example, a special medical device, in particular an X-ray machine, an MRI, an MRI, a CT, a CTG, a sonography device or a special examination room is required for the treatment of the first user, so that not every time window can be considered as a second time window.

1. a) Senden einer Standortanfrage an das erste Benutzerterminal,
2. b) Empfangen eines Standortes des ersten Benutzerterminals als Antwort auf die Standortanfrage,
3. c) Bestimmen einer Reisezeit zu der medizintechnischen Umgebung aus dem Standort des ersten Benutzerterminals,

wobei das zweite Zeitfenster ferner zeitlich hinter dem Ablauf der Reisezeit liegt.In a further embodiment, the surrounding terminal carries out the following steps before sending the delay signal:

1. a) Sending a location request to the first user terminal,
2. b) receiving a location of the first user terminal in response to the location request,
3. c) determining a travel time to the medical technology environment from the location of the first user terminal,

wherein the second time window is also behind the expiry of the travel time.

In an advantageous manner, the current position of the first user can be included through the location query and its inclusion in the query for the second time window. In particular for short-term emergencies, that is, when the surrounding terminal receives an emergency signal so shortly before the first time window that a second time window cannot be proposed to the first user before the expected treatment time, the location request is particularly advantageous. If the travel time for the first user is greater than the expected treatment time, the request relates to a second time window, which is after the travel time has expired at the earliest. If the travel time for the first user is less than the expected treatment time, the request relates to a second time window, which is at the earliest after the expected treatment time has expired. The location request thus improves the request for a second time window for the first user.

1. a) Bestimmen eines kürzesten Weges von dem Standort des ersten Benutzerterminals zu der medizintechnischen Umgebung auf Grundlage der Verkehrsmittelinformation,
2. b) Bestimmen der Reisezeit aus dem kürzesten Weg und der durchschnittlichen Reisegeschwindigkeit.

In a further embodiment, the location query further comprises a means of transport query, means of transport information being received as a response to the means of transport query with the location of the first user terminal, the means of transport information being assigned an average travel speed, the determination of the travel time comprising the following steps:

1. a) determining a shortest route from the location of the first user terminal to the medical-technical environment on the basis of the transport information,
2. b) Determining the travel time from the shortest route and the average travel speed.

For this embodiment, the first user has to provide the first user terminal with information about his preferred means of transport. For example, the first user has stored the means of transport information in a memory of the first user terminal as a standard setting. Alternatively, the first user enters the means of transport information into the first user terminal via an input mask, or the first user selects the means of transport from a list which the first user terminal makes available to him via an input mask.

By using the means of transport information to determine the travel time, the travel time can be determined more precisely.

In a further embodiment, the assignment of the travel speed to the means of transport information is dependent on the current time of day. The means of transport information can also include the current parking situation or the current volume of traffic in the area of the medical technology environment. The precision of the determination of the travel time can be further improved through the use of up-to-date transport information.

In a further embodiment, an urgency is assigned to the first time window and an urgency, in particular assigned to the clinical picture, is also assigned from the emergency signal. The delay signal is only then sent to the first user terminal when the urgency of the clinical picture from the emergency signal is greater than the urgency assigned to the first time window.

It is possible that an appointment of a first user has a higher urgency than an emergency whose emergency signal is received by the surrounding terminal. In this case, the first time window should remain assigned to the first user and no delay signal should be sent to the first user terminal. In a further embodiment, the expected treatment time is placed at the beginning of the next free time window or at the beginning of a time window that is assigned to a further user with a lower urgency.

By comparing the urgency of the first time window with the urgency of the emergency signal, it is avoided that the emergency is unjustifiably preferred to the assignment of the first time window to the first user, and that the first user has to accept unnecessarily long waiting times or avoidable inconveniences because he has received a possibly short-term delay signal.

In a further embodiment, compatibility information is assigned to the first time window. The compatibility information includes, for example, information about the physical condition of the first user, in particular whether the first user is pregnant or whether the first user has other properties that expose him to danger through contact with a second user. Furthermore, the surrounding terminal checks whether the clinical picture or the clinical picture selection leads to a conflict with the compatibility information of the first user. If this is the case, a request is generated for a second time window with an interval from the expected treatment time that is appropriate for the situation.

For example, pregnant women should be protected from people with certain diseases, particularly contagious diseases. If a pregnant woman has an appointment in the first time window and an emergency signal, for example a person suffering from measles, is received by the surrounding terminal, the medical staff will need time to prepare the medical environment to protect the pregnant woman and the unborn child. This required preparation time can be taken into account by checking the compatibility information.

In reality it also happens that appointments are canceled. In one embodiment, a rejection of an assignment of a first user to a first time window is treated as an emergency signal with an expected treatment time of 0. In this case, a time window is effectively free. In this embodiment, the surrounding terminal sends a request for a second time slot to the user of the next allocated time slot. The user of the next assigned time slot has the option of moving his appointment forward and moving one or more time slots forward. This procedure can be repeated until no more users want to bring their appointment forward, a working day for the medical technology environment comes to an end or the time window that has become free is used as a buffer for a further emergency.

The method preferably includes a localization of a user terminal within the medical technology environment with a device for determining position that is communicatively connected to the environment terminal, in particular integrated into the environment terminal. The device for determining position comprises, for example, at least one transceiver for a local wireless network, for example a WLAN network and / or a Bluetooth network, and / or a transceiver for near-field communication.

The localization includes, for example, receiving, measuring a signal strength and / or triangulating a wireless network signal and / or near-field communication signal transmitted by the user terminal.

By locating the user terminal, a presence of the user assigned to the user terminal can be detected in the medical technology environment, so that, for example, when assigning the time windows, it is possible to take into account which users are already present in the medical technology environment. In addition, the environment terminal can inform the staff of the medical technology environment about the users present and in particular about their exact location within the medical technology environment, for example in a specific waiting room or a specific treatment room.

The localization of the user terminal also allows the user assigned to the user terminal to automatically log on to an ERP system communicatively connected to the surrounding terminal, in particular a doctor information system, of the medical technology environment.

The method preferably comprises determining a shortest route from the location of the user terminal to one assigned to the user of the user terminal Treatment location and a transmission of guidance information to the user terminal in order to guide the user to the treatment location.

The guidance information can in particular include a description of the route and / or route guidance. With the help of the guidance information, the user can get to his treatment site quickly and reliably, in particular in an extensive medical-technical environment, for example in a hospital, so that delays in the treatment process are avoided.

• • Mittel zum Empfangen eines Notfallsignals,
• • Mittel zum Bestimmen einer erwartete Behandlungszeit und
• • Mittel zum Senden eines Verzögerungssignals, wobei das erste Benutzerterminal umfasst:
• • Mittel zum Empfangen eines Verzögerungssignals, wobei das zweite Benutzerterminal umfasst:
• • Mittel zum Senden eines Notfallsignals, wobei das Umgebungsterminal, das erste Benutzerterminal und das zweite Benutzerterminal kommunikativ über eine Drahtloskommunikationsschnittstelle verbunden sind,

wobei das Umgebungsterminal mit einem ERP-System der medizintechnischen Umgebung über eine Datenschnittstelle verbunden ist, und wobei das System dazu konfiguriert ist, das voran beschriebene Verfahren in zumindest einer Ausführungsform auszuführen.In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system for managing a medical technology environment, the system comprising an environmental terminal, a first user terminal assigned to a first user and a second user terminal assigned to a second user, the environmental terminal comprising:

• • means for receiving an emergency signal,
• • Means for determining an expected treatment time and
• • means for sending a delay signal, the first user terminal comprising:
• • means for receiving a delay signal, the second user terminal comprising:
• • Means for sending an emergency signal, wherein the environmental terminal, the first user terminal and the second user terminal are communicatively connected via a wireless communication interface,

wherein the environmental terminal is connected to an ERP system of the medical technology environment via a data interface, and wherein the system is configured to carry out the method described above in at least one embodiment.

In a further embodiment, the system further comprises a symptom database, the symptom database being communicatively connected to the surrounding terminal, the symptom database comprising a memory in which an association of symptom information with clinical pictures is stored.

Advantageously, communication between the environment terminal and the system's own symptom database does not take place via a global network. This can reduce security and protection against data theft, in particular against so-called man-in-the-middle attacks.

In a further embodiment, the system further comprises a device for determining the position of the user terminals. The device is designed in particular to derive the position of the first user from the position of the first user terminal, which the device determines for position determination preferably via a wireless communication interface. The communication via the wireless communication interface can include, for example, wireless communication via radio frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC), WLAN, Bluetooth or radio. The device for determining position can preferably be designed as a WLAN router.

The device for determining position can advantageously determine whether the first user is already in the medical technology environment or its premises. If this is the case, if the surrounding terminal receives an emergency signal and would send a delay signal to the first user, the sending of the delay signal can be suspended and / or aborted or a request for a second time window which is before the first time window can be sent.

The device for determining the position can preferably determine the position of the first user with a precision so that the first user can be positioned in a spatially precise manner.

Such a precision advantageously enables the first user to be visited directly by the medical staff without first having to search within the medical-technical environment.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a computer program product with which the method described above is carried out in one embodiment on a system described above in one embodiment.

Figure list

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung der medizintechnischen Umgebung und den damit verbundenen Komponenten zur Ausführung einer Ausführungsform des vorgeschlagenen Verfahrens;
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Zeitfensterfolge und die Zuordnung von Zeitfenstern bei Empfangen eines Notrufsignals;
• 3 zeigt eine weitere schematische Darstellung einer Zeitfensterfolge und die Zuordnung von Zeitfenstern bei Empfangen eines Notrufsignals;
• 4 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung der Kommunikation zwischen dem Umgebungsterminal, dem ersten Benutzerterminal und dem zweiten Benutzerterminal;
• 5 zeigt eine weitere schematische Darstellung der Kommunikation zwischen dem Umgebungsterminal, dem ersten Benutzerterminal und dem zweiten Benutzerterminal.

Further advantages, aims and properties of the invention are explained with reference to the following description and attached drawings, in which objects according to the invention are shown by way of example. Features which in the figures correspond at least essentially with regard to their function can be identified with the same reference numerals, although these features do not have to be numbered and explained in all figures.

• 1 shows a schematic representation of the medical technology environment and the associated components for carrying out an embodiment of the proposed method;
• 2 shows a schematic representation of a time window sequence and the allocation of time windows when an emergency call signal is received;
• 3 shows a further schematic representation of a time window sequence and the assignment of time windows when an emergency call signal is received;
• 4th shows a schematic representation of the communication between the environment terminal, the first user terminal and the second user terminal;
• 5 shows a further schematic representation of the communication between the environment terminal, the first user terminal and the second user terminal.

Fig. 1

1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the medical technology environment 10 and their connections with other components. The medical technology environment 10 is with a surrounding terminal 12th tied together. The surrounding terminal 12th is for example a computer and has the usual components of a computer, in particular an output interface, in particular a screen, and an input interface, in particular a keyboard, a mouse and / or a touch screen.

The surrounding terminal 12th is over a wireless communication link 14th with a first user terminal 20th and a second user terminal 22nd tied together. The wireless communication link 14th can preferably be a radio link. The first user terminal 20th and the second user terminal 22nd are preferably designed as smartphones. The wireless communication link 14th is in 1 shown as a direct link. In embodiments, the wireless communication link may 14th also be an indirect connection, for example via satellites and / or transmission masts. A wireless communication link is particularly preferred 14th designed via an established cellular network.

To the first user terminal 20th and / or the second user terminal 22nd in the medical technology environment 10 to be detected is the surrounding terminal 12th with a device for positioning 24 tied together. The device for determining position 24 monitors the medical technology environment 10 , or their premises. Detects the device for position determination 24 the first user terminal 20th or the second user terminal 22nd in the medical technology environment 10 , this is how the device communicates to determine its position 24 with the surrounding terminal 12th so that the medical staff is notified of the presence of a first or second user.

The surrounding terminal 12th is also having a network 30th tied together. The network 30th can preferably be the internet. Alternatively, the network 30th be an intranet, for example a clinic or a hospital.

Also with the network 30th connected is a disease classification system 32 . Using the disease classification system 32 the expected treatment time is determined. The disease classification system 32 can for example be implemented on a server, a server structure or a virtual server. The disease classification system 32 is trained to use the network 30th with the surrounding terminal 12th to communicate. The communication between the disease classification system 32 and the surrounding terminal 12th is in particular a bidirectional communication and preferably encrypted. In an alternative embodiment that is not shown, the surrounding terminal communicates 12th with the disease classification system 32 directly and not over the network 30th , in particular, the disease classification system 32 into the surrounding terminal 12th be integrated.

With the network 30th is also a symptom database 34 tied together. The symptom database 34 is trained to use the disease classification system 32 via a direct connection or via the network 30th to communicate. In the illustrated embodiment, the symptom database is 34 and the disease classification system 32 directly connected to each other. In an alternative embodiment, the symptom database is 34 into the disease classification system 32 integrated.

The symptom database 34 to be trained with the surrounding terminal 12th , especially over the network 30th , to communicate. For example, the medical staff of the medical technology environment 10 into the symptom database 34 Feed in information on symptoms and their treatment, especially the actual duration of treatment. The information fed in can advantageously be used in a future determination of the expected treatment time by the disease classification system 32 be used.

The travel time of the first user or the second user to the medical technology environment 10 the surrounding terminal can predict or estimate 12th , especially over the network 30th , with a traffic database 36 be communicatively connected. the Traffic database 36 can have a memory with information stored there on the current or expected traffic situation in the vicinity of the medical technology environment 10 , in particular on the volume of traffic or the parking situation. The information on the traffic situation can preferably be obtained from the surrounding terminal 12th can be accessed to the first user through the first user terminal 20th to send a request for a new appointment if the appointment booked by the first user is delayed due to an emergency.

Fig. 2

2 shows a schematic representation of a time window sequence 40 encompassing several time windows 42 . The course of time t is shown as a timeline. The time windows 42 are in the in 2 embodiment shown lined up directly and without pauses. The time window sequence 40 For example, divides a working day into several time slots 42 one where medical staff can treat patients.

One of the time slots 42 is a first-time user 44 assigned. The first user 44 is, for example, a patient who is to be treated in the medical technology environment. For example, he has made an appointment with the medical technology staff for the treatment. That to the first user 44 assigned time windows 42 is the first time window 46 . The assignment of the first time window 46 to the first user 44 is in 2 represented by the dashed line.

The medical technology environment or the surrounding terminal receives an emergency signal 48 from a second user 50 , which reports the emergency via a second user terminal assigned to it, the surrounding terminal can give the emergency signal an expected treatment time 52 assign. In 2 is the expected treatment time as a hatched area in the time window sequence 40 shown.

In the example shown, the expected treatment time overlaps 52 with the first time window 46 . The first user 44 then receives a delay signal via his first user terminal, which informs him that the assignment of the first time window 46 to the first user 44 was repealed. With the delay signal, the first user receives 44 but also a request for a second time slot 54 that adapts to the expected treatment time 52 connects. The first user 44 can agree to this and the second time window 54 after the expected treatment time 52 perceive it as a new appointment.

Fig. 3

In 3 is similar to 2 a sequence of time slots 40 shown, the several consecutive time windows 42 includes. The course of time t is shown as a timeline. One of the time slots 42 is a first-time user 44 as the first time window 46 assigned. An emergency signal 48 that a second user 50 sends to the surrounding terminal is an expected handling time 52 (hatched area) assigned to the first time window 46 completely overlaid.

In the in 3 illustrated embodiment is the first user 44 A delay signal is also sent via a first user terminal. With the delay signal, the first user receives 44 a request for a second time slot 54 . The second time window 54 however, does not immediately follow the expected treatment time 52 at. In contrast to the in 2 situation arises between the end of the expected treatment time 52 and the second time window 54 a time gap that is not assigned to any user. It is possible that the time slot 42 that with the end of the expected treatment time 52 overlapped, another user was assigned who, like the first user, received a delay signal. The procedure with the further user is not to be discussed further here, however, since it is carried out analogously to the procedure with the first user, with the further user having a different time window 42 is offered for an alternative date.

The time gap between the end of the expected treatment time 52 and the beginning of the second time window 54 can be used by the medical staff, for example, as a buffer if the expected treatment time was assumed to be too short. If, on the other hand, the expected treatment time was assumed to be too long, the first user can receive a further request, so that the second time window 54 around a time window 42 can be pulled forward. Alternatively, the time gap can be used by the medical staff as a break or for other tasks.

Fig. 4

4th shows schematically an exemplary communication between a surrounding terminal 12th , a first user terminal 20th and a second user terminal 22nd . The course of time t is shown as a timeline.

In a first step, a user of the first user terminal agrees 20th an appointment for treatment in the medical technology environment. To do this, the first user sends a first time slot request 53 to the surrounding terminal 12th . The surrounding terminal 12th assigns the first user to the first timeslot request 53 a first time window 46 to. Furthermore, the surrounding terminal 12th be designed to give the first user the assignment of the first time window to the first user by sending an assignment confirmation (not shown) to the first user terminal 20th to confirm.

An indefinite time later, the surrounding terminal receives 12th from the second user terminal 22nd an emergency signal 48 . The emergency signal 48 becomes more urgent than assigning the first time window 46 assigned to the first user and the expected treatment time determined for the treatment of the emergency 52 overlaps with the first time window 46 . The first time window 46 and the expected treatment time 52 are in the in 4th The example shown is identical and marked by a hatched area.

Next, the surrounding terminal sends 12th a delay signal 56 to the first user terminal 20th . With the delay signal 56 will also request a second time slot 54 (dashed hatched area) to the first user terminal 20th sent. The first user can use his first user terminal 20th the request for the second time slot 54 respond. To do this, the first user sends a response 58 from the first user terminal 20th to the surrounding terminal 12th . With the answer 58 gives the second user the second time window 54 assigned. To suggest this is the assignment 60 shown with a dashed line.

Before the second time window 54 sends the surrounding terminal 12th a reminder signal 62 to the first user terminal 44 to the first user at his upcoming appointment in the second time window 54 to remember.

Fig. 5

5 shows analogous to 4th , a schematic representation of an exemplary communication between the surrounding terminal 12th , the first user terminal 20th and the second user terminal 22nd .

In contrast to 4th is in the in 5 example shown before the expected treatment time 52 a time window is free, which the first user can receive by sending the delay signal 56 and a request for a second time slot 54 to the first user terminal 20th is offered. The first user then sends a response 58 from its first user terminal 20th to the surrounding terminal 12th and confirms the assignment 60 to the second time window 54 .

Because the second time window 54 not far in time from the sending of the delay signal 56 the first user is immediately on the way to the medical technology environment. The surrounding terminal 12th is configured to set the time interval between receipt of the response 58 and the second time window 54 to recognize, and sends no reminder signal to the first user terminal due to the short period of time 20th .

List of reference symbols

10

medical technology environment

12th

Surrounding terminal

14th

Wireless communication link

20th

first user terminal

22nd

second user terminal

24

Positioning device

30th

network

32

Disease classification system

34

Symptom database

36

Traffic database

40

Time window sequence

42

Time window

44

first user

46

first time window

48

Emergency signal

50

second user

52

expected treatment time

53

Time slot request

54

second time window

56

Delay signal

58

answer

60

Assignment

62

Reminder signal

Claims (15)

Computer-implemented method for managing a medical-technical environment (10), the use of the medical-technical environment (10) taking place in a time window sequence (40) of joined time windows (42), with at least one first Time window (46) of the time window sequence (40) is assigned to a first user (44), the method being carried out by a surrounding terminal (12) and using a first user terminal (20) assigned to the first user (44) and a second user (50 ) associated second user terminal (22), the method comprising the following steps: a) receiving an emergency signal (48) from the second user terminal (22), b) determining an expected treatment time (52) using the emergency signal (48) and c) generating and sending a delay signal (56) to the first user terminal (20) if the expected treatment time (52) at least partially overlaps the first time window (46). Procedure according to Claim 1 wherein the emergency signal comprises symptom specifications, wherein determining the expected treatment time (52) comprises the steps of: a) sending the symptom specifications to a disease classification system (32) and b) in response to the sending of the symptom specification receiving a clinical picture selection from the disease classification system (32) , wherein the clinical picture selection comprises at least one clinical picture corresponding to the symptom specification and a probability value corresponding to the at least one clinical picture, the expected treatment time (52) being assigned to the symptom specification and being determined on the basis of the clinical picture selection and the probability value. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising communicatively connecting the environmental terminal (12) to an ERP system, preferably to a doctor information system, the medical technology environment (10) via a data interface, preferably via a device data transfer interface of the doctor information system. Procedure according to Claim 3 comprising synchronizing an appointment calendar of the ERP system with the time slot sequence (40). Procedure according to Claim 3 or 4th wherein the determination of the expected treatment time (52) comprises a retrieval of user data of the second user (50) from the ERP system, the expected treatment time (52) being determined on the basis of the user data. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the emergency signal (48) comprises a first treatment time and the expected treatment time (52) begins at the first treatment time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the delay signal (56) comprises a request to the first user (44) for a second time window (54), the second time window (54) preferably being after the expected treatment time (52) has expired. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental terminal (12) carries out the following steps before sending the delay signal (56): a) sending a location request to the first user terminal (20), b) receiving a location of the first user terminal (20) in response to the location request, c) Determining a travel time to the medical-technical environment (10) from the location of the first user terminal (20), the second time window (54) also being behind the expiry of the travel time. Procedure according to Claim 8 wherein the location query further comprises a means of transport query, means of transport information being received as a response to the means of transport query with the location of the first user terminal, the means of transport information being assigned an average travel speed, wherein determining the travel time comprises the following steps: a) determining a shortest route from the location of the first user terminal (20) to the medical-technical environment (10) on the basis of the means of transport information, b) determining the travel time from the shortest route and the average travel speed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising localizing a user terminal (20, 22) within the medical-technical environment (10) with a device for determining position (24). Procedure according to Claim 10 , comprising the following steps: a) determining a shortest route from the location of the user terminal (20, 22) to a treatment location assigned to the user (44, 50) of the user terminal (20, 22) and b) transmitting guidance information to the user terminal (20 , 22) to guide the user (44, 50) to the treatment site. A system for managing a medical-technical environment (10), the system having an environment terminal (12), a first user terminal (20) assigned to a first user (44) and a a second user terminal (22) assigned to a second user (50), the surrounding terminal (12) comprising: • means for receiving an emergency signal (48), • means for determining an expected treatment time (52) and • means for sending a delay signal ( 56), the first user terminal (20) comprising: • means for receiving a delay signal (56), the second user terminal (22) comprising: • means for sending an emergency signal (48), the environmental terminal (12), the first The user terminal (20) and the second user terminal (22) are communicatively connected via a wireless communication interface, the environment terminal (12) being connected to an ERP system of the medical technology environment (10) via a data interface, and the system being configured to do the Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 to execute. System according to Claim 12 , wherein the environment terminal (12) is connected to a doctor information system of the medical technology environment (10) via a device data transfer interface of the doctor information system. System according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein the system further comprises a device communicatively connected to the environmental terminal (12) for determining the position (24) of the user terminals (20, 22) within the medical-technical environment (10). Computer program product for carrying out the method according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 on a system according to one of the Claims 12 until 14th .

Images