JP2005052343A - Automatic inquiry apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow medical workers to obtain detailed patient information of a same patient in different times and compare/examine a plurality of patient information of a same inquiry item in an automatic history taking apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic inquiry apparatus 1 is provided with an HDD 6a storing inquiry items, a display 2, a video camera 3a, a microphone 3d, an HDD 6b storing the patient information, a communication device 8 transmitting the patient information to a medical worker's terminal 30, and a control device 7 controlling the respective means. This apparatus obtain the patient information including the patient's image when answering to the inquiry items for every automatic inquiry, records and accumulates them in the HDD 6b, displays the accumulated patient information on the medical worker's terminal 30, and allows him/her to compare/examine the plurality of patient information in the different times relative to the same inquiry item. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic inquiry apparatus that automatically acquires predetermined inquiry items from a patient and transmits the acquired patient information to a medical staff's terminal.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an automatic interrogation apparatus has been frequently used that automatically advances an inquiry by responding to a question displayed on a screen by a predetermined means with respect to basic information of a patient required for medical treatment. Such an automatic inquiry device can automatically reflect patient information obtained through an inquiry on an electronic medical record or display it on a medical staff terminal installed in an examination room or the like.

  This makes it possible to obtain information on interviews that have been heard directly by nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals using an automatic device while waiting for the patient, and check the results at the time of medical examination. This saves time and effort for the patient and shortens the waiting time for the patient.

  However, the question format in such an automatic interrogation device is such that a predetermined interrogation item, which is generally in a paper sheet questionnaire, is displayed on the display, such as “Yes”, “No”, etc. on the screen. Since it is a text question answer format that responds by pressing the selection button, the contents to be questioned are naturally limited. Therefore, for example, there is a problem that a symptom other than a symptom prepared in a limited manner cannot be heard, but an answer to an inquiry matter not related to the patient is required.

  In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-198446 is provided with a vital sign input means and an inquiry input step. An automatic inquiry is conducted interactively through an interrogator image on the screen, and the question is based on the basic information of the input patient. An automatic interrogation device that advances an inquiry while deciding the contents is disclosed, and JP 2003-150707 A automatically compares the contents of the inquiry by comparing the contents of the inquiry with the past treatment contents (medication information, treatment information, etc.) An automatic interrogation device that deepens the process is described. These automatic interrogation devices make it easier for patients to input interview items, and they only have to answer questions that are necessary for the patient, which is necessary for each patient without wasting time and effort in the interview. Information can be acquired in detail and easily.

  By the way, for example, in the case of an inquiry to check whether a patient is taking a prescribed medicine as directed by a doctor or an inquiry about the degree of symptoms, it is difficult for the patient to answer honestly or accurately. Sometimes it does n’t. On the other hand, experienced medical personnel, when interviewed the same patient multiple times, have a predetermined attitude in answering the interview, such as the patient's facial color and facial expression, voice volume and tone changes, etc. By finding trends and detecting patient facial expressions and subtle changes in interviews, it is often the case that further interviews are conducted from different angles to extract accurate patient information and to accurately grasp the state of the pathology. It has been broken.

  However, in order for healthcare professionals to recognize subtle facial expressions and changes of patients, it is necessary to carefully observe and memorize each patient every time, and many patients within a limited time. It is often difficult to see a doctor, and it is often not easy for a health care worker with little experience to do this.

  On the other hand, in order to reduce the burden on the health care worker, when the question is asked with the automatic questioning apparatus as described above, the state of each past questioning cannot be compared with images, so It is difficult to grasp the tendency and change of the patient, and it is difficult to obtain accurate patient information and to detect a change in the medical condition.

In response to such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-79602 describes a psychosomatic diagnosis system that automatically and objectively diagnoses the state of mind and body of a patient based on an answer made by the utterance of a patient who has received an inquiry. Yes. This system is an excellent system that not only requires special knowledge and experience on the part of the medical staff, but also can automatically diagnose the state of mind and body without labor. However, such a system is based solely on the patient's utterance, and cannot take into account the individuality of each patient or use changes in the patient's facial expression, facial color, etc. for each interview as judgment materials. Therefore, it is not possible to sufficiently acquire patient information required for medical treatment, and it is also impossible to detect a minute change occurring in the patient as compared with the situation at the time of past inquiry.
JP-A-9-198446 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-150707 JP 2003-79602 A

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and for an automatic interrogation device, medical personnel can acquire detailed patient information at different times for the same patient, and the same interrogation items It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to compare and examine them so that accurate patient information necessary for medical care can be acquired and effective medical care can be performed within a limited time.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a main storage means for storing an inquiry item, an inquiry output means for outputting an inquiry content having a display screen, and an inquiry input means for obtaining predetermined patient information from a patient having a video camera and a microphone. As an automatic inquiry device comprising: a patient information storage means for storing patient information; a communication means for transmitting the patient information to a medical staff terminal; and a control means for controlling these means. Patient information including patient images at the time of answering is obtained for each automatic inquiry, and this is recorded and stored in the patient information storage means for each patient, and the medical staff of the medical institution accumulates for the same patient By displaying the information on a medical staff terminal connected by a predetermined line, it was possible to compare and examine multiple patient information at different times for the same question.

  As a result, the patient can automatically acquire predetermined patient information by answering the inquiry items stored in the main storage device in advance, and the patient's facial expression and facial color as well as the tone and loudness of each inquiry. Information that can infer the psychological state of the patient and the like can be acquired. Therefore, it is easy for healthcare professionals to recognize slight changes in pathological conditions for each automated interview of the same patient, and to easily recognize changes in patient information by directly comparing the latest with the past for the same item. Become. In particular, by comparing the situation at the time of the patient's response to the same questioning item multiple times, it becomes easier to detect false or inaccurate answers that could not be detected by conventional automatic questioning equipment, and actual diagnosis At times, medical personnel can make inquiries again from different angles, making it easier to obtain accurate patient information.

  Further, in the above-mentioned automatic inquiry device, it is possible for a medical worker to display a plurality of accumulated patient information at different times simultaneously on a screen of a medical worker terminal via a communication means and a predetermined communication line. If multiple patient information including patient images at the time of an interview for the same patient are displayed side-by-side, and the same interview items can be compared and examined, patient information can be easily compared and examined. By directly comparing patient images in the same item for each automatic inquiry, it is possible to recognize slight changes in facial expressions and easily grasp the psychological state, and to recognize slight changes in appearance, so that the pathophysiology and physical condition It is also possible to grasp changes in

  Further, in the above-described automatic inquiry apparatus, the patient is identified by inserting the examination ticket into the examination ticket automatic reading means so that the examination ticket automatic reading means is provided and installed in the reception or waiting room of the medical institution. If an automatic interview is started, the necessary waiting time of the patient is used to conduct the necessary interviews, and if this is examined by the medical staff before the examination, it can be used as a valuable judgment material during the examination. In addition to being able to reduce the labor of the medical staff, this leads to shortening of the medical treatment time and patient waiting time.

  Furthermore, the above-mentioned automatic inquiry device is installed at the patient's home, and the patient connects to the medical worker terminal of the medical institution via a predetermined line such as the Internet line by the communication means. By enabling healthcare professionals to obtain multiple patient information at different times for the patient without visiting the institution, the health professional can provide accurate patient information even when the actual frequency of medical examinations is low. It can be acquired and the patient's pathological changes can be recognized in detail.

  In addition, in the above-described automatic inquiry apparatus, at least one type of vital sign measurement means is attached, and measurement is performed using each of the automatic inquiry, and the measurement result is also included in the above-described patient information. Thus, a medical worker can compare and examine a plurality of pieces of patient information at different times with respect to the same inquiry item in the same patient while taking into account the measurement results for each automatic inquiry. Accordingly, for example, vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, or body temperature can be comprehensively considered with the above-described patient information, so that a medical worker can make a more accurate determination.

  According to the present invention, a medical staff can acquire detailed patient information at different times for the same patient and display the detailed patient information so that the same inquiry item can be compared and examined more deeply. Therefore, it becomes easier for health care workers to recognize minute psychological and pathological changes of patients, and it is possible to easily obtain accurate patient information required for medical treatment, enabling more effective medical treatment within a limited time. Can be done.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an automatic inquiry apparatus 1 which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof. Referring to FIG. 1, an automatic inquiry device 1 according to the present embodiment is of a type installed in a reception or waiting room of a medical institution, and is provided with a card reader 5 for reading a medical card (medical ticket). Device of the type.

  The automatic inquiry apparatus 1 has a display 2 on the front, and a video camera 3a, a microphone 3d, a speaker 4, and a thermography camera 3b are arranged around the display 2. An insertion port for the card reader 5 and an automatic sphygmomanometer 3c are arranged on a base 11 provided below the display 2.

  The display 2 sequentially displays instructions for the patient such as inquiry items, and also serves as a touch panel type input device so that patient information can be input by touching the patient with a finger. The speaker 4 is configured to generate an automatic voice as necessary for instructions / interview contents displayed on the display 2 and recognize the patient's hearing through the patient's auditory sense.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the display 2 has an upper half as an inquiry display unit and a lower half as an input device unit having a touch panel 20 so that a patient can input predetermined items only by touching with a finger. The touch panel 20 can be easily operated by being divided into a number / symbol input unit 21 and an option input unit 22.

  The microphone 3d is configured to listen to the patient and convert it into a digital signal and record it in the storage means when the verbal answer is given to the patient by an instruction from the automatic inquiry device 1, or to transmit it to the control means described later. It constitutes an inquiry input means together with the display 2. In addition, it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions a predetermined keyboard in the base 11 etc. instead of the input device part of the touch panel 20 in the display 2. FIG.

  A thermography camera 3b arranged near the periphery of the display 2 senses and measures infrared rays emitted from the patient's face to measure the patient's body temperature and heat distribution. The automatic sphygmomanometer 3c disposed on the upper surface of the base 11 can automatically measure blood pressure and heart rate by simply inserting the arm of the patient, and constitutes a vital sign measuring means together with the thermographic camera 3b. To do.

  Referring to the block diagram of the automatic inquiry device 1 in FIG. 2, the display 2, microphone 3 d, video camera 3 a, thermography camera 3 b, automatic sphygmomanometer 3 c, speaker 4, and card reader 5 are all connected to the control device 7. Connected, the control device 7 constitutes control means for controlling these means. Further, the control device 7 is connected to an HDD 6a storing an inquiry program as main storage means and an HDD 6b storing patient information as patient information storage means.

  In addition, a communication device 8 as a communication means is connected to the control device 7, and a medical worker terminal 30 or the like is connected to the communication device 8 via a communication line 50. The main storage means and the patient information storage means described above may be divided and stored in a single HDD, or may be external storage means. Further, the main storage means can be replaced by a recording medium in which an inquiry program or the like is recorded loaded in a predetermined reading device.

  An example of operation when the above-described automatic inquiry apparatus 1 is installed in a waiting room of a hospital will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that the patient has received a magnetic reading type medical card in which his / her identification information is recorded in advance, and the patient's identification information is read by inserting the card into the card reader 5. . And the identification information is memorize | stored in the patient information memory | storage means 6b, An automatic inquiry is started so that this identification information and patient information can be memorize | stored in correlation. In addition, in addition to the characters on the screen of the display 2, the inquiry is performed using both automatic voices by the speaker 4.

  First, the automatic inquiry device 1 asks whether it is a first visit or revisit (A1), and the patient inputs using the touch panel 20, and if it is the first visit, proceed to A2 to A8. Proceed to B1 to B8. In the case of the first visit, a question for obtaining basic patient information is output (A2). The basic information includes information such as height, weight, age, drinking / smoking habits, and the like, which can be appropriately set by the medical department.

  After the patient inputs basic information using the touch panel 20 (A3), an inquiry about symptoms is performed (A4). For the symptom interview, for example, as shown in Fig. 4, for the question "What did you do?", Select from the options prepared on the screen such as "I have a fever" or "My head hurts" and touch this (A5). And, for example, when responding “has fever”, the body temperature is automatically measured and memorized by the thermographic camera 3b attached to the automatic inquiry device 1, and when it is answered “head hurts”, the body temperature is In addition to the measurement, an instruction “Measure blood pressure / pulse rate” is output, the blood pressure and pulse rate are measured by the automatic sphygmomanometer 3c, and the result is stored in the patient information storage device 6b.

  Then, the patient information acquired up to this stage is compared with the database stored in the main storage device 6a by the control device 7 to select an inquiry item corresponding to the symptom (A6) and conduct a more detailed inquiry (A7). ). For example, "Please explain in terms of how painful you are", ask for an answer, and select and output a slightly more detailed question, such as "Does my chest hurt when I climb the stairs?" ( A7) The image and sound of the patient answering in words are obtained by the video camera 3a and the microphone 3d (A8), recorded in the patient information recording means 6b, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in the case of reexamination, since basic patient information is already stored, the control device 7 calls it and selects an inquiry item corresponding to the patient (B1). In this case, since the change in the pathological condition is important, for example, an inquiry about patient-specific contents such as “Did the cough stop?” Or “Is the chest pain reduced?” (B2). Then, the patient inputs using the touch panel 20 (B3), but measures vital signs using a thermographic camera 3b or a sphygmomanometer 3c as vital sign measuring means as necessary, as described above, and stores patient information. Record in 6b.

  In addition, an inquiry item corresponding to the symptom is selected from the acquired patient information (B4), and a more detailed inquiry is performed (B5). And about this inquiry matter, a patient is made to answer verbally, and the image and sound are recorded similarly (B6). In addition, if the medicine was prescribed in the previous medical care, it is necessary to check whether the patient was taking it as instructed by the doctor, so a question is asked about the taking situation (B7). This is also answered verbally in addition to the screen input (B8), and this is recorded and the automatic inquiry is terminated.

  The patient information recorded in detail by the procedure as described above can be transmitted to the medical staff terminal 30 in the examination room via the line 50 by the transmission device 8, and the medical staff such as a doctor can explain the contents. Can be used for medical treatment. For example, the doctor can call the patient information immediately before the examination and display it on the display of the medical staff terminal 30, so that most of the inquiry items required at the time of the examination can be confirmed in advance. In addition to being transmitted to the medical staff terminal 30, this patient information is preferably transmitted to an electronic medical record storage device or the like of a medical institution and reflected on the electronic medical record of the patient.

  Then, as shown on the display screen of the medical staff terminal 30 in FIG. 6, in the case of a reexamination, patient information including images and sounds of a plurality of the patients at different times who answer the same inquiry item is displayed on the same screen. If they can be displayed side by side, it becomes easy to grasp minute changes in the patient's pathology based on the patient's face color, facial expression, voice strength, and the like. In addition, for questions that patients do not want to answer honestly or are difficult to answer accurately, it is often possible to grasp a certain tendency by continuously observing the patient's facial expression and tone of voice at the time of answering. It becomes easy to judge whether or not the answer is honest or accurate by comparing the recorded images and sounds at different times. In particular, it is extremely useful in terms of treatment that a patient who does not take a prescribed medicine as instructed cannot answer this question honestly. In this way, medical personnel such as doctors can grasp accurate patient information and changes in pathological conditions, and then proceed with appropriate treatment by directly interviewing and obtaining detailed information during actual examinations. It becomes easy.

  In addition, if the automatic inquiry device of the present invention is installed in a patient's home or company and connected to a homepage or medical staff terminal 30 provided on a server installed in the medical institution through an Internet line or the like, the frequency of visiting the medical institution Even when there are few cases, it is easy for a health care worker to acquire patient information regularly and to grasp a patient's condition regularly. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a card reader in the automatic interrogation device, but for example, it should have a terminal function that can be connected to an Internet line or the like, or connected to a personal computer or mobile phone that has a terminal function by wire or wirelessly. Shall be. In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, if the mobile phone 40 is connected to the desk-top automatic inquiry device 1B and connected to a server or medical staff terminal 30 installed in a medical institution via a wireless line, It becomes unnecessary to arrange a communication line and can be easily installed in any place, and a user (patient) can transmit the latest patient information from various places such as a destination.

  When an automatic inquiry device is installed outside a medical institution, an address on the Internet may be used as a means for specifying a patient, or an ID may be input on a home page. Then, by making the obtained patient information available to the medical staff at any time in the same manner as described above, it can be used for actual medical care. Therefore, the use of such an automatic interrogation device is particularly useful when there are few opportunities for medical personnel to contact the patient directly, such as remote medical care and home medical care.

  Although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been sufficiently described in the above description, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vital sign acquisition means is not limited to the instrument described above, and may include an electrocardiograph or a device that measures lung function. Furthermore, in order to transmit patient information from the automatic inquiry device to the medical staff terminal, a server equipped with a predetermined storage device is arranged between them and the stored patient information is called from the medical staff terminal. Needless to say, it also includes the display.

The front view which shows embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the automatic inquiry apparatus of FIG. The display example of the display of the automatic inquiry apparatus of FIG. The example of a different display of the display of the automatic inquiry apparatus of FIG. The chart which shows operation | movement of the automatic inquiry apparatus of FIG. The example of a display of the display of a medical worker terminal. The front view which shows different embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1B automatic inquiry device, 2 display, 3a video camera, 3b thermography camera, 3c automatic blood pressure monitor, 3d microphone, 4 speaker, 5 card reader, 6a, 6b HDD, 7 control device, 8 communication device, 11 base, 20 touch panel, 21 number / symbol input unit, 22 option input unit, 30 medical worker terminal, 40 mobile phone, 50 communication line

Claims (5)

Main storage means for storing the inquiry items, inquiry output means for outputting the contents of the inquiry having a display screen, inquiry input means for obtaining predetermined patient information from a patient having a video camera and a microphone, and the patient information A patient information storage means for storing information, a communication means for transmitting the patient information to a medical staff terminal, and a control means for controlling the means, and an inquiry matter output by the display screen Patient information including a patient image at the time of answering for each automatic inquiry is recorded and stored in the patient information storage means for each patient, and the stored patient information at different times is stored in a predetermined manner. By displaying on the medical staff terminal of a medical institution connected by a line, the medical staff can compare and examine multiple patient information at different times for the same question. It was to so,
An automatic interrogation device characterized by that.   Via the communication means and the predetermined communication line, it is possible to simultaneously display a plurality of accumulated patient information at different times on the screen of the medical staff terminal, and the medical staff is the same patient The automatic inquiry device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pieces of patient information including patient images at the time of automatic inquiry can be displayed side by side for comparison and examination of the same inquiry items.   Provided with a medical ticket automatic reading means installed in the reception or waiting room of the medical institution, and the patient inserts the medical ticket into the medical ticket automatic reading means to identify the patient and start an automatic inquiry The automatic inquiry device according to claim 1 or 2.   The medical worker is installed at the patient's home and connected to a medical worker terminal of the medical institution via a predetermined line by the communication means, so that the medical worker can visit the medical institution without visiting the medical institution. The automatic inquiry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pieces of patient information at different times can be acquired. 2. At least one or more types of vital sign measurement means are attached, and the patient is measured for each automatic inquiry using the vital sign measurement means, and the measurement result is also included in the patient information. , 2, 3 or 4.

Images