JP4971707B2 - Medical examination reservation schedule management apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a schedule management system of medical inspection reservation which can notify reservation state rapidly when a line fault arises. <P>SOLUTION: A data center 10, while accepting offers of reservation of medical inspection of a hospital 12 from a plurality of medical facilities, performs schedule management that manages the reservation state. Schedule data 22 that shows the reservation state is stored in a storage unit 18. A server computer 17 distributes the schedule data 22 through IP communication line 49 responding to requests from client terminals 16 of the hospital 12. The server computer 17 watches the IP communication line 49 by a line monitoring part 51. When a fault arises, the server computer 17 automatically distributes the schedule data 22 to a fax unit 53 of the hospital 12 through a telephone line 54. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical examination reservation schedule management apparatus and method for accepting a medical examination application and managing a reservation schedule.

  A network medical system having a server computer connected to client terminals installed in a plurality of medical facilities via a communication network such as an IP (Internet Protocol) network and providing various application services in response to requests from each client terminal Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  For example, the server computer is installed and maintained in a data center that operates the server computer. The data center and the medical facility, for example, sign a use contract such as a membership contract, and the service is used by the medical facility that has become a member. The server computer stores an image management program for storing and managing medical images uploaded from each client terminal, and schedule management for performing reservation management of medical examinations of specific medical facilities having examination facilities for CT examinations and MRI examinations. An application program such as a program (called a net scheduler or a web scheduler) is installed.

  In small-scale medical facilities such as clinics, it is a heavy burden to prepare a large amount of data storage equipment such as medical images by yourself. Can be reduced.

  The schedule management program distributes schedule data representing the reservation status of a medical examination at a specific medical facility to the client terminal, receives a reservation application from the client terminal, and updates the schedule data based on the received information. A specific medical facility that accepts reservations can use the schedule management service to obtain merits such as eliminating the need for data management and application maintenance.

  Due to the nature of medical information, the required level of security measures such as prevention of data leakage is high. In addition, since there is a lot of urgent information, there is a high need to take prompt action by detecting the occurrence of a line failure early by monitoring the communication state of the communication line connecting the server computer and the client terminal. .

  Therefore, the server computer and the client terminal are connected through an IP network such as a virtual private network (VPN), for example. The VPN is a private network that is virtually constructed on a shared network using a public network such as the publicly open Internet or a wide area IP communication network that is uniquely owned by a communication carrier as a backbone network. . In VPN, for example, a logical tunnel is created in a shared network by using a technique such as “MPLS (MultiProtocol Label Switching)” in which an IP packet is forwarded with an identifier called “label” unique to each VPN. By providing this, a virtual closed network is realized. As a result, it is possible to operate a remote network or terminal in the same manner as a LAN (local area network) is connected while maintaining confidentiality.

  In such a VPN, since the IP address of the member client terminal can be grasped in advance on the data center side, the data center can monitor the communication state of the communication line connecting each client terminal and the data center.

  For example, line monitoring uses a ping (Packet Internet Groper) command to send a monitoring packet, which is packet data for communication confirmation, to a communication device (such as a router) connected to a member client terminal. This is performed by checking the presence or absence of the response (see, for example, Patent Document 2). According to this, the data center can detect the occurrence of a line failure for each communication line corresponding to each member's client terminal and notify the member that a failure has occurred by telephone or FAX. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-280693 JP 2004-364154 A

  By the way, there are many specific medical facilities where the reservation status is grasped based on the schedule data managed by the data center, and preparations and arrangements for medical examinations are carried out. If the latest reservation status cannot be grasped, the work in the specific medical facility will be stagnant. According to the line monitoring described above, although it is possible to notify the specific medical facility that a failure has occurred at an early stage, the person in charge of the specific medical facility and the data center can confirm the reservation status through telephone etc. I had to deal with it. However, confirming the reservation status by telephone is not only troublesome, but also has a problem that there is a high probability of human error.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medical examination reservation schedule management apparatus that can promptly notify the reservation status when a line failure occurs.

  In order to achieve the above object, a medical examination schedule management apparatus according to the present invention stores data storing schedule data representing a reservation status of a medical examination performed in a specific medical facility, and reads the schedule data from the data storage. A data reading unit is connected to each of a plurality of client terminals of a plurality of medical facilities including the specific medical facility through a main communication line, and the schedule data is distributed to each client terminal in response to a distribution request of each client terminal. A main communication unit that receives the medical examination reservation application information from each client terminal through the main communication unit, and updates the schedule data in the data storage based on the received information; Of the main communication line A line monitoring unit that detects a line failure by monitoring a communication state; and the latest schedule data read from the data storage by the data reading unit when the line failure is detected, the main communication line And a sub-communication unit that automatically distributes the data to a data receiving terminal device installed in the specific medical facility through another sub-communication line.

  The data receiving terminal device is, for example, a facsimile machine. Further, for example, the main communication line is an IP communication line passing through an IP network, and the sub communication line is a telephone line that communicates in a circuit switching system.

  A data processing unit configured to process the schedule data into a layout displayed on a monitor of the first client terminal, wherein the sub-communication unit transmits the processed schedule data to the data receiving terminal device; Is preferred.

  It is preferable that the sub-communication unit periodically transmits schedule data until the main communication line is restored after the line failure occurs. The latest schedule data may be transmitted when the schedule data is updated.

  The IP network is an IP network in which an IP address assigned to each client terminal can be specified in advance, and the line monitoring unit periodically transmits a monitoring packet specifying the IP address, and the monitoring packet It is preferable to monitor the communication state of the main communication line according to the presence or absence of the response.

  The medical examination reservation schedule management method of the present invention is connected to each of a plurality of client terminals of a plurality of medical facilities including a specific medical facility that accepts a medical examination reservation through a main communication line. Accordingly, the main communication step of distributing schedule data representing the medical examination reservation status to each of the client terminals and the medical examination reservation application information are received from each of the client terminals through the main communication unit. A data update step for updating the schedule data in the data storage based on the received information, a line monitoring step for monitoring a communication state of the main communication line to detect a line failure, and a line failure in the main communication line. When detected, the data reading unit A sub communication step of automatically distributing the latest schedule data read from the data storage to a data receiving terminal device installed in the specific medical facility through a sub communication line different from the main communication line. It is characterized by that.

  The present invention monitors the communication state of the main communication line distributed to the client terminal of the specific medical facility when managing schedule data of the specific medical facility that accepts reservations for medical examinations. When it occurs, the schedule data is automatically distributed to the data receiving terminal device installed in the specific medical facility through a sub communication line different from the main communication line. Can be notified.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a network medical system in which a plurality of medical facilities and a data center 10 are connected via an IP network 11. The data center 10 includes a server computer 17 that provides application services such as a data storage service and a schedule management service to the client terminals 15 and 16 installed in each medical facility such as a hospital 12 and a clinic 13 that are members. I have. A storage unit (data storage) 18 is connected to the server computer 17. The storage unit 18 is a medical database in which medical information such as medical images and diagnostic records uploaded from the client terminals 15 and 16 is stored in a database. Data such as the information DB 19 is stored.

  The IP network 11 is, for example, a closed network in which a dedicated wide area IP network owned by a communication carrier is used as a backbone network, and a VPN is constructed on the wide area IP network. By doing so, data security is ensured so that the data passing through the IP network 11 does not leak outside the network medical system.

  The server computer 17 organizes and classifies medical information for each ID such as patient ID and medical facility ID, creates a database so that it can be searched with various search keys, and stores the medical information DB 19 thus constructed as a storage unit. 18. When the server computer 17 receives a data distribution request from the client terminals 15 and 16, the server computer 17 checks the access authority and searches the medical information DB according to the content of the request. Is distributed to the requesting client terminals 15 and 16.

  In this way, medical information generated at each medical facility is collectively managed as electronic data by the data center 10, thereby reducing storage space for medical records and medical image films from the medical facility, and managing and retrieving medical information. By the data center 10, the efficiency of medical facility operations is improved. In addition, by sharing medical information of each medical facility via the data center 10, cooperation between the medical facilities is strengthened.

  The hospital 12 is equipped with a modality device 21 which is an examination facility for performing various medical examinations such as CT (Computed Tomography) examination, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examination, and ultrasonic examination. It is a specific medical facility that accepts applications for medical examinations. In addition to the medical information DB 19, the storage unit 18 stores schedule data 22 representing the medical examination reservation status of the hospital 12. The server computer 17 manages the schedule data 22 by executing the installed schedule management program.

  Each client terminal 15, 16 is installed with a Web browser that accesses the server computer 17 to download and display the schedule data 22. The clinic 13 starts a Web browser of the client terminal 15, accesses a predetermined URL, and downloads the schedule data 22. Then, the available date and time for which an examination can be applied is confirmed, and application information including the desired date and time information is transmitted to the server computer 17 to make a medical examination reservation. The server computer 17 receives the application information from the client terminal 15 and updates the schedule data 22. The hospital 12 activates the Web browser of the client terminal 16, accesses a predetermined URL, downloads the schedule data 22, and confirms the latest reservation status. Depending on the reservation status, in-hospital operations such as preparation and arrangement of medical examinations are performed.

  FIG. 2 shows an examination reservation screen 31 for accepting appointments for medical examinations displayed on the monitors of the client terminals 15 and 16. The schedule data 22 is distributed to the client terminal as a text file described in a markup language such as an HTML format or an XML format. The markup language is used to define the meaning and structure of the text, and the appearance and layout of the text are adjusted by the Web browser interpreting it. The Web browsers of the client terminals 15 and 16 configure the examination reservation screen 31 according to the description of the received XML file and output it to the monitor.

  The examination reservation screen 31 is provided with a medical facility selection box 32 for selecting a medical facility to be examined, a reservation status display area 33 for displaying a reservation status in a calendar format and accepting an application.

  The medical facility selection box 32 is a selection unit that selects a specific medical facility that accepts a reservation for a medical examination. When there are a plurality of specific medical facilities, the inverted triangle mark at the right end of the medical facility selection box 32 is designated with the mouse pointer 34 of each of the client terminals 15 and 16 and clicked. Listed in a pull-down menu format. When one specific medical facility name (for example, “○ × hospital”) is selected from these, the reservation status display area 33 displays the reservation status of the specific medical facility.

  The reservation status display area 33 is provided with a monthly display area 36 in which the monthly reservation status can be listed in a calendar format, and a daily display area 37 for displaying the daily reservation status specified in the monthly display area 36. It is done. In the monthly display area 36, for example, a reservation-available day that has a vacant reception frame is displayed without a mark. Then, “x” is displayed on holidays, and hatching is displayed on days when reservations are already filled. Such a display distinguishes the days when reservations can be made and the days when reservations cannot be made.

  When a desired day in the monthly display area 36 is designated with the pointer 34 and clicked, a reception frame 38 for several days including the designated day is displayed in a timetable in the daily display area 37. In the reception frame 38, a reservation button 38a is displayed in a frame that can be reserved, and the name of the patient to be examined is displayed in the frame that has already been received, and the details of the application are displayed. A detail button 38b is displayed. When the reservation button 38a is designated with the pointer 34 and clicked with the mouse, for example, an input screen for inputting items necessary for application such as a patient name and a patient ID is displayed. By inputting necessary items on this input screen and transmitting the input information to the server computer 17, an application for reservation is made. Based on this application information, the server computer 17 updates the schedule data 22.

  The reservation status display area 33 is selectively displayed for each type of examination such as CT examination, MRI examination, abdominal echo examination, isotope examination, arteriosclerosis examination, and the like. The display is switched by the tab 39. In this example, an example in which CT examination is selected is shown. An imaging condition selection area 41 is displayed in the CT examination reservation status display area 33. In this imaging condition selection area 41, items of imaging parts to be imaged in CT examination, such as the head, chest, abdomen, and the like are listed, and the examination can be performed by checking the check box corresponding to each item with the pointer 34. Select the imaging conditions by specifying the required imaging area. The information thus selected is transmitted to the server computer 17 as application information.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the server computer 17 is composed of a CPU, a memory, etc., and executes a program including an image management program and a schedule management program, thereby comprehensively controlling each part of the server computer 17 and its peripheral devices. A controller 46 is provided. The peripheral devices include a router 48 that is a communication device for connecting to the IP network 11, and the server computer 17 connects to the IP network 11 via the router 48. An IP communication line 49 that is a communication line passing through the IP network 11 is a main communication line that connects the client terminal 16 of the hospital 12 and the server computer 17.

  The controller 46 functions as the line monitoring unit 51 by executing a line monitoring program. The line monitoring unit 51 periodically transmits a monitoring packet to a pre-registered communication destination IP address by a ping command, and an IP communication line 49 with the transmission destination according to the presence or absence of a response from the transmission destination. Monitor the communication status. When the line monitoring unit 51 executes the ping command, the router 48 receives this command and sends a monitoring packet to the IP communication line 49.

  Since the server computer 17 and the member client terminal 16 are connected by VPN as described above, the IP address of the communication destination can be specified. An IP address assigned to the router 52 is registered in the storage unit 18 in advance. The line monitoring unit 51 periodically transmits a monitoring packet toward the IP address. Then, when there is no response to the monitoring packet from the router 52, it is detected that a line failure has occurred in the IP communication line 49. Also, the line monitoring unit 51 continues to monitor by periodically sending a monitoring packet after detecting a line failure. Then, when there is a response to the monitoring packet, line recovery is detected.

  A plurality of routers exist in the communication path connecting the router 48 and the router 52, and packets transmitted / received between the router 48 and the router 52 are transmitted via these routers. In the line monitoring by the line monitoring unit 51, not only the monitoring packet is transmitted to the router 52, but if the IP address of those routers is known, the ping command is executed for each router to monitor the line. You may go. By doing this, it is possible to identify the fault range, that is, to identify the part of the communication path connecting the router 48 and the router 52 where the fault has occurred.

  The server computer 17 is connected to a FAX apparatus (data receiving terminal apparatus) 53 of the hospital 12 through a telephone line 54 that is a sub-communication line for emergency contact, in addition to the IP communication line 49 that is a main communication line. . As is well known, the telephone line 54 is a communication line for connecting terminals in a circuit switching system via a PTSN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 56. When a failure occurs in the IP communication line 49, the controller 46 reads the schedule data 22 from the storage unit 18 and distributes it to the hospital 12 using the telephone line 54. The server computer 17 is connected to a FAX modem 57 for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. The FAX modem 57 converts the schedule data 22 into an analog signal and transmits the analog signal to the FAX apparatus 53.

  The medical information DB 19 includes medical facility contact information 19a, in which the IP address of each medical facility that is a member is stored, as shown in FIG. In addition to the IP communication line 49, the FAX number is stored for the medical facility connected by the telephone line 54. The controller 46 reads the FAX number corresponding to the IP communication line 49 in which the line failure has occurred from the medical facility contact information 19a.

  The controller 46 functions as a data processing unit 58 by executing a program. As described above, since the schedule data 22 is stored in a format such as an XML file, even if this data is transmitted to the FAX apparatus 53 as it is, only the contents described in the file are transmitted. Situation) It is very difficult to see as a table. Therefore, the data processing unit 58 generates screen data having a layout such as the inspection reservation screen 31 based on the schedule data 22 read from the storage unit 18, and generates the raster data (a plurality of pixels arranged in a grid pattern). Data). As described above, there are a plurality of types of medical examinations, and on the examination reservation screen 31, the schedule of each examination is selectively displayed by tabs. The data processing unit 58 generates screen data for each type of inspection.

  The schedule data 22 processed in this way is sent to the FAX modem 57, and the FAX data is distributed to the FAX apparatus 53. The FAX apparatus 53 receives the received FAX data and prints it on paper. On the printed-out print 59, a schedule table is printed in a form like a hard copy of the examination reservation screen 31.

  Hereinafter, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the IP communication line 49 monitoring performed by the data center 10 and the response procedure when a line failure occurs will be described. When the server computer 17 is activated, the line monitoring unit 51 periodically transmits a monitoring packet toward a previously registered IP address to be monitored, and starts monitoring the line state of the IP communication line 49. When there is no response from the router 52 of the hospital (specific medical facility) 12, the line monitoring unit 51 detects a line failure of the IP communication line 49 corresponding to the hospital 12.

  When detecting a line failure, the controller 46 controls each unit so as to transmit the schedule data 22 to the FAX apparatus 53 through the telephone line 54. The controller 46 reads the latest schedule data 22 from the storage unit 18, and the data processing unit 58 processes the schedule data 22 and converts it into raster data to generate FAX data. Then, the controller 46 reads the telephone number corresponding to the IP address of the medical facility where the failure has occurred from the medical facility contact information 19a, and outputs this to the FAX modem 57 together with the FAX data. The FAX modem 57 makes a call to the received telephone number, and transmits FAX data to the FAX apparatus 53 through the telephone line 54.

  The FAX apparatus 53 outputs a print 59 based on the received FAX data. In this way, when a line failure is detected, the schedule is sent by FAX data, so the hospital 12 can quickly grasp the reservation status. For this reason, business stagnation such as inspection preparation work does not occur. In addition, since the schedule is printed on the print 59 in a manner similar to that of the examination reservation screen 31, there is no significant difference in display layout and the like compared with the case where the schedule is confirmed on the monitor of the client terminal 16. Therefore, it is easy to confirm the schedule, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a confirmation error.

  Even after the failure of the IP communication line 49 is detected, the line monitoring unit 51 continues to monitor by periodically sending monitoring packets to the router 52 at predetermined time intervals until recovery. Continue sending regularly. Thereby, the hospital 12 can confirm the latest reservation status even while the IP communication line 49 cannot be used. When there is a response to the monitoring packet, the line monitoring unit 51 determines that the line has been restored, and stops the transmission of FAX data.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmission of FAX data has been described with an example in which transmission is periodically performed at predetermined time intervals after a failure of the IP communication line is detected and until it is restored, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In addition, it may be determined whether or not the schedule data has been updated, and when the schedule data is updated, the FAX data may be retransmitted. In this case, the controller 46 monitors the update status of the schedule data 22 after the initial transmission of FAX data, and reads the latest schedule data 22 when updated. The schedule data 22 is sent to the fax modem 57 and sent to the fax machine 53. In this way, a plurality of prints 59 having the same contents that have not been updated are not output, and therefore, there is no waste.

  In the above embodiment, when transmitting to the sub-communication line, the schedule data is processed and distributed so as to have the layout of the inspection reservation screen. However, the layout may not be the layout of the inspection reservation screen. However, even in this case, it is preferable to process the data so that it can be listed in a table format or a list format so that the reservation status can be easily grasped.

  In the above embodiment, only a specific medical facility that accepts medical examinations and a data center are connected by two lines of a main communication line and a sub communication line, and when a failure occurs in the main communication line, Although the example in which the schedule data is distributed through the communication line has been described, a similar service may be provided to a medical facility other than the specific medical facility, that is, a medical facility on the application side for a medical examination reservation. In that case, the data center may receive the application information through the sub-communication line and accept the examination reservation. For example, after receiving application information by a FAX modem, the controller performs character recognition processing on the data to automatically recognize the application contents. Then, the schedule data is updated according to the contents. According to this, the medical facility on the application side for a reservation can quickly apply for an inspection reservation even when a line failure occurs in the main communication line.

  In the above embodiment, the main communication line is a packet-switched IP communication line using the Internet protocol, and the sub-communication line is a line-switched telephone line. The present invention is not limited to this, and various combinations are possible. For example, the telephone line is not limited to the circuit switching system, and may be a telephone line using an IP communication line. Further, although an IP communication line has been described as an example of the main communication line, the communication line is not limited to the communication line using the Internet protocol, and another communication line of a packet switching method may be used. Furthermore, both may be mixed, such as connecting to an IP network through a telephone line. Further, it may not be a wired communication line, but may be a wireless communication line.

  Further, although the FAX apparatus (facsimile apparatus) has been described as an example of the data receiving terminal apparatus connected to the server computer via the sub-communication line, it may not be a FAX apparatus, but may be a personal computer or a portable terminal. In this case, the data format of the schedule data is changed according to the form of the data receiving terminal device of the transmission destination and the received software. For example, when the data receiving terminal device is a personal computer and the software for receiving the schedule data is mail software, the schedule data is processed into a mail file format and transmitted. Of course, a schedule file may be generated separately from the mail file, and this may be attached to the mail file and transmitted.

  In addition, the client terminal connected to the main communication line and the data receiving terminal device connected to the sub communication line have been described as examples of different devices. For example, a FAX modem is used as the data receiving terminal device. You may incorporate in a client terminal. Alternatively, two IP communication lines of the same type may be connected to the client terminal, and each may be used as a main communication line and a sub communication line.

It is explanatory drawing of a network medical system. It is explanatory drawing of a test | inspection reservation screen. It is a connection block diagram of a communication line between a data center and a hospital (specific medical facility). It is explanatory drawing of medical facility contact information. It is a flowchart which shows the response procedure at the time of monitoring and failure occurrence. 6 is a flowchart showing an example different from FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

10 Data Center 11 IP Network 12 Hospital (Specified Medical Facility)
15, 16 Client terminal 17 Server computer 18 Storage unit 19 Medical information DB
19a Medical facility contact information 22 Schedule data 31 Examination reservation screen 46 Controller 46 Fax machine 54 Telephone line 48 Router 48 PTSN
49 IP communication line 51 Line monitoring part 56 FAX modem

Claims (7)

And data storage for storing schedule data representing the reservation status of the medical examination,
A data reading unit for reading the schedule data from the data storage;
Main communication that is connected to each of a plurality of client terminals of a plurality of medical facilities that apply or receive medical examinations through a main communication line, and distributes the schedule data to the client terminals in response to a distribution request of the client terminals. And
A data update unit that receives the medical examination reservation application information from each client terminal through the main communication unit, and updates the schedule data in the data storage based on the received information;
A line monitoring unit for detecting a line failure by monitoring a communication state of the main communication line;
A data processing unit that converts the latest schedule data read from the data storage by the data reading unit into raster data when the line failure is detected;
Using a telephone line, which is a sub-communication line different from the main communication line, automatically calling the FAX number of a facsimile machine installed in a predetermined medical facility among the plurality of medical facilities, and the data A medical examination reservation schedule management apparatus , comprising: a sub-communication unit that distributes the raster data processed by the processing unit. 2. The medical examination reservation schedule management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main communication line is an IP communication line passing through an IP network . The data processing unit processes the schedule data into a layout of an examination reservation screen displayed on the client terminal, and converts the processed data into the raster data. Schedule management device for medical examination appointments. Until the main communication line after the line fault has occurred is restored, the auxiliary communication unit periodically medical examination appointment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that transmitting scheduled data Schedule management device. The sub-communication unit transmits the latest schedule data when the schedule data is updated until the main communication line is restored after the line failure occurs . 3. A schedule management device for medical examination reservations according to any one of the above. The IP network is an IP network in which an IP address assigned to each client terminal can be specified in advance, and the line monitoring unit periodically transmits a monitoring packet specifying the IP address, and the monitoring packet 6. The medical examination reservation schedule management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a communication state of the main communication line is monitored according to whether or not there is a response. In a schedule management method for managing schedule data representing a medical examination reservation status using a computer,
In response to a distribution request from a plurality of client terminals of a plurality of medical facilities that apply for or receive a medical examination, the computer uses the main communication line, and schedule data indicating the reservation status of the medical examination is each Main communication step to deliver to the client terminal;
The subscription information of the medical examination, the accepted through the main communication unit from each of the client terminals, a data updating step of said computer to update the pre-Symbol schedule data based on the received information,
A line monitoring step in which the computer monitors a communication state of the main communication line to detect a line failure;
A data processing step in which the computer converts the latest schedule data read from the data storage into raster data when the line failure is detected;
The computer uses a telephone line, which is a sub-communication line different from the main communication line, to automatically issue a fax address of a facsimile machine installed in a pre-registered medical facility among the plurality of medical facilities. And a sub-communication step of distributing the processed raster data . A medical examination reservation schedule management method comprising:

Images