System for managing documents and associated document information deficiencies

1 . A healthcare document processing system for processing data indicating a document deficiency preventing a document from being designated complete, comprising:

an interface for receiving data including a patient record identifier and data identifying a document, and an associated document type, said document having been added to a patient record having said patient record identifier; and

a document processor for, in response to said received data, automatically,

searching deficiency information associated with said patient record to identify a document deficiency associated with said document of said document type,

indicating a deficiency associated with absence of said document from said patient record is corrected and

determining if a new deficiency is associated with said document and generating associated deficiency data identifying said new deficiency for incorporation in said deficiency information.

2 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said document processor identifies a type of said new deficiency and initiates generation of an alert message to a user indicating user attention is required and

said deficiency type indicates at least one of, (a) how a deficiency is to be corrected and (b) the purpose of the deficiency.

3 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said document processor identifies a type of said new deficiency and initiates generation of an alert message to a user indicating user attention is required

4 . A system according to claim 1 , including

a task processor for automatically assigning a task to be performed by a healthcare worker in response to said determined new deficiency.

5 . A system according to claim 1 , including

at least one repository including chain data identifying, a plurality of document deficiencies, individual document deficiency type and an order for addressing said document deficiencies for providing completed documents and

said document processor uses said at least one repository to identify deficiency chain information associated with said document and indicates deficiencies of said deficiency chain associated with absence of said document from said patient record are corrected.

6 . A system according to claim 5 , wherein

said document processor identifies a remaining deficiency in said deficiency chain associated with receipt of said document into said patient record.

7 . A system according to claim 6 , wherein

said document processor updates at least one of, (a) deficiency information in said patient record and (b) said deficiency chain information in said at least one repository, to indicate said identified remaining deficiency in said deficiency chain is associated with said document.

8 . A healthcare document processing system for processing data indicating a document deficiency preventing a document from being designated complete, comprising:

an interface for receiving data including a patient record identifier and data identifying a document, and an associated document type, said document having been added to a patient record having said patient record identifier;

at least one repository including chain data identifying, a plurality of document deficiencies, individual document deficiency type and an order for addressing said document deficiencies for providing completed documents; and

a document processor for, automatically employing said at least one repository to identify deficiency chain information associated with said document and indicating deficiencies of said deficiency chain associated with absence of said document from said patient record are corrected, in response to said received data.

9 . A system according to claim 8 , wherein

said document processor updates at least one of, (a) deficiency information in said patient record and (b) said deficiency chain information in said at least one repository, to indicate said deficiencies of said deficiency chain associated with absence of said document from said patient record are corrected.

10 . A system according to claim 8 , wherein

said document processor,

identifies a remaining deficiency in said deficiency chain associated with receipt of said document into said patient record and

updates at least one of, (a) deficiency information in said patient record and (b) said deficiency chain information in said at least one repository, to indicate said identified remaining deficiency in said deficiency chain is associated with said document.

11 . A system according to claim 10 , including

a task processor for automatically assigning a task to be performed by a healthcare worker in response to said identified remaining deficiency.

12 . A system according to claim 10 , wherein

said document processor identifies a type of said identified remaining deficiency and initiates generation of an alert message to a user indicating user attention is required for said identified remaining deficiency.

13 . A system according to claim 8 , wherein

said document processor,

searches deficiency information associated with said patient record to identify a document deficiency associated with said document of said document type,

indicates a deficiency associated with absence of said document from said patient record is corrected and

determines if a new deficiency is associated with said document and generating associated deficiency data identifying said new deficiency for incorporation in said deficiency information.

14 . A system according to claim 8 , wherein

said at least one repository associates a document type with an individual deficiency type and with a process to be used in correcting said individual deficiency.

15 . A system according to claim 8 , wherein

said deficiency chain information comprises data objects.

16 . A healthcare document processing system for processing data indicating a document deficiency preventing a document from being designated complete, comprising:

an interface for receiving data including a patient record identifier and data identifying a document, and an associated document type, said document having been added to a patient record having said patient record identifier; and

a document processor for, in response to said received data, automatically,

searching deficiency information associated with said patient record to identify a document deficiency associated with said document of said document type,

indicating a deficiency associated with absence of said document from said patient record is corrected,

determining if a new deficiency is associated with said document and generating associated deficiency data identifying said new deficiency for incorporation in said deficiency information,

identifying a type of said new deficiency, and

initiating a process for correcting said deficiency, said process being determined in response to said identified deficiency type.

17 . A method for processing data indicating a document deficiency preventing a document from being designated complete, comprising the activities of:

receiving data including a patient record identifier and data identifying a document, and an associated document type, said document having been added to a patient record having said patient record identifier;

searching deficiency information associated with said patient record to identify a document deficiency associated with said document of said document type;

indicating a deficiency associated with absence of said document from said patient record is corrected; and

determining if a new deficiency is associated with said document and generating associated deficiency data identifying said new deficiency for incorporation in said deficiency information.

18 . A method for processing data indicating a document deficiency preventing a document from being designated complete, comprising the activities of:

receiving data including a patient record identifier and data identifying a document, and an associated document type, said document having been added to a patient record having said patient record identifier;

storing chain data identifying, a plurality of document deficiencies, individual document deficiency type and an order for addressing said document deficiencies for providing completed documents; and

automatically employing said at least one repository to identify deficiency chain information associated with said document and indicating deficiencies of said deficiency chain associated with absence of said document from said patient record are corrected, in response to said received data.

19 . A method for processing data indicating a document deficiency preventing a document from being designated complete, comprising the activities of:

receiving data including a patient record identifier and data identifying a document, and an associated document type, said document having been added to a patient record having said patient record identifier;

searching deficiency information associated with said patient record to identify a document deficiency associated with said document of said document type,

indicating a deficiency associated with absence of said document from said patient record is corrected;

determining if a new deficiency is associated with said document and generating associated deficiency data identifying said new deficiency for incorporation in said deficiency information;

identifying a type of said new deficiency; and

initiating a process for correcting said deficiency, said process being determined in response to said identified deficiency type.