Longitudinal electronic record system and method
View Patent ↗A system and method for keeping, organizing and managing electronic records, comprising generating a first instance of data objects comprising data elements during a first encounter, the elements comprising a first instance identifier and temporal identifiers; linking a data object to a summarization reference with a pointer; creating an additional instance of data objects also comprising data elements comprising an additional instance identifier and temporal identifiers during a later encounter; and providing continuity for the first instance data objects over time. Continuity may be provided by tracking a relationship between the first instance data object and an additional instance data object and repainting the pointer to point between the summarization reference and the additional instance data object. The additional instance data object may be a revision of the first instance data object, and tracking may occur by back-linking the revision to the first instance data object.
1. A method for keeping, organizing and managing electronic records on at least one computer, comprising:
generating a first instance of a plurality of data objects during a first encounter, said plurality of data objects comprising data elements further comprising a first instance identifier and temporal identifiers;
linking a data object in said first instance to a summarization reference with a pointer, where the plurality of data objects and the summarization reference are related as part of a directed graph data structure;
creating an additional instance of a plurality of data objects during a later encounter, said additional instance of a plurality of data objects comprising data elements further comprising an additional instance identifier and temporal identifier; and
providing continuity for said plurality of data objects of said first instance over time,
wherein said providing step comprises tracking a relationship between said data object of said first instance and a data object of said additional instance.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said providing step further comprises:
repointing said pointer between said summarization reference and said data object in said first instance to point between said summarization reference and said data object of said additional instance.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said data object of said additional instance is a revision of said data object of said first instance.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein said tracking step comprises:
back-linking said revision to said data object of said first instance.
5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
diagnosing a problem and formulating a plan based on information contained in said first instance of a plurality of data objects; and
treating or managing said problem and reviewing said plan based on information contained in said additional instance of a plurality of data objects.
6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
relating at least one data object in an instance of data objects with at least one additional data object in said instance of data objects.
7. A method of creating a data structure for keeping, organizing and managing electronic records on at least one computer, comprising:
generating a first instance of a plurality of data objects in an array during a first encounter, said plurality of data objects comprising data elements further comprising a first instance identifier and temporal identifiers;
linking a data object in said first instance to a summarization reference with a pointer, where the plurality of data objects and the summarization reference are related as part of a directed graph data structure;
creating an additional instance of a plurality of data objects in an array during a later encounter, said additional instance of a plurality of data objects comprising data elements further comprising an additional instance identifier and temporal identifier; and
providing continuity for said plurality of data objects of said first instance over time,
wherein said providing step comprises tracking a relationship between said data object of said first instance and a data object of said additional instance; and
wherein each summarization reference is a collection of pointers to data elements in at least one of said arrays.
8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said providing step further comprises:
repointing said pointer between said summarization reference and said data object in said first instance to point between said summarization reference and said data object of said additional instance.
9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein said data object of said additional instance is a revision of said data object of said first instance.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said tracking step comprises:
back-linking said revision to said data object of said first instance.
11. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
diagnosing a problem and formulating a plan based on information contained in said first instance of a plurality of data objects; and
treating or managing said problem and reviewing said plan based on information contained in said additional instance of a plurality of data objects.
12. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
relating at least one data object in an instance of data objects with at least one additional data object in said instance of data objects.