Medical device including setup option reporting

1. A method for use with a medical device having a component for administering a treatment to a patient or for receiving data of the patient, the component configured to operate according to an internal setting, the medical device generating a settings signature that represents a present state of the internal setting, the method performed by a remote monitoring facility coupled to a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a version of the settings signature generated by the medical device over the communication network; and

outputting a warning if it is determined from the settings signature that the internal setting deviates from an expected state of the internal setting.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the settings signature.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

comparing the settings signature to a previously stored signature of the internal setting, and

in which the warning is output based on the comparison.

4. The method of claim 1 , in which the system further comprises a remote configuration facility, the method further comprising:

in the remote configuration facility, specifying a particular setup configuration of the internal setting; and

transmitting data identifying the particular setup configuration to the medical device across the communication network.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which

the version of the settings signature is received from the medical device periodically.

6. The method of claim 1 , in which

the version of the settings signature is received from the medical device based on an event at the medical device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting a query to the medical device, and

in which the event is the receipt of the query at the medical device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating the warning to an agency other the medical device.

9. A system for use with a medical device having a component for administering a treatment to a patient or for receiving data of the patient, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor result in:

sending a version of the settings signature generated by the medical device over a communication network; and

outputting a warning if it is determined from the settings signature that the internal setting deviates from an expected state of the internal setting.

10. The system of claim 9 , in which

the settings signature is stored.

11. The system of claim 10 , in which

the settings signature is compared to a previously stored signature of the internal setting, and

the warning is generated based on the comparison.

12. The system of claim 9 , in which the system further comprises a remote configuration facility that includes a second processor and a second memory, the system also further comprising:

in the remote configuration facility, instructions stored in the second memory which, when executed by the second processor result in:

specifying a particular setup configuration of the internal setting; and

transmitting data identifying the particular setup configuration to the medical device across the communication network.

13. The system of claim 9 , in which

the version of the settings signature is sent from the medical device periodically.

14. The system of claim 9 , in which

the version of the settings signature is sent from the medical device based on an event at the medical device.

15. The system of claim 14 , in which

a query is transmitted to the medical device, and

the event is the receipt of the query at the medical device.

16. The system of claim 9 , in which

the warning is communicated to an agency other the medical device.