System and method for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system
A system and method for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system is presented. An alert condition is classified along a continuum that includes adverse outcome potential versus medical intervention impact potential. The alert condition is managed by assigning a disposition based on relative placement of the alert condition along the continuum. An alert notification is communicated over a selectable mode of communications and is conditioned upon the assigned disposition being actionable.
1. A system for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system, comprising:
a server retrieving patient data from an origination source and evaluating the patient data for occurrence of an alert condition;
a classifier classifying the alert condition based on the origination source and assigning the alert condition along a continuum comprising adverse outcome potential versus medical intervention impact potential;
a manager managing the alert condition by assigning a disposition based on relative placement of the alert condition along the continuum; and
a communicator determining whether the assigned disposition is actionable and, when actionable, communicating an alert notification over a selectable mode of communications,
wherein a combined alert condition is identified by evaluating a confluence of non-actionable alert conditions and assigning the combined alert condition along the continuum.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the combined alert condition is actionable.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one supplemental factor is included in the confluence and selected from the group comprising patient history and data originating from a source other than an alert condition source.
4. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a monitor to monitor new alert conditions based on a scheduled polling frequency.
5. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a threshold to apply to the alert condition as a filter for actionable alert conditions; and
a severity level to assign to the alert condition.
6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert condition is escalated when the alert notification remains unaddressed for a pre-determined time period.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein each alert condition is prioritized from among a plurality of alert conditions.
8. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic medical records database to store the alert condition prior to communicating the alert notification.
9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the patient data is selected from the group comprising device parameters, sensor readings, and health conditions.
10. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the disposition is selected from the group comprising recording the alert condition, sending an informational message, sending a recommendation, sending an obligatory instruction, and taking active medical interventive measures.
11. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert notification is selected from the group comprising a telephone call, telephone message, facsimile, email, and voicemail.
12. A method for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system, comprising:
evaluating patient data from an origination source for occurrence of an alert condition;
classifying the alert condition based on the origination source and assigning the alert condition along a continuum comprising adverse outcome potential versus medical intervention impact potential;
managing the alert condition by assigning a disposition based on relative placement of the alert condition along the continuum;
communicating an alert notification over a selectable mode of communications and conditioned upon the assigned disposition being actionable;
identifying a combined alert condition by evaluating a confluence of non-actionable alert conditions; and
assigning the combined alert condition along the continuum.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the combined alert condition is actionable.
14. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
including at least one supplemental factor in the confluence and selected from the group comprising patient history and data originating from a source other than an alert condition source.
15. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
monitoring new alert conditions based on a scheduled polling frequency.
16. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
applying a threshold to the alert condition as a filter for actionable alert conditions; and
assigning a severity level to the alert condition.
17. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
escalating the alert condition when the alert notification remains unaddressed for a pre-determined time period.
18. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
prioritizing each alert condition from among a plurality of alert conditions.
19. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
storing the alert condition in an electronic medical records database prior to communicating the alert notification.
20. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the alert condition originates from a source selected from the group comprising device parameters, sensor readings, and health conditions.
21. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the disposition is selected from the group comprising recording the alert condition, sending an informational message, sending a recommendation, sending an obligatory instruction, and taking active medical interventive measures.
22. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the patient data is selected from the group comprising a telephone call, telephone message, facsimile, email, and voicemail.
23. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 12 .
24. An apparatus for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system, comprising:
evaluating patient data from an origination source for occurrence of an alert condition;
classifying the alert condition based on the origination source and assigning the alert condition along a continuum comprising adverse outcome potential versus medical intervention impact potential;
managing the alert condition by assigning a disposition based on relative placement of the alert condition along the continuum;
communicating an alert notification over a selectable mode of communications and conditioned upon the assigned disposition being actionable;
identifying a combined alert condition by evaluating a confluence of non-actionable alert conditions; and
assigning the combined alert condition along the continuum.