Apparatus and methods for monitoring and modifying anticoagulation therapy of remotely located patients
A patient apparatus is configured to receive and analyze information regarding patient compliance with anticoagulation medication and self-test coagulation regimens related to anticoagulation therapy. In addition, a patient apparatus is configured to receive data from a patient, including physiological data, pathophysiological data, biological data, psychological data, neuropsychological data, and/or behavioral data. Utilizing the received patient data, a patient apparatus can modify a warfarin regimen using an algorithm contained within the apparatus. The apparatus can communicate the modified warfarin regimen to the patient and to third parties, such as remotely located healthcare providers. In addition, the apparatus can prompt a patient when to perform a self-test and can prompt a patient to seek immediate medical attention, or to directly contact medical help, when so warranted.
1. A method of monitoring disease therapy of a patient, wherein the disease therapy includes a patient-administered medication regimen and a patient-administered regimen for a test that monitors efficacy of the medication regimen, wherein the test is administered by the patient according to a first schedule, the method comprising the following steps:
receiving test results from a patient-administered test at a portable, hand-held apparatus that is configured to receive and analyze information regarding patient compliance with the patient-administered medication and test regimens, and wherein the apparatus is configured to modify the patient-administered medication and test regimens;
directing the patient, via the portable, hand-held apparatus, to administer future tests according to a second schedule different from the first schedule in response to determining that the received test results are within or not within a desired range, wherein the second schedule has a frequency of administration that is lower in value than a frequency of administration of the first schedule when the received test results are within a desired range, and wherein the second schedule has a frequency of administration that is higher in value than a frequency of administration of the first schedule when the received test results are not within a desired range;
receiving non-medication related data from a patient at the portable, hand-held apparatus, wherein the non-medication related patient data includes at least one of physiological data, pathophysiological data, biological data, psychological data, neuropsychological data, and behavioral data; and
analyzing the received non-medication related data via the portable, hand-held apparatus to determine if a change is necessary to the patient-administered medication regimen and/or to the patient-administered test regimen.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising communicating the second schedule to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising communicating the received test results to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
modifying the patient-administered medication regimen in response to determining that the received test results are within or not within a desired range; and
communicating the modified patient-administered medication regimen to the patient.
5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of communicating the modified patient-administered medication regimen to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
directing the patient, via the portable, hand-held apparatus, to administer future tests according to a third schedule different from the first schedule in response to analyzing the non-medication related data.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising communicating the third schedule to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising communicating the data received from the patient to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
modifying the patient-administered medication regimen, via the portable, hand-held apparatus, in response to receiving the non-medication related data; and
communicating the modified patient-administered medication regimen to the patient via the portable, hand-held apparatus.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of communicating the modified patient-administered medication regimen to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, cancer, depression, high blood pressure, seizure disorders, and thrombosis.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the patient communicates with the apparatus via a communications network.
13. A portable, hand-held apparatus for monitoring disease therapy of a patient, wherein the disease therapy includes a patient-administered medication regimen and a patient-administered regimen for a test that monitors efficacy of the medication regimen, wherein the test is administered by the patient according to a first schedule, wherein the portable, hand-held apparatus comprises:
a processor;
computer code executable by the processor that receives and analyzes information regarding patient compliance with the patient-administered medication and test regimens;
computer code executable by the processor that modifies the patient-administered medication and test regimens;
computer code executable by the processor that directs the patient to administer future tests according to a second schedule different from the first schedule in response to determining that the received test results are within or not within a desired range, wherein the second schedule has a frequency of administration that is lower in value than a frequency of administration of the first schedule when the received test results are within a desired range, and wherein the second schedule has a frequency of administration that is higher in value than a frequency of administration of the first schedule when the received test results are not within a desired range;
computer code executable by the processor that receives non-medication related data from a patient, wherein the non-medication related patient data includes at least one of physiological data, pathophysiological data, biological data, psychological data, neuropsychological data, and behavioral data; and
computer code executable by the processor that analyzes the received non-medication related data to determine if a change is necessary to the patient-administered medication regimen and/or to the patient-administered test regimen.
14. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates the second schedule to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
15. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates the received test results to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
16. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:
computer code executable by the processor that modifies the patient-administered medication regimen in response to determining that the received test results are within or not within a desired range; and
computer code executable by the processor that communicates the modified patient-administered medication regimen to the patient.
17. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates the modified patient-administered medication regimen to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
18. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:
computer code executable by the processor that directs the patient to administer future tests according to a third schedule different from the first schedule in response to analyzing the non-medication related data.
19. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates the third schedule to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
20. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates the data received from the patient to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
21. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising:
computer code executable by the processor that modifies the patient-administered medication regimen in response to receiving the data; and
computer code executable by the processor that communicates the modified patient-administered medication regimen to the patient.
22. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates the modified patient-administered medication regimen to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
23. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, cancer, depression, high blood pressure, seizure disorders, and thrombosis.
24. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein a patient is required to log on to the apparatus and provide information to the apparatus according to a first log on schedule, and further comprising:
computer code executable by the processor that receives information from a patient that indicates that a disease condition of the patient has changed; and
computer code executable by the processor that directs the patient to provide future information to the apparatus according to a second log on schedule that is different from the first log on schedule, in response to receiving information from the patient that a disease condition has changed.
25. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising computer code executable by the processor that communicates information received from the patient to a healthcare provider via a communications network.
26. The portable, hand-held apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the patient information includes at least one of physiological data, pathophysiological data, biological data, psychological data, neuropsychological data, and behavioral data.