Method for realizing patient priority operation in intelligent outpatient service scene
By configuring reserved appointment numbers and adjusting patient order in the smart outpatient system, the queuing process was optimized, which solved the problem of long waiting times for repeat patients or those who missed their appointments. This improved the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment, increased patient satisfaction, and reduced dissatisfaction.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410582929.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-11
AI Technical Summary
In existing smart clinic systems, the first-come-first-served ordering rule leads to longer waiting times for patients returning for follow-up visits or those who have missed their appointments, and the priority-based operation method may cause dissatisfaction among other patients.
By configuring reserved numbers in the smart outpatient platform, manually adjusting the patient's order number and entry time, prioritizing the insertion of repeat patients or those who missed their appointment, separating the morning and afternoon order numbers for independent sorting, and adjusting the position of reserved numbers to optimize the queuing process.
It effectively shortens the waiting time for patients who need follow-up visits or have missed their appointments, improves the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment, reduces patient dissatisfaction, and avoids confusion in the order of appointments and other patients' dissatisfaction.
Smart Images
Figure CN120932829A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device system technology, specifically a method for enabling patients to prioritize operations in a smart clinic setting. Background Technology
[0002] Existing smart outpatient systems typically employ a first-come, first-served queuing system, prioritizing patients based on their registration time. This method is simple and effective, avoiding chaos. Furthermore, smart outpatient systems also support priority processing, allowing patients requiring specific procedures to be moved directly to the front of the queue under certain circumstances.
[0003] Although existing smart clinic systems offer patient priority services, several issues remain in practical application. First, the first-come, first-served approach can lead to problems, such as follow-up patients or those who missed their appointments being placed behind a large number of first-time patients, preventing them from being seen promptly during doctors' working hours and requiring them to return for follow-up appointments. Second, when queues are long, having missed appointments re-enter can extend waiting times for these patients, causing dissatisfaction. Finally, the existing patient priority system may also cause dissatisfaction among other patients. For example, moving the patient requiring simultaneous care to the front of the queue could lead to complaints from other patients. Summary of the Invention
[0004] Technical problems to be solved To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a method for enabling priority operations for patients in a smart outpatient setting.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart outpatient setting, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Advance the process for patients in their initial consultation state; Step 2: Arrange for follow-up visits or patients who have missed their appointments to visit earlier; The specific steps of step 1 include: Step a: First, create a table to record whether the reserved number has been used. The is_use field is used to indicate whether it has been used. When it is 0, it is not used, and when it is 1, it has been used. Step b: Add a reserved number to the waiting area rule template module of the smart clinic platform. The reserved number that has been configured will not participate in the subsequent queue number generation. Step c: After the platform configuration, the triage desk in the waiting area can click on the patient in the initial consultation state, and then select the reserved number position to move to. At this time, while the patient's displayed number on the large screen remains unchanged, the patient's actual sorting number is modified to the selected reserved number, and then the reserved number becomes unusable, and is_use changes from 0 to 1. Step d: After the patient at the corresponding reserved number position has completed their consultation, is_use changes from 1 to 0, releasing the appointment slot. The specific steps of step 2 include: Step A: Establish patient serial numbers, which include: a display serial number for showing on the large screen, and an actual sorting serial number for sorting patients. Step B: Further display the sequence number of the architecture, which should include: "Patient status + the current patient's maximum sequence number plus one"; Step C: Confirm the patient's status through the platform; Step D: Query the sequence number of the corresponding patient status and add one to this value to get the content of the second part of the new sequence number; Step E: First, obtain the actual queue number of the specified patient to be inserted, and assign this queue number to the actual sorting number of the patient who needs to be moved. Step F: Modify the patient's enqueue time that needs to be moved. Add 1 second to the enqueue time of the specified inserted patient and then assign it to the modified enqueue time of the patient that needs to be moved. Step G: Obtain a new patient queue. First, sort the patients according to their actual order number. When patients with the same actual order number are encountered, sort them according to their entry time. This allows for priority processing of patients who are returning for follow-up visits or whose appointments have passed.
[0006] To avoid sorting confusion caused by different time periods, the present invention is improved by adopting an independent form in step A above when the patient's serial number is a serial number that distinguishes between morning and afternoon, that is, each one is re-sorted starting from number 1.
[0007] In order to enable patients who need to be operated on to receive treatment as soon as possible and improve the efficiency of treatment, the present invention has an improvement: in step E above, when multiple patients need to be operated on at the same time, the position of the reserved number can be adjusted to move the patients who need to be operated on to an appropriate position.
[0008] Preferably, in step b, the reserved number is less than the queue number.
[0009] Compared with existing technologies, this invention provides a method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart clinic setting, which has the following beneficial effects: In this smart clinic scenario, a method for prioritizing patient operations and optimizing queuing is implemented: This invention allows for the pre-reservation of several sequence numbers through configuration settings, which are not generated. This effectively optimizes queuing and avoids the problem of repeat patients or patients who have missed their appointments being placed behind a large number of first-time patients, thus preventing them from completing their consultations in a timely manner during the doctor's working hours. Improving patient satisfaction: This invention allows for manual insertion after a designated patient, and modifies the relevant sequence number to the form of "patient status + current status patient's maximum sequence number plus one". This can effectively shorten the waiting time for patients who have missed their turn and reduce patient dissatisfaction. To reduce dissatisfaction caused by prioritizing patients: When implementing the functions of moving and modifying sequence numbers, this invention considers the morning and afternoon time periods of the current system time. This avoids moving patients who need to be operated directly to the front of the current patient queue, thus preventing dissatisfaction from other patients. Attached Figure Description
[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the priority operation for newly diagnosed patients in this invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the priority operation for patients who have missed their appointment or are returning for a follow-up visit according to the structure of this invention; Detailed Implementation
[0011] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0012] Please see Figure 1-2 A method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart outpatient setting includes the following steps: Step 1: Advance the process for patients in their initial consultation state; Step 2: Arrange for follow-up visits or patients who have missed their appointments to visit earlier; The specific steps of step 1 include: Step a: First, create a table to record whether the reserved number has been used. The is_use field is used to indicate whether it has been used. When it is 0, it is not used, and when it is 1, it has been used. Step b: Add a reserved number configuration to the waiting area rules template module of the smart outpatient platform. This allows the hospital to configure reserved numbers independently, providing greater flexibility. Configured reserved numbers do not participate in subsequent queue number generation. For example, if the hospital configures reserved numbers 1-50 for the current waiting area, the first patient arriving that day will start with number 51, and so on. (The existing function of the waiting area rules template module is to determine whether patients in the waiting area can check in for all examinations in one go; the function of configuring reserved numbers is added first.) Step c: After platform configuration, the triage desk in the waiting area can click on patients in their initial consultation status and select the reserved number position to move them to. At this time, while the patient's displayed number on the large screen remains unchanged, the patient's actual sorting number is modified to the selected reserved number, thereby prioritizing initial consultation patients. (The triage desk is a platform for nurses to perform some basic operations, such as adding patients and referring patients.) Step d: When the nurse moves the first-time patient to position number five, the corresponding number five will be unavailable from the appointment pool (is_use changes from 0 to 1). After the patient at the number five has finished their consultation (is_use changes from 1 to 0), the appointment will be released for use, thus achieving priority operation for first-time patients. In step 2 above, a manual operation is used. The nurse selects the follow-up patient or the patient who missed their appointment at the triage desk and clicks the "Transfer" button. The entire patient queue will then be displayed. The nurse selects one patient and clicks "Confirm". The patient who needs to be moved will then be placed after the designated patient.
[0013] The specific steps of step 2 include: Step A: Establish patient serial numbers, which include: a display serial number for showing on the large screen, and an actual sorting serial number for sorting patients. Step B: Further display the sequence number of the architecture, which should include: "Patient status + the current patient's maximum sequence number plus one"; Step C: After the nurse clicks the "Confirm" button, the triage desk will send the information of the patient to be moved and the designated patient to the backend. First, confirm whether the patient's status is "follow-up visit" or "overdue appointment". For example, if the patient's status is "follow-up visit", then the patient's sequence number will be "follow-up visit + current maximum sequence number of patients + one". Step D: Query the patient information table to find the maximum sort number of the patient in this state. Add one to this value to get the new sort number. For example, if there are no patients in the current state in the patient queue, then "maximum sort number of the current state patient plus one" is 1. Therefore, the new sort number for the patient who needs to be moved is "follow-up visit 1". Step E: Next, the actual sorting number of the patient needs to be modified. First, obtain the actual queuing number of the patient to be inserted, and then assign this queuing number to the actual sorting number of the patient who needs to be moved. Step F: Next, the entry time of the patient to be moved needs to be modified. Add 1 second to the entry time of the patient to be inserted and then assign it to the modified entry time of the patient to be moved. For example: If the actual sorting number of the patient to be inserted is 51 and the entry time is 2024-03-14 15:01:21, then the actual sorting number of the patient to be moved is 51, and the entry time is 2024-03-14 15:01:22. Step G: Next, obtain a new patient queue. First, sort the patients according to their actual sorting number. When patients with the same actual sorting number are encountered, sort them according to their entry time. This allows for priority processing of patients who are returning for a follow-up visit or whose appointment has passed.
[0014] The present invention further provides the following embodiments: The patient whose status needs to be moved is in the "over-number" state. There is a designated patient to be inserted in the current "over-number" state: actual sorting number is 55, and enqueue time is 2024-03-14 16:22:05. Patient needs to be moved: Displaying the serial number "Passed Number 2"; The actual sorting number is 55; The time of joining the team was 2024-03-14 16:22:06; For serial numbers that differentiate between morning and afternoon, a separate approach should be adopted, meaning each should be reordered starting from number 1. When implementing the function to move and modify serial numbers, it is necessary to consider the morning / afternoon time slot of the current system time. This can avoid sorting confusion caused by different time slots.
[0015] When multiple patients need to be treated simultaneously, the reserved number positions can be adjusted to move the patient requiring treatment to a more suitable location, thus avoiding dissatisfaction among other patients. At the same time, adjusting the reserved number positions can also ensure that patients requiring treatment receive it as quickly as possible, improving treatment efficiency.
[0016] In step b, the reserved number is less than the queue number to ensure the displayed order.
[0017] To illustrate the possible application scenarios, technical principles, implementable specific solutions, and achievable objectives and effects of this application in detail, the following description, in conjunction with the listed specific embodiments and accompanying drawings, provides a detailed explanation. The embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of this application and are therefore intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.
[0018] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The term "embodiment" appearing in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it specifically limit its independence or connection with other embodiments. In principle, in this application, as long as there are no technical contradictions or conflicts, the technical features mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any way to form corresponding implementable technical solutions.
[0019] Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the use of related terms herein is merely for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit this application.
[0020] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart outpatient setting, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Advance the process for patients in their initial consultation state; Step 2: Arrange for follow-up visits or patients who have missed their appointments to visit earlier; The specific steps of step 1 include: Step a: First, create a table to record whether the reserved number has been used. The is_use field is used to indicate whether it has been used. When it is 0, it is not used, and when it is 1, it has been used. Step b: Add a reserved number to the waiting area rule template module of the smart clinic platform. The reserved number that has been configured will not participate in the subsequent queue number generation. Step c: After the platform configuration, the triage desk in the waiting area can click on the patient in the initial consultation state, and then select the reserved number position to move to. At this time, while the patient's displayed number on the large screen remains unchanged, the patient's actual sorting number is modified to the selected reserved number, and then the reserved number becomes unusable, and is_use changes from 0 to 1. Step d: After the patient at the corresponding reserved number position has completed their consultation, is_use changes from 1 to 0, releasing the appointment slot. The specific steps of step 2 include: Step A: Establish patient serial numbers, which include: a display serial number for showing on the large screen, and an actual sorting serial number for sorting patients. Step B: Further display the sequence number of the architecture, which should include: "Patient status + the current patient's maximum sequence number plus one"; Step C: Confirm the patient's status through the platform; Step D: Query the sequence number of the corresponding patient status and add one to this value to get the content of the second part of the new sequence number; Step E: First, obtain the actual queue number of the specified patient to be inserted, and assign this queue number to the actual sorting number of the patient who needs to be moved. Step F: Modify the patient's enqueue time that needs to be moved. Add 1 second to the enqueue time of the specified inserted patient and then assign it to the modified enqueue time of the patient that needs to be moved. Step G: Obtain a new patient queue. First, sort the patients according to their actual order number. When patients with the same actual order number are encountered, sort them according to their entry time. This allows for priority processing of patients who are returning for follow-up visits or whose appointments have passed.
2. The method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart outpatient setting according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step A above, when the patient's serial number is different for morning and afternoon, it is opened independently, that is, each patient is reordered starting from number 1.
3. The method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart outpatient setting according to claim 2, characterized in that: In step E above, when multiple patients need to be operated on simultaneously, the position of the reserved number can be adjusted to move the patients to the appropriate position.
4. The method for prioritizing patient operations in a smart outpatient setting according to claim 3, characterized in that: In step b, the reserved number is less than the queue number.