Medical workstation with integrated support of process steps

Abstract

A device (13) is provided for use with a treatment device for treating a patient. The device (13) includes a detection device (17) for detecting at least one transition of the patient's treatment from a first phase of treatment to a second phase of treatment. A signal device (25) for sending at least one signal when the transition is detected. It proposes, furthermore, a workstation equipped herewith.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2008 034 243.3 filed Jul. 23, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to a device for use with a treatment device for treating a patient pertains as well as to a workstation with a plurality of treating devices and / or monitoring devices for the treatment and / or monitoring of the patient.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Modern workstations for the treatment of patients, for example, in the area of anesthesia, intensive care or neonatology, are known from practice. These workstations are characterized by high requirements imposed on the integration of devices used simultaneously or with one another. Thus, a number of devices, such as patient monitors, drug pumps, documentation systems and others are regularly connected functionally into one integra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved device for supporting the user in charge of treating the patient.

[0013]Thus, a device with a display means for displaying the phase of treatment in which the patient is at a defined point in time is proposed in a preferred embodiment. This point in time may already be in the past, or it may pertain to the current point in time of polling or to a point in time in the future. The history of the treatment as well as expected treatment events such as phase transitions can thus be displayed by means of the display means. The knowledge of the treatment phase in which the patient is at the given point in time (displayed, for example, by the display means) makes it possible for the treating person to make a comparatively simple classification or rating of parameter values. Thus, a defined parameter value may be unusual for a first phase of treatment but usual for a second phase of treatment. If the phase of treatment of the patient during which the parameter had a defined parameter value is displayed to the treating person, deviations of the parameter can be determined more easily and countermeasures can possibly be initiated sooner.

[0017]In yet another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the device has a data bank means for storing work flows, e.g., SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in a comprehensive manner. All the possibly parametrized actions and SOPs, which are carried out at the time of a phase transition or a transition from one state to another, can be defined in such a work flow data bank. For example, all ECG (electrocardiogram) alarms can be switched off or suspended following activation of the heart-lung machine. The data bank may contain meaningful presettings provided by the manufacturer, which can counteract erroneous setting and contribute to increased safety. The data bank may be designed such that it can be adjusted by the user to any desired standards, including local ones (SOPs) and norms with suitable tools. Whether or not a confirmation by the user is necessary before the action is carried out may possibly also be stored in the data bank. For example, it would be possible to specify that a message is sent to the operating room cleaning team without checking at the time of transition into the phase of emergence from an anesthesia. Besides the definition of a standard setting, the data bank may also have sets of settings, which are specific of certain interventions.

[0019]The advantages that can be obtained according to the present invention comprise, among other things, optimal support of the person treating the patient and a general improvement in operating convenience.

[0020]Furthermore, the patient's safety is markedly increased compared to the extent hitherto common in practice. Improved safety of the patient and checking by the user, among other things, by the acknowledgment mechanism described, can thus be guaranteed. The number of human interactions necessary during a phase transition can be limited to a minimum. Operating convenience is increased while the probability of operating errors is minimized at the same time.

[0021]Furthermore, a positive effect on quality and efficiency can be achieved due to more standardized procedures (SOPs—Standard Operating Procedures) by means of the technical support of the treating person by the device according to the present invention. The present invention advantageously contributes, furthermore, to documentation, for example, in connection with surgical procedures, because phase transitions are already detected by the device and their occurrence only needs to be stored. This also applies to the processes brought about by the signal sent or to transmitted information. Furthermore, SOPs can be technically supported. Standardization and hence quality assurance of anesthesia can likewise be promoted. Higher-level work flows of the hospital can be triggered or supported by connecting external IT systems. A work flow data bank that can be freely configured offers the needed flexibility to add, adjust or update standards. The workstation documentation and especially the anesthesia documentation can be automatically complemented with information on the phase identification.

Problems solved by technology

Other adjustments, for example, the adjustment of the alarm settings, are often neglected because of the complicated and uncomfortable operation.

This may lead to undesired behavior of the device.

However, dangerous situations may occur as well, because important interactions, such as reactivation of the alarms of hemodynamic monitoring after the termination of the operation of the heart-lung machine, were forgotten or were not executed for other reasons.

Thus, the insufficient technical support does not prevent erroneous human behavior, which represents a considerable safety risk.

This makes it difficult to improve quality by means of standardized procedures.

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