Patient search with common name data store

Abstract

Computerized systems and methods facilitate patient searches by identifying instances in which search input includes a common name that may return a large number of search results. A common name data store is generated that includes common names identified in a patient database. When a user enters search input into a patient search tool, the common name data store is queried to determine if the search input matches a common name. If so, a notification may be provided to the user to indicate the search input matches a common name. In some instances, a search may not be allowed on the patient database if the search input matches a common name.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related by subject matter to the invention disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket Number CRNI.205668), filed on even date herewith, entitled “PATIENT SEARCH QUALITY INDICATOR,” which is assigned or under obligation of assignment to the same entity as this application, and incorporated in this application by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]Managing patient records in a clinical computing environment has proven to be a challenging task. A health care system may have a number of facilities that each receives a large number of patients over a period of time, resulting in a significant number of patient records for the health care system. Given the number of patient records, it may be difficult for a user in the health care system to find the records for a particular patient. Often, clinical computing environments provide a patient search tool that allows users to enter search input to search for a particu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to techniques to improve patient search in clinical computing environments. In some embodiments, a common name data store is created that includes common names, including common first names, last names, and / or combinations of first and last names. The common names may be identified by querying a patient database and determining names that appear in the patient database more than a threshold number of times. When a user enters search input into a patient search tool, the common names data store may be queried to determine if the search input matches a common name. If so, a notification may be provided to the user to indicate the user has input a common name. In some cases, the user may be prevented from performing a search on the patient database using the search input.

Problems solved by technology

Managing patient records in a clinical computing environment has proven to be a challenging task.

Given the number of patient records, it may be difficult for a user in the health care system to find the records for a particular patient.

However, in some cases, the search input may be ambiguous, which may result in a large number of search results being returned or causing the search to take an amount of time that is unacceptable to the user performing the search.

If too many search results are returned, the user may inadvertently select the wrong patient record.

Alternatively, the user may not find the desired patient and create a new patient record, which may result in multiple patient records for a single patient.

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