Hospital reservation system, hospital reservation program, and hospital reservation method

Abstract

To provide a novel technique allowing sharing information related to a reservation for medical examination.SOLUTION: In a hospital reservation system that receives a reservation for procedures in a hospital, a hospital reservation device 2 comprises reservation information receiving means, notification means 207, and a hospital reservation database DB 2. The reservation information receiving means registers, in the database from a terminal of a medical examinee (user terminal 4) or a terminal in the hospital, reservation information to which the reservation date is set and the terminal of the medical examinee is linked. The notification means performs notification to the terminal of the medical examinee on the basis of the reservation date.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Conventionally, there exists a technology that uses reservation information and location information to check a client into a reserved medical facility. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses that "as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the application server 32 displays a "Check-in" input button on the display unit 68 of the communication terminal 60" (paragraph 0071), and that "the Web reservation system 30 may recognize that a client has visited a medical facility based on specified information transmitted from the communication terminal 60 to the Web reservation system 30 (for example, location information of the communication terminal 60)" (paragraph 0071). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-023545 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses displaying a button that enables check-in to the hospital around the reservation time based on the hospital's reservation information. However, since only the reservation time is used, check-in is possible even if the patient is at home, far from the hospital. Furthermore, automatic check-in based on location information is disclosed. However, Patent Document 1 has a problem in that patients forget the reservation date and are unable to check-in in the first place. In addition, even if check-in is possible, there is a problem in that the patient cannot be examined if the insurance qualification has expired or if a prohibited action has been taken before the examination.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel technique that enables information sharing related to medical appointments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hospital reservation system for accepting appointments, comprising: The hospital reservation system includes a reservation information receiving means, a notification means, and a database, The reservation information receiving means receives a reservation date and time from a patient's terminal or a terminal in the hospital, and registers reservation information linked to the patient's terminal in the database; The notification means notifies the patient's terminal based on the appointment date and time.

[0007] The present invention also provides a hospital reservation program for accepting a medical examination reservation, comprising: A computer is caused to function as a reservation information receiving means, a notification means, and a database; The reservation information receiving means receives a reservation date and time from a patient's terminal or a terminal in the hospital, and registers reservation information linked to the patient's terminal in the database; The notification means notifies the patient's terminal based on the appointment date and time.

[0008] The present invention also provides a hospital reservation method for accepting a medical examination reservation, comprising the steps of: A hospital reservation method having a database includes a reservation information receiving step and a notification step, In the reservation information receiving step, a reservation date and time is set from the patient's terminal or a terminal in the hospital, and reservation information linked to the patient's terminal is registered in the database; In the notification step, a notification is sent to the patient's terminal based on the appointment date and time.

[0009] With this configuration, the patient can receive a notification of the appointment based on the appointment date and time, and can therefore not forget to visit the clinic.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reservation information includes tentative reservation information and final reservation information, The reservation information receiving means registers a plurality of pieces of reservation information, each having a different reservation date and time, in the database from a terminal in the hospital, The notification means notifies the patient's terminal of the appointment based on the provisional appointment information, The final reservation information based on the provisional reservation information selected from the patient's terminal is registered in the database.

[0011] With this configuration, the patient can confirm the appointment at a date and time when he or she can definitely receive the examination.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database stores insurance eligibility verification information for patients; The notification means issues a notification regarding insurance qualification confirmation based on the insurance qualification certificate confirmation information and the reservation information.

[0013] With this configuration, notifications regarding medical appointments can be sent according to the contents of the health insurance certificate confirmation information.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reservation information is linked to examination information, The notification means notifies the examinee's terminal based on the examination information and the appointment date and time.

[0015] With this configuration, notification regarding examination reservations can be given according to the contents of the examination information.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system includes an examination sequence updating means, The examination order update means determines examination order information of examinees who undergo a plurality of examinations based on examination reservation information of the examinees for each examination, The notification means issues a notification to the examinee's terminal based on the test order information.

[0017] With this configuration, the examination order information of a patient who undergoes multiple examinations can be determined using the examination reservation information of the multiple patients, thereby reducing the waiting time for the examinations.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system includes a plurality of examination management devices and an examination order updating means, The plurality of examination management devices manage examination reservation information including examination reservations of a plurality of examinees for each examination; The examination order update means updates the examination order information for the second examinee based on the examination status of the examination order information for the first examinee and the examination reservation information of each examination, An instruction to update the examination reservation information is transmitted to the examination management apparatus based on the updated examination order information.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the examination management device receives the examination status of the examination order information for the first examinee, and updates the examination reservation information for an examination that has been changed among the examination statuses based on the examination status; The examination order updating means updates the examination order information for the second examinee based on the examination reservation information for each of the examinations including the updated examination reservation information.

[0020] With this configuration, the order of examinations for the second examinee can be updated according to the contents of the examination status of the first examinee. In addition, by transmitting the updated examination order information to the examination management device, the examination reservation information of the examination management device can also be updated. This makes it possible to flexibly change the examination order of examinees in response to changes in the examination status of other examinees.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system further comprises a reservation information reference means, a location information comparison means, and an output means, The database stores location information of the hospital and the reservation information, The reservation information reference means refers to reservation information linked to the patient, The location information matching means receives a current location of the user and matches the current location of the user with location information of the hospital; The output means performs output corresponding to the result of the reference to the reservation information and the result of the comparison of the position information.

[0022] With this configuration, it is possible to refer to reservation information and compare location information, thereby simplifying the appropriate check-in procedure at the hospital.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database further stores a message corresponding to the result of the reservation information lookup or the result of the location information matched to the matched result, The reference to the reservation information is a reference to whether or not reservation information linked to the patient exists, The collation of the location information is a collation as to whether or not the current location of the user is within a range of a latitude, a longitude, or a radius that is preset from the location information of the hospital; The output means further comprises: If the reservation information exists in the reference and is included within the range in the comparison, a message corresponding to the comparison result and an interface for accepting a check-in corresponding to the reservation information are output. If the reservation information does not exist in the reference or is not within the range in the comparison, a message corresponding to the comparison result is output.

[0024] With this configuration, an appropriate message can be presented to the user, making it possible to simplify and ensure proper check-in procedures at the hospital.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system further comprises a patient selection receiving means, The database further stores the patient in association with the user, The patient selection receiving means receives a selection of the patient, The reservation information reference means further references reservation information linked to the selected patient.

[0026] This configuration makes it possible to manage the reservations of multiple patients, and simplifies the check-in procedure at the hospital.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interface simultaneously accepts check-ins corresponding to a plurality of pieces of reservation information linked to the patient.

[0028] With this configuration, check-in can be performed for multiple reservations, making it possible to simplify and appropriately check-in procedures at hospitals.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system further comprises a patient selection receiving means, The database further stores the patient in association with the user, The patient selection receiving means receives a selection of the patient, The interface further simultaneously accepts check-ins corresponding to multiple appointment information associated with the selected patient.

[0030] With this configuration, check-in can be performed for multiple appointments of patients, making it possible to simplify and appropriately check-in procedures at the hospital.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system further comprises a current location acquisition means, The current location acquisition means further acquires the current location of the user at regular intervals, The location information checking means further checks whether the current location of the user is within a range of a predetermined latitude, longitude or radius from the location information of the hospital; The current location acquisition means further stops acquisition of the user's current location when it is verified that the user's current location is included within the range.

[0032] With this configuration, location information can be collated periodically, making it possible to simplify and ensure proper check-in procedures at hospitals.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the current location acquisition means a current location acquisition request means for requesting acquisition of the current location of the user; a current location periodic acquisition means for acquiring the current location of the user at regular intervals in response to the request, The current location periodic acquisition means further acquires the current location of the user even after the acquisition of the current location of the user has been stopped, when the request is received.

[0034] With this configuration, location information can be collated periodically upon request, making it possible to simplify and ensure proper check-in procedures at hospitals.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system further comprises a deferred payment receiving means, The deferred payment receiving means receives deferred payment of the medical fee of the patient, The database stores information indicating that the deferred payment has been accepted, in association with the patient's reservation information.

[0036] This configuration allows the user to pay for medical treatment later, making it possible to simplify and ensure proper payment procedures at the hospital.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database further stores payment information associated with the user, The deferred payment accepting means further uses the payment information to settle the deferred payment of the medical examination fee of the patient.

[0038] This configuration allows the user to register information for deferred payment of medical fees, making it possible to simplify appropriate payment procedures at hospitals.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hospital reservation system further comprises: The database further stores information on the hospital's available hours of operation, The reception available time information checking means checks a current time against the reception available time information, The output means further outputs an output corresponding to a result of the comparison of the reception available time information.

[0040] With this configuration, check-in can be performed at a set time, making it possible to simplify and appropriately check-in procedures at the hospital. Effect of the Invention

[0041] According to the present invention, a novel technique is provided that enables information sharing related to medical appointment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hospital reservation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a hospital reservation device, a hospital management device, and a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a database according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a database according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 4 is a screen display example according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]1 is a flow chart for hospital check-in according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of a hospital reservation system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process for updating inspection order information according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] (Embodiment 1) The hospital reservation system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, and various configurations can be adopted.

[0044] For example, the configuration, operation, etc. of a hospital reservation system will be described in this embodiment, but methods, devices, programs, storage media, etc. with similar configurations can also achieve similar effects. The program may be stored in a storage medium. By using this storage medium, the program can be installed in, for example, a computer. Here, the storage medium storing the program may be a non-transitory storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0045] The present invention can be used in hospitals to accept check-in of patients. Check-in can be accepted at hospitals of any size, including university hospitals and privately run hospitals.

[0046] In this embodiment, check-in is possible from a terminal device owned by the patient via the network, so that the patient can check in from inside their own car parked in the hospital parking lot, without having to enter the hospital.

[0047] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a hospital reservation system in this embodiment. In this embodiment, a hospital reservation device 2 and a user terminal 4 are communicatively connected via a network NW, and the hospital reservation device 2 is connected to a hospital management device 3 via a local area network. The hospital reservation device 2 is connected, via wired or wireless connection, to a hospital reservation database DB2 that manages hospital information, reservation information, etc., and the hospital management device 3 is connected, via wired or wireless connection, to a hospital management database DB3 that manages patient information, reservation information, etc.

[0048] The hospital reservation device 2 is composed of one or more servers. When the hospital reservation device 2 is composed of more than one server, it is composed of, for example, a gateway server connected to the hospital management device 3 and a cloud server connected to the user terminal 4. The cloud server may be, for example, a virtual server that can be constructed by AWS (registered trademark). The gateway server polls AWS at regular intervals to obtain information. When using a virtual server of AWS, the hospital reservation system 1 does not have the hospital reservation database DB2, and may have information such as the user's current location in AWS.

[0049] In this embodiment, the hospital reservation device 2 and the hospital management device 3, which are partly or entirely contained in the hospital's local area network, are collectively referred to as a hospital device 8, and the hospital device 8 includes hardware and functional components as shown in Fig. 2(a). That is, the hospital device 8 includes, as hardware components, an arithmetic device (CPU (Central Processing Unit)) 81 and a main storage device (RAM (Random Access Memory)) 82 as a working memory.

[0050] The hospital device 8 further includes an auxiliary storage device 83 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or flash memory that rewritably stores an OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information (including data), a communication control unit 84, and a communication interface (IF) unit 85 such as a NIC (Network Interface Card).

[0051] The terminal device 9 (user terminal 4) includes hardware and functional components as shown in Fig. 2(b). The terminal device 9 includes, as hardware components, a processor (CPU) 91 and a main memory device (RAM) 92 as a working memory.

[0052] The terminal device 9 further includes an auxiliary storage device 93 such as an HDD, SSD, or flash memory that rewritably stores an OS, application programs, and various information (including data), a communication control unit 94, a communication interface (IF) unit 95 such as a NIC, a display control unit 96, a display unit 97, an information input / designation unit 98, and a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) module 99, etc.

[0053] In this embodiment, as an example, the user terminal 4 is a smartphone, and a dedicated application is installed on the smartphone. The user transmits his / her current location to the hospital reservation device 2 using the dedicated application downloaded to his / her smartphone to check in at the hospital. The hospital reservation device 2 accepts a request to refer to reservation information, the user's current location, etc., via the dedicated application of the user terminal 4.

[0054] The hospital reservation device 2 includes a reservation information receiving means 201 , a reservation information reference means 202 , a position information checking means 203 , an output means 204 , a check-in reception means 205 , and an acceptable time information checking means 206 .

[0055] The hospital management device 3 includes a reservation information sending means 301 , a check-in result receiving means 302 , and a deferred payment receiving means 303 .

[0056] The user terminal 4 includes a current location acquiring means 401 and a patient selection receiving means 402. The current location acquiring means 401 further includes a current location acquisition request means 401a and a current location periodic acquiring means 401b.

[0057] The reservation information sending means 301 sends the reservation information stored in the hospital management database DB3 to the reservation information receiving means 201. After the user visits the hospital, the reservation information is input by hospital personnel such as medical office staff and nurses via the hospital management device 3 and stored in the hospital management database DB3. FIG. 3(b) is an example of reservation information stored in the hospital management database DB3. In this embodiment, the reservation information includes a patient ID for identifying the patient, the medical department that the patient plans to visit at the hospital, the appointment time that the patient has booked, status information indicating whether or not the patient has been accepted (checked in), information indicating that the patient is visiting for the first time, information indicating that the health insurance card has not been confirmed, and the like. The patient ID may be a patient card number.

[0058] The reservation information transmitting means 301 may transmit reservation information to the reservation information receiving means 201 at any time, or may transmit the reservation information periodically. When transmitting periodically, possible transmissions include transmission at a specific time in the morning, or transmission at fixed time intervals. In this embodiment, the reservation information transmitting means 301 transmits reservation information periodically, and the reservation information receiving means 201 stores the received reservation information in the hospital reservation database DB2. Also, when the reservation information reference means 202 references the reservation information, it may request the reservation information from the hospital management device 3, and the reservation information transmitting means 301 may transmit the reservation information.

[0059] When the reservation information reference means 202 receives a reference request for reservation information via a user terminal, it references the reservation information linked to the patient. In this embodiment, it references the hospital reservation database DB2 to see whether reservation information linked to the patient exists. The user terminal 4 transmits the reference request for reservation information to the reservation information reference means 202 via a downloaded dedicated application. For example, it is considered that the reference request is transmitted by pressing a specific button in the dedicated application.

[0060] The output means 204 performs output corresponding to the reference result of the appointment information reference means 202. FIG. 4 is an example of output corresponding to various results. By storing outputs corresponding to various results in the hospital appointment database DB2 as shown in FIG. 4, any output can be performed. For example, if the appointment information reference means 202 is unable to reference the hospital appointment database DB2, it outputs a message regarding a system error (status ID: 05). Also, if the appointment information reference means 202 references the hospital appointment database DB2 and determines that no appointment information exists, it outputs a message indicating that no appointment exists (status ID: 04-1).

[0061] When the appointment information reference means 202 references that appointment information linked to the examinee exists, the output means 204 displays a screen such as that shown in FIG.

[0062] The current location acquisition means 401 acquires the current location of the user via the GNSS module 99. In this embodiment, the current location acquisition means 401 transmits the acquired current location to the position information matching means 203. For example, the current location acquisition means 401 acquires the current location by pressing a specific button in a dedicated application.

[0063] The current location acquisition means 401 may further include a current location periodic acquisition means 401b that acquires the user's current location at regular intervals upon receiving a request from the current location acquisition request means 401a. By acquiring the user's current location at regular intervals and transmitting it to the hospital reservation device 2, the user can check in without having to reload the screen many times. Specifically, when the user presses a specific button on the user terminal 4, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 5(a) is displayed, and the current location acquisition request means 401a requests the current location periodic acquisition means 401b to acquire the current location. Based on the current location acquisition request from the current location acquisition request means 401a, the current location periodic acquisition means 401b periodically acquires the current location while the screen of FIG. 5(a) is displayed, and transmits it to the position information matching means 203.

[0064] The location information checking means 203 receives the user's current location via the user terminal and checks the user's current location against the location information of the hospital. The location information checking means 203 checks by referring to the location information of the hospital stored in the hospital reservation database DB2. In this embodiment, the hospital reservation database DB2 stores information such as the location information of the hospital and the hospital's reception hours as shown in FIG. 3(c). The location information checking means 203 checks whether the user is included within a specific radius from the stored address. In addition, a plurality of specific combinations of longitude and latitude may be stored, and whether the user is included within a range connecting the specific combinations of latitude and longitude may be checked.

[0065] In this embodiment, the hospital reservation device 2 includes the location information matching means 203, but the user terminal 4 may also include a location information matching means and perform location information matching. In this case, the location information matching means performs location information matching using the hospital location information stored in a storage unit of the user terminal 4, such as the auxiliary storage device 93, and the current location acquired by the current location acquisition means 401.

[0066] The output means 204 performs output, for example, as shown in FIG. 5(a) or (b) according to the result of the comparison by the location information comparison means 203. FIG. 5(a) shows a case where the user's current location is not included in the range of the location information, and an interface for accepting check-ins is output but not enabled. FIG. 5(b) shows a case where the user's current location is included in the range of the location information, and the output means 204 outputs an interface for accepting enabled check-ins. Check-ins corresponding to multiple appointment information linked to a patient may be simultaneously accepted via the interface for accepting check-ins. For example, a large hospital such as a university hospital has multiple medical departments, and a patient may have appointments with multiple medical departments at the same hospital on the same day.

[0067] The current location periodic acquisition means 401b may stop acquiring the user's current location under a predetermined condition. In this embodiment, the current location periodic acquisition means 401b stops acquiring the user's current location when the location information comparison means 203 compares that the user's current location is included in a specific range. In addition, the current location periodic acquisition means 401b may stop acquiring the user's current location when the output means 204 enables an interface that accepts check-ins. Even after stopping the acquisition of the user's current location, the current location periodic acquisition means 401b acquires the user's current location when it receives a request for acquiring the current location from the current location acquisition request means 401a. By displaying a screen such as that shown in FIG. 5(a), the current location acquisition request means 401a requests the current location periodic acquisition means 401b to acquire the current location.

[0068] The patient selection receiving means 402 may receive the selection of a patient via a user terminal. As shown in FIG. 3(a), a patient ID (e.g., a patient card number or a patient number assigned by the hospital) is assigned to each patient at the hospital, and the patient's personal information is stored in association with the patient ID. Furthermore, a user ID is assigned to the user terminal 4 or the user's email address or the like required for downloading a dedicated application, and the patient ID is stored in association with the user ID as shown in FIG. 3(d), allowing the user to select a patient. It is assumed that a user manages the reservations of multiple people. For example, it is assumed that the user of the application is a parent with a small child, and that the user manages the reservations of himself / herself and his / her child.

[0069] The appointment information reference means 202 refers to the hospital appointment database DB2, and refers to the appointment information linked to the patient whose selection has been accepted by the patient selection acceptance means 402.

[0070] The output means 204 outputs an interface for checking in a patient whose selection has been accepted by the patient selection accepting means 402. For example, the user checks in corresponding to all reservation information for the day via a "revisit acceptance" interface as shown in Fig. 5(f) output by the output means 204.

[0071] The deferred payment receiving means 303 receives deferred payment of the consultation fee from the patient. The hospital management device 3 may further be connected to a kiosk terminal present in the hospital. The kiosk terminal is also included in the hospital's local area network. The deferred payment receiving means 303 receives deferred payment via the user's operation of the kiosk terminal. The deferred payment receiving means 303 links information indicating that deferred payment has been received to the patient's reservation information and stores it in the hospital management database DB3. In addition, deferred payment may be received from the user terminal 4 via the hospital reservation device 2 without operating the kiosk terminal.

[0072] The hospital reservation database DB2 or the hospital management database DB3 may store payment information linked to a user. The payment information is information to be used for post-payment, and may be a credit card number or the like. Post-payment is made possible by storing the payment information linked to a user, as shown in FIG. 3(e). Since the payment information is stored linked to a user, if multiple patients are stored linked to a user, post-payment of consultation fees for multiple patients becomes possible.

[0073] The available reception time information checking means 206 checks the current time against the available reception time information. The available reception time information is a time period during which a patient can check in for a reservation, and can be checked by storing the available reception time information or reservation reception time information in the hospital reservation database DB2 as shown in Fig. 3(c).

[0074] The available time information is the time period during which patients can check in to the hospital. In FIG. 3(c), it is 8:05 to 15:30. The available reception time information checking means 206 checks whether the current time is within the available reception time information range of 8:05 to 15:30. For example, if the current time is 20:00, it is not within the range, so the output means 204 outputs a message (status ID: 01-3) indicating that it is outside the available reception time. The available reception time information can be set arbitrarily by the hospital or the like.

[0075] The reservation reception time information is a time period during which a patient can check in for a reservation based on the reservation time that the patient made. In FIG. 3(c), it is -30 minutes to +10 minutes. The reception available time information checking means 206 checks whether the current time is within the range of 8:30 to 9:10, which is derived from the reservation time information and the reservation reception time information, for a reservation with a reservation time of 9:00. For example, since the reservation time of reception number B00011 in FIG. 3(b) is 15:00, the user must check in between 14:30 and 15:10. Therefore, when the user tries to check in for the reservation of reception number B00011 at the current time of 15:30, since it is not within the range, the output means 204 outputs a message (status ID: 04-5) indicating that the reservation time is outside the reservation time, as shown in FIG. 5(e). The reservation reception time information can be arbitrarily set by the hospital, etc. In addition to the above, for example, there are cases where check-in is not possible after the reservation time, and there is no start time when check-in is possible. Alternatively, the hospital management device 3 may compare the current time with the reservation acceptance time information, transmit the result to the acceptance time information comparing means 206, and the output means 204 may output a message as shown in FIG. 5(e).

[0076] 6 is a flowchart relating to checking in to a hospital. In this embodiment, medical appointment information relating to an appointment for medical treatment is stored as the appointment information, and processing relating to check-in is executed. In step S 601 , the appointment information sending means 301 sends medical appointment information to the appointment information accepting means 201 .

[0077] In step S602, the appointment information receiving means 201 stores the received appointment information in the hospital appointment database DB2.

[0078] In step S603, the examinee selection receiving means 402 receives the selection of the examinee via the user terminal.

[0079] In step S604, a request is made to the appointment information reference means 202 to reference the medical appointment information of the examinee whose selection was accepted by the examinee selection accepting means 402 in step S603.

[0080] In step S605, the appointment information reference means 202 refers to the medical appointment information stored in the hospital appointment database DB2, and checks whether or not there is medical appointment information linked to the patient whose selection has been accepted by the patient selection accepting means 402.

[0081] In step S606, the output means 204 outputs a message corresponding to the reference result of the appointment information reference means 202. If there is no appointment information linked to the examinee whose selection has been accepted by the examinee selection accepting means 402, a message indicating that there is no appointment information is output. In addition, the appointment information contains information indicating a status such as accepted or not accepted, information indicating that the examinee is a first-time visitor, information indicating that the health insurance card has not been confirmed, etc., so the output means 204 outputs messages corresponding to these. If there is appointment information linked to the examinee whose selection has been accepted by the examinee selection accepting means 402, a message regarding the appointment information and location information is output as shown in FIG. 5(a). Furthermore, if there is appointment information linked to the examinee whose selection has been accepted by the examinee selection accepting means 402, but a procedure is required because it is a first-time visit, a message as shown in FIG. 5(d) is output.

[0082] In step S607, the current location acquisition means 401 acquires the user's current location.

[0083] In step S 608 , the current location acquisition means 401 transmits the acquired current location to the position information checking means 203 .

[0084] In step S609, the location information checking means 203 checks the received current location against the location information of the hospital stored in the hospital reservation database DB2.

[0085] In step S610, the output means 204 outputs a message or an interface corresponding to the result of the comparison by the location information comparison means 203. In this embodiment, if the user's current location is not within the range of the location information, a message is output indicating that the location information cannot be referenced or urging the user to move so as to be within the range, as shown in FIG. 5(a), and the interface for accepting check-in is not enabled. Also, if the user's current location is within the range of the location information, the interface for accepting check-in is enabled, as shown in FIG. 5(b). By pressing the enabled interface, an instruction to accept check-in can be sent via the user terminal.

[0086] In this embodiment, the process of Loop (steps S607 to S610) in Fig. 6 is performed by displaying the screen of Fig. 5(a) on the user terminal. That is, the current location of the user is acquired at regular intervals by the current location periodic acquisition means 401b, and the location information checking means 203 checks it. When the location information checking means 203 checks that the current location of the user is included within the range of the location information, the process of Loop (the process of the current location periodic acquisition means 401b acquiring the current location of the user at regular intervals) may be stopped.

[0087] Even after the loop processing has stopped, the loop processing (the process in which the current location periodic acquisition means 401b acquires the user's current location at regular intervals) may be restarted by reloading a screen such as that shown in Fig. 5(a) (the current location acquisition request means 401a requests the current location periodic acquisition means 401b to acquire the user's current location). Also, the processes in steps S607 to S609 may be performed on the user terminal.

[0088] In step S611, a check-in request is made via the enabled interface output by the output means 204. The user makes a check-in request by pressing the "revisit reception" button (interface that accepts check-ins).

[0089] In step S612, the check-in reception means 205 receives a check-in request via an enabled interface for receiving check-ins, and checks in the medical appointment information linked to the patient received by the patient selection reception means 402 in step S603.

[0090] In step S613, the output means 204 outputs a message corresponding to the result of check-in. The output means 204 may output a message indicating that the reception process is not complete and is still in progress, a message indicating that the reception ticket and reception process has been completed as shown in Fig. 5(c), or a message indicating a system error.

[0091] Furthermore, in step S613, the check-in reception means 205 transmits the check-in result to the check-in result reception means 302. The check-in result reception means 302 updates the medical appointment information stored in the check-in result hospital management database DB3 based on the received check-in result. For example, it is possible to update the status from "not accepted" to "accepted" and store the time of acceptance.

[0092] (Embodiment 2) Next, in the second embodiment, a case where a consultation appointment is made will be described. In the first embodiment, the appointment information stored in the hospital management database DB3 is stored in the hospital appointment database DB2, thereby enabling the patient to check in. In the second embodiment, a process is performed to store appointment information for medical treatment or examination in the database. In addition, the ID of the user terminal 4 or a dedicated application to which a notification is to be sent is stored in the database as a user ID linked to the patient ID.

[0093] FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of a hospital reservation system 1 in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the hospital reservation system 1 includes one or more examination management devices 5 in addition to a hospital reservation device 2, a hospital management device 3, and a user terminal 4 (patient terminal). The examination management device 5 is connected to the hospital management device 3 via a local area network. The multiple examination management devices 5 are also connected by wire or wirelessly to each of the examination reservation databases DB5 that manage examination reservation information and the like for each examination. Here, the examination management device 5 is composed of one or more devices that manage information about examinations in each examination department, and includes, for example, a specimen examination system, a physiological examination system, a clinical laboratory information system (LIS), a radiology information system (RIS), and a medical image management system (PACS).

[0094] Moreover, the hospital reservation device 2 in the second embodiment further includes a notification means 207 and an examination order update means 208 in addition to the functional configuration in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the examination order update means 208 is a functional configuration included in the hospital reservation device 2, but may be a functional configuration included in the hospital management device 3. In the following description, the system according to the present embodiment causes each functional configuration to function, and parts common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0095] The reservation information receiving means 201 receives input of reservation information for procedures at the hospital and registers it in a database. It receives input of reservation date and time from the patient's terminal (user terminal 4) or a terminal in the hospital (not shown), and registers the reservation information linked to the patient's terminal in the hospital management database DB3.

[0096] In this embodiment, the reservation information includes tentative reservation information and final reservation information, and the reservation information receiving means 201 registers multiple pieces of reservation information with different reservation dates and times set from terminals within the hospital in the hospital management database DB3, and registers final reservation information based on the selected tentative reservation information from the patient's terminal in the hospital management database DB3.

[0097] The notification means 207 issues a notification to the patient's terminal based on the reservation information. The notification means 207 issues a notification regarding the final reservation to the patient's terminal based on the provisional reservation information in the reservation information. In this embodiment, the notification means 207 issues a notification to the patient's terminal to encourage registration of final reservation information based on the provisional reservation information registered by the reservation information receiving means 201, and the reservation information receiving means 201 registers the final reservation information.

[0098] The notification means 207 also issues a notification regarding insurance qualification confirmation based on the reservation information and the insurance qualification certificate confirmation information. In this embodiment, insurance qualification certificate confirmation information indicating whether the examinee is qualified for insurance is stored in the hospital management database DB3, and the notification means 207 acquires the insurance qualification certificate confirmation information from the hospital management database DB3 based on the main reservation information of the examinee's reservation information, and issues a notification to the examinee's terminal based on the acquired insurance qualification certificate information.

[0099] Furthermore, the notification means 207 notifies the examinee's terminal based on the reservation date and time of the reservation information. In this embodiment, the reservation information is linked to the examination information, and the notification means 207 notifies the examinee's terminal based on the examination information and the reservation date and time. Here, the examination information is information related to the examination, and includes radiation information, physiological examination information, specimen examination information, endoscopic examination information, CT / contrast CT examination information, and MRI examination information. Specifically, for example, when an endoscopy examination is reserved, the notification means 207 notifies the examinee's terminal a predetermined time before the reservation date and time, as a precaution related to the examination, urging the examinee to refrain from eating until a predetermined time before the reservation date and time.

[0100] The notification means 207 also notifies the examinee's terminal based on test order information for multiple tests booked by one examinee. In this embodiment, the test order information includes one or more combinations of information identifying the test (test name or test ID), test time, and test status, and is linked to each examinee ID. The notification means 207 then notifies the user terminal 4 corresponding to the examinee ID of the information identifying the test and the test time based on the test time.

[0101] The examination order update means 208 determines examination order information for a patient who will undergo multiple examinations based on examination reservation information including examination reservations for multiple patients for each examination. In this embodiment, the examination order update means 208 updates the examination order information for a second patient based on the examination status of the examination order information for a first patient and the examination reservation information for each examination. Here, the examination reservation information is information indicating the examination schedule for each examination device, and includes multiple combinations of patients and examination reservation dates and times.

[0102] Hereinafter, a specific process for determining the test order information will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing a process for updating the test appointment information stored in advance in the test appointment database DB5 based on the test status of the first examinee, and then updating the test order information of the second examinee. Although Fig. 8 shows one test management device 5, it is assumed that an update instruction is sent to multiple test management devices 5 that are targets of the test appointment update. Furthermore, although one user terminal 4 is shown, it is assumed that a notification is sent to multiple user terminals 4 that are targets of the test order update.

[0103] In step S801, the examination management apparatus 5 receives examination order information of the first examinee. In this embodiment, the examination management apparatus 5 receives an examination status included in the examination order information of the first examinee. Here, the examination status includes, for example, extension, cancellation, and no change, and in the case of extension, an extension time may be included.

[0104] In step S802, the examination management device 5 updates the examination reservation information. In this embodiment, the examination management device 5 updates the examination reservation information registered in the examination reservation database DB5 based on the examination status accepted in step S801. Specifically, the examination management device 5 updates the examination reservation information for an examination whose examination status has been changed among the accepted examination statuses based on the accepted examination status. For example, when the examination status of the first examinee is canceled, the examination reservation of the third examinee is registered instead of the examination reservation of the first examinee. Also, when the examination status of the first examinee is extended, the examination reservation of the third examinee is registered with the examination reservation time changed based on the extended time.

[0105] In step S803, the examination management apparatus 5 transmits the updated examination reservation information to the hospital management apparatus 3. In this embodiment, the examination management apparatus 5 transmits the updated examination reservation information and the ID of the examination apparatus in association with each other.

[0106] In step S804, the hospital management device 3 updates the registered examination reservation information based on the received examination reservation information. In this embodiment, the hospital management database DB3 stores the examination reservation information for each examination device, and the hospital management device 3 updates the examination reservation information for the corresponding examination based on the ID of the examination device linked to the received examination reservation information.

[0107] In step S805, the hospital management device 3 transmits the examination reservation information of each examination to the examination order updating means 208. In this embodiment, the hospital management device 3 transmits the examination reservation information of each examination including the examination reservation information updated in step S804 to the examination order updating means 208. Note that the hospital management device 3 may transmit the examination reservation information to the examination order updating means 208 at the timing when the examination reservation information is updated, or may transmit the examination reservation information periodically.

[0108] In step S806, the examination order update means 208 updates the examination order information of the second examinee. In this embodiment, the examination order update means 208 inputs the examination reservation information for each examination, including the examination reservation information updated in step S804, into a known waiting time optimization model, and updates the examination order information of one or more second examinees.

[0109] In step S807, the notification means 207 notifies the terminal of the examinee of the updated examination order information. In this embodiment, the notification is sent to the terminal of the examinee linked to the updated examination order information.

[0110] In step S808, the examination order updating means 208 transmits an instruction to update the examination reservation information to the hospital management device 3. In this embodiment, the examination order updating means 208 transmits, as the update instruction, the examination apparatus that has updated the examination reservation date and time based on the examination order information of the second examinee, and the examination reservation date and time to the hospital management device 3.

[0111] In step S809, the hospital management device 3 updates the examination reservation information. In this embodiment, the hospital management device 3 updates the examination reservation information stored in the hospital management database DB3 based on the examination device for which the examination reservation date and time has been updated and the examination reservation date and time received in step S808.

[0112] In step S810, the hospital management device 3 transmits an instruction to update the examination reservation information based on the updated examination reservation information. In this embodiment, the hospital management device 3 transmits an instruction to update the examination reservation information to the examination device that performed the update of the examination reservation date and time received in step S808 and the examination management device 5 that manages the examination device based on the examination reservation date and time.

[0113] In this embodiment, the examination management device 5 directly receives the examination status of the first examinee from a user terminal such as a medical professional who operates the examination management device 5, but the examination status of the first examinee may be indirectly received from a terminal such as a medical professional who operates the hospital management device 3. Also, the examination status of the first examinee may be indirectly received from a user terminal 4 operated by the first examinee. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 1. Hospital reservation system 2. Hospital reservation device 201 Reservation information reception method 202 Reservation Information Reference Means 203 Location information matching means 204 Output Method 205 Check-in reception method 206 Acceptable time information matching means DB2 Hospital Bookings Database 3 Hospital Management Equipment 301 Reservation information transmission means 302 Check-in result reception method 303 Deferred payment acceptance method DB3 Hospital Administration Database 4. User terminal 401 Current location acquisition method 401a Current location acquisition request means 401b Current location periodic acquisition method 402 Patient selection reception method NW Communication network

Claims

1. A hospital reservation system that accepts appointments for medical examinations, The hospital reservation system includes a reservation information receiving means, a notification means, and a database, The reservation information receiving means receives a reservation date and time from a patient's terminal or a terminal in the hospital, and registers reservation information linked to the patient's terminal in the database; The notification means notifies the patient's terminal based on the appointment date and time. Hospital booking system.

2. The reservation information includes tentative reservation information and final reservation information, The reservation information receiving means registers a plurality of pieces of reservation information, each having a different reservation date and time, in the database from a terminal in the hospital, The notification means notifies the patient's terminal of the appointment based on the provisional appointment information, registering the final reservation information based on the selected provisional reservation information from the patient's terminal in the database; The hospital reservation system according to claim 1.

3. The database stores insurance eligibility verification information for patients; The notification means issues a notification regarding insurance qualification confirmation based on the insurance qualification certificate confirmation information and the reservation information. The hospital reservation system according to claim 1.

4. The reservation information is linked to examination information, The notification means notifies the patient's terminal based on the examination information and the appointment date and time. The hospital reservation system according to claim 1.

5. The hospital reservation system includes an examination order updating means, The examination order update means determines examination order information of examinees who undergo a plurality of examinations based on examination reservation information of the examinees for each examination, The notification means notifies the patient's terminal based on the test order information. The hospital reservation system according to claim 1.

6. The hospital reservation system includes a plurality of examination management devices and an examination order updating means, The plurality of examination management devices manage examination reservation information including examination reservations of a plurality of examinees for each examination; The examination order update means updates the examination order information for the second examinee based on the examination status of the examination order information for the first examinee and the examination reservation information of each examination, transmitting an instruction to the inspection management device to update the inspection reservation information based on the updated inspection order information; The hospital reservation system according to claim 1.

7. The examination management device receives the examination status of the examination order information for the first examinee, and updates the examination reservation information for an examination that has been changed among the examination statuses based on the examination status; The examination order update means updates the examination order information for the second examinee based on the examination reservation information for each of the examinations including the updated examination reservation information. The hospital reservation system according to claim 6.

8. The hospital reservation system further comprises a reservation information reference means, a location information comparison means, and an output means, The database stores hospital location information and the reservation information; The reservation information reference means refers to reservation information linked to the patient, The location information matching means receives a current location of the user and matches the current location of the user with location information of the hospital; the output means performs an output corresponding to the result of the reference to the reservation information and the result of the comparison of the location information. The hospital reservation system according to claim 1.

9. The database further stores a message corresponding to the reservation information reference result or the location information comparison result in association with the comparison result, The reference to the reservation information is a reference to whether or not reservation information linked to the patient exists, The collation of the location information is a collation as to whether or not the current location of the user is within a range of a latitude, a longitude, or a radius that is preset from the location information of the hospital; The output means further comprises: If the reservation information exists in the reference and is included within the range in the comparison, a message corresponding to the comparison result and an interface for accepting a check-in corresponding to the reservation information are output. If the reservation information does not exist in the reference or is not included in the range in the comparison, a message corresponding to the comparison result is output. The hospital reservation system according to claim 8.

10. The hospital reservation system further comprises a patient selection reception means, The database further stores the patient in association with the user, The patient selection receiving means receives a selection of the patient, The reservation information reference means further refers to reservation information associated with the selected patient. The hospital reservation system according to claim 9.

11. The interface simultaneously accepts check-ins corresponding to a plurality of reservation information items linked to the patient. The hospital reservation system according to claim 9.

12. The hospital reservation system further comprises a patient selection reception means, The database further stores the patient in association with the user, The patient selection receiving means receives a selection of the patient, The interface further simultaneously accepts check-ins corresponding to multiple reservation information associated with the selected patient. The hospital reservation system according to claim 11.

13. The hospital reservation system further includes a current location acquisition means, The current location acquisition means further acquires the current location of the user at regular intervals, The location information checking means further checks whether the current location of the user is within a range of a predetermined latitude, longitude or radius from the location information of the hospital; The current location acquisition means further stops acquisition of the current location of the user when the current location of the user is collated to be within the range. The hospital reservation system according to claim 8.

14. The current location acquisition means a current location acquisition request means for requesting acquisition of the current location of the user; a current location periodic acquisition means for acquiring the current location of the user at regular intervals in response to the request, The current location periodic acquisition means further acquires the current location of the user when the request is received, even after the acquisition of the current location of the user has been stopped. The hospital reservation system according to claim 13.

15. The hospital reservation system further includes a deferred payment receiving means, The deferred payment receiving means receives deferred payment of the medical fee of the patient, The database stores information indicating that the deferred payment has been accepted in association with the patient's reservation information. The hospital reservation system according to claim 9.

16. The database further stores payment information associated with the user; The deferred payment accepting means further uses the payment information to settle the deferred payment of the medical examination fee of the patient. The hospital reservation system according to claim 15.

17. The hospital reservation system further includes an available time information checking means, The database further stores information on the hospital's available hours of operation, The reception available time information checking means checks a current time against the reception available time information, The output means further outputs an output corresponding to a result of the comparison of the reception available time information. A hospital reservation system according to any one of claims 8 to 16.

18. A hospital reservation program for accepting appointments, comprising: A computer is caused to function as a reservation information receiving means, a notification means, and a database; The reservation information receiving means receives a reservation date and time from a patient's terminal or a terminal in the hospital, and registers reservation information linked to the patient's terminal in the database; The notification means notifies the patient's terminal based on the appointment date and time. Hospital appointment program.

19. A hospital reservation method for accepting a medical examination reservation, comprising: A hospital reservation method having a database includes a reservation information receiving step and a notification step, In the reservation information receiving step, a reservation date and time is set from the patient's terminal or a terminal in the hospital, and reservation information linked to the patient's terminal is registered in the database; In the notification step, a notification is sent to a terminal of the patient based on the appointment date and time. How to make a hospital reservation.

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