Information processing device, information processing method, program, and information processing system

Abstract

The aim is to reduce the workload associated with ordering products used in surgery. [Solution] The information processing device 3 according to this embodiment includes a storage unit 32 that stores product management data associated with registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products; an acquisition unit 331 that acquires surgical information indicating medical institutions and surgical procedures; a registered product identification unit 332 that identifies registered products associated with medical institutions and surgical procedures indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to the product management data; and an output unit 333 that outputs order information indicating the identified registered products as order candidates.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system for supporting an ordering business.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a WEB ordering and receiving system is known that eliminates human errors among dental clinics, users such as dental laboratories, and processing bases that process dental prostheses, enabling simple and efficient order placement and receipt (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the method described in Patent Document 1 above, since the person in charge at the dental clinic (medical institution) had to input detailed information about the products used in the surgery to place an order, there was a problem that the load related to the ordering business was large.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to reduce the load related to the ordering business of products used in surgery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores product management data associated with a registered medical institution, a registered surgical procedure, and a registered product; an acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating a medical institution and a surgical procedure; a registered product identification unit that identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and the surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to the product management data; and an output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order.

[0007] The product management data may also be associated with a registered surgeon, the acquisition unit may acquire surgical information that further indicates the surgeon, and the registered product identification unit may refer to the product management data to identify the medical institution, the surgical procedure, and the registered product associated with the surgeon indicated by the acquired surgical information.

[0008] The product management data may also be further associated with registered patient attributes, the acquisition unit may acquire surgical information that further indicates patient attributes, and the registered product identification unit may refer to the product management data to identify the medical institution, the surgical procedure, and the registered product associated with the patient attributes indicated by the acquired surgical information.

[0009] The information processing device may further include a product identification unit that identifies the registered products used in the surgery from among the delivered items by comparing information showing a list of delivered items which are the registered products delivered to the medical institution with information showing a list of unused products which are the registered products that were not used in the surgery, and the output unit may output information based on the used products.

[0010] The output unit may output confirmation information indicating whether the identified product used matches the registered product included in the image of the patient after the surgery.

[0011] The product management data may also be associated with the planned number of uses of the registered product, and the product identification unit may create the product management data by determining the planned number of uses of the registered product corresponding to the registered surgical procedure in which the product was used, based on the number of uses of the identified product.

[0012] The output unit may output the order information indicating the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit as order candidates for which the product used should be given priority in ordering.

[0013] The output unit may output order information that does not indicate the unused product as a candidate for order among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit.

[0014] The output unit may output the order information that indicates the used products and the unused products among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit as order candidates in different display modes.

[0015] The storage unit may store supplier data that associates the registered medical institution with the supplier that delivers the registered product to the medical institution. The output unit may refer to the supplier data to identify the supplier associated with the medical institution that transmitted the surgical information to the information processing device, and may send order confirmation information to the identified supplier indicating the ordered items determined based on the order candidates.

[0016] The storage unit may store delivery organization data associating the registered product with the delivery organization that delivers the registered product to the medical institution, and the output unit may refer to the delivery organization data to identify the delivery organization associated with the registered product identified by the registered product identification unit, and send order confirmation information indicating the ordered items confirmed based on the order candidates to the identified delivery organization.

[0017] A second aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing method which includes the steps of: obtaining surgical information indicating a medical institution and surgical procedure, performed by a computer; identifying the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to product management data which associates registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products; and outputting order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order.

[0018] An information processing program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes the processor of the information processing device to function as an acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating a medical institution and surgical procedure; a registered product identification unit that identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to product management data which associates a registered medical institution, a registered surgical procedure, and a registered product; and an output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order.

[0019] An information processing system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises an ordering terminal used by an ordering person at a medical institution, and an information processing device capable of sending and receiving data with the ordering terminal, wherein the information processing device has a storage unit that stores product management data associated with registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products, an acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating medical institutions and surgical procedures, a registered product identification unit that identifies the registered products associated with the medical institutions and surgical procedures indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to the product management data, and an output unit that outputs ordering information indicating the identified registered products as ordering candidates, and the ordering terminal has an ordering communication unit that transmits the surgical information to the information processing device and receives the ordering information from the information processing device.

[0020] An information processing system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes an order terminal used by an order person in a medical institution, a delivery terminal used by a delivery person in a delivery institution that delivers products to the medical institution, and an information processing device capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the order terminal and the delivery terminal. The information processing device includes a storage unit that stores product management data in which a registered medical institution, a registered surgical procedure, and a registered product are associated, an acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating a medical institution and a surgical procedure, a registered product identification unit that refers to the product management data and identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and the surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information, and an output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as an order candidate. The order terminal has an order communication unit that transmits the surgical information to the information processing device, and the delivery terminal has a delivery communication unit that receives the order information from the information processing device.

Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, there is an effect that the load related to the order business of products used in surgery can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an overview of an information processing system S according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of a digital order form. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing an example of a digital receipt confirmation form. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the order terminal 1. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the delivery terminal 2. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 3. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of product management data. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of usage record data. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of delivery institution data. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of the surgical information input screen displayed on ordering terminal 1. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of the order confirmation screen displayed on ordering terminal 1. [Figure 12] This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow executed by the information processing device 3. [Figure 13] This figure shows an overview of the information processing system S according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] This diagram shows an overview of the information processing system S according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overview of the information processing system S according to the first embodiment. The information processing system S is a system for supporting the process by which medical institutions order products used in surgery from suppliers. The products are, for example, products used in surgery, and specifically include medical devices, medical instruments, or medical supplies. The products may also be implanted in the patient's body, and specifically include artificial tooth roots (implants), artificial joints, artificial bones, or bolts.

[0024] A medical institution is, for example, a hospital capable of performing surgery. A supplier is, for example, an agent that delivers products purchased from a manufacturer to a medical institution. However, if a medical institution orders products directly from the manufacturer without going through an agent, the supplier may be the manufacturer. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the medical institution is a hospital, the supplier is an agent, and the product is an artificial tooth root (implant).

[0025] Traditionally, when medical institutions ordered products from suppliers, the ordering staff at the medical institution had to manually enter detailed information about the products used in surgery, which resulted in a heavy workload for the ordering process. Furthermore, if the ordering staff did not enter detailed product information, experienced staff at the supplier had to identify the products based on past delivery records and other factors, which also placed a heavy burden on the supplier.

[0026] Therefore, the information processing system S outputs order information indicating potential products to be ordered by the medical institution. This eliminates the need for the ordering staff to input detailed product information, thereby reducing the workload associated with product ordering. The information processing system S comprises an ordering terminal 1, a delivery terminal 2, and an information processing device 3.

[0027] Ordering terminal 1 is an information terminal used by the ordering person at the medical institution (for example, a nurse managing surgery), and is such as a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone. Delivery terminal 2 is an information terminal used by the delivery person at the supplying organization that delivers products to the medical institution, and is such as a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone. Information processing device 3 is a computer that creates order information indicating order candidates, and is such as a server. Information processing device 3 can send and receive data with ordering terminal 1 and delivery terminal 2. In addition, if an agency receives an order from a medical institution and places an order for products with the manufacturer, the information terminal used by the agency's sales representative may be ordering terminal 1, and the information terminal used by the manufacturer's delivery person may be delivery terminal 2.

[0028] The basic operation of the information processing system S will be explained below with reference to Figure 1. When an ordering person at a medical institution enters the details of a surgery into the ordering terminal 1, the ordering terminal 1 transmits surgical information to the information processing device 3, indicating the medical institution to which the ordering person belongs and the entered details of the surgery (e.g., implant placement). The information processing device 3 refers to product management data that associates registered medical institutions, registered surgical details, and registered products, and identifies the medical institution and registered products associated with the surgical details indicated by the received surgical information. Registered products are products that have been pre-registered as products to be used when a surgery corresponding to the registered surgical details is performed at the registered medical institution. The information processing device 3 transmits ordering information indicating the identified registered products as ordering candidates to the ordering terminal 1.

[0029] Ordering terminal 1 displays order candidates indicated by the received order information. The ordering person refers to the displayed order candidates and confirms the items to be ordered. Ordering terminal 1 transmits order confirmation information indicating the confirmed items to the information processing device 3. Information processing device 3 transmits the received order confirmation information to delivery terminal 2. As a result, the delivery person at the delivery institution can deliver the ordered items indicated by the order confirmation information to the medical institution.

[0030] As explained above, in the information processing system S, the ordering person only needs to select the desired product from the products displayed as ordering candidates to finalize the order, eliminating the need to input detailed information about the product to be ordered, as was done in the past. As a result, the workload associated with ordering products used in surgery can be reduced.

[0031] The information processing device 3 may generate a digital purchase order based on the received order confirmation information and send the generated digital purchase order to the delivery terminal 2. Figure 2 shows an example of a digital purchase order. The digital purchase order includes, for example, the ordering medical institution, the ordering person in charge, the ordered product, the order quantity, the desired delivery date, etc. By having the information processing device 3 generate a digital purchase order in this way, the ordering person in charge does not need to generate a purchase order, thus further reducing the workload related to ordering operations.

[0032] The information processing device 3 may generate a digital delivery confirmation form based on the received order confirmation information, allowing the delivery personnel of the supplying organization to confirm the delivery of goods to the medical institution, and transmit the generated digital delivery confirmation form to the delivery terminal 2. Figure 3 shows an example of a digital delivery confirmation form. The digital delivery confirmation form includes the destination medical institution, the delivery personnel, the delivered products, the number of delivered items, the delivery date, etc. By generating the digital delivery confirmation form in this way, the delivery personnel do not need to generate a delivery confirmation form, thus reducing the workload related to delivery operations.

[0033] [Configuration of Ordering Terminal 1] The configuration of the ordering terminal 1 will be described. Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of the ordering terminal 1. The ordering terminal 1 comprises an ordering communication unit 11, a display unit 12, an operation unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15. The control unit 15 comprises a display processing unit 151 and an operation reception unit 152.

[0034] The order communication unit 11 is a communication interface for communicating with the information processing device 3 via a communication network such as the Internet. The order communication unit 11 transmits surgical information, which indicates the medical institution and the details of the surgery, received from the operation reception unit 152, to the information processing device 3. The order communication unit 11 inputs order information, which indicates order candidates, received from the information processing device 3, into the display processing unit 151. The order communication unit 11 transmits order confirmation information, which indicates the confirmed ordered items based on the order candidates, received from the operation reception unit 152, to the information processing device 3.

[0035] The display unit 12 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The display unit 12 displays various information in accordance with the control of the display processing unit 151. The display unit 12 displays order candidates indicated by the order information. The operation unit 13 is a device that receives input from the ordering person, and is, for example, a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel.

[0036] The memory unit 14 is a storage medium including ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory unit 14 stores the program that the control unit 15 will execute. For example, the memory unit 14 stores a program that causes the control unit 15 to function as a display processing unit 151 and an operation reception unit 152.

[0037] The control unit 15 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 15 functions as a display processing unit 151 and an operation reception unit 152 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 14.

[0038] The display processing unit 151 displays various types of information on the display unit 12. For example, the display processing unit 151 displays order candidates indicated by order information input from the order communication unit 11 on the display unit 12.

[0039] The operation reception unit 152 receives the details of the surgery from the ordering person and inputs the surgery information, which includes the medical institution to which the ordering person belongs and the details of the surgery received, into the order communication unit 11. In addition, the operation reception unit 152 receives the confirmed order items from the ordering person based on the order candidates and inputs the order confirmation information, which includes the received order items, into the order communication unit 11.

[0040] [Configuration of Delivery Terminal 2] The configuration of the delivered terminal 2 will now be described. Figure 5 shows an example of the configuration of the delivered terminal 2. The delivered terminal 2 comprises a delivered communication unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25. The control unit 15 comprises a display processing unit 251 and an operation reception unit 252.

[0041] The delivery communication unit 21 is a communication interface for communicating with the information processing device 3 via a communication network such as the Internet. The delivery communication unit 21 inputs the order confirmation information received from the information processing device 3 into the display processing unit 251.

[0042] The display unit 22 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 22 displays various information in accordance with the control of the display processing unit 251. The display unit 22 displays the confirmed ordered items indicated by the order confirmation information. The operation unit 23 is a device that receives input from the delivery person, and is, for example, a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel.

[0043] The memory unit 24 is a storage medium including ROM and RAM. The memory unit 24 stores the program that the control unit 25 executes. For example, the memory unit 24 stores a program that causes the control unit 25 to function as a display processing unit 251 and an operation reception unit 252.

[0044] The control unit 25 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 25 functions as a display processing unit 251 and an operation reception unit 252 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 24.

[0045] The display processing unit 251 displays various types of information on the display unit 22. For example, the display processing unit 251 displays confirmed ordered items, indicated by order confirmation information input from the delivery communication unit 21, on the display unit 22.

[0046] The operation reception unit 252 receives various information entered by the delivery person and inputs the received information into the delivery communication unit 21.

[0047] [Configuration of Information Processing Device 3] The configuration of the information processing device 3 will now be described. Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of the information processing device 3. The information processing device 3 comprises a device communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33. The control unit 33 comprises an acquisition unit 331, a registered item identification unit 332, an output unit 333, and a used item identification unit 334.

[0048] The device communication unit 31 is a communication interface for communicating with the ordering terminal 1 and the delivery terminal 2 via a communication network such as the Internet. The device communication unit 31 inputs surgical information received from the ordering terminal 1 into the acquisition unit 331. The device communication unit 31 transmits the order information input from the output unit 333 to the ordering terminal 1. The device communication unit 31 inputs the order confirmation information received from the ordering terminal 1 into the output unit 333. The device communication unit 31 transmits the order confirmation information input from the output unit 333 to the delivery terminal 2.

[0049] The storage unit 32 is a storage medium including ROM and RAM. The storage unit 32 stores programs executed by the control unit 33. For example, the storage unit 32 stores information processing programs that cause the control unit 33 to function as an acquisition unit 331, a registered product identification unit 332, an output unit 333, and a used product identification unit 334. The storage unit 32 also stores product management data, usage history data, and delivery organization data.

[0050] Figure 7 shows an example of product management data. Product management data is a database for managing products by pre-registering products used in surgery (for example, by the purchasing manager at a medical institution). In product management data, the registered medical institution, registered surgery details, registered surgeon, registered patient attributes, registered product, planned number of registered products to be used, and inventory quantity are associated. Patient attributes are, for example, the patient's age, body type, sex, medical history, blood type, or constitution, which may influence the decision on which products to use in surgery. The planned number of registered products to be used is the number of registered products to be used in surgery. The planned number of registered products to be used is, for example, the number of registered products that the purchasing manager registered expecting to be used in surgery. The inventory quantity is the number of registered products currently in the medical institution.

[0051] Figure 8 shows an example of usage data. This data is used to manage the usage history of registered products and is updated each time a surgery is performed at a medical institution. The usage data is linked to the medical institution, the type of surgery, the surgeon, patient attributes, the date and time of the surgery, the product used, and the number of times the product was used.

[0052] Figure 9 shows an example of supplier data. Supplier data is a database used to manage, for example, which supplier is responsible for delivering products to a particular medical institution, or which supplier is responsible for delivering a particular product. In supplier data, registered medical institutions, registered products, and supplier institutions are associated. A supplier is an institution that delivers registered products to a medical institution.

[0053] The control unit 33 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 33 functions as an acquisition unit 331, a registered item identification unit 332, an output unit 333, and a used item identification unit 334 by executing an information processing program stored in the storage unit 32.

[0054] The acquisition unit 331 acquires surgical information indicating the medical institution and the details of the surgery. The acquisition unit 331 acquires surgical information, for example, by receiving it via the device communication unit 31. The acquisition unit 331 may also acquire surgical information indicating the surgeon in charge. The acquisition unit 331 may also acquire surgical information indicating the patient's attributes. The acquisition unit 331 inputs the acquired surgical information into the registered product identification unit 332.

[0055] Figure 10 shows an example of a surgical information input screen displayed on the ordering terminal 1. On the surgical information input screen, the ordering person enters the details of the surgery, the surgeon, and the patient attributes, and then selects "Show search results." In response to the selection of "Show search results," the ordering terminal 1 transmits surgical information to the information processing device 3, indicating the medical institution to which the ordering person who made the selection belongs, the entered surgical details, the entered surgeon, and the entered patient attributes. In this way, the acquisition unit 331 can acquire the surgical information transmitted from the ordering terminal 1.

[0056] The registered product identification unit 332 identifies registered products associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to product management data that associates registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products. The output unit 333 outputs order information indicating the identified registered products as order candidates. The output unit 333 outputs the order information by, for example, transmitting the order information to the order terminal 1 via the device communication unit 31.

[0057] The registered product identification unit 332, for example, refers to product management data to identify registered products associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the surgical information entered from the acquisition unit 331. Because the registered product identification unit 332 operates in this manner, the output unit 333 can display registered products that are highly likely to be used in a particular surgical procedure at a given medical institution as potential ordering candidates, thereby reducing the workload associated with ordering.

[0058] Even if the medical institution and surgical procedure are the same, the usage trends of registered products may differ if the surgeon performing the operation is different. Therefore, the registered product identification unit 332 may refer to product management data that associates the registered medical institution, registered surgical procedure, registered surgeon, and registered product, and identify the registered product associated with the medical institution, surgical procedure, and surgeon indicated by the acquired surgical information. By operating in this manner, the output unit 333 can display registered products that are a good match for the surgeon as ordering candidates, which can lead to improvements in surgical quality or reductions in surgical time.

[0059] Furthermore, even if the medical institution and surgical procedure are the same, the usage trends of registered products may differ if the patient attributes are different. Therefore, the registered product identification unit 332 may refer to product management data that associates the registered medical institution, registered surgical procedure, registered patient attributes, and registered product, and identify the registered product associated with the medical institution, surgical procedure, and patient attributes indicated by the acquired surgical information. By operating in this manner, the output unit 333 can display registered products more suitable for surgery on patients with specific attributes as ordering candidates, which can lead to improvements in surgical quality, reductions in surgical time, or reductions in the burden on patients.

[0060] Figure 11 shows an example of the order confirmation screen displayed on the ordering terminal 1. The output unit 333 displays the order candidates indicated by the order information. The output unit 333 also displays the planned number of use (maximum value) associated with the registered product of the order candidate in the product management data (Figure 7) as the initial order quantity. By operating in this manner, the maximum number of products to be used in surgery can be ordered, thus preventing shortages of products during surgery.

[0061] Furthermore, the output unit 333 may identify the planned usage quantity and inventory quantity associated with the registered product of the order candidate in the product management data (Figure 7), and display the required quantity, which is the value obtained by subtracting the identified inventory quantity from the identified planned usage quantity, as the initial order quantity. By operating in this manner, the output unit 333 can order only the necessary amount of product, taking into account the inventory situation at the medical institution, thereby preventing product shortages during surgery while also preventing ordering more product than necessary.

[0062] On the order confirmation screen, the ordering person confirms the order by entering the order quantity and selecting "Place Order". In response to the selection of "Place Order", the ordering terminal 1 transmits order confirmation information, indicating the ordered items and quantities, to the information processing device 3. The output unit 333 transmits the received order confirmation information to the delivery terminal 2. This allows the delivery person at the delivery organization to know which registered products to be delivered.

[0063] The output unit 333 may initially display on the order confirmation screen the date obtained by subtracting the preparation period required for the surgery from the surgery date entered on the surgery information input screen, as the delivery date for the registered product of the order candidate to the medical institution. With the output unit 333 operating in this way, the person in charge of ordering can either confirm the order with the initially displayed delivery date, or confirm the order with a new delivery date that has been changed from the initially displayed delivery date. Since the preparation period for surgery may differ from one medical institution to another, the storage unit 32 may store the preparation period in association with the medical institution.

[0064] Incidentally, medical institutions often place orders for products with specific distributors. Therefore, the output unit 333 may refer to the distributor data (Figure 9), which associates registered medical institutions with distributors, to identify the distributor associated with the medical institution that transmitted the surgical information to the information processing device 3. The output unit 333 may then send order confirmation information to the identified distributor, indicating the ordered items that have been finalized based on the order candidates. With the output unit 333 operating in this way, the ordering staff of medical institutions that place orders with specific distributors (Hospital A in Figure 9) can place orders without specifying a distributor, thereby further reducing the workload associated with ordering.

[0065] On the other hand, some medical institutions place orders with specific distributors, but they use different distributors depending on the product being ordered. In such cases, the output unit 333 may refer to the distributor data (Figure 9), which associates registered products with distributors, to identify the distributor associated with the registered product identified by the registered product identification unit 332. The output unit 333 may then send order confirmation information to the identified distributor, indicating the ordered items confirmed based on the order candidates. With the output unit 333 operating in this way, the ordering staff at medical institutions that use different distributors depending on the product being ordered (Hospital B in Figure 9) can place orders without specifying a distributor for each product, thereby further reducing the workload associated with ordering.

[0066] In the above explanation, it was assumed that product management data was created by the ordering staff at the medical institution. However, it is desirable that the number of products actually used in surgery be reflected in the product management data. Therefore, the product identification unit 334 may identify the products used by comparing information showing a list of delivered products with information showing a list of unused products, and create or update product management data based on the number of identified products used. The information showing a list of delivered products may be images taken before the surgery of multiple delivered products (e.g., product storage boxes) brought into the operating room, or it may be text containing the names or identification information of the delivered products. The information showing a list of unused products may be images taken of only the products used that remained after the surgery from among the multiple delivered products brought into the operating room, or it may be text containing the names or identification information of the unused products.

[0067] The product identification unit 334 first updates the usage data shown in Figure 8 based on the results of identifying the number of products used, in order to create or update product management data. Subsequently, the product identification unit 334 creates product management data by determining the planned number of registered products to be used corresponding to the registered surgical procedure in which the identified product was used, based on the number of uses of the identified product. For example, the product identification unit 334 identifies a product in response to receiving notification that a surgery has been completed, and updates the product management data based on the number of uses of the identified product. The product identification unit 334 may also determine the largest number of uses among multiple products with different surgical dates and times as the planned number of registered products to be used.

[0068] In this manner, when the product identification unit 334 creates product management data based on the number of products used that it has identified, the output unit 333 outputs order information based on the identified products used. The output unit 333 may also output order information indicating priority order candidates among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit 332, where the number of products used should be ordered first. For example, the output unit 333 displays products among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit 332 that have a planned usage quantity equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in the product management data (Figure 7) as priority order candidates on the order confirmation screen.

[0069] The output unit 333 may output order information that does not show unused products as order candidates among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit 332. For example, the output unit 333 identifies products with a planned usage quantity of 0 in the product management data (Figure 7) among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit 332 as unused products, and does not display the identified unused products as order candidates on the order confirmation screen. This prevents products that will not be used from being ordered.

[0070] The output unit 333 may output order information that shows used products and unused products as order candidates in different display modes from among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit 332. For example, the output unit 333 may display used products and unused products on the order confirmation screen with the characters indicating the identified unused products being smaller or lighter than the characters indicating the identified used products.

[0071] In this way, the output unit 333 outputs order candidates in a manner that allows for the identification of used and unused products, enabling the ordering person to efficiently identify the products that are most likely to be used in the current surgery. As a result, the workload associated with ordering can be reduced, and the occurrence of a large number of products that are not used in the current surgery can be suppressed.

[0072] Furthermore, suppliers cannot charge medical institutions for products that are returned by them. By preventing medical institutions from ordering products from suppliers that are unlikely to be used in surgery, suppliers can reduce the number of products they may not be able to charge for. As a result, suppliers can reduce their logistics costs. This also prevents situations where a supplier delivers a product to a medical institution that is unlikely to be used in surgery, preventing them from supplying that product to another medical institution (loss of sales opportunity).

[0073] Furthermore, the supplying organization may return products returned by the medical institution to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer may identify the products used by comparing the invoice that the supplying organization billed the medical institution with the returned products, and then bill the supplying organization for the amount of the products used. However, this matching process required considerable effort and time from the manufacturer. Therefore, the output unit 333 may send confirmation data showing a list of unused products to the terminal of the billing officer at the manufacturer.

[0074] The manufacturer's billing officer enters approval information (for example, by selecting the approval button on the screen displaying the confirmation data) if the list of unused products shown in the verification data matches the returned products from the supplier. Upon receiving the approval information, the billing officer's terminal sends billing data to the supplier, requesting payment for the used products. This allows the manufacturer's billing officer to efficiently verify used products and process invoices to suppliers.

[0075] Incidentally, it is conceivable that the product identified by the product identification unit 334 may not be properly implanted in the body. In order to allow medical personnel to confirm that the identified product is actually implanted in the body, the output unit 333 may, for example, determine whether the identified product matches the registered product included in the patient's image after surgery.

[0076] The output unit 333 identifies registered products included in a patient image by, for example, comparing the shapes of multiple registered products stored in the memory unit 32 with the shapes of objects included in an image of a patient after surgery (hereinafter referred to as the patient image). Specifically, the output unit 333 identifies the registered product with the greatest similarity to the shape of an object included in the patient image from among the multiple registered products as the registered product included in the patient image. Alternatively, the output unit 333 may identify the size of an object included in the patient image based on the length of a known part (e.g., anterior teeth) in the image of the patient after surgery, and identify the registered product with the size closest to the identified size from among the multiple registered products as the registered product included in the patient image.

[0077] The output unit 333 outputs information indicating whether the identified product used matches the registered product included in the patient's image after surgery. The output unit 333 may notify an alarm to a terminal used by a medical institution staff member if the product used identified by the product identification unit 334 does not match the registered product included in the image of the patient's body (including the oral cavity) after surgery. The output unit 333 may also notify an alarm indicating the possibility that some of the products identified by the product identification unit 334 are not implanted in the patient's body if the number of products used identified by the product identification unit 334 does not match the number of registered products included in the patient's image after surgery.

[0078] In this way, the output unit 333 outputs confirmation information indicating that the product identified by the product identification unit 334 may not be properly implanted in the body, allowing medical personnel to check whether there are any products that are not properly implanted in the patient's body and have fallen to the corner of the operating room.

[0079] [Processing flow executed by the information processing device 3] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by the information processing device 3. The product identification unit 334 updates the planned number of registered products to be used in the product management data previously registered by medical personnel, as follows.

[0080] The product identification unit 334 acquires delivery images (S1) which are images taken before the surgery of multiple delivered items (e.g., product storage boxes) brought into the operating room. The product identification unit 334 acquires return images (S2) which are images taken of only the products used that remain after the surgery from among the multiple delivered items brought into the operating room.

[0081] The product identification unit 334 identifies the products used in the surgery by comparing the delivery image acquired in S1 with the return image acquired in S2 (S3). Based on the results of identifying the products used, the product identification unit 334 creates usage data indicating the number of products used (S4).

[0082] The product identification unit 334 identifies the maximum number of products used during a predetermined period in the usage data created in S4 (S5). The product identification unit 334 then determines whether the maximum number identified in S5 is greater than the current planned number of registered products used in the product management data (S6). The product identification unit 334 may perform this determination periodically (for example, every month).

[0083] If the product identification unit 334 determines that the maximum value identified in S5 is greater than the current planned number of registered products to be used (S6: YES), the product management data is updated by overwriting the current planned number of registered products to be used in the product management data with the maximum value identified in S5 (S7).

[0084] On the other hand, if the product identification unit 334 determines that the maximum value identified in S5 is less than or equal to the current planned number of registered products to be used (S6: NO), it does not rewrite the current planned number of registered products to be used in the product management data (i.e., it does not update the product management data).

[0085] In this way, the product identification unit 334 periodically updates the planned number of registered products to be used in the product management data pre-registered by medical professionals, thereby improving the accuracy of the order quantity initially displayed on the order confirmation screen by the output unit 333. If, for a predetermined number of consecutive times in S6, the maximum number of products used during a predetermined period is determined to be less than the planned number of registered products to be used in the product management data, the product identification unit 334 may update the product management data to reduce the planned number of registered products to be used in the product management data. This prevents ordering an excessive number of products even though the number of products used has decreased.

[0086] [Effects of the Information Processing Device 3] As explained above, the registered product identification unit 332 refers to the registered product management data to identify the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the surgical information acquired by the acquisition unit 331, and the output unit 333 outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order. This eliminates the need to input detailed information of the product to be ordered, as was done in the past. As a result, the workload related to ordering products used in surgery can be reduced.

[0087] Furthermore, the product identification unit 334 identifies the products used in the surgery by comparing information showing a list of delivered products with information showing a list of unused products that were not used in the surgery. The output unit 333 then outputs order candidates in a manner that allows for the identification of used and unused products when placing orders in the future. This allows the ordering person to efficiently identify products that are highly likely to be used in surgery. As a result, the workload related to ordering can be reduced, and the generation of many unused products can be suppressed.

[0088] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the output unit 333 displays the registered product identified by referring to the surgical information transmitted from the ordering terminal 1 as an order candidate on the ordering terminal 1, and the ordering person confirms the ordered item by referring to the displayed order candidate. In contrast, the second embodiment will describe an example in which the registered product identified by referring to the surgical information transmitted from the ordering terminal 1 is confirmed as the ordered item as is.

[0089] Figure 13 shows an overview of the information processing system S according to the second embodiment. The ordering terminal 1 transmits surgical information to the information processing device 3, similar to the first embodiment. The registered product identification unit 332, similar to the first embodiment, refers to product management data that associates registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products, and identifies the registered products associated with the medical institutions and surgical procedures indicated by the surgical information transmitted from the ordering terminal 1. The processing up to this point is the same as in the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, the output unit 333 transmits order information indicating the identified registered products as order candidates to the delivery terminal 2 without transmitting it to the ordering terminal 1. The delivery terminal 2 receives the order information from the information processing device 3. This allows the delivery personnel at the delivery organization to understand which registered products to be delivered.

[0090] In this way, the output unit 333 transmits the order information indicating the order candidates directly to the delivery terminal 2 without sending it to the ordering terminal 1. As a result, the ordering staff does not need to refer to the order candidates on the order confirmation screen (Figure 11) to confirm the ordered items, and can confirm the ordered items by entering the surgical information on the surgical information input screen (Figure 10). Consequently, the workload on the ordering staff related to ordering work can be further reduced.

[0091] In addition, in the second embodiment as in the first embodiment, the output unit 333 may transmit order information indicating a candidate order to a supplier identified by referring to the supplier data. By operating in this manner, the person in charge of ordering can place an order without specifying a supplier, thereby further reducing the workload associated with ordering.

[0092] Furthermore, the output unit 333 may transmit order information to the supplier indicating the products used, as identified by the product used identification unit 334, among the registered products identified by the product identification unit 332, as order candidates. For example, the output unit 333 transmits order information to the supplier indicating the products used, as ordered candidates, among the registered products identified by the product identification unit 332, for which the planned number of use in the product management data (Figure 7) is not 0. By operating in this manner, the output unit 333 can prevent medical institutions from ordering products that have a low probability of being used in surgery.

[0093] <Third Embodiment> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which an ordering person at a medical institution selects items to order from among the specified registered products. In the third embodiment, an example is described in which a delivery person at a supplying institution (sales representative of an agency) selects items to order from the manufacturer from among the specified registered products.

[0094] Figure 14 shows an overview of the information processing system S according to the third embodiment. The ordering terminal 1 transmits surgical information to the information processing device 3. The information processing device 3 identifies registered products based on the received surgical information and transmits the order information to the delivery terminal 2 with the identified registered products as order candidates.

[0095] The delivery terminal 2 displays the order candidates indicated by the received order information. The delivery person at the delivery organization refers to the displayed order candidates and confirms the items to be ordered from the manufacturer. The delivery terminal 2 transmits order confirmation information indicating the confirmed items to the order terminal 1 via the information processing device 3.

[0096] Ordering terminal 1 displays the ordered items indicated by the received order confirmation information. If a nurse or doctor at the medical institution confirms the ordered items and determines that there are no problems, they input their acceptance of the ordered items into ordering terminal 1.

[0097] If a nurse or doctor at a medical institution decides that the ordered items need to be reviewed and corrected, ordering terminal 1 sends the correction request data to delivery terminal 2. Upon receiving the correction request data, the delivery person at the supplying institution corrects the ordered items to be ordered from the manufacturer, thereby re-confirming the ordered items. Delivery terminal 2 then sends order confirmation information indicating the re-confirmed ordered items to ordering terminal 1 via information processing device 3. If a nurse or doctor at a medical institution reviews the ordered items again and determines that there are no problems, they input their acceptance of the ordered items into ordering terminal 1.

[0098] Ordering terminal 1 transmits acceptance data indicating acceptance of the order to delivery terminal 2 via information processing device 3. Upon receiving the acceptance data, delivery terminal 2 transmits order confirmation information, similar to the order confirmation information transmitted to ordering terminal 1, to manufacturer terminal 4 used by the manufacturer's representative. This allows the supplying organization to procure the confirmed ordered goods from the manufacturer and deliver the procured goods to the medical institution.

[0099] As explained above, in the third embodiment, the delivery person at the supplying organization selects the items to be ordered from the manufacturer by referring to the displayed order candidates. This makes it possible to order more appropriate products, for example, when the person at the supplying organization is more familiar with the products used in surgery than the person at the medical institution. In addition, the person at the medical institution only needs to approve the order selected by the person at the supplying organization if there are no problems, thus reducing the workload of preparing for surgery for the person at the medical institution.

[0100] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments.

[0101] All or part of the processing performed by the information processing device 3 described above may be performed by the ordering terminal 1 or the delivery terminal 2. Furthermore, some of the processing performed by the information processing device 3 may be performed by external devices other than the ordering terminal 1 and the delivery terminal 2. For example, if the product identification unit 334 performs image-based processing, the load on the information processing device 3 can be effectively reduced by having an external device perform the processing performed by the product identification unit 334. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0102] 1. Ordering terminal 11. Ordering and Communications Department 12 Display section 13 Control section 14 Storage section 15 Control Unit 151 Display Processing Unit 152 Operation Reception Section 2. Delivered terminals 21 Delivery Communications Department 22 Display section 23 Control section 24 Memory section 25 Control Unit 251 Display Processing Unit 252 Operation Reception Section 3. Information Processing Device 31. Device Communication Unit 32 Storage section 33 Control Unit 331 Acquisition Department 332 Registered Product Identification Section 333 Output section 334 Used Item Specification Department 4 Manufacturer terminals S Information Processing System

Claims

1. A memory unit that stores product management data associated with registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products, An acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating the medical institution and the details of the surgery, A registered product identification unit identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to the product management data, An output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order, An information processing device having

2. In the aforementioned product management data, the registered surgeon is further associated, The acquisition unit acquires the surgical information that further indicates the surgeon in charge of the operation. The registered product identification unit refers to the product management data to identify the registered product associated with the medical institution, the surgical procedure, and the surgeon indicated by the acquired surgical information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. In the aforementioned product management data, registered patient attributes are further associated, The acquisition unit acquires the surgical information that further indicates patient attributes, The registered product identification unit refers to the product management data to identify the registered product associated with the medical institution, the surgical procedure, and the patient attributes indicated by the acquired surgical information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The system further includes a product identification unit that identifies the registered products used in the surgery by comparing information showing a list of delivered items that are registered products delivered to the medical institution with information showing a list of unused products that are registered products that were not used in the surgery among the delivered items. The output unit outputs information based on the product being used. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The output unit outputs confirmation information indicating whether the identified product used matches the registered product included in the image of the patient after the surgery. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4.

6. In the aforementioned product management data, the planned number of uses for the registered product is further associated with it. The aforementioned product identification unit creates the product management data by determining the planned number of uses of the registered product corresponding to the registered surgical procedure in which the identified product was used, based on the number of uses of the identified product. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The output unit outputs the order information indicating the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit as order candidates for which the product used should be given priority in ordering. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.

8. The output unit outputs order information that does not indicate the unused product as a candidate for order among the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.

9. The output unit outputs order information that shows the registered products identified by the registered product identification unit as order candidates, indicating the used products and the unused products in different display modes. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.

10. The memory unit stores data of a registered medical institution and a supplying institution that supplies the registered product to the medical institution. The output unit refers to the supplier data to identify the supplier associated with the medical institution that transmitted the surgical information to the information processing device, and transmits order confirmation information indicating the ordered items confirmed based on the order candidates to the identified supplier. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

11. The storage unit stores data of a registered product and a supplying organization that delivers the registered product to the medical institution. The output unit refers to the supplier data to identify the supplier associated with the registered product identified by the registered product identification unit, and transmits order confirmation information indicating the ordered items confirmed based on the order candidates to the identified supplier. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

12. A computer executes Steps include obtaining surgical information that shows the medical institution and the details of the surgery, A step of identifying the registered medical institution and the registered product associated with the surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to product management data that associates the registered medical institution, the registered surgical procedure, and the registered product; A step of outputting order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order, An information processing method having

13. The processor in the information processing device An acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating the medical institution and the details of the surgery, A registered product identification unit identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to product management data which associates the registered medical institution, the registered surgical procedure, and the registered product. An output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order, A program designed to function as such.

14. The system comprises an ordering terminal used by an ordering officer at a medical institution, and an information processing device capable of sending and receiving data with the ordering terminal. The aforementioned information processing device is A memory unit that stores product management data associated with registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products, An acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating the medical institution and the details of the surgery, A registered product identification unit identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to the product management data, An output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order, It has, The ordering terminal has an ordering communication unit that transmits the surgical information to the information processing device and receives the ordering information from the information processing device. Information processing system.

15. The system comprises an ordering terminal used by an ordering officer at a medical institution, a delivery terminal used by a delivery officer at a delivery organization that delivers products to the medical institution, and an information processing device capable of sending and receiving data with the ordering terminal and the delivery terminal. The aforementioned information processing device is A memory unit that stores product management data associated with registered medical institutions, registered surgical procedures, and registered products, An acquisition unit that acquires surgical information indicating the medical institution and the details of the surgery, A registered product identification unit identifies the registered product associated with the medical institution and surgical procedure indicated by the acquired surgical information by referring to the product management data, An output unit that outputs order information indicating the identified registered product as a candidate for order, It has, The ordering terminal has an ordering communication unit that transmits the surgical information to the information processing device, The aforementioned delivery terminal has a delivery communication unit that receives the order information from the information processing device. Information processing system.

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