Clinical Pathway Information Retrieval System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adherence to clinical pathways is hindered by the timely availability of information and patient parameters, which are often scattered across patient records, leading to reduced decision-making quality in critical care settings.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and apparatus that identify active pathways for a patient, query patient records for required patient parameter types, and render displays with retrieved values or indications of missing parameters, ensuring timely access to necessary information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If information is recorded in patient records, then information is available for storage, but information becomes scattered and inaccessible for timely decision-making
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments patient information by pathway nodes, organizing scattered data into structured segments corresponding to specific pathway steps. Each node contains relevant patient parameters, transforming unorganized information into accessible, structured segments that can be quickly retrieved during decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the patient record database and the healthcare professional. This intermediary automatically queries, retrieves, and presents relevant information in context, eliminating the need for professionals to search scattered records manually.
2Loss of time
If diagnostic tests and procedures are not planned in timely manner, then resource allocation is flexible, but patient parameter information becomes unavailable when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively querying patient records for required parameters before they are needed for decision-making. It anticipates information needs and retrieves data in advance, ensuring timely availability without requiring rigid scheduling of diagnostic tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor the availability of patient parameters and alert healthcare professionals when information is missing or outdated. This feedback loop ensures continuous information freshness and enables timely decision-making adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If clinical pathways use paper copies with flow charts, then pathway structure is visible, but information retrieval and decision support are inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical paper-based flow chart system with an automated digital information retrieval system. Instead of manually consulting paper copies and searching records, the computer system automatically queries, retrieves, and presents relevant patient parameters in the context of the clinical pathway, dramatically reducing information access time while maintaining pathway structure visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method of presenting patient information, the method comprising identifying a first pathway associated with a patient of interest, the first pathway comprising one or more nodes; identifying at least one patient parameter type that is required by a node in the identified first pathway; querying a patient record for the patient of interest to determine if the patient record includes a patient parameter value for the identified at least one patient parameter type; if the patient record includes a patient parameter value for an identified patient parameter type, retrieving the patient parameter value from the patient record and rendering a display including the retrieved patient parameter value; and if the patient record does not include a patient parameter value for an identified patient parameter type, rendering a display including an indication of the identified patient parameter type.