Medical Information Processing Apparatus Consistency Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual checking of electronic medical records for errors is time-consuming and inefficient, and existing natural language processing methods struggle to accurately determine the correctness of input medical treatment information, potentially leading to medical inaccuracies.

Innovation Solution

A consistency checking system that compares medical treatment information in electronic medical records against patient databases using a SOAP format, employing natural language processing to determine consistency and outputting specific error locations, thereby reducing human error in medical treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual checking of electronic medical records is performed by health care professionals, then errors can be detected, but the process is time-consuming and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror detection accuracyVSAvoidchecking speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical checking process with an automated information processing apparatus that uses natural language processing and consistency determination algorithms to detect errors in medical treatment information, thereby maintaining high reliability while significantly improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary consistency determination unit that acts as a bridge between the electronic medical record system and human reviewers. This intermediary automatically performs preliminary consistency checks using multiple determination units (first through fourth determination units) to identify potential errors before human verification, reducing the time burden on health care professionals while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If natural language processing is used to check medical treatment information, then automation is improved, but measurement precision and reliability of error detection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification automationVSAvoiderror detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the consistency determination process into multiple specialized determination units, each handling specific aspects of verification: first determination unit checks temporal consistency, second determination unit checks logical consistency, third determination unit checks data completeness, and fourth determination unit checks format consistency. This segmentation allows the automated system to achieve high precision by addressing different error types with dedicated processing logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the information processing apparatus provides consistency determination results back to the electronic medical record system. When inconsistencies are detected, the system generates notifications that can trigger corrective actions, allowing continuous improvement of data quality. The feedback loop enables the automated system to learn from and correct its own limitations, thereby improving measurement precision over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If comprehensive consistency checking is performed on all medical treatment information, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary consistency checks automatically as medical treatment information is entered into the electronic medical record system. The consistency determination unit operates in real-time during data entry, performing preliminary validation before the information is fully processed. This preliminary action prevents many errors from propagating through the system, maintaining high reliability without requiring complex post-processing analysis of all data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230377702A1Medical information processing apparatus and consistency determination method

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 CANON KK

AI summary

A medical information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry configured to acquire a first character string from medical treatment information, acquire one or more second character strings estimated from the first character string, from at least one of the medical treatment information and one or more pieces of medical information that is different from the medical treatment information, determine whether a content indicated by the first character string is consistent with a content indicated by the second character string, and output specific information for specifying a location of the first character string, if the content indicated by the first character string is inconsistent with the content indicated by the second character string.