Workflow Management Using Shortest-Path Algorithm and Voice Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workflow management systems in healthcare facilities are inefficient in assigning tasks to medical staff due to limitations in real-time data entry and lack of optimal route determination, leading to suboptimal task allocation and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a shortest-path algorithm, such as Dijkstra's, to determine the most efficient path for task assignment based on estimated time or distance, combined with interactive voice recognition for real-time task completion updates, and considering staff roles and equipment possession, to optimize task allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If medical staff manually enter task completion data at monitoring stations, then real-time data capture is achieved, but time is lost due to key presses and mouse clicks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical data entry system (key presses, mouse clicks) with an automated voice recognition system. The interactive voice response portion captures task completion data through spoken commands, eliminating the need for manual keyboard or mouse input while maintaining real-time data capture capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables medical staff to complete data entry themselves through natural voice commands without requiring interaction with monitoring stations. The voice recognition system processes their spoken words directly, allowing them to report task completion independently and immediately.
2Device complexity
If tasks are assigned without considering staff location and travel time, then task allocation is simple, but productivity is reduced due to suboptimal task assignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of travel times and distances between locations before assigning tasks. By pre-computing the shortest paths and storing this location data, the system can quickly determine optimal task assignments based on staff当前位置 without complex real-time calculations, balancing simplicity with productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The task assignment system dynamically adapts to changing conditions by continuously updating staff locations and recalculating optimal assignments. The system transitions from static, location-ignorant assignment to dynamic, location-aware assignment that responds to real-time staff positions and task requirements.
3Reliability
If all locations are considered in path calculation, then complete route options are available, but computational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and eliminates locations from consideration that are irrelevant to current task assignments. By removing locations where no tasks need to be performed or where staff cannot be assigned, the computational scope is reduced while maintaining completeness for all relevant route options.
Solution Approach 2:
The path calculation focuses computational resources on local areas where tasks actually exist and staff are located. Rather than uniformly processing all locations in the facility, the system concentrates calculations on relevant zones, improving efficiency while maintaining reliability for assigned tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for managing workflow is provided. The system includes one or more computer devices which execute workflow software to assign tasks to medical staff. The workflow software may be configured to assign tasks to persons on the medical staff based on a set of criteria including a path length determined by a shortest-path algorithm. The system may include portable wireless communication devices and an interactive voice recognitions (IVR) subsystem to permit persons on the staff to communicate information by voice to the computer devices via the portable wireless communication devices and to receive audio messages from the computer devices via the wireless communication devices. The workflow software may be configured to display a staff screen in which the displayed data is filtered by medical staff role and sorted by medical staff identification.