DE19715542A1 - Notebook computer has radio link, barcode reader and interface - Google Patents

Abstract

Conventional notebook computer (1) with additional radio, antenna (4), barcode reader (3) and interface (2) for operation within a radio network of a hospital using digital enhanced cordless telephony (DECT). Necessary alterations to the laptop can be made using a PCIMCIA card or corresponding PC card with the necessary system BIOS and radio BIOS. In this way the laptop can be connected to a cellular radio net and then operated via an ISDN telephone system by a host or controller computer. Alternately it can be operated within a local area network. The bar code reader can be used to read bar codes on a patient wrist or equipment, samples or medicine used given or taken in a connection with the patient. The interface (4) connects to instruments equipment to download relevant information.

Description

1. Notebook with radio add-on, own antenna, barcode reader and interface.

Electronic data processing is wide in the administrations of hospitals widespread and also in the patient admission one uses the EDP to the patient and store its master data electronically.

In the wards and in the medical department, people still use it preferably paper form, i.e. H. Patient data are written in a specially for stored patient record provided to each patient. The fact that this is the case also has legal aspects Reasons.

This type of administration has so far been sufficient because a patient's stay was billed according to the same daily maintenance rates. With the new Health structure law GSG this procedure is now changed in that individual Services are to be invoiced. Terms such as flat rate per case, basic care rate, Special remuneration and department maintenance rates must be mastered and implemented.

It follows that in the future also at the bedside - at the point of care - for questions of the Controlling every service rendered must be recorded. A by-product is created electronic medical record, in which all measurement data of the body functions of the individual Patients can be saved.

There is therefore an increasing demand for online data processing at the bedside to offer with the highest mobility of the users and with the highest possible attention to the Data protection.

For this reason, a portable notebook is proposed, which has its own Radio card according to the DECT standard (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telefony) and with integrated Antenna is equipped so that it behaves like a cordless phone and like this in a site-wide multicellular radio network can operate without interference Loss of information when roaming through the various stationary sites Radio islands with transmitter / receiver and antenna that appear as small compact boxes below of the ceilings in the different areas of the building and from the ISDN telecommunications system of the house can be controlled and so the closed Radio traffic, despite a max. 0.25 watts of limited transmission power.

Since the PABX with its telephone network is part of the entire in-house network functions, a notebook equipped in this way has the same options as a stationary one PC or a stationary terminal.

By expanding the notebook with an infrared reading gun, as in a similar form can be found at scanner cash registers of supermarkets, all attached barcodes  read and interpreted by appropriate user programs in the computer.

It follows that patient names only have to be legible in a few cases. Out For the sake of unmistakability, I suggest the barcode that the Represents patient number in a waterproof wristband on the patient's arm attached to make it accessible to the reading pistol.

Confusion is then on the patient's entire journey from bed to bed various examination points to the operating room and back to bed locked out.

Another interface on the wireless notebook allows various devices to be connected for fever measurement, pulse control and blood pressure measurement with direct takeover, Processing and preparation of the raw data by the notebook and all over the LAN connected computers to the central database for patient data.

2. My second part of the patent application deals with a similarly equipped notebook, the however, in addition to the built-in radio module according to the DECT standard with a Interface for GSM (Global System For Mobile Communications) for coupling with a cell phone is equipped for 2 to 8 watts of transmission power.

Such coupled computers are already available on the market. The main innovation my patent application is now the coupling of the notebook via the cell phone and the Telekom world (which only take on a transport function here) with the house LAN of the parent company, so that in connection with the download function of the in the system BIOS or radio BIOS (Basic Input Output System) User programs and files from the database of the main computer in the notebook can be loaded for full data processing in branches, dependencies, External institutes retirement homes day clinics etc. with full access to the patient file in the head office. The notebook itself does not need any possibility of Data storage, but can have it.

3. Universal application of such a notebook.

What has been described here based on the problems in a hospital can naturally occur in every company where other, but similar tasks have to be solved.

My patent application should also include such use cases in offices, in simple warehouses, in High-bay warehouses, in the registry, in production and in other not mentioned Areas included.

By equipping the notebook with two radio systems, namely DECT with its own In-house radio network for cordless operation together with an extension and with Special interface for self-sufficient GSM cell phone operation in general Telecommunications world, is within a geographically limited location toll-free data processing by radio possible while outside of such Area, in the case of mobile phone operation, the corresponding mobile phone fee applies.

Claims (3)

1. Notebook with radio add-on, own antenna, barcode reader and interface, characterized in that a conventional, battery-operated, notebook ( 1 ) around a built-in antenna ( 4 ) and one for operation in a radio network according to approved DECT in hospitals (digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony) procedure necessary PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card or a corresponding PC card (Plug Compatible Card) as well as a corresponding BIOS (Base Input Output System) and a radio BIOS is supplemented in such a way that the notebook can be operated like an autonomous cordless telephone on the cellular radio network of an ISDN telecommunication system, whereby the notebook automatically starts up after switching on, using the radio BIOS via the telecommunications system integrated in a higher-level data network to start radio operation to a HOST computer and takes over corresponding user programs in the download process and a Windows interface che builds up, as a virtual full-fledged on-site computer in the LAN (Local Area Network), to enable data traffic and input of performance numbers like a workstation computer and to be able to read a barcode by means of an infrared handgun ( 3 ) coupled to the notebook, which Among other things, captive in a smudge-proof and wash-resistant plastic wristband on the wrist of each patient for identification, and also additional barcodes on infusion bottles, on medication trays, on the respective (diet) menu and on other conceivable care utensils that are assigned to a specific patient and must be recognized before each use, as well as with an additional interface ( 2 ) for connecting the radio notebook with measuring devices for determining biomedical measurement values, such as body temperature, blood pressure, pulse frequency, etc. for direct transfer, processing and processing as a trend curve, for example in the Notebook open opened electronic patient record, the application program stored associated with it transmits performance indicators for each nursing, medical or medical service to the HOST computer for later invoicing in the accounting department (billing station). 2. Notebook ( 1 ) according to number 1, characterized in that the notebook ( 1 ) has all the features described as described under 1., but instead of the DECT radio additive or in addition to the DECT radio additive has a second other interface for direct Coupling the notebook with a cell phone according to the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) process and higher transmission power of 2-8 watts for nationwide free data transmission, especially for use in extensions of hospitals and in day clinics, nursing homes etc., whereby the cell phone is used to manufacture the Dial-up connection is checked for authorization in order to get to the associated central computer or the data center of the hospital after overcoming a firewall and to be able to communicate with the HOST computer in the same way, so that seamless documentation of the patient-related data and thus a performance-compliant billing it is guaranteed to the payers. 3. Notebook ( 1 ) according to paragraph 2, characterized in that such a notebook ( 1 ) in craft and industrial companies, or in other shops, manufacturing companies or general companies for planning and execution tasks in office departments, construction departments, in warehouses and in high-bay warehouses or is used in general administration, whereby in-house operation (DECT standard) can be worked free of charge, while after switching to GSM operation with mobile phone the usual charges for mobile telephony are incurred.