System and method for comparing and utilizing activity information and configuration information from multiple device management systems

Abstract

A method of aggregating and using medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions. The system and method electronically receives at a central computer system a plurality of established medical device data, each of the plurality of established medical device data being received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices within the respective remote institution, such as medication delivery pumps, associated therewith and utilized therein. The system and method electronically combines and stores the plurality of established medical device data from each of the plurality of remote institutions within a memory, and electronically provides a remote client computer access to at least one of a central reporting application adapted for providing summary information to the remote client computer about the medical device data, and/or other applications.

1 . A method of aggregating and using medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions/facilities, comprising the steps of:
 providing for receiving at a central computer system a plurality of established medical device data, each of the plurality of established medical device data being received from a respective remote medication delivery system, each of the respective remote medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective remote medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented within a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities,   providing for combining and storing the plurality of established medical device data from each of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities within a memory; and,   providing a remote institution/facility remote access to a central reporting application, wherein the central reporting application is adapted to electronically receive search parameters from the remote institution/facility for querying the combined established medical device data and providing summary information to the remote institution/facility about the medical device data.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the established medical device data for at least one of the medication delivery systems is stored at and utilized from a remote medication delivery system data center which is remote from each institution/facility. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the remote medication delivery system data center comprises a remote hosted customer server (RHCS) for hosting a plurality of medication delivery systems for a respective plurality of institutions/facilities. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the established medical device data comprises medication delivery pump configuration information and medication delivery pump activity information. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the summary information relating to the medication delivery pump configuration information and/or the medication delivery pump activity information is provided and viewable for a specific medication delivery pump type. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the configuration information comprises configuration library information and wherein the activity information comprises medication delivery pump usage information. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the configuration library information comprises at least one of medication name, generic name, medication concentration, medication dosing unit, lower hard limit, lower soft limit, upper soft limit, and/or upper hard limit. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the medication delivery data comprises at least one of pump type, facility type, bed size, and/or clinical care area. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the usage information comprises at least one of compliance information, line utilization information, concurrent delivery utilization information, soft limit alert information, hard limit alert information, override information, and/or configuration editing information. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the configuration library information comprises at least one of medication name, generic name, medication concentration, medication dosing unit, lower hard limit, lower soft limit, upper soft limit, upper hard limit, and/or statistical information. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 comparing at the central computer system at least one of the limits within the configuration information for an institution with limits within at least one of configuration information for a peer group for the institution, for another peer group other than the peer group of the institution, and/or for all peer groups; and,   generating statistical information based on the comparison, including a percent of time the limit is used within the configuration information for the peer group for the institution, for another peer group other than the peer group of the institution, and/or for all peer groups.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the search parameters comprise at least one of facility name, entity type, bed size, device type, pump type, time frame, clinical care area, and/or generic drug name. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the summary information can be used for at least one of assisting the remote institution user in generating new and/or modified medication delivery parameters and/or assisting the remote institution user in implementing new and/or modified institution procedures. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specific facility name is withheld from being identified within the summary information. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each established medical device data for each remote institution comprises a plurality of distinct clinical care specific medication databases established and utilized with a plurality of distinct clinical care areas within each remote institution, each of the plurality of distinct clinical care areas having a clinical care area specific set of medication delivery parameters within the respective established medication delivery data for downloading to a medication delivery pump within the specific clinical care area. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the provided summary information about the medical device data can be displayed over predefined time frames and/or over configurable time frames, including at least one of monthly, quarterly, number of days, number of weeks, number of months, number of years, and/or an interval designated by a beginning date and an ending date. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the steps of:
 comparing at the central computer system activity information received from one institution with activity information received from one or more other institutions, for providing a comparison result;   determining if the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition; and,   communicating an alert to the institution if the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the most recently received activity information from the institution is used within the comparing step. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the predetermined condition is a specific percentage of times a medical device configuration library information is edited during programming of a medical device within the institution in relation to a statistical measure selected from the group of consisting of a median, a mean, and a mode number of times medical device configuration library information is edited during programming of medical devices within other institutions. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of communicating an alert comprises automatically sending a communication to the institution at least one of e-mail, text message, and/or a page. 
   
   
       21 . A method of aggregating and using multi-institutional medical device information, comprising the steps of:
 electronically receiving at a central computer system a plurality of established configuration libraries, each of the plurality of established configuration libraries being received from and being utilized within a respective remote medication delivery system, each of the respective remote medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective remote medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented within a respective remote distinct institution, each established configuration library for each remote institution containing at least one of a plurality of distinct clinical care specific configuration libraries established and utilized with a plurality of distinct clinical care areas within each remote customer institution, each of the plurality of distinct clinical care areas having a clinical care areas specific set of medication delivery parameters for downloading to a medical device within the specific clinical care area;   electronically storing the plurality of established configuration libraries and library usage information within a memory; and,   electronically providing a remote client computer access to a central reporting application, wherein the central reporting application is adapted to electronically receive search parameters from the remote client computer and electronically providing summary information to the remote client computer customer about at least one of 1) the plurality of stored established configuration libraries and the medication delivery parameters therein, and/or 2) pump activity information, for at least one of assisting a remote institution and/or facility in generating new and/or modified remote institution established configuration libraries and/or assisting the remote institution in implementing new and/or modified institution behaviors practices.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the new and/or modified institution and/or facility procedures comprise at least one of new and/or modified institution training procedures and/or new and/or modified medication delivery procedures. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of:
 selecting the medication delivery parameters for a medication from the summary information; and,   establishing a new or modified library entry for the remote institution and/or facility using the selected medication delivery parameters for the medication from the summary information.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the remote client computer is only provided with a subset of any other of the plurality of established configuration libraries for the respective other remote institutions. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of:
 automatically electronically uploading to the central computer system each of the plurality of established configuration libraries utilized within the respective remote medication delivery system of the respective remote institution.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the automatic uploading occurs on a predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       27 . A central medical device data gathering and reporting computer system, comprising:
 central computer data transfer program code adapted to receive the medical device data from a plurality of separate institution medication delivery systems;   central medical device data aggregation program code adapted to combine the medical device data received from each institution by the central computer data transfer program code;   central medical device database program code adapted to store the combined medical device data within a memory, and to query the stored combined medical device data within the memory; and,   central medical device data reporting interface program code adapted to generate interface screen displays on a remote user computer, the interface screen displays adapted to receive search parameters and provide medical device data summary information to the remote user computer.   
   
   
       28 . The computer system of  claim 27  wherein the central computer data transfer program code is adapted to receive the medical device data from a plurality of remote separate institution medication delivery computers, and to receive the medical device data from a remote medication delivery system data center which is remote from each institution/facility. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the medical device data comprises pump configuration information and pump activity information. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 27  wherein all of the program code resides within a single application. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 27  where each program code resides within a separate application, each separate application being executed on a separate computer. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the program code is executed on one or more computers within the control of a vendor of the medication delivery pumps to the remote institutions. 
   
   
       33 . A method of assisting a medical institution in developing an institution-specific customized configuration library for configuring at least one medical device at the institution, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a configuration library database comprising medical device configuration information; and,   granting a configuration library developing institution access to view a portion of the configuration library database if access criteria are satisfied.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the step of providing the developing institution access to programming code that enables the developing institution to copy a part of the viewed portion of the configuration library database into an institution-specific customized configuration library database. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein at least one of the steps of granting access to view and providing access to programming code to copy is accomplished remotely via an internet web site. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the internet web site is sponsored by a manufacturer of a medical device. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the medical device configuration information comprises therapy-specific medical device configuration information. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the therapy-specific medical device configuration information comprises drug dosing limits and infuser master settings. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the access criteria are selected from a group of criteria consisting of active customer status, contract status, subscriber status, data-sharing status, prospect status, user ID match and password match. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the step of providing a configuration library database includes the substeps of:
 a) receiving a plurality of previously-established medical device configuration libraries from a corresponding plurality of geographically remote data-sharing institutions at given time,   b) assigning at least one peer group category designation to each of the received previously-established medical device configuration libraries, and,   c) creating a searchable relational database comprising the at least one peer group category designation and at least a portion of the previously-established medical device configuration libraries.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the searchable relational database further comprises a clinical care area category designation. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the substep of receiving a plurality of previously-established configuration libraries is performed at a regular time interval selected from a group of periodic time intervals consisting of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising the step of preventing names of any of the data-sharing institutions from being viewed by the developing institution unless the data-sharing institution and the developing institution are affiliated. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the at least one peer group category designation comprises at least one of facility/entity type, number of beds, medical device type, and service line. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising the step of providing programming code that includes a central reporting application that enables the developing institution to query the relational database by peer group category designation. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising the step of providing access to configuration library information of other institutions within at least one of the same peer group as the configuration library developing institution, other peer groups in relation to the peer group of the configuration library developing institution and/or all peer groups. 
   
   
       47 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program product for gathering and reporting medical device data, comprising:
 a data transfer code segment adapted to receive the medical device data from a plurality of separate institution medication delivery systems;   a data aggregation code segment adapted to combine the medical device data received from each institution by the data transfer code segment;   a database code segment adapted to store the combined medical device data within a memory, and to query the stored combined medical device data within the memory; and,   a medical device data reporting code segment adapted to generate interface screen displays on a remote user computer, the interface screen displays adapted to receive search parameters and provide medical device data summary information to the remote user computer.   
   
   
       48 . The computer readable medium of  claim 47  wherein the data transfer code segment is adapted to receive the medical device data from a plurality of remote separate institution medication delivery computers, and to receive the medical device data from a remote medication delivery system data center which is remote from each institution/facility. 
   
   
       49 . The computer readable medium of  claim 47  wherein at least the medical device data reporting code segment is adapted to execute on a thin client computer. 
   
   
       50 . A method of tracking and comparing activity information for a medical device within an institution, comprising the steps of:
 comparing at a central computer system activity information received for one institution, for providing a comparison result;   determining if the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition; and,   communicating an alert to the institution if the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the most recently received activity information for the institution is used within the comparing step. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the predetermined condition is one of:
 a) a predetermined specific percentage of a number of times a medical device configuration library information is edited during programming in relation to a number of times the medical device is programmed;   b) predetermined acceptable number of buttons presses for programming in relation to a number of medical device buttons that are pressed during programming;   c) predetermined amount of data that is considered acceptable to present summary information for the activity information in relation to an amount of data present in a database of activity information;   d) a predetermined statistical value for the activity information in relation to a statistical calculation for the activity information; and/or,   e) a predetermined amount of time it takes to program a medical device in relation to an amount of time it takes to program a medical device.   
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the activity information used within the comparison is within a predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       54 . A method of using aggregated medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions/facilities, comprising the steps of:
 providing for accessing an aggregation of a plurality of established medical device data stored in a memory in a central computer system, each of the plurality of established medication data received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented for a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities,   providing for searching the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data based on search parameters to obtain a search result; and,   providing for transferring at least a portion of the search result and/or the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data associated with the search result, to a local storage medium at a remote institution/facility for use within the respective remote medication delivery system.   
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein each of the established medication data comprises configuration information including a drug library having a plurality of rule sets for a respective plurality of drugs, wherein the step of transferring comprises transferring at least one rule set for a respective drug to the local storage medium at the remote institution/facility. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the at least one transferred rule set is used in assisting in the population of new drug entries in a master formulary list and/or CCA sub-list. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the step of transferring comprises directly importing of the portion of the search result and/or the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data to a configuration information reporting application. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the step of transferring comprises selecting transfer data using a .csv process. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the step of transferring comprises selecting the portion of the search result and/or the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data into a wish list or shopping cart 
   
   
       60 . A method of using aggregated medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions/facilities, comprising the steps of:
 providing for accessing an aggregation of a plurality medical device configuration/activity information stored in a memory in a central computer system, each of the plurality of medical device configuration/activity information received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective remote medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented within a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities,   providing for comparing at the central computer system entered or selected medical device configuration information with aggregated configuration/activity information which is within predetermined matching criteria for the entered or selected configuration information.   
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the step of comparing comprises comparing at the central computer system entered or selected medical device configuration information with aggregated configuration/activity information for a peer group for an institution, for another peer group other than the peer group of the institution, and/or for all peer groups. 
   
   
       62 . A method of hosting medication delivery systems and medical device data therefore for a plurality of remote institutions/facilities, and for assisting a medical institution in developing an institution-specific customized configuration library for configuring at least one medical device, comprising the steps of:
 providing a central computer system for hosting a medication delivery system application at a data center for a plurality of medical devices located at the remote institutions/facilities, providing for receiving at the central computer system the medical device data from the plurality of medical devices located remote institutions/facilities;   providing for storing the plurality of medical device data from the plurality of medical devices from the plurality of remote institutions/facilities within a memory within the central computer system, wherein the medical device data comprises configuration library information for each of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities, wherein the configuration library information for each of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities together establish a configuration library database;   providing for granting a configuration library developing institution access to a configuration library development application within the central computer system for developing an institution-specific customized configuration library for configuring at least one medical device; and,   providing for granting a configuration library developing institution access to view a portion of the configuration library database, including configuration library information for other institutions/facilities.   
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising the steps of:
 providing for granting the configuration library developing institution access to a central reporting application within the central computer system;   providing for receiving search parameters from the configuration library developing institution at the central reporting application, for querying the combined established medical device data; and,   providing for communicating summary information to the configuration library developing institution about the medical device data from other institutions/facilities.   
   
   
       64 . A method of using aggregated medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions/facilities, comprising the steps of:
 providing for accessing an aggregation of a plurality of established medical device data stored in a memory in a central computer system, each of the plurality of established medication data received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective remote medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented within a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities,   providing for searching the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data based on search parameters to obtain a search result; and,   providing for comparing the search result to a sub-group of the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data.   
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the search result is a drug library entry, wherein the sub-group is a peer group, and wherein the drug library entry is compared to activity information for medical devices within the same peer group of institutions/facilities. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the search result is a drug library entry, wherein the sub-group is a clinical care area (CCA), and wherein the drug library entry is compared to activity information for medical devices within the same CCA within all institutions/facilities. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising the step of transferring at least a portion of the search result and/or the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data associated with the search result, to a local storage medium at a remote institution/facility for use within the respective medication delivery system. 
   
   
       68 . A method of using medical device data for a plurality of remote institutions/facilities, and for assisting a medical institution in developing an institution-specific customized configuration library for configuring at least one medical device using the medical device data, comprising the steps of:
 providing for granting the medical institution access to an aggregation of a plurality of established medical device data stored in a memory in a central computer system, each of the plurality of established medication data received for a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented for a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities,   providing for granting the medical institution access to a configuration library development application within the central computer system for developing an institution-specific customized configuration library for configuring at least one medical device; and,   providing for granting the medical institution access to view a portion of the established medical device data, including configuration library information for other institutions/facilities; providing for granting the medical institution access to a central reporting application within the central computer system;   providing for receiving search parameters from the medical institution at the central reporting application, for querying the established medical device data; and,   providing for communicating summary information to the medical institution about the medical device data from other institutions/facilities.   
   
   
       69 . A method of providing access to aggregated medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions/facilities for medical devices having a central interface module for communication with a first infusion line control module and a second infusion line control module, comprising the steps of:
 providing access to an aggregation of a plurality of established medical device data stored in a memory in a central computer system, the plurality of established medical device data including first control module data for the first infusion line control module and second control module data for the second infusion line control module, each of the plurality of established medication data received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented for a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities; and,   providing for receiving search parameters for searching the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data, including the first control module data for the first infusion line control module and the second control module data for the second infusion line control module, based on the search parameters to obtain a search result.   
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the search result comprises activity information for second infusion line control modules. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the activity information for second infusion line control modules comprises information on how often the second infusion line control modules are used to delivery medication. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the activity information can be broken down by at least one of institution, peer group, and/or CCA. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 70  further comprising the step of suggesting how many second infusion line control modules are needed within an institution, based on usage of the second line control module and a size of an institution. 
   
   
       74 . A method of providing access to aggregated medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions/facilities for medical devices, comprising the steps of:
 providing access to an aggregation of a plurality of established medical device data stored in a memory in a central computer system, each of the plurality of established medication data received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices associated therewith and utilized therein, and each of the respective medication delivery systems being associated with and implemented for a respective remote institution/facility of the plurality of remote institutions/facilities; and,   providing for receiving search parameters for searching the aggregation of the plurality of established medical device data, based on the search parameters to obtain a search result, wherein the search result comprises the X most used medications delivered through the medical devices.   
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 74  wherein X is selected from a group consisting of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500. 
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising the step of:
 providing for comparing at the central computer system a selected search result including medical device configuration information with aggregated established medical device data configuration/activity information of the medical device data; and,   providing for transferring at least a portion of the search result including the medical device configuration information to a storage medium for a remote institution/facility for use within the respective medication delivery system.   
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 74  wherein the search parameters includes at least one of an institution parameter, a peer group parameter, and/or CCA parameter, and wherein the search result is broken down by institution, by peer group, and/or by CCA, respectively.