Health data collection tool

Abstract

A portable health data tool permits a health care provider to assimilate and display a plurality of health care data from a patient and to associate the data with patient identifying information all stored in a memory contained in the tool. The tool includes a code reader for reading patient information into the tool from a bar code or other coded tag. The tool is associated with a plurality of different data assimilation devices stored with the tool's housing, including but not limited to, instruments for measuring, temperature, blood pressure, two-finger or lead wire ECG data, pulse oximetry data, sound data and picture data obtained from an optional digital camera integrated within the housing. The tool further includes data receiver and/or transmitter ports, which may be wireless or cable ports, for transferring data between the health data tool and a separate computer system that stores patient records.

1 . A health data tool for use by a healthcare provider, comprising,
 a housing configured to be of a shape, size and weight to permit the housing to be held in a hand of a human healthcare provider;   a code reader associated with the housing configured to read at least one of information pertaining to the patient's identity and information pertaining to at least one of a drug or device used by the patient;   a plurality of input ports for different data assimilation devices associated with the housing for inputting different health care data obtained from a patient into the health data tool;   a display screen configured to display the health care data obtained from the data assimilation devices; and   at least one of a data transmitter and a data receiver port configured to at least one of transmit and receive, respectively, the health care data between the health data tool and a remote device separate from the health data tool.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the code reader is a bar code scanner that reads bar code information. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the code reader is a radio receiver that that receives a radio signal encoding the information. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the code reader is an optical character recognition device that reads character information. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the code reader recognizes a pattern of dots encoding the information. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises an upper portion that houses the display screen and a lower portion downwardly extending from the upper portion that defines a handle dimensioned to fit within the hand of the health care provider. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing includes a plurality of storage compartments to store the plurality of data assimilation devices associated with the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the housing includes a plurality of doors providing access to the storage compartments. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the storage compartments includes a compartment for holding a blood pressure sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the blood pressure sleeve storage compartment is configured as a slot within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one data assimilation devices is removably attachable to the housing by a spring actuated latch. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic memory associated with the housing to store the health care data. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the electronic memory stores health care data for a plurality of patients. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the data transmitter port and the data receiver port is an infrared data port. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the data transmitter port and the data receiver port is a radio frequency data port. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the data transmitter port and the data receiver port a computer cable port. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the remote device is a computer. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the remote device is a keyboard and the data receiver port receives data transmitted from the keyboard. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the data assimilation devices includes a self contained microprocessor to convert signal data obtained from the data assimilation devices into the health care data. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the health data tool includes a microprocessor associated with the tool separate from the data assimilation device that is configured to convert signal data obtained from the data assimilation devices into the health care data. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of data assimilation devices includes at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a thermometer, a pulse meter, an oximeter, a blood pressure measurement device, a stethoscope, a finger electrocardiogram unit, a lead wire electrocardiogram wire set, a digital camera, and a microphone. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the thermometer is a tympanic temperature type thermometer. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the thermometer is a thermistor type thermometer. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1  further including a plurality of input keys associated with health data tool, the input keys configured to at least one of: input patient identity information obtained from the code reader, select a type of health care data to be obtained, review a type of health care data obtained, display a type of health care data obtained, receive a transmission of data from a remote transmitter, transmit data to a remote receiver, upload information from remote computer and download information to a remote computer. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the health data tool includes a camera associated with the housing and configured to record a digital photograph. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the display is configured to display a picture stored in a digital picture file. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the display screen is configured to display a wave form. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the wave form depicts at least one of an electrical cardiogram and a pulse. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the health data tool includes a microphone associated with the housing and configured to record digital sound information. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29  wherein the health data tool includes a speaker associated therewith configured to emit an audible sound from at least one of: sound received by the microphone or sound digitally recorded in a sound file. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing stores an air compressor configured for operating a blood pressure cuff. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing stores a hand pump configured for operating a blood pressure cuff. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the health data tool is powered by a rechargeable battery and the housing further includes a power port associated therewith configured to pass a charge from a battery charger to the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         34 . A docking station configured to dock the device of  claim 32  comprising a charging port for charging the battery and optionally including a data port for transferring data between the health data tool and the remote device. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the health data tool further includes an attachment device associated with the housing to attach the health data tool to a storage location. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device includes a hook configured to hang the health data tool on a belt. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device includes a clamp configured to mount the health data tool on at least one of a pole or rail.