Universal application integrator

Abstract

A universal application integrator system enables the automated integration of data from patient care devices into electronic health records (EHRs). In addition, the system acts as a context manager between these patient care devices, EHR applications, and ancillary specific patient care applications. The system is the central controller for direct integration with patient care devices. This allows for click-once implementation and automated driver uploads for patient care devices. Third party application integration allows for device and patient context information to be shared among applications in a standardized patient care fashion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for providing health care services, the method comprising: identifying a patient; retrieving an electronic health record for the identified patient; receiving patient diagnostic data from a patient care device; and automatically updating the electronic health record to include the received patient diagnostic data. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing the received patient diagnostic data to another software application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: receiving additional patient data from the other software application; and automatically updating the electronic health record to include the received additional patient data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient diagnostic data includes patient vital statistics. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: automatically determining billing information associated with the received patient diagnostic data; and automatically providing the billing information to a billing system. 
     
     
         6 . A system for providing health care services, comprising: a context manager, adapted to provide patient identification information; an electronic health record database, coupled to the context manager, adapted to store a patient's electronic health record; a device interface module, coupled to the electronic health record module, adapted to receive patient diagnostic data; and an electronic health record module, coupled to the device interface module, adapted to automatically update a patient's electronic health record to include received patient diagnostic data. 
     
     
         7 . A computer program product having a computer-readable storage medium having computer executable code for: identifying a patient; retrieving an electronic health record for the identified patient; receiving patient diagnostic data from a patient care device; and automatically updating the electronic health record to include the received patient diagnostic data.