JP7727059B2 - Patient Information Management System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a patient information management system, a patient information management method, and a patient information management device.

Conventionally, a technology has been known in which a patient uses the camera function of a mobile phone or smartphone to capture an image of a prescription issued by a medical institution and then sends the image to a pharmacy, thereby communicating the contents of the prescription to the pharmacy in advance (for example, Patent Document 1).

This technology allows pharmacies to dispense prescriptions before the patient arrives at the pharmacy. This has the advantage for patients of shortening waiting times at the pharmacy, and for pharmacies of being able to operate more efficiently.

JP 2016-218740 A

Meanwhile, medical institutions that issue prescriptions have a need to obtain information about patients that pharmacies hold, such as the actual dispensing results at the pharmacy and the patient's actual medication usage. While it is not impossible to access this information through systems such as regional medical collaboration, this requires the patient's consent and is limited to information sharing between medical institutions and pharmacies that are members of that regional medical collaboration system. This makes it difficult for patients to receive sufficient information, and the above needs cannot be fully met.

The present invention was developed in light of this situation, and aims to provide a platform for medical institutions to obtain information about patients held by pharmacies.

The patient information management system according to the present invention comprises:
a medical institution terminal that is installed in a medical institution and issues prescriptions with a code including a medical institution number, which is a number for identifying the medical institution, and a medical institution side patient number, which is a number used by the medical institution to identify the patient;
a patient information management device that receives the information and the user number from the information processing device and stores the user number and the medical institution number included in the information in association with the medical institution number and the medical institution patient number included in the information;
when the patient information management device receives an inquiry about a medical examination history of a second medical institution among the plurality of medical institutions from a first medical institution among the plurality of medical institutions via the medical institution terminal installed at the first medical institution, the patient information management device sends information about the medical examination history of the patient at the second medical institution to the medical institution terminal installed at the first medical institution;
The inquiry includes a first medical institution number, which is the medical institution number that identifies the first medical institution, and a first medical institution side patient number, which is the medical institution side patient number used to identify the patient at the first medical institution.

This invention provides a platform for medical institutions to obtain patient information held by pharmacies.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a patient information management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical institution terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a patient information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a pharmacy terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a patient information management table according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the medical institution terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the patient information management device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the patient information management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the patient information management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a patient information management table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

<Configuration of patient information management system>
First, the configuration of a patient information management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the patient information management system 1 according to the present embodiment.

The patient information management system 1 includes a medical institution terminal 10, an information processing device 11, a patient information management device 12, and a pharmacy terminal 13. Note that the patient information management system 1 does not necessarily have to include the pharmacy terminal 13.

The medical institution terminal 10 is a computer (e.g., a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) installed in a medical institution such as a hospital or clinic and used by medical professionals such as doctors.

The medical institution terminal 10 issues a prescription 2 based on the patient's medical examination results. The prescription 2 is affixed with a code 3 that contains various information or information that serves as a key for referencing the various information. The various information includes, for example, information regarding the medical institution number, which is a number used to identify the medical institution where the medical institution terminal 10 is installed, information regarding the medical institution patient number, which is a number used by this medical institution to identify each patient, and information regarding the prescription contents. The medical institution patient number may be a number issued independently by the medical institution where the medical institution terminal 10 is installed, or it may be a number issued by a third party such as the government or an insurer.

Code 3 is, for example, a barcode or a two-dimensional barcode. Code 3 may also be a character string that is a combination of the medical institution number itself and the medical institution's patient number itself.

The information processing device 11 is a portable computer (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, mobile phone, etc.) used by patients who visit a medical institution. The information processing device 11 is used, for example, by users of an electronic medicine notebook service or their families. As will be explained in detail later, the information processing device 11 has a photographing function. Therefore, when operated by a patient (user) who receives a prescription 2 from a medical institution, the information processing device 11 can read information such as the medical institution's patient number from the code 3 attached to the prescription 2. Note that the information processing device 11 does not have to be portable and can also be a stationary computer.

The patient information management device 12 is, for example, a server operated and managed by a provider that provides an electronic medication notebook service or a provider that provides a dedicated application. The dedicated application is application software that runs on the information processing device 11 and has functions such as viewing the electronic medication notebook (which can present medication history information, for example).

The pharmacy terminal 13 is a computer (e.g., a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) installed in a pharmacy and used by medical professionals such as pharmacists.

The patient information management device 12 and medical institution terminal 10 communicate via a specified network. Furthermore, the patient information management device 12 and information processing device 11 communicate via a specified network. Furthermore, the patient information management device 12 and pharmacy terminal 13 communicate via a specified network. The specified network may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a network that combines wired and wireless networks.

<Configuration of medical institution terminal>
Next, the configuration of the medical institution terminal 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the medical institution terminal 10 according to the present embodiment.

The medical institution terminal 10 has an input unit 101, a communication unit 102, a display unit 103, a printer 104, a memory unit 105, and a control unit 106.

The input unit 101 is an input device such as a touch panel, keyboard, or mouse. The input unit 101 accepts operations from medical professionals and outputs the contents of the accepted operations to the control unit 106.

The input unit 101 accepts, for example, an operation to input electronic medical record information regarding the patient's medical treatment results, or an operation to instruct the issuance of a prescription 2.

The communication unit 102 is a communication device that includes a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, etc. Under the control of the control unit 106, the communication unit 102 communicates with the patient information management device 12 via a specified network.

The communication unit 102, for example, sends a request for medication history information to the patient information management device 12. The communication unit 102 also receives medication history information from the patient information management device 12.

The display unit 103 is a display device such as a display. The display unit 103 displays information under the control of the control unit 106.

The display unit 103 displays, for example, electronic medical record information, a website for accessing the patient information management device 12, or medication history information received by the communication unit 102 from the patient information management device 12.

The printer 104 is a device that prints the prescription 2. In this embodiment, the printer 104 is a functional part of the medical institution terminal 10, but it goes without saying that the printer 104 may be a device separate from the medical institution terminal 10.

The storage unit 105 is a storage device such as a memory or hard disk drive, and stores various information.

The memory unit 105 stores, for example, a medical institution number, which is a number used to identify a medical institution. The memory unit 105 also stores, for example, electronic medical record information or information (e.g., medication history information) received by the communication unit 102 from the patient information management device 12.

The control unit 106 is a control device such as a processor, and controls each process performed by the medical institution terminal 10. An example of control by the control unit 106 will be described later using Figure 7.

<Configuration of information processing device>
Next, the configuration of the information processing device 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 11 according to the present embodiment.

The information processing device 11 has an input unit 111, a communication unit 112, a display unit 113, a camera 114, a memory unit 115, and a control unit 116.

The input unit 111 is an input device such as a touch panel, keyboard, or mouse. The input unit 111 accepts operations from the patient and outputs the contents of the accepted operations to the control unit 116.

The input unit 111 accepts, for example, operations to instruct the launch of a dedicated application, operations to launch the camera 114, operations to take a photograph, and operations to instruct the transmission of information about the prescription 2 to the patient information management device 12.

The communication unit 112 is a communication device that includes an antenna, a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, etc. Under the control of the control unit 116, the communication unit 112 communicates with the patient information management device 12 via a specified network.

The communication unit 112 transmits, for example, information read from the code 3 via the camera 114, such as the medical institution number, the medical institution's patient number, and information regarding the contents of the prescription 2, as well as the user number stored in the memory unit 115, to the patient information management device 12.

The display unit 113 is a display device such as a display. The display unit 113 displays information under the control of the control unit 116.

For example, the display unit 113 displays the screen of a dedicated application and images captured by the camera 114.

The storage unit 115 is a storage device such as a memory or hard disk drive, and stores various information.

For example, the memory unit 115 stores a user number unique to the user and a program for a dedicated application that provides pharmacy services. The user number is information that can identify the user of the information processing device 11. The user number can be a number unique to the information processing device 11 itself, that is, a number that is assigned only once per information processing device 11. Alternatively, the user number can be a number unique to each registered user of a dedicated application (for example, an electronic medicine notebook), that is, a number that is assigned multiple times per information processing device 11. The user number may also be the number on the health insurance card owned by the user.

The control unit 116 is a control device such as a processor, and controls each process performed by the information processing device 11. An example of control by the control unit 116 will be described later using Figure 9.

<Configuration of patient information management device>
Next, the configuration of the patient information management device 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the patient information management device 12 according to the present embodiment.

The patient information management device 12 has a communication unit 122, a memory unit 125, and a control unit 126.

The communication unit 122 is a communication device that includes a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, etc. Under the control of the control unit 126, the communication unit 122 communicates with the medical institution terminal 10, the information processing device 11, and the pharmacy terminal 13 via a specified network.

The communication unit 122 receives, for example, data regarding the contents of prescription 2 and a request for medication history information from the medical institution terminal 10. The communication unit 122 also transmits, for example, medication history information to the medical institution terminal 10.

The communication unit 122 also receives, for example, the medical institution's patient number, information regarding the contents of prescription 2, a prescription image, and a user number from the information processing device 11.

The storage unit 125 is a storage device such as a memory or hard disk drive, and stores various information.

The memory unit 125 stores, for example, information received by the communication unit 122 from the medical institution terminal 10, the information processing device 11, or the pharmacy terminal 13.

One example of information stored in the memory unit 125 is the patient information management table 20 (see Figure 6). Details of the patient information management table 20 will be described later.

The control unit 126 is a control device such as a processor, and controls each process performed by the patient information management device 12. An example of control by the control unit 126 will be described later using Figures 9 and 10.

<Pharmacy terminal configuration>
Next, the configuration of pharmacy terminal 13 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of pharmacy terminal 13 according to the present embodiment.

The pharmacy terminal 13 has an input unit 131, a communication unit 132, a display unit 133, a scanner 134, a memory unit 135, and a control unit 136.

The input unit 131 is an input device such as a touch panel, keyboard, or mouse. The input unit 131 accepts operations from medical professionals and outputs the contents of the accepted operations to the control unit 136.

The input unit 131 accepts, for example, input operations for the contents of prescription 2 and the contents of the actual dispensing.

The communication unit 132 is a communication device that includes a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, etc. Under the control of the control unit 136, the communication unit 132 communicates with the patient information management device 12 via a specified network.

The communication unit 132 receives, for example, the contents of prescription 2 (prescription data or prescription image) and a request for medication history information from the patient information management device 12. The communication unit 132 also transmits, for example, medication history information to the patient information management device 12. The communication unit 132 also transmits, to the patient information management device 12, information regarding the pharmacy patient number, which is a number used by the pharmacy where the pharmacy terminal 13 is installed to identify each patient. The pharmacy patient number may be a number issued independently by the pharmacy where the pharmacy terminal 13 is installed, or may be a number issued by a third party such as the government or an insurer.

The display unit 133 is a display device such as a display. The display unit 133 displays information under the control of the control unit 136.

The display unit 133 displays, for example, the contents of the prescription 2, the contents of the actual dispensing, the patient's medication status, or a website for accessing the patient information management device 12.

The scanner 134 is a device that reads the contents of the prescription 2. In this embodiment, the scanner 134 is a functional part of the pharmacy terminal 13, but it goes without saying that the scanner 134 may be a device separate from the pharmacy terminal 13.

The storage unit 135 is a storage device such as a memory or hard disk drive, and stores various information.

The memory unit 135 stores, for example, a pharmacy number, which is a number used to identify a pharmacy. The memory unit 135 also stores, for example, information regarding the content of the actual dispensing.

The control unit 136 is a control device such as a processor, and controls each process performed by the pharmacy terminal 13. An example of control by the control unit 136 will be described later using Figure 8.

<Patient Information Management Table>
Next, the patient information management table 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the patient information management table 20 stored in the storage unit 125 of the patient information management device 12.

As shown in Figure 6, in the patient information management table 20, information for identifying patients is linked to each user number. The patient information management table 20 includes medical institution number information 21, medical institution patient number information 22, user number information 23, pharmacy number information 24, and pharmacy patient number information 25.

The patient information management table 20 shown in FIG. 6 contains the following information, which is registered in correspondence with each other. The memory unit 115 of the information processing device 11 used by the patient (user) stores 1000 as the user's unique user number (e.g., the registered user number of a dedicated application). This patient is assigned a medical institution patient number of A1001 at the medical institution with medical institution number 01. This patient is also assigned a medical institution patient number of B123 at the medical institution with medical institution number 02. This patient is also assigned a pharmacy patient number of C76543 at the pharmacy with pharmacy number 001. Note that these assignments are made independently within each medical institution and pharmacy and are normally not shared. However, by creating this patient information management table 20, information can be shared between medical institutions and pharmacies via the user's unique user number, making it possible to identify the same user.

Therefore, by using this patient information management table 20, services such as providing information that was previously only available from other medical institutions and pharmacies can be provided without relying on regional medical collaboration mechanisms, etc.

For example, a medical professional at a medical institution with medical institution number 01 accesses the patient information management device 12 via the medical institution terminal 10 and inquires about the medical examination history at other medical institutions of a patient with medical institution patient number A1001. Upon receiving this inquiry, the patient information management device 12 detects from the patient information management table 20 that the user number 1000 of the patient with medical institution patient number A1001 is associated with the medical institution patient number B123 and the medical institution number 02. After this detection, the patient information management device 12 transmits medical examination history information to the medical institution terminal 10 of the medical institution with medical institution number 01, stating that the inquired patient has previously been examined at the medical institution with medical institution number 02.

For example, a medical professional at a medical institution with medical institution number 01 accesses the patient information management device 12 via the medical institution terminal 10 and inquires about the dispensing history of a patient with medical institution patient number A1001, indicating at which pharmacy the patient has received dispensing services. Upon receiving this inquiry, the patient information management device 12 detects from the patient information management table 20 that the user number 1000 of the patient with medical institution patient number A1001 is associated with the pharmacy number 001. After this detection, the patient information management device 12 transmits dispensing history information to the medical institution terminal 10 of the medical institution with medical institution number 01, indicating that the inquired patient has received dispensing services at the pharmacy with pharmacy number 001.

Furthermore, the patient information management device 12 may obtain information regarding the actual dispensing performed for the patient or information regarding the patient's medication history from the pharmacy terminal 13 installed at the pharmacy with pharmacy number 001. In this case, the patient information management device 12 transmits C76543, which is the pharmacy patient number associated with user number 1000, to the pharmacy terminal 13 of the pharmacy with pharmacy number 001. Upon receiving pharmacy patient number C76543, the pharmacy terminal 13 extracts information regarding the actual dispensing performed for the patient with pharmacy patient number C76543 or information regarding the medication history from the information stored in the memory unit 135. After this extraction, the pharmacy terminal 13 transmits the extracted information to the patient information management device 12. The patient information management device 12 can transmit the information regarding the actual dispensing performed or information regarding the medication history received from the pharmacy terminal 13 to the medical institution terminal 10 of the medical institution with medical institution number 01, which is the source of the dispensing history inquiry.

This allows medical professionals at the medical institution that issued Prescription 2 to electronically compare the contents of Prescription 2 issued by their own institution with the actual dispensing results, etc. Furthermore, because dispensing results can be received in a unified format regardless of the pharmacy that dispensed the medication, dispensing results can be easily and comprehensively understood. Furthermore, for example, the pharmacy can continuously monitor information on how medication was actually dispensed according to Prescription 2 (e.g., whether the medication actually given to the patient was an original drug or a generic drug). Therefore, from the next time onward, the medical institution can issue a Prescription 2 that matches the actual dispensing results. As a result, the number of inquiries from pharmacies to the medical institution regarding future dispensings can be reduced. Furthermore, the prescription data stored at the medical institution can be made to match the actual dispensing. Furthermore, from the next time onward, the medical institution can accurately monitor information about medications being taken without having to ask the patient.

The dispensing information and medication history information may be sent from the pharmacy terminal 13 to the patient information management device 12, and from the patient information management device 12 to the medical institution terminal 10, immediately after the dispensing at the pharmacy. This allows the contents of the prescription 2 to be compared with the actual dispensing results, etc., quickly and without delay.

In addition, medical personnel at a medical institution with medical institution number 01 can obtain not only information regarding dispensing based on prescription 2 issued at the medical institution to which they belong, but also information regarding dispensing based on prescription 2 issued at another medical institution (for example, a medical institution with medical institution number 02) associated via user number 1000.

Furthermore, the patient information management table 20 shown in FIG. 6 has the following information. The memory unit 115 of the information processing device 11 used by another patient (user) stores 2000 as the user's unique user number. This patient has been assigned a medical institution patient number of A1002 at the medical institution with medical institution number 01. This patient has also been assigned a medical institution patient number of 567890 at the medical institution with medical institution number 03. This patient has also been assigned a pharmacy patient number of E456 at the pharmacy with pharmacy number 002, and a pharmacy patient number of 246802 (second pharmacy patient number) at the pharmacy with pharmacy number 003 (second pharmacy).

Therefore, for example, a medical professional at a medical institution with medical institution number 01 can access the patient information management device 12 via the medical institution terminal 10 and obtain the medical history at other medical institutions of a patient with medical institution patient number A1002. Specifically, upon receiving the inquiry, the patient information management device 12 can obtain, via user number 2000, medical history information from the patient information management table 20 stored in the memory unit 125, indicating that a patient assigned medical institution patient number A1002 at the medical institution with medical institution number 01 is associated with medical institution number 03, in other words, that this patient has been examined at the medical institution with medical institution number 03. After obtaining this medical history information, the patient information management device 12 can transmit the medical history information to the medical institution terminal 10 of the medical institution with medical institution number 01 that requested the inquiry.

Furthermore, for example, a medical professional at a medical institution with medical institution number 01 can access the patient information management device 12 via the medical institution terminal 10 and obtain the dispensing history of a patient with medical institution patient number A1002. Specifically, upon receiving the inquiry, the patient information management device 12 can obtain, via user number 2000, from the patient information management table 20 stored in the memory unit 125, dispensing history information indicating that dispensing services have been received based on prescription 2 at the pharmacy with pharmacy number 002 and the pharmacy with pharmacy number 003 (second pharmacy). After obtaining this dispensing history information, the patient information management device 12 can transmit the dispensing history information to the medical institution terminal 10 of the medical institution with medical institution number 01 that is the source of the dispensing history inquiry.

The patient information management device 12 may obtain information regarding the dispensing actually performed on the patient or information regarding the patient's medication history from each pharmacy terminal 13 installed in the pharmacy with pharmacy number 002 and the pharmacy with pharmacy number 003. In this case, the patient information management device 12 can transmit the information regarding the dispensing actually performed or information regarding the medication history received from each pharmacy terminal 13 to the medical institution terminal 10 of the medical institution with medical institution number 01 that is the source of the dispensing history inquiry.

The patient information management table 20 may also include information other than that shown in FIG. 6. For example, it may include information regarding the name, gender, date of birth, etc. of patients registered at each medical institution, the name, gender, date of birth, etc. of patients registered in association with an information processing device, and the name, gender, date of birth, etc. of patients registered at each pharmacy.

In the patient information management table 20 of this embodiment, the user number stored in the information processing device used by the patient is associated with the information registered at the medical institution and the information registered at the pharmacy. Therefore, even if, for a single patient, the patient's name registered at the medical institution, the patient's name registered in association with the user number, and the patient's name registered at the pharmacy are different, the information registered at the medical institution, the information registered at the information processing device, and the information registered at the pharmacy can be associated and managed without any problems.

<Operation of the patient information management system>
Next, the operation of the patient information management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, an example of the process for creating the patient information management table 20 will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

First, the medical institution terminal 10 issues prescription 2 (step S11). A code 3 containing information about the contents of prescription 2 is attached to prescription 2, for example by printing. Code 3 also contains at least information that can identify the medical institution that issued prescription 2, such as the medical institution number and the medical institution's patient number, which the medical institution uses to identify the patient.

Next, the medical institution terminal 10 determines whether the patient for whom the issued prescription 2 is issued is a patient for whom data is to be provided (step S12). A patient for whom data is to be provided is a patient who is the recipient of a service in which prescription data, including the contents of prescription 2, is provided from the medical institution terminal 10 to an external party, such as the patient information management device 12. Information about patients for whom data is to be provided is registered in the patient information management table 20. Therefore, whether a patient is a patient for whom data is to be provided can be determined by whether the patient's information is registered in the patient information management table 20 stored in the memory unit 125 of the patient information management device 12. In other words, the medical institution terminal 10 queries the patient information management device 12 to determine whether information about the patient for whom prescription 2 is issued is registered in the patient information management table 20, and can determine whether the patient is a patient for whom data is to be provided based on the response from the patient information management device 12.

When initially registering information about an unregistered patient in the patient information management table 20, it is preferable to obtain the patient's consent in advance. The patient can give consent, for example, by communicating their consent to the medical professional operating the medical institution terminal 10, or by performing a specified operation on the information processing device 11 themselves.

At the patient's discretion, the information processing device 11 is operated to read the code 3 attached to the prescription 2, and the information contained in the read code 3 is transmitted from the information processing device 11 to the patient information management device 12. This may be considered as the patient's consent. In this case, it is preferable that the medical institution number and medical institution patient number are transmitted in advance from the medical institution terminal 10 to the patient information management device 12, and that the user number is transmitted from the information processing device 11. In this way, when the patient information management device 12 receives the user number along with information regarding the contents of the prescription 2 contained in code 3 from the information processing device 11, it can link the previously received medical institution number and medical institution patient number with the user number and record them in the patient information management table.

If the patient is a patient eligible for data provision (Yes in step S12), the medical institution terminal 10 transmits prescription data, which is the contents of prescription 2, to the patient information management device 12 (step S13) and terminates operation. On the other hand, if the patient is not a patient eligible for data provision (No in step S12), the medical institution terminal 10 terminates operation. The prescription data includes the medical institution number and the medical institution's patient number.

Next, the patient information management device 12 determines whether or not prescription data for the patient to whom data is to be provided has been received from the medical institution terminal 10 (step S21 in FIG. 8). If prescription data has not been received from the medical institution terminal 10 (No in step S21), the patient information management device 12 temporarily terminates its operation.

If prescription data for the patient to whom the data is to be provided is received from the medical institution terminal 10 (Yes in S21), the patient information management device 12 searches the patient information management table 20 for the user number stored in association with the medical institution's patient number included in the received prescription data (step S22). This user number is a number unique to the user (e.g., a registered user number for a dedicated application) stored in the memory unit 115 of the information processing device 11 used by the patient for whom the issued prescription 2 is to be provided.

Next, the patient information management device 12 associates the received prescription data with the searched user number and stores it in the memory unit 125 (step S23). This completes the creation of the patient information management table 20.

After this, the patient information management device 12 may notify the information processing device 11, which has a memory unit 115 that stores the searched user number, that the prescription data has been uploaded (step S24).

Next, an example of the process for adding information to the patient information management table 20 will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

Figures 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the patient information management system 1. In the patient information management system 1, the operation shown in Figure 10 is performed after the operation shown in Figure 9 is performed. An example of the timing at which the operation shown in Figure 9 is performed is after a patient has been examined for the first time at a medical institution and before heading to a pharmacy. An example of the timing at which the operation shown in Figure 10 is performed is after medication has actually been dispensed at a pharmacy.

First, we will explain the operation example shown in Figure 9.

First, the medical institution terminal 10 issues prescription 2 (step S31). A code 3 containing information about the contents of prescription 2 is attached to prescription 2, for example by printing. Code 3 also contains at least information that can identify the medical institution that issued prescription 2, such as information about the medical institution number and information about the medical institution's patient number, which the medical institution uses to identify the patient.

Next, the patient who has received the prescription 2 operates the information processing device 11 to photograph the code 3 (step S32). Here, photographing includes not only operating the camera 114 to generate photo data, but also holding the camera 114 over the patient to scan the information on the code 3.

Next, the information processing device 11 reads information from the photographed code 3 (step S33). In this embodiment, this information includes the medical institution number, the medical institution's patient number, and the contents of the prescription 2. Next, the information processing device 11 reads from the memory unit 115 a user number unique to the user of the information processing device 11 (e.g., the user number of a dedicated application) (step S34).

Next, the information processing device 11 transmits the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, prescription 2 contents, and user number in one communication to the patient information management device 12 via a specified network (step S35). The user number may be transmitted when the patient information management device 12 authenticates the information processing device 11 when communication between the information processing device 11 and the patient information management device 12 begins. A single communication refers to a series of communications when at least the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, and user number, or key information for referencing these, are transmitted from the information processing device 11 to the patient information management device 12.

In response, the patient information management device 12 receives the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, prescription 2 contents, and user number in a single communication (step S36).

When transmitting the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, prescription 2 contents, and user number, the information processing device 11 may also accept an operation by the patient to select a pharmacy from which to receive dispensing services, and transmit the pharmacy number indicating the selected pharmacy. Such a pharmacy number is pre-stored in the storage unit 115 along with application software that has functions such as viewing the electronic medicine notebook (medication history information).

Next, the patient information management device 12 associates the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, and user number with each other and stores them in the memory unit 125 (step S37). Because the patient information management device 12 receives the medical institution patient number and identification number in a single communication, it can easily associate this information.

The above operations can be used to complete the association of medical institution numbers, medical institution patient numbers, and user numbers by the medical institution terminal 10, information processing device 11, and patient information management device 12.

In other words, by simply sending the user number required when sending prescription information to the pharmacy and the information contained in Code 3, you can easily associate the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, and user number without having to worry about it.

The medical institution number and medical institution patient number may be read by the patient information management device 12 from the information about prescription 2 received from the information processing device 11. In this case, the user information received along with the information about prescription 2 can be associated with the medical institution number and medical institution patient number read from the information about prescription 2 and registered in the patient information management table 20. These operations can be performed within a series of processes that process a command from the information processing device 11 to send information about prescription 2 to the pharmacy.

If necessary, further association with the pharmacy patient number is performed using the operations shown in Figure 10.

If the patient information management device 12 receives the pharmacy number along with the contents of prescription 2, it transmits the contents of prescription 2 and the user number to the pharmacy terminal 13 installed at the pharmacy corresponding to the received pharmacy number (step S38).

In response, the pharmacy terminal 13 receives the contents of prescription 2 and the user number (step S39).

Software for using the electronic medication notebook service is pre-installed on the pharmacy terminal 13. Therefore, when the user number is received along with the contents of prescription 2, the pharmacy patient number stored in the memory unit 135 in association with the received user number is read out (step S40).

Next, when the patient actually comes to the pharmacy and Prescription 2 is handed over to a medical professional, the scanner 134 scans the code 3 attached to Prescription 2 (S41).

Next, the pharmacy terminal 13 accepts input of the details of the actual dispensing (step S42).

Next, the pharmacy terminal 13 transmits at least the pharmacy patient number and user number to the patient information management device 12 (step S43).

In response, the patient information management device 12 receives the pharmacy patient information and user number (step S44).

Next, the patient information management device 12 searches the patient information management table 20 stored in the memory unit 125 for the user number received from the pharmacy terminal 13 (step S45).

Next, the patient information management device 12 stores the pharmacy patient number in the memory unit 125, in association with the user number that matches the user number received from the pharmacy terminal 13. That is, the patient information management device 12 stores the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, user number, pharmacy number, and pharmacy patient number in association with each other in the memory unit 125 (step S46). Note that storing the pharmacy number in association with the user number may also be performed when the pharmacy number is received from the information processing device 11 along with the contents of prescription 2 (step S39).

The above operations make it possible to generate a patient information management table 20, an example of which is shown in Figure 6. That is, the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, and user number can be associated with each other using the extremely simple method of photographing the code 3 attached to the prescription 2 with the information processing device 11. Furthermore, if necessary, the pharmacy number and pharmacy patient number can also be associated with this information. In other words, a foundation for obtaining patient information held by a pharmacy can be created extremely easily, without any special procedures.

<Modification of the First Embodiment>
Although the first embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. Modifications will be described below.

The patient information management table 20 may be stored not in the memory unit 125 provided in the patient information management device 12, but in another memory unit connected to the patient information management device 12 via a specified network.

When the contents of the two pieces of information received from the information processing device 11 match, the patient information management device 12 may store the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, and user number in the patient information management table 20 in a mutually associated manner. The two pieces of information are the information included in code 3 and the information stored in the memory unit 115 of the information processing device 11. For example, when the patient's name, gender, and age included in code 3 match the name, gender, and age of the user of the information processing device 11 pre-stored in the memory unit 115, the medical institution number, medical institution patient number, and user number may be stored in a mutually associated manner in the patient information management table 20. This can prevent a medical institution patient number and a user number that do not actually correspond from being associated and stored in a mutually associated manner, for example, when a code 3 attached to another person's prescription 2 is mistakenly read.

For example, consider a case where two brothers are registered as users of an application installed on a single information processing device 11 and each has been issued a user number. If the older brother is a patient and prescription 2 has been issued for him, but the information processing device 11 is mistakenly configured so that the younger brother is using it, the older brother's medical institution patient number contained in code 3 and the younger brother's user number stored in the memory unit 115 of the information processing device 11 will be sent to the patient information management device 12 in a single communication. Even in such a case, because the older brother and younger brother have different dates of birth, the patient information management device 12 will not associate and store the transmitted medical institution patient number and user number. In other words, it is possible to prevent medical institution patient numbers and user numbers that do not actually correspond from being associated and stored.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Explanations of matters that are the same as those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. The second embodiment is an embodiment that can accommodate a case where a medical institution number is changed after the fact. This embodiment will be described below using an example in which the name of a certain medical institution is changed from "01 Clinic" to "04 Clinic" and, in conjunction with this change, the medical institution number indicating this medical institution is changed from "01" to "04."

In the second embodiment, a patient information management table 20A, as shown in FIG. 11, is created and used. The patient information management table 20A differs from the patient information management table 20 according to the first embodiment in that it includes latest medical institution number information 26.

After a patient with user number 1000 is examined at "01 Clinic" and prescription 2 is issued, the process described in the first embodiment is followed, and the information in the first row is registered in the patient information management table 20A. That is, user number 1000 is associated with medical institution number 01 and medical institution patient number A1001 and registered. This is the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the latest medical institution number is also registered at this time. Note that at this stage, the medical institution where patient with user number 1000 was examined is "01 Clinic," which has the medical institution number "01." Therefore, although not shown in Figure 11, at this stage, "01" is registered as the latest medical institution number information 26 in the first row of the patient information management table 20A.

If information is subsequently input to the patient information management device 12 that the medical institution's medical institution number has changed from "01" to "04," the information registered in the latest medical institution number information 26 in the first row of the patient information management table 20A is updated from "01" to "04." Figure 11 shows the state after the update.

After such an update, if a patient with user number 1000 receives a medical examination at "04 Clinic," the information shown in the fifth row of the patient information management table 20A is registered. In other words, a row in which the medical institution number and latest medical institution number are both 04 is registered. As a result, the medical institution number 01 and the medical institution number 04 are linked via the latest medical institution number 04. Therefore, in the state shown in Figure 11, the user number is associated with the medical institution numbers before and after the change and stored in the memory unit 125 of the patient information management device 12.

Therefore, even if a patient's medical institution number changes due to, for example, a change in the management or name of the medical institution they use, or a merger between medical institutions, the patient can continue to receive the services they have received from the medical institution and pharmacy without being aware of the change. Furthermore, medical institutions and pharmacies can continue to receive the benefits of using patient information management table 20A even if the medical institution number of a certain medical institution changes.

The medical institution number in the patient information management table 20A may be updated directly by the administrator of the patient information management device 12, or automatically based on information received from the medical institution terminal 10 and the information processing device 11. For example, after the medical institution number is changed, assume that information 04 as the medical institution number and A1001 as the medical institution patient number are received from the medical institution terminal 10 along with information about prescription 2. Also assume that information 04 as the medical institution number information and A1001 as the medical institution patient number are received from the information processing device 11 along with user number 1000. Upon receiving this information, the patient information management device 12 can determine that the pair of "01" and "A1001" associated with user number 1000, which was registered before the medical institution number change, has been replaced with the pair of "04" and "A1001." In other words, the medical institution number of the medical institution with the medical institution number "01" has been updated to "04." After making this determination, the patient information management device 12 can automatically update the information registered in the latest medical institution number information 26 from "01" to "04" for all rows where the information "01" is registered in the medical institution number information 21.

<Modification of the second embodiment>
In order to be able to deal with cases where the pharmacy number is changed afterwards, the patient information management table 20A may include latest pharmacy number information in which the latest pharmacy number is registered.

Furthermore, the information registered in the latest medical institution number information 26 may be updated each time a medical institution's medical institution number changes. In this way, even if a certain medical institution number (first medical institution number) is changed to another medical institution number (second medical institution number), and then the other medical institution number (second medical institution number) is further changed to yet another medical institution number (third medical institution number), it is possible to associate all of the medical institution numbers in the series.

In addition to the patient information management table 20 shown in Figure 6, a new/old correspondence table for medical institution numbers may be created, and these two tables may be used to handle changes to medical institution numbers. The new/old correspondence table registers the medical institution number after the change (new medical institution number) and the medical institution number before the change (old medical institution number) in correspondence with each other.

In this case, when information about Prescription 2 is received along with the new medical institution number and medical institution patient number, the patient information management device 12 uses the new medical institution number as a search key, references the old/new correspondence table, and extracts the old medical institution number. If the user number stored in association with the extracted old medical institution number and medical institution patient number exists in the patient information management table 20, it can be determined that the patient to whom Prescription 2 was issued is already registered in the patient information management table 20.

The new medical institution number can also be extracted by referencing the old and new correspondence table using the old medical institution number as a search key.

In addition, the old/new correspondence table may register a certain medical institution number (second medical institution number) in association with the medical institution number before the change (first medical institution number) and the medical institution number after the change (third medical institution number). This makes it possible to trace the change history even if the medical institution number is changed more than once. Therefore, it is possible to determine not only whether a certain user number is registered in association with the latest medical institution number (third medical institution number), but also whether it was registered in association with a medical institution number at any past stage (first medical institution number or second medical institution number). Ultimately, the user number can be managed in association with all medical institution numbers before and after past medical institution number changes.

The patient information management system, patient information management method, and patient information management device of the present invention are suitable for sharing and managing information between medical institutions such as hospitals and institutions that manage patient information, such as pharmacies.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Patient information management system 2 Prescription 3 Code 10 Medical institution terminal 11 Information processing device 12 Patient information management device 13 Pharmacy terminal 101, 111, 131 Input unit 102, 112, 122, 132 Communication unit 103, 113, 133 Display unit 105, 115, 125, 135 Storage unit 106, 116, 126, 136 Control unit 104 Printer 114 Camera 134 Scanner 20, 20A Patient information management table 21 Medical institution number information 22 Medical institution side patient number information 23 User number information 24 Pharmacy number information 25 Pharmacy side patient number information

Claims (3)

a medical institution terminal that is installed in a medical institution and issues prescriptions with a code including a medical institution number, which is a number for identifying the medical institution, and a medical institution side patient number, which is a number used by the medical institution to identify the patient;
an information processing device that is a terminal used by the patient and has a storage unit that stores a user number that is a number for identifying the patient , reads information including the medical institution number and the medical institution's patient number from the code, and transmits the information and the user number;
a patient information management device that receives the information and the user number from the information processing device and stores the user number in association with the medical institution number and the medical institution side patient number included in the information ;
Equipped with
when the patient information management device receives an inquiry about a medical examination history of a second medical institution among the plurality of medical institutions from a first medical institution among the plurality of medical institutions via the medical institution terminal installed at the first medical institution, the patient information management device sends information about the medical examination history of the patient at the second medical institution to the medical institution terminal installed at the first medical institution;
the inquiry includes a first medical institution number that is the medical institution number identifying the first medical institution, and a first medical institution side patient number that is the medical institution side patient number used to identify the patient at the first medical institution,
Patient information management system. a pharmacy terminal that is installed in the pharmacy and that stores a pharmacy number that is a number for identifying the pharmacy, a pharmacy patient number that is a number used by the pharmacy to identify the patient, and the user number in association with each other;
the patient information management device receives the pharmacy number, the pharmacy-side patient number, and the user number from the pharmacy terminal, and stores the medical institution number, the medical institution-side patient number, the user number, the pharmacy number, and the pharmacy-side patient number in association with each other;
A patient information management system as described in claim 1, wherein when a first pharmacy terminal queries the patient information management device for a first pharmacy number and a first pharmacy patient number, the patient information management device transmits user information at a second pharmacy terminal linked to the first pharmacy number and a user number corresponding to the first pharmacy patient number to the first pharmacy terminal. The patient information management system of claim 1, wherein the first medical institution inquires of the patient information management device about the first medical institution number and the first medical institution's patient number, and the patient information management device transmits to the first medical institution user information at the pharmacy terminal linked to the first medical institution number and a user number corresponding to the first medical institution's patient number.