STORAGE MEDIUM, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes a program of an application of an image management system that manages a medical image, stored thereon, which, when executed on at least one processor, causes a computer to execute: an image acquisition process of acquiring the medical image of a patient identified by identification information based on the identification information of the patient included in a notification from a medical application that displays information of the patient, the medical application being different from the application of the image management system; and an image display process of causing a display device to display the acquired medical image of the patient identified by the identification information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-139180 filed on Aug. 29, 2023. The entire specification, claims, and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-139180 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure of the present specification relates to a storage medium, an information processing device, and an information processing method.

2. Related Art

An electronic medical record system is a system that electronizes and centrally manages records (medical records) of consultations, prescriptions, and the like, and has been widely used in medical institutions such as hospitals and clinics. Such an electronic medical record system is described in, for example, JP 2018-032110 A. Furthermore, many medical images are handled in medical institutions, and thus, introduction of a medical image management system having functions such as storage, viewing, and management of medical images is also in progress.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes a program of an application of an image management system that manages a medical image, stored thereon, which, when executed on at least one processor, causes a computer to execute: an image acquisition process of acquiring the medical image of a patient identified by identification information based on the identification information of the patient included in a notification from a medical application that displays information of the patient, the medical application being different from the application of the image management system; and an image display process of causing a display device to display the acquired medical image of the patient identified by the identification information.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an information processing device in which a program of an application of an image management system that manages a medical image is installed includes at least one processor, in which the processor is configured to execute: an image acquisition process of acquiring the medical image of a patient identified by identification information based on the identification information of the patient included in a notification from a medical application that displays information of the patient, the medical application being different from the application of the image management system; and an image display process of causing a display device to display the acquired medical image of the patient identified by the identification information.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an information processing method performed by at least one processor of an information processing device in which a program of an application of an image management system that manages a medical image is installed includes the steps of: acquiring the medical image of a patient identified by identification information based on the identification information of the patient included in a notification from a medical application that displays information of the patient, the medical application being different from the application of the image management system; and causing a display device to display the acquired medical image of the patient identified by the identification information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A storage medium, an information processing device, and an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, a configuration of an information processing system1will be described with reference toFIGS.1and2.

The information processing system1is a system used in a medical institution or the like, and includes a client terminal10, an electronic medical record server20, and an image management server30as illustrated inFIG.1.

The client terminal10is, for example, a device directly operated by a doctor or the like, and is an example of the information processing device of the present disclosure. The client terminal10is, for example, any information processing device such as a general-purpose computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

The electronic medical record server20is a server that manages electronized medical record information (hereinafter, referred to as electronic medical records). The image management server30is a server that manages medical images. The medical images managed by the image management server30may include images acquired by various devices. For example, a skin image acquired by an imaging device with dermoscopy may be included, and images acquired by a computed tomography (CT) device, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, and the like may be included. Each image desirably includes, as metadata, identification information for identifying a patient who is a subject, in addition to capturing date and time.

The client terminal10, the electronic medical record server20, and the image management server30only need to be capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from each other. These devices may be connected via the Internet or may be disposed in a LAN of the same base.

The client terminal10and the electronic medical record server20constitute an electronic medical record system that handles medical record information (an electronic medical record2). In the electronic medical record server20, a server application (an electronic medical record server application21) of the electronic medical record system operates. Furthermore, a client application (an electronic medical record client application11) of the electronic medical record system is installed in the client terminal10. The electronic medical record client application11is an example of a medical application. The electronic medical record server application21is configured to provide the electronic medical record2to the electronic medical record client application11in response to a request from the electronic medical record client application11. The electronic medical record client application11displays the electronic medical record2acquired from the electronic medical record server application21in an application screen displayed on a display of the client terminal10.

The client terminal10and the image management server30constitute an image management system that handles medical images. In the image management server30, a server application (an image management server application31) of the image management system operates. Furthermore, a client application (an image management client application12) of the image management system is installed in the client terminal10. The image management server application31is configured to provide a medical image3to the image management client application12in response to a request from the image management client application12. The image management client application12displays the medical image3acquired from the image management server application31in an application screen displayed on the display of the client terminal10.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the application screen of the image management client application12will be described with reference toFIG.3.

The application screen of the image management client application12includes, for example, a region R1for designating a search condition and a region R2for displaying a search result as in an application screen41illustrated inFIG.3.

A search window is provided in the region R1. A patient ID and capturing date and time input to the search window are used as search conditions at the time of searching for a medical image. That is, the image management client application12notifies the image management server application31of information input to the search window as a search condition, and the image management server application31searches for a medical image based on the notified search condition.

In the region R2, a list of medical images searched based on a search condition input to the search window is displayed. More specifically, if search is performed with a search condition designated in the region R1, the image management client application12creates a tab including a medical image corresponding to the designated search condition in the region R2, and displays the designated search condition in a header of the tab. If the search is repeated, a new tab is added to the region R2. The image management client application12can display a medical image corresponding to a search condition desired by a user by switching an active tab according to a tab selected by the user.FIG.3illustrates a state in which a patient ID “00123” is displayed in a header H1of a tab as a result of search with the patient ID “00123” designated as a search condition.

As described above, the user can search for a medical image under a desired search condition by inputting the search condition to the search window of the image management client application12, and can refer to the medical image obtained as a result on the application screen41.

By the way, there is a case where it is desired to search for a medical image by designating information on the electronic medical record client application11as a search condition of the image management client application12in a case where the electronic medical record client application11different from the image management client application12is operated on the client terminal10as illustrated inFIG.2.

In such a case, in the related art, two operations on the image management client application12, that is, (1) an operation of activating the image management client application12and (2) an operation of inputting the search condition to a search window of the image management client application12with reference to the information on the electronic medical record client application11, are required.

On the other hand, in the information processing system1, since the image management client application12is configured to process the notification from the electronic medical record client application11in advance, the user can display a desired medical image on the image management client application12by operating the electronic medical record client application11.

Hereinafter, application cooperation between the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12will be described with reference toFIGS.4to8by exemplifying a case where the user (for example, a doctor) of the client terminal10confirms a medical image of a first patient after confirming an electronic medical record of the patient, further confirms a medical image of a second patient after confirming an electronic medical record of the patient, and finally ends the applications.

Here, it is assumed that the electronic medical record server application21and the image management server application31have been activated on the servers (the electronic medical record server20and the image management server30), and the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12are activated by the user on the client terminal10as necessary.

First, in steps S101to S107inFIG.4, the electronic medical record system displays the electronic medical record of the first patient with the patient ID “00123” based on the user's operation.

If the user performs an operation for activating the electronic medical record client application11on the client terminal10(step S101), a control unit of the client terminal10executes a program of the electronic medical record client application11to activate the electronic medical record client application11(step S102).

Further, if the user performs an operation of designating the first patient, for example, an operation of designating the patient ID “00123”, on the electronic medical record client application11in order to confirm the electronic medical record of the first patient with the patient ID “00123” (step S103), the electronic medical record client application11requests the electronic medical record server application21to transmit the electronic medical record of the first patient (step S104).

In response to the request from the electronic medical record client application11, the electronic medical record server application21searches for the electronic medical record of the first patient (patient ID “00123”) (step S105), and then transmits the electronic medical record of the patient ID “00123” to the electronic medical record client application11(step S106). The electronic medical record client application11having received the electronic medical record of the patient ID “00123” from the electronic medical record server application21displays the electronic medical record on the application screen (step S107).

Next, in steps S108to S113inFIG.4, the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12cooperate with each other based on the user's operation to display the medical image of the first patient with the patient ID “00123” on the image management client application12.

If the user performs a predetermined operation for notifying the image management client application12of the patient ID of the first patient with respect to the electronic medical record client application11(step S108), the electronic medical record client application11transmits a notification including the patient ID to the image management client application12(step S109).

The notification from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12in step S109is not particularly limited, but may include a command for executing a program of the image management client application12, and the patient ID may be designated as a command line argument. Specifically, examples thereof include “program name of image management client application12.exe/patentid=00123”.

If the notification is transmitted, in a state in which the image management client application12is not activated, the control unit of the client terminal10executes the command included in the notification to execute the program of the image management client application12, and an activation process of the image management client application12is performed (step S110). Then, in the activation process or the subsequent process, the image management client application12requests the image management server application31to transmit the medical image of the patient identified by the patient ID given as the command line argument (activation argument) (step S111).

In response to the request from the image management client application12, the image management server application31searches for the medical image of the first patient (patient ID “00123”) (step S112), and then transmits the medical image of the patient ID “00123” to the image management client application12(step S113). The image management client application12having received the medical image of the patient ID “00123” from the image management server application31displays the medical image on the application screen41illustrated inFIG.3(step S114). The application screen41is an application screen in which the tab in which patient identification information (“00123”) is displayed in the header H1is made active.

Note that the process in step S111and the process of receiving the medical image transmitted in step S113performed by the image management client application12are an example of an image acquisition process of acquiring a medical image of a patient identified by identification information based on the identification information (patient ID) of the patient included in a notification from the electronic medical record client application11. Furthermore, the process in step S114performed by the image management client application12is an example of an image display process of displaying an acquired medical image of a patient identified by identification information on a display device.

Further, the process in step S110performed by the image management client application12is an example of the activation process of the image management client application12performed if a notification is transmitted before activation of the image management client application12. Therefore, the process in step S111and the process of receiving the medical image transmitted in step S113performed by the image management client application12are an example of the image acquisition process performed during the activation process or subsequent to the activation process, and the process in step S114is an example of the image display process performed during the activation process or subsequent to the activation process.

As described above, in the information processing system1in which the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12cooperate with each other, the image management client application12can be automatically activated to display a desired medical image on the application screen of the image management client application12by operating the electronic medical record client application11. Furthermore, since the identification information (patient ID) of the patient is included in the notification from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12, the desired medical image can be reliably displayed, and it is possible to prevent a medical image mismatch caused by an input mistake or the like.

Further, in steps S121to S125inFIG.5, the electronic medical record system displays the electronic medical record of the second patient with a patient ID “00254” based on the user's operation.

If the user performs an operation of designating the second patient, for example, an operation of designating the patient ID “00254”, on the electronic medical record client application11in order to confirm the electronic medical record of the second patient with the patient ID “00254” (Step S121), the electronic medical record client application11requests the electronic medical record server application21to transmit the electronic medical record of the second patient (Step S122).

In response to the request from the electronic medical record client application11, the electronic medical record server application21searches for the electronic medical record of the second patient (patient ID “00254”) (step S123), and then transmits the electronic medical record of the patient ID “00254” to the electronic medical record client application11(step S124). The electronic medical record client application11having received the electronic medical record of the patient ID “00254” from the electronic medical record server application21displays the electronic medical record on the application screen (step S125).

Next, in steps S126to S133inFIG.5, the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12cooperate with each other based on the user's operation to display the medical image of the second patient with the patient ID “00254” on the image management client application12.

If the user performs a predetermined operation for notifying the image management client application12of the patient ID of the second patient on the electronic medical record client application11(step S126), the electronic medical record client application11transmits a notification including the patient ID to the image management client application12(step S127).

The notification from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12in step S127is similar to that in step S109except for a value of the patient ID.

If the notification is transmitted from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12, the activation process of the image management client application12is not performed in a state in which the image management client application12is activated. Instead, the already activated image management client application12updates the application screen and displays options related to the notification on the image management client application12(step S128). Specifically, for example, as illustrated inFIG.6, the image management client application12displays an option display SL as to whether or not to display a medical image of a patient ID notified from the electronic medical record client application11on an application screen42together with a message M1for describing the options.

Thereafter, if the user performs an operation of selecting “Yes” in the option display SL, that is, selection of execution (an execution selection operation) (step S129), the image management client application12detects the selection and requests the image management server application31to transmit the medical image of the patient identified by the patient ID given by a command line argument (activation argument) in step S127(step S130). If the user performs an operation of selecting “NO” in the option display SL, that is, selection of non-execution, the message M1and the option display SL disappear from the application screen42, and the application screen is updated to the screen before the notification arrives, that is, the application screen41.

In response to the request from the image management client application12, the image management server application31searches for the medical image of the second patient (patient ID “00254”) (step S131), and then transmits the medical image of the patient ID “00254” to the image management client application12(step S132). The image management client application12having received the medical image of the patient ID “00254” from the image management server application31displays the medical image on an application screen43illustrated inFIG.7(step S133). Here, as illustrated inFIG.7, the image management client application12newly generates a tab including the medical image of the patient ID “00254” and makes the newly created tab active to display the medical image of the patient ID “00254” on the application screen43. At this time, the patient ID “00254” is displayed in a header H2of the tab.

Note that the process in step S128performed by the image management client application12is an example of an option display process of causing the display device to display options as to whether or not to execute the image acquisition process and the image display process, which are performed if a notification is transmitted after activation of the image management client application12. Furthermore, the process in step S130performed by the image management client application12and the process of receiving the medical image transmitted in step S132are an example of an image acquisition process performed if selection of execution among the options is detected after the option display process, and the process in step S133is an example of an image display process performed if the selection of execution among the options is detected after the option display process.

As described above, in the information processing system1in which the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12cooperate with each other, the electronic medical record client application11can be operated to display a desired medical image on the application screen of the image management client application12that has been already activated. Furthermore, an operation timing in the electronic medical record client application11and a display timing in the image management client application12can be made different by giving an opportunity to select whether or not to display a medical image before the medical image is displayed on the application screen of the image management client application12, and the medical image can be displayed on the image management client application12at a timing desired by the user. Furthermore, the latest search result can be displayed on the application screen by creating a new tab made active on the application screen and displaying the medical image in the tab, and a medical image previously searched for under a different search condition can also be continuously displayed by switching the tab.

Next, in steps S134to S136inFIG.5, the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12cooperate with each other based on the user's operation to end the display of the medical image on the image management client application12.

If the user performs a predetermined operation for ending the display of the medical image displayed in the image management client application12on the electronic medical record client application11(step S134), the electronic medical record client application11transmits a notification to the image management client application12(step S135).

The notification from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12in step S135is not particularly limited, but may include a command for executing the program of the image management client application12and give an instruction to close the tabs as a command line argument. Specifically, examples thereof include “program name of the image management client application12.exe/date=closealltabs”.

If the notification is transmitted from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12, the image management client application12detects the instruction to close the tabs based on the command line argument, and executes a process of closing all the tabs constituting the application screen (step S136). As a result, the application screen is updated from the application screen43illustrated inFIG.7to an application screen44having no tab illustrated inFIG.8.

Note that the process in step S136performed by the image management client application12is an example of a process of closing all tabs constituting an application screen of the image management client application12based on information instructing to close the tabs included in a notification transmitted from the electronic medical record client application11.

As described above, in the information processing system1in which the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12cooperate with each other, it is possible to close a tab already displayed on the application screen of the image management client application12, that is, to end the display of the medical image by operating the electronic medical record client application11. As a result, for example, it is possible to avoid a medical image mismatch or the like caused by display of a medical image of a patient whose consultation has ended on the image management client application12.

As illustrated inFIG.9, a computer100that implements the client terminal10which is the information processing device includes a processor101, a memory102, an input interface103, an output interface104, and a communication interface105.

The processor101is the control unit of the client terminal10and is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU). Furthermore, the processor may include a hardware circuit such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The memory102is not particularly limited, but may be a semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), or a solid state drive (SSD), a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), or an optical storage device. The memory102stores a program102aand various types of data102bfor implementing the cooperation between the electronic medical record client application11and the image management client application12described above. Note that the program102aincludes, for example, the program of the electronic medical record client application11and the program of the image management client application12.

The input interface103is connected to a touch panel, a keyboard, or the like. Furthermore, the input interface103may be connected to a voice input device such as a microphone. The output interface104is connected to a display device or the like. The display device may be the display device included in the client terminal10. The communication interface105transmits and receives data to and from, for example, the electronic medical record server20and the image management server30via a network.

The above-described embodiment has been given as a specific example to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and needs to be understood as including various modifications and alternative forms of the above-described embodiment. For example, it will be understood that the above-described embodiment can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the spirit thereof. Furthermore, it will be understood that various embodiments can be implemented by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. Moreover, a person skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments can be implemented by deleting some components from all the components indicated in the embodiments or adding some components to the components indicated in the embodiments. That is, the above-described program, information processing method, and information processing device described above can be variously modified and changed without departing from the scope of the claims.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which only one patient ID is included in a notification transmitted from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12has been described, but a plurality of patient IDs may be included. Specifically, examples thereof include “program name of image management client application12.exe/patentid=00123/patentid=254/ . . . “. The image management client application12may generate a plurality of tabs respectively corresponding to the plurality of patient IDs included in the notification on an application screen and make one of them to be displayed. Note that the tabs include medical images of patients identified by the patients ID, respectively. As a result, it is possible to search for medical images of many patients at a time and display the medical images on the image management client application12.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a medical image is searched with a patient ID has been described, but a search condition is not limited to the patient ID. A capturing date may be included in a notification transmitted from the electronic medical record client application11to the image management client application12. Specifically, examples thereof include “program name.exe/date=yyyymmdd of image management client application12”. The image management client application12having received the notification may request the image management server application31to transmit a medical image captured on the capturing date and display the acquired medical image. Furthermore, the notification may include both a patient ID and a capturing date, and the image management client application12may display a medical image searched using both the patient ID and the capturing date as search conditions.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the client application and the server application are installed on different devices has been described, but the client application and the server application may be installed on the same device. For example, the image management server application31may be installed in the client terminal10in addition to the image management client application12, the client terminal10may operate as the image management server30, and the client terminal10may perform a search process of searching for a medical image of a patient ID notified from the electronic medical record client application11.

Furthermore, the electronic medical record server application21and the image management server application31may be general-purpose database server applications, respectively, and the electronic medical record server application21and the image management server application31may be the same application. The electronic medical record client application11may acquire a desired electronic medical record stored in a database server via the general-purpose database server application, and the image management client application12may acquire a desired medical image stored in a database server via the general-purpose database server application.