SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STEERING INTERRELATED ACTIONS

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records and for sequentially steering a process of interrelated actions in respect of said records, using a computer system comprising a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit and a processing unit, and involving at least one recorded catalogue of recommended actions, in which method: the recorded catalogue(s) of recommended actions comprises/comprise hierarchised sequences of alternative actions, and which method generates electronic forms comprising a list of recommended actions, information-input requests and/or decision-requests, in function of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions of the catalogue of recommended actions, and in function of the past history of actions. The invention also relates to a computer system programmed to operate such a system.

Description: SYSTEM and METHOD for STEERING INTERRELATED ACTIONS The invention relates to a method for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records and for sequentially steering interrelated actions in respect of said records, using a computer system. Methods for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records for office management are generally known . Reference is made for instance to the "LOTUS NOTES" software and "LOTUS DOMINO NOTES" software distributed by Lotus Development Corporation. Such methods are often also adapted, or can be adapted in known ways, to be able to manage sequential actions in an overall procedure. The known office management systems referred to above are, by design, easily adaptable for handling various standardised procedures (so called "applications" of the basic software) , for instance by incorporating a catalogue of actions into the management system, but these known systems are not adapted for the needs of individual users who use a procedure record as a mere guideline for establishing working procedures suitable to variable individual situations. The problem underlying the present invention is to satisfy the needs of the latter type of users of office management systems and to provide them a technical tool for the interactive implementation of interrelated action sequences . Applicants of this patent have found a solution to this problem in the new method according to their invention, for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records and for sequentially steering a process of interrelated actions in respect of said records, using a computer system comprising a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit and a procesing unit, and involving at least one recorded catalogue of recommended actions, in which method the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions comprises/ comprise hierarchised sequences of alternative actions, and which method generates electronic forms comprising a list of recommended actions, information-input requests and/or decision-requests (so-called dialogue-forms/subforms) , in function of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions of the catalogue of recommended actions, and m function of the past history of actions. In this way the recorded catalogue of recommended actions operates as a unavoidable but adaptable and flexible guideline for the user in the process he is following. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions comprises/comprise electronic selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions. According to a further feature of this embodiment of the invention the selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions are integrated in the electronic forms which are generated by the method. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, which may be combined with other preferred embodiments of the invention, the method is appropriately applied as a procedure of interrelated actions involving a number of sequential procedure steps, wherein for each subsequent step in the procedure the method generates at least one process-form (which may be hidden, hideable and/or visualisable) and one visible evaluation form. According to a further feature of this embodiment of the invention the evaluation form also comprises information from the records of the system relevant for any decision- request involved in said evaluation form. According to the invention the method may furthermore very suitably involve that a record of all information used/entered when operating the method (i.e. all information contained / involved in all forms, actions, decisions, etc. used in applying the method) is stored m the memory unit of the system, for instance for the purpose of measurements of the effectivity and/or efficiency of effects and/or results of the procedure. The expression "record" as used here refers to a capability of the method to store information in a retrievable way in the system. In the method according to the invention the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions may very easily be updated, which in itself constitutes a distinctive feature of the invention. In still another embodiment of the invention, which may also be combined with other preferred embodiments of the invention, the method may very appropriately involve a supervising organisation for the purpose of quality controll and quality improvement of the method. Thus the supervising organisation may very appropriately evaluate the effectivity and/or efficiency of effects and/or results based on the records of information (forms, actions and decisions) used/entered, stored during use by several users of the method, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and up-date the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions in function of said evaluation. The invention also provides a computer system for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records and for sequentially steering interrelated actions in respect of said records, comprising a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit and a procesing unit, in which said memory unit of the computer system comprises a recorded catalogue of actions with a recommended procedure sequence of the actions, in which said memory unit of the computer system comprises at least one recorded catalogue of recommended actions involving hierarchised sequences of alternative actions, and said processing unit of the computer system is programmed to generate electronic forms comprising a list of recommended actions, information-input requests and/or decision-requests, in function of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions of the catalogue of recommended actions, and in function of the past history of actions In the computer system according to the invention the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions in the memory unit may very suitably comprise electronic selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions. Preferably the processing unit of the computer system is programmed to integrate the selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions into the electronic forms. According to a further feature of the computer system, its processing unit is preferrably programmed to generate one hidden or hideable process-form and one visible evaluation form for each step in the procedure of interrelated actions steered by computer system. The processing unit of the computer system may also very suitably be programmed to integrate into the evaluation form any information from the records which is relevant for any decision-request involved in said evaluation form, and/or to store a record of the information (forms, actions, and decisions) used/entered during the process, into the memory unit of the computer system. The method according to the invention can very suitably serve as a tool for assisting a professional in implementing instructions in an interactive way. More in particular the method can (assist a professional to) implement a series of actions and/or tasks which have to be performed in a defined order, i.e. sequentially, in order to achieve a defined objective. The method may for instance very suitably provide technical assistance for the (sequential) implementation of series of medical acts sometimes referred to as medical guidelines. A fundamental feature of the method according to the invention lies in the fact that an hierarchy is assigned to the various steps or forms involved in the method. Another fundamental feature lies in the fact that the recommended procedure sequence is integrated in the steps or forms used in the method. According to the method a relation is established between the various types of forms, which relation has a certain order. The hierarchy makes it possible to transfer a group of forms, such as the forms pertaining to one specific client, in one operation into one file ("Lotus" uses the expression folder) . This is achieved by the concept of main files and related files (files with assignements) . When transfering a main form all related forms are transferred at the same time . The users of the method can thus constitute files with any desired content and archive those in any desired way. A main form can comprise one or more sub-forms. A subform comprises a portion of the form. A subform can be integrated in several forms . This feature of the known office management systems is mainly used in administrative applications for those parts of the forms which are the same, for instance for letterheads, adresses, personal data, etc. In the method according to this invention this feature is applied to allow operating in sequential steps according to a so-called protocol -procedure or guideline-procedure, i.e. according to recommended procedure-sequences . Guideline-procedures are nowadays considered as an ideal means for managing and controlling both quality and costs. This is particularly the case in medical and wel-fare activities . In practice there are however no appropriate means to monitor or controll the actual use nor the correctness of guidelines and/or guideline procedures. In the medical and wel-fare field it is thus for instance not known whether individual practitioners do indeed, in practice, have the guidelines at their dirposal, nor whether they actually use these and with what result. 7 The quality of recommended procedures depends on the competence and knowledge of those who are responsible for drafting these procedures. Competence and knowledge are, by definition, limited. Recommended procedures or guidelines are therefore no more than the condensation of the knowledge of certain experts at a certain moment. This also involves that for optimal use recommended procedures should always allow proper individual initiative . The method according to the invention allows the user to always take notice of the appropriate procedure or procedure step / guideline step, regardless of the overal number of procedures / procedure steps / guideline steps; apply or not apply a procedure / procedure step / guideline step; judge the eventual effect. The method does therefore not involve a compulsory decision tree . The method is a tool to assist the skilled professional in the optimal decision making based on the knowledge and information available at the moment of decision. The method provides a means for acting in a conscious and testable way. The technical concepts of the invention, as defined hereabove, can be embodied by application of known office management software, and in particular by means of "LOTUS NOTES" or "LOTUS DOMINO NOTES" software, distributed by Lotus Development Corporation, which contitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention. The following table illustrates the capabilities offered by the LOTUS NOTES software and the features of the invention specifically requiring these capabilities Feature required by the Capability of LOTUS NOTES invention / LOTUS DOMINO NOTES hierarchy of forms LOTUS NOTES folders variable content of the LOTUS NOTES subforms process- or guideline-forms for each step in the procedure-sequence (guideline- step forms) steering via guidelines and multiple forms having guideline steps (for example identical sub- forms medical guideline-form and medical evaluation form) exchangeability of guideline replication capability of steps LOTUS NOTES exchangeability of process - replication capability of results (for example results LOTUS NOTES of medical treatments) The method according to the invention comprises the following original concepts : Process-forms (Guideline-step Evaluation forms involve forms) involve following following features features links subforms subforms links to dialogue- (sub) forms next guideline step in default situation requests for additional tests the ability to copy necessary in current information from guideline guideline step in default step forms situation 10 According to a specific embodiment of the method of this invention, these original concepts may be implemented by incorporating the following features in the process forms and evaluation forms. Process form (guideline-step Evaluation form form) link to steering (selection) steering algorithm subform algorithm link to evaluation-subform evaluation-subform and evaluation-subform itself link to dialogue- form possibility to activate dialogue- form link to additional tests, subform additional tests and subform additional tests and completion of additional standard completion of tests additional tests (optional) link to related (optional) related procedure procedures (such as clinical subfoms trial subforms) and the corresponding guideline-step forms link to next guideline step possibility to activate next in accordance with guideline procedure step in accordance (steered by algorithm) with guideline The main features or the method oϊ the invention, as applied in the embodiment set forth in the above table are further illustrated by figure 1, attached to this specification, which shematically represents the links between process forms (guideline-step forms) and evaluation forms via subforms, and the links with dialogue forms and with steering algorithms. 11 To implement these links the structure for composing the evaluation form is preferably contained in the guideline- step forms . More specifically, the guideline-step forms contain indications about which subforms and dialogue forms are to be used for the evaluation form to be generated from said guideline-step form. This happens most suitably by specifying a name ("short designation") assigned to these subforms and dialogue forms . The following table illustrates what and how this can be done for in particular the guideline-step form and the evaluation form : 12 Guideline- step Evaluation form form Name of the Name is specified Name is computed by guideline step algorithm subform Questionaire- or Name is Name is retrieved from clinical subform specified. corresponding (consultation Subform is then guideline-step form. form) visualised. Subform is then visualised. Request-form for Name is Name is retrieved from additioal tests specified. corresponding Subform is then guideline-step form. visualised. Subform is then Then default visualised. settings are Then all initial data specified. are retrieved from corresponding guideline-step form. Steering Name is specified Name is retrieved from algorithm corresponding subform guideline-step form. Subform is then mcorported m eveluation subform. It contains one or more fields which are automatically calculated and which establish the next step based on the available information 13 Dialogue form Name is specified Name is retrieved from corresponding guideline-step form. It can be activated by eveluation form. Purpose is to recall additional information required to establish next step. Link to next Name is specified Name is retrieved from step by default corresponding guideline-step form. Name can be used in algorithm to establish next step Clinical trial Name is specified Name is retrieved from subform corresponding (optional) Subform is then guideline-step form. visualised. Subform is then visualised. The preferred embodiment of the invention thus allows the creation of a file with unique properties (for instance a medical file) : integration of guideline steps in evaluation forms; modifying a guideline-form automatically involves modification of the evaluation form; easy management of large numbers of guidelines by (expert) superviser (s) , such as a supervising "organisation" or authority, for instance a profession-group or association; 14 easy distribution of guidelines; freedom to deviate from guidelines or guideline steps; insight (monitoring) concerning activities and qualitative / quantitative effects The operation, in practice, of preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention, in particular in the medical area, is illustrated by the following example : In order to operate the method, a coordinating body / centre / authority is required to establish the guidelines. This coordinating centre can for instance be a scientific association or a so called "integral cancer centre", but can also be an individual practitioner, such as a doctor, or partnership of professionals. In addition a managing and/or supervising organisation is required, responsible for distributing the guidelines for / into the method. In practice there will be an exchange of guidelines and/or guidelines between the coordination and supervising centres, and the "workstations", i.e. the participating professionals . This means also that the knowledge corresponding to a (super) expert becomes avaiable to all users of the method, in the form of measureable guideliness. In the case of medical applications, the method according to the invention comprises (in analogy with conventional medical "files") : 1 - registration-forms, in which all relevant data of the patient can be mentionned; 2 - consultation-forms : i.e. guideline-steered forms (see item 5) , in which the examination 15 results are indicated; - request-forms for additional examination/tests; - result-forms ; - dialogue screens (forms) , on which the doctor can indicate his judgement (the resulting sum of his conclusions of the examination, the results of the additional examinations/tests and his knowledge) , and on the basis of which, inter alia, the next guideline-step or procedure-step is selected; - guideline-forms : these forms define, for each consultation, the content of the consultation- forms : each time it will look different from a previous or next one; furthermore the guideline- forms stipulate which test-requests (laboratory- requests, requests for X-ray photographies, etc.) should be made in accordance with the standard guideline step, and , if applicable, when a next visit should take place. In fact the guideline or procedure will consist of a series of guideline-forms . In practice things will proceed as follows : 1 - A patient comes to a consultation. 2 - The doctor or a secretary establishes a new "file" by filling in the registration form. 3 - By means of a dialogue-screen (form) , in which a number of questions are asked, a first guideline-form is selected. 4 - The patient visits the doctors consultation. 5 - The content of the consultation- form is established based on the selected guideline- form. The requests for additional tests (for instance bloed- and urine tests, X-ray 16 photographs, etc.) are already, as a standard, filled in, based on the selected guideline-form. The doctor can always deviate from this proposed standard. 6 - The doctor decides additional tests : blood and X-ray photography, and completes the request form on the screen. 7 - After having received the results on the same day or later the doctor states his opinion in a dialogue-screen. 8 - The next procedure or guideline step is selected on the basis of this opinion. 9 - At the next consultation the guideline determines the content of the consultation form. This brings the process back to item 5. Finally, what is essential, is whether the implementation of a guideline step or deviation from a guideline step leads to the intended effect. For this reason the method of the invention constitutes the basis for effectivity and efficiency measurements on the basis of which guidelines can be corrected and new guidelines can be develloped. This can be a task for a coordinating center and/or a scientific association. By virtue of this evaluation property the method of the invention therefore constitutes a so-called "Quality System" . The association of the method according to the invention, as a tool, with the effect measurement it allows, gives indeed a very powerfull quality system, which - taking into consideration the freedom for deciding and acting of the individual user : - can offer insight in the effects of evaluation 17 techniques and actions taken (in medical situatios of the recovery or improvement in function of the analyses and therapies) ; can offer insight in the efficiency (such as costs) of evaluation techniques and actions taken; can form the basis for correcting the evaluation techniques and actions to be taken.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. Method for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records and for sequentially steering a process of interrelated actions in respect of said records, using a computer system comprising a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit and a procesing unit, and involving at least one recorded catalogue of recommended actions, characterised in that the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions comprises/comprise hierarchised sequences of alternative actions, and in that the method generates electronic forms comprising a list of recommended actions, information-input requests and/or decision-requests, in function of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions of the catalogue of recommended actions, and in function of the past history of actions. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions comprises/comprise electronic selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions. 3. Method according to claim 2 , characterised in that the selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions are integrated in electronic forms generated by the method. 4. Method according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that the process of interrelated actions steered by the method involves a number of sequential procedure steps and in that for each 19 subsequent step in the procedure the method generates at least one process form and one evaluation form. 5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the evaluation form comprises information from the records relevant for any decision-request involved in said evaluation form. 6. Method according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that a record of information used/entered is stored in the memory unit . 7. Method according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that a record of the information and actions used/entered is stored in the memory unit for the purpose of measurement of the effectivity and/or efficiency of effects and/or results of the procedure. 8. Method according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that the method involves a supervising organisation for the purpose of quality controll and quality improvement of the method. 9. Method according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that the method allows for the updating of the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions . 10. Method according to claims 7 to 9, characterised in that said supervising organisation evaluates the effectivity and/or efficiency of effects and/or results based on said records of information and actions used/entered, stored during use of the method, and updates the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions in function of said evaluation. 20 11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the steering software is an application embodiment of commercial LOTUS NOTES and/or LOTUS DOMINO NOTES software. 12. Computer system for electronically storing, retrieving and/or modifying records and for sequentially steering interrelated actions in respect of said records, comprising a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit and a procesing unit, characterised in that said memory unit of the computer system comprises at least one recorded catalogue of recommended actions involving hierarchised sequences of alternative actions, and that said processing unit of the computer system is programmed to generate electronic forms comprising a list of recommended actions, information-input requests and/or decision-requests, in function of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions of the catalogue of recommended actions, and in function of the past history of actions 13. Computer system according to claim 12, characterised in that the recorded catalogue (s) of recommended actions in the memory unit of the computer system comprises/comprise electronic selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions . 14. Computer system according to any one of claim 13, characterised in that the processing unit of the computer system is programmed to integrate the selection algorithms in respect of the hierarchised sequences of alternative actions into electronic forms. 21 15. Computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 14, characterised in that the processing unit of the computer system is programmed to generate at least one process form and one evaluation form for each step in the process of interrelated actions steered by the computer system. 16. Computer system according to claim 15, characterised in that the processing unit of the computer system is programmed to integrate into the evaluation form any information from the records which is relevant for any decision-request involved in said evaluation form. 17. Computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 16, characterised in that the processing unit of the computer system is programmed to store a record of the information and actions used/entered during the process, into the memory unit of the computer system.

Inventors: KAISER CLAUDE PAUL, VAN ROMUNDE LEO K J, KAISER, CLAUDE, PAUL, VAN ROMUNDE, LEO, K., J.
Applicants: CURAME, KAISER CLAUDE PAUL, ROMUNDE LEO K J VAN, KAISER, CLAUDE, PAUL, VAN ROMUNDE, LEO, K., J.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06F17, G06F19, G06Q10, G06Q50