Abstract:
This invention is a system and method for tracking and managing transportation of specimens from a first location such as a medical office to a second location such as a testing lab for processing. A courier using a portable computing device can receive information representing that a specimen is ready for pick up from a first location. The courier will travel to a first location and enter specimen identification information into the portable computing device as well as first location information. Therefore, the portable computing device will have a record that the specimen has been picked up from the first location. The specimen is then carried to a second location and the courier enters the status of the specimen to show that it has been delivered to the second location for processing and a record exists to show that the specimen has been delivered to the second location. Lab results can be sent via the invention from the second location to the first location. A chain of custody and tracking system is therefore provided to reduce the risk of mishandled or even lost specimens and processing results.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent Application Ser. No. 60/658,533 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND MANAGING TRANSPORTATION OF MEDICAL SPECIMENS, filed Mar. 4, 2005, herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention is directed to a system and method for tracking and managing the transportation of specimens such as medical specimens. More particularly, this invention is directed to a system and method for using a computer system for scanning, tracking and maintaining chain of custody of medical specimens from original source locations (first locations) to lab locations (second locations) for processing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Medical specimens are used in a variety of ways. While the most common medical specimens are collected for health care at doctors&#39; offices and hospitals, specimens are also collected for such applications as life insurance qualification, drug testing for employees and athletes, criminal investigation, and other forensic investigations. Medical specimens can be collected from humans as well as animals.  
         [0004]     Traditionally, once a medical specimen is collected, the medical couriers transport the medical specimens from the collection source to a testing or processing lab. To maintain the chain of custody of the medical specimen and preserve the integrity of the test results, the possession of the medical specimen by the medical courier must be tracked and accounted for. Once the medical specimen is collected, the specimen can be associated with information from the collection source or first location. Such information can include patient number, location address, location number, crime scene number, or other such location identification. The specimen can have identification information that can be through the use of a barcode placed on the medical specimen container. The specimen is then transported to a second location such as a lab for processing or testing so that test results can be compiled based upon the need of those requesting the testing.  
         [0005]     The results from testing of medical specimens can extraordinarily affect the source of the medical specimen. For example, the test results can be used to diagnose disease, to clear or convict a defendant in a criminal investigation, to determine whether employment may or may not be terminated and to determine eligibility for athletics. Significant problems arise when a medical specimen is lost, improperly identified, or improperly collected. Further, if the test results are not returned to the collection location, significant issues can arise. Improper identification, tracking, chain of custody and failure to return test result can lead to legal liability for the test requesting entity, the lab or the medical specimen courier. Further, such errors can result in improper criminal convictions, lack of criminal convictions, wrongful employment rejections or termination, tort liability for the medical specimen collector, lab or medical courier, and defamation of the medical specimen source. Imagine the liability incurred when an employee is terminated based upon a positive drug test due to test results from a medical specimen that was not collected from that employee. Further, imagine the liability were an employee addicted to drugs allowed to continue in a sensitive employment position such as child day care because the medical specimen for drug testing was lost.  
         [0006]     Therefore, it is critical that the medical specimen identification be properly associated with the source, tracked, and a proper chain of custody maintained. It would be advantageous to provide for tracking reports and chain of custody reports that would show proper chain of custody, status of the lab testing, lab testing result information such as delivery date and date testing was preformed and other such management and administration desired by those skilled in the art.  
         [0007]     Further, the medical courier can travel to many locations in a given week. Therefore, it would be advantageous that since the medical courier must routinely travel to the collection source and lab, that the medical courier can also track, maintain and stock inventory of supplier for the collection source or the lab. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of component of the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of the operation of the invention; and,  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of the operation of the PDA used with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The detailed description that follows may be presented in terms of program procedures executed on a computer or network of computers. These procedural descriptions are representations used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. These procedures herein described are generally a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps require physical manipulations of physical quantities such as electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated readable medium that is designed to perform a specific task or tasks. Actual computer or executable code or computer readable code may not be contained within one file or one storage medium but may span several computers or storage mediums. The terms “host” and “server” may be hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software that provides the functionality described herein. This invention thereby allows multiple users, being geographically dispersed, to interact with data relating to physical characteristics of manufactured products using a system that ensures the precise and accurate conveyance of such information.  
         [0012]     The present invention is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (“systems”) and computer program products according to the invention. It will be understood that each block of a flowchart illustration can be implemented by a set of computer readable instructions or code. These computer readable instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that the instructions will execute on a computer or other data processing apparatus to create a means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.  
         [0013]     These computer readable instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in a computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer executed process such that the instructions are executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus providing steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. Accordingly, elements of the flowchart support combinations of means for performing the special functions, combination of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations can be implemented by special purpose hardware based computer systems that perform the specified functions, or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware or computer instructions. The present invention is now described more fully herein with reference to the drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.  
         [0014]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a collection location or first location  10  is shown where medical specimens are collected for a variety of uses. A medical specimen, upon a request to be tested, is then transported to a second location such as a lab  12  for processing such as testing. A medical courier arrives at collection location  10  with a portable computing device  14  having a portable computer readable medium  16 . The medical specimen  18  is associated with specimen identification information  20  which can be entered, such as by scanning a barcode, in the portable device  14  so that the medical specimen identification information is stored in portable computer readable medium  16 . Identification information  20  may be a bar code, a RFID tag, or any other known identifier. Additionally, the collection point information, or first location process or status information, can be stored in portable computer readable medium  16  and associated with the medical specimen.  
         [0015]     Other such information that can be collected upon the portable device receiving the medical specimen identification marking can include process or status information which can include date, time, medical courier identification, individual providing the specimen, location of the site where the specimen was retrieved, and other such information useful for maintaining a chain of custody of the medical specimen.  
         [0016]     Once the medical specimen is retrieved from the collection location  10 , it is transported to a second location such as testing facility  12  so that requested processing can be performed on the medical specimen. The medical specimen is then transported to testing location  12  by a medical courier who has portable device  14 . Upon delivery of the medical specimen to the testing location, the specimen identification information is entered into portable device  14  so that portable computer readable medium  16  contains a record of the medical specimen being delivered to testing location  12 . Additionally, processing information can be associated with the delivery of the medical specimen to the testing location such as date, time, person who has received the medical specimen at testing location, and medical courier identification.  
         [0017]     To facilitate the task of providing medical courier services, a route that the medical courier must travel can be uploaded to portable device  14  from a central server  22  via network  24 . Portable device  14  can be in electronic communication with server  22  by such means as radio frequency, infrared, or wired communications such as through Internet network connections, or other such communication means. Since portable device  14  can be in electronic communication with server  22 , information contained on the server&#39;s computer readable medium  26  can be transmitted to portable device  14  and stored in portable computer readable medium  16 . Additionally, information from portable device  14  can be transmitted to server  22  and stored in the server&#39;s computer readable medium  26 .  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, information on server  22  can include the route information representing the path that the medical courier is to travel during a particular period of time. There can be one, two, or as many routes as the user wishes to designate transmitted to the portable device. By transmitting route information to the portable device, the medical courier can be provided with a route to be taken during the day. Full route information can be stored on computer readable medium  26  and is designated as  30  in  FIG. 1 . For each route, there can be one or more sites, designated as  32 , associated with the route. For example, collection site  1  may be part of route  1  as well as collection site  2 , shown as  32   a . Therefore, route  1 , when reviewed by the user, would show that site  1  is to be visited, and then site  2  is to be visited.  
         [0019]     For each site, the medical courier retrieves each medical specimen that is present at the particular site and the medical specimen identification information for each specimen is associated with that site. The information associated with each specimen is shown as  34 . Therefore, once the medical courier retrieves specimens from each site on each route, computer readable medium  16  can store process information such as route information  30 , site information  32 , and specimen information  34  reflecting the specimens that were collected, the site where the specimen was collected from, and the route where the site belongs. This information can be transmitted to server  22  and stored on the server&#39;s computer readable medium  26 .  
         [0020]     It is important to note that a route may also contain labs so that during a route, specimens can be dropped off at a particular lab, even between stops at specific sites. Lab information, shown as  36 , can be stored in computer readable medium  26  or computer readable medium  16 . When the medical courier travels to a lab  12 , the specimens that are to be delivered to that lab are entered into the portable device  14  according to identification  20  and designated as delivered to lab  12 . Therefore, the process of entering the identification information of a medical specimen allows the portable device to show which specimens are in the custody of the medical courier and which have been delivered to a lab for processing as well as process information such as time, date, location, and the individual who received the medical specimen. The lab can also be provided with the specimen information  34  and associated site information  32  when the medical specimen is delivered to the lab location  12 .  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, a GPS device is associated with portable device  14  so that when a medical specimen is retrieved from a first location or depository lab location, the location information can be associated with the transaction of receipt or delivery and stored in association with that particular medical specimen. The GPS device may be incorporated with portable device  14 , or may be a stand alone device.  
         [0022]     Portable device  14  can be “synchronized” with server  22  so that route information, site information, process information, status information, and lab information can be transmitted to portable device  14  and stored in portable device computer readable medium  16 . Additionally, other information can also be transmitted to portable device  14  to assist in the administration and management of medical specimen transport. Such information can include users of the portable device, passwords, contact information for collection locations and lab locations, software update information transmitted from server  22  to portable device  14 . Further, comments or notes associated with each route or site or lab can also be transmitted from server  22  to portable device  14  as well as from portable device  14  to server  22 .  
         [0023]     First location information can be specific to a site and can include the estimated time of arrival (ETA). This can be received from server  22  so that collection site  10  can inform the medical courier via portable device  14  that it requests medical specimen pickup at a particular time. In one embodiment, collection site  10  can access server  22  through client  36  and provide server  22  with a preferred pickup time so that server  22  can provide such information to the medical courier through portable device  14 .  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, the identification  20  of a medical specimen is a barcode and portable device  14  contains a barcode scanner for receiving the identification mark of the medical specimen.  
         [0025]     When the medical courier is retrieving a medical specimen at site  10 , site visit notes can be entered into portable device  14 , stored in computer readable medium  16 , transmitted to server  22 , and stored in server computer readable medium  26 . The site visit notes can be entered through alphanumeric keyboards or can be selected from predetermined site notes that will then be stored in portable device  14 .  
         [0026]     A signature can be obtained at a collection site  10  and entered into portable device  14  and stored in computer readable medium  16  as part of the process information. In one embodiment, once the signature is entered into portable device  14 , subsequent retrieval of medical specimens from that particular collection site may be restricted. Therefore, the signature can represent such circumstances as collection site  10  verified that medical specimens were retrieved and the medical courier has completed receipt of all medical specimens to be picked up at that site.  
         [0027]     When lab location  12  has medical specimens dropped off, identification mark  20  for each medical specimen is entered into portable device  14 . Once the information is entered, the specimen can be removed from a drop-off list which, when such list is empty, indicates that each specimen to be delivered to that particular lab location has been delivered to the lab location and no specimens in the custody of the medical courier need to be dropped off. In the event that medical specimen information exists in the list associated with that particular lab location, the medical courier is informed that further specimens need to be dropped at that lab location.  
         [0028]     Server  22  can contain an application for managing information and storing in computer readable medium  26 . For example, a user interface can be used to maintain route information, site information, and lab information on server  22 .  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the operation of the invention will be described in more detail. In step  40 , the user of portable device  14  logs in. The portable device can then be synchronized with server  22  in step  42 . Portable device can then receive application updates in step  44 , if any are present on server  22 . In step  46 , the user selects a route to travel which can include collection locations or lab locations. A pre-selected site according to the route is displayed for visiting at step  48 , once the medical courier arrives at the selected site, a specimen can be entered into portable device  14 , such as by scanning, at step  50 . If there still remains specimens to be retrieved and scanned at step  52 , the process returns to step  50  and continues.  
         [0030]     When all specimens are scanned, site notes can be entered concerning a particular site at step  54  and a signature may be obtained at step  56  so that the medical courier is allowed to move on to the next site. A determination is made at step  58  as to whether all sites have been visited within the route. If not, the process returns to step  48  and begins again. If so, a determination is made at step  60  as to whether all routes are complete. If not, the process returns to step  46  for the next round, otherwise, the medical courier may travel to a lab at step  62 . Upon reaching the particular destination point for the lab at step  64 , the specimen to be deposited at the lab is scanned at step  66 . A determination is made as to whether the scanned specimen exists in portable computer readable medium  16  of portable device  14 . If not, the determination is made at step  70  as to whether to associate the scanned specimen that was not discovered in portable computer readable medium  16  with the specific site at step  70 . Determination is made then in association of the site to the scanned specimen is made at step  72  and the process returns to step  66 . If the determination at step  68  finds the specimen in computer readable medium  16 , then the specimen is deposited with the lab location at step  72 . The determination is made at step  74  as to whether there are specimens remaining in computer readable medium of portable device  14 . If so, the process returns to step  66 . If all specimens have been scanned and delivered to those lab locations, the user can log out at step  76 .  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an explanation of the operation of server  22  is shown in more detail. The user can log onto the server at step  78 . A main menu can be displayed at step  80 . The main menu can direct the user to lab settings at step  82 , user settings at step  84 , site settings at step  86 , route settings at step  88 , device settings at step  90 , and report settings at step  91 . Lab settings can include such information, designated as  92 , as synchronization log, lab location, connection information, and other information. User settings can include such information, designated as  94 , as user name, password, and role. The role of a user can include: administrators which connect to portable device  14  or server  22  and have full access; couriers which can access portable device applications, run reports, review synchronization logs, and receive announcements from server  22 ; client service representative (CSR) which is a service representative for particular sites; report viewers which allow these users to review reports; route managers which are given, generally, full access to portable device  14  and server  22 , with the exception of modifying lab settings and site users which allow individuals to view specimen information, but restricted to only those sites associated with the site user. Contact information for user can also be accessed under user setting designated as  96 . Site settings can include the site name, address, family name, customer service rep name, signature status, destination point, pickup site, and notes designated as  98  as well as action by those designated as  100 . Action items can include notes, messages or other information to be transmitted to portable device  14  for review by the user of the portable device. Route settings can include route name, description, site information, and estimated times for the medical courier to arrive at the particular site in that route. This information is designated generally as  102 . Device information can include the name, the number, the date the device was added to the system, and whether the device is enabled, or not. This information is designated generally as  104 . Reporting settings can include such information, designated as  105 , as site listing reports, destination point reports, specimen alert reports, daily courier metrics reports, courier visit reports, total reports, courier summary reports and data master reports.  
         [0032]     Further, inventory information concerning supplies for particular sites can be stored in either service computer readable medium  26  or the portable computer readable medium  16 . Information can then be maintained at portable device  14  so that the medical courier can take inventory at a particular site, drop off inventory, and maintain information for the inventory for a particular site. Such information concerning inventory can include historical records for inventory requests, inventory fulfillments, and comparison of inventory use for particular specimens received from the particular site. Since portable device  14  is in communication with server  22 , information stored on portable device computer readable medium  16  can be received by server  20  and stored on computer readable medium  26 . This would allow a user to access server  22  through network  24  using a terminal  36  and be provided with reports and information concerning inventory and specimen status. For example, a collection site user could access terminal  36  and discover when and what specimens were delivered to what lab location. Further, the lab location could also access server  22  through terminal  36  that would allow the lab to update the status of the specimen. Such information associated with the specimen could include the date the specimen was tested, the date the specimen was received, the medical courier who delivered it, the time and date it was delivered, as well as even attach the lab report itself and associate such information to the specimen.  
         [0033]     Information that can be transmitted to portable device  14  for the medical courier to include is a checklist to ensure proper procedures are followed by the medical courier. Information that can be included in such a checklist can include that the courier must acknowledge that all receipts and deliveries have been completed, supplies have been accounted for, and the specific sites and lab locations of a route have been visited.  
         [0034]     In one embodiment, a photograph can be taken and entered into the portable device to provide further process information associated with the site, the specimen, or the lab location. A camera, digital or otherwise, can be connected to portable device  14 .  
         [0035]     When a specimen is delivered to a lab, the portable device  14  can also be used to track the specimen within the lab at various points during the testing procedure. This can allow for the medical specimen to be associated with specific tasks and locations within the lab to provide even more information concerning chain of custody, testing process, and status of the medical specimen. The lab location can also enter the specimen identification mark, such as by scanning the specimen, and since the lab can have access to server  22  in computer readable medium  26 , specimen information, even including the testing information, can be transmitted and recorded by server  22 , for a complete and comprehensive collection, tracking, and management of information concerning the receipt, delivery, testing, and results of the medical specimen. This information can be accessed by the user of the collection location to even receive the report information from the testing location. The invention may be better understood by reviewing the attached user manual herein fully incorporated by reference.  
         [0036]     While specific illustrations of the invention have been used to those skilled in the art, this invention and this disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims in any manner.