Abstract:
The present invention discloses methods and systems for providing education at a point of need. The invention includes creating granules of educational material, associating educational credits with the granules of educational material, receiving a request for at least one of the granules of educational material from the point of need, responding to the request by electronically delivering at least one of the granules of educational material to the point of need, and recording educational credits based on at least one of the granules of educational material delivered to the point of

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to providing knowledge or information at a point and time of need. In particular, but without limitation, the present invention further relates to associating continuing education requirements with the delivery of knowledge or information at the point of need.  
           [0002]    Although the present invention is not to be so limited, one particular context to which the present invention can be applied is found in the field of health care. In health care, licensed professionals, including physicians, are required to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits in order to maintain their licensure. The general purpose of such requirements is to provide some level of assurance that health care providers are current in their medical knowledge. Despite CME requirements, problems remain in ensuring that health care providers have access to and use current medical knowledge in their practice.  
           [0003]    Some of these problems relate to the delivery method used. In particular, traditional CME delivery methods are inflexible. Traditional CME delivery includes seminars, CD training, and on-line training. None of these delivery methods can consistently assist a health care provider with information during his or her clinical practice daily routine. The content does not have fine enough granularity to allow the health care provider to find and use the information during a clinic visit with a patient. Merely exposing a health care provider to medical knowledge does not really provide any assurance that the health care provider can internalize the information and incorporate it into their every day practice.  
           [0004]    A further inflexibility of current CME delivery methods relates to timing. Seminar and conference delivery methods offer health care professionals little or no control as to the timing of the delivery of the information. CD training and on-line training increase the control, but often require large time commitments (i.e. more than one hour) to complete accredited tasks. Health care providers are typically busy professionals who often have difficulties in scheduling the requisite time for continuing medical education.  
           [0005]    Despite that health care professionals are generally required to fulfill CME requirements, medical errors still occur. In fact, it is estimated that between 44,000 to 98,000 Americans in hospitals die every year as a result of medical errors. If health care providers were always aware of relevant and important guidelines relative to a particular patient condition, then these medical errors would be reduced.  
           [0006]    A further problem with continuing medical education is that generally it is not personalized to a particular health care provider. Therefore a health care provider can receive continuing medical education credits for participation in continuing medical education that is largely irrelevant to the particular health care provider&#39;s practice or else can receive continuing medical education credit even though the continuing medical education did not expose the health care provider to anything the health care provider did not already know. Thus, there are significant problems regarding continuing medical education. These problems involve providing the proper information to a health care provider when they need it in order to improve medical care while effectively using the health care providers time.  
           [0007]    It has been recognized that computer-based decision-support systems can be used to assist in determining proper diagnosis and selecting appropriate medical procedures. One problem with many such systems is that they are designed to replace clinical judgment as opposed to assisting and improving clinical judgment. Such systems, although directed towards improving patient care, do not necessarily improve a health care provider&#39;s medical knowledge. Further, there are concerns that such systems can possibly result in medical errors when the health care provider&#39;s judgment is replaced.  
           [0008]    Although the above problems have been discussed in the context of continuing medical education of health care providers, in order to improve quality of health care, these same problems are present in other areas where proper or current education is fundamental in improving quality of service. For example, such problems are present in information technology, airline pilots, mechanics, lawyers, and other areas. These are merely a few examples of professions or occupations, where the quality of service is related to the ability to access and use the most current knowledge or information in performing a service. The present invention is not limited to any particular profession, occupation, or type of service. Therefore, a need exists in the art for an improved method and system for delivery of continuing education at the point of need.  
           [0009]    A general object, feature or advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and system for continuing education delivery that improves competency.  
           [0010]    A further object, feature or advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and system for delivering continuing education that presents information at the point of need so that errors can be avoided.  
           [0011]    Yet another object, feature or advantage of the present invention is a method and system for point of need continuing education delivery that provides relevant and timely continuing education.  
           [0012]    A further object, feature or advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and system for point of need continuing education delivery that allows for tracking of errors, i.e. knowledge weakness areas.  
           [0013]    A still further object, feature or advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and system for point of need continuing education delivery that breaks down continuing education into manageable granules of information.  
           [0014]    Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and system for providing continuing education that awards credits for review of manageable granules of information.  
           [0015]    A still further object, feature or advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and system for providing continuing education that provides a follow-up to the point of need delivery of continuing education.  
           [0016]    These as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    The present invention relates to providing education at a point of need. In particular, though not exclusively, the present invention relates to providing continuing education at the point of need and tracking the amount of continuing education provided.  
           [0018]    According to one method of the present invention, educational material is provided at a point of need. The method provides for creating granules of educational material, associating educational credits with the granules of educational material, receiving a request for at least one of the granules of educational material from the point of need, responding to the request by electronically delivering at least one of the granules of educational material to the point of need, and recording educational credits based on the at least one of the granules of educational material delivered to the point of need. Preferably, the granules are small enough that the educational material can be quickly absorbed and immediately applied to improve the quality of service.  
           [0019]    This methodology of the present invention can be applied to various contexts. For example, the present invention includes a method for providing continuing medical education to a health care provider at a point and time of need. The method includes creating a set of granules of medical knowledge, associating continuing medical education credits with each of the set of granules of medical knowledge, receiving a request for a granule of medical knowledge from the point of need and at the time of need, responding to the request by electronically delivering a granule of medical knowledge to the point of need and at the time of need, and recording the continuing medical education credits based on the granules of medical knowledge delivered to the point of need.  
           [0020]    The present invention further provides for additional information to the health care provider after the time of need. For example, the point in time of need can occur when a health care provider is consulting with a patient or otherwise interacting with a patient. The health care provider can request granules of medical knowledge that are useful for improving the quality of the consultation and thereby reducing or removing the possibility of errors. After the patient consultation, the health care provider can access related and more detailed information to further improve the quality of future patient consultations. The health care provider can receive credit for both the granules of medical knowledge accessed during the patient consultation at the point and time of need as well as the granules of medical knowledge accessed at a later time.  
           [0021]    This methodology provides the health care provider with the information that is needed at the time and place that it is needed while still improving the health care provider&#39;s knowledge and also allowing the health care provider to receive continuing medical education for the time spent learning. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, and in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the methodology of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one implementation of a system according to the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the system adapted for limited, slow internet access.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 provides a point of care work context diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    The present invention will be described as it applies to a preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended the invention cover all modifications and alternatives which may be included within the spirit and broad scope of the invention. In particular, the preferred embodiment described relates to providing continuing medical education over the Internet. The present invention is in no way so limited, as it accompanies the provision of other types of knowledge or information, delivered in other manners as well as other variations.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 illustrates the methodology of a system  10  of the present invention. A point of care  12  is shown. The point of care  12  is a point of need. The point and time of care can occur at the location of and during a patient consultation or other interaction between a health care provider and a patient. The health care provider is presented with a situation where additional information could benefit the quality of care given to a patient. The health care provider accesses a computer  14  at the point of care. The computer  14  can be a notebook computer  16 , a handheld computer or personal digital assistant  18 , or other computer terminal or device. The computer  14  can be in either a connected or disconnected state to the Internet. When in a connected state, the computer  14  can access research data in a database and/or from a server  20  either locally or over a network such as the Internet. Alternatively, the research data can be accessed locally when the computer  14  is in a disconnected state. When a handheld computer  18  is used and the handheld computer  18  is removed from its cradle and has no other continuity with the server  20 , the handheld computer  18  is in the disconnected state.  
         [0029]    Once either the research data or server  20  is accessed, the system checks its relevant database and returns any matches for the information requested by the health care provider. The health care provider can then select the proper granule of information required. The health care provider can then use this granule of information in order to improve the patient&#39;s care. The amount of information stored within a granule is small and manageable so that it can quickly be reviewed and understood by the health care provider. Preferably, the amount of information contained within a granule that is delivered at the point and time of need is less than the equivalent of one printed page or less than about 500 words or is an otherwise manageable amount of information. For example, the granule delivered at the point and time of need is preferably small enough that it can be reviewed in less than five minutes. The granule need not contain only text and need not contain any text. The granule can include diagrams, charts, sound clips, videos, or other types of media. The present invention also contemplates that a granule can include one or more questions associated with the information in order to quickly test the health care provider&#39;s comprehension of the information.  
         [0030]    Meanwhile, the system also records the health care provider&#39;s access of the data in order to create a record of continuing education credit. If the system is in a connected state, this can occur immediately either via the Internet or to a local server. If the computer  14  is in a disconnected state, the accounting of the continuing education credit can occur later when the health care provider synchronizes the disconnected device, such as a handheld computer  18 , to the system. Where the granule includes one or more questions, the health care provider&#39;s answers and/or score on these questions can also be recorded.  
         [0031]    In addition, a message  22  is sent to the health care provider  24 . The message  22  contains suggestions for additional readings, videos, or other training material relating to the same area of the information previously delivered at the point and time of care. The present invention contemplates that these additional granules of information may be larger than those granules of information delivered at the point and time of need. The health care provider  24  can then use a computer  26  to access this suggested material or monitor their accumulation of CME credits. This additional material can also include additional questions to test the health care provider&#39;s comprehension. Where questions are associated with the granules of information, the suggested material can be at least partially based on the health care provider&#39;s responses to these questions. CME credits are stored in a database or at a server  28 . The message  22  sent to the health care provider  24  can also include CME accounting information.  
         [0032]    Thus, in this manner, relevant medical knowledge or education is provided at a point in time of need in order to improve the quality of service. At the same time, the individual receiving the educational material also receives credit for their use of the material. In addition, they receive related material so that they can further increase their knowledge or education at a later time. The present invention may also provide for the individual to be tested on the material presented to provide some measure of the individual&#39;s comprehension and as verification that the material was indeed reviewed.  
         [0033]    Where questions are asked, the present invention provides for the tracking of errors in answering the questions. If an individual consistently is weak in a particular area, then they can receive additional material to be reviewed related to that specific area.  
         [0034]    The present invention is not limited to any particular network topology. In particular, the present invention provides for medical knowledge or research data to be stored either locally or remotely. Similarly, CME data can be stored either locally or remotely. Further the present invention can use the Internet. One advantage of using the Internet is that knowledge or information in the form of granule data can be stored on a remote server that is continuously updated with current knowledge and information. Multiple health care providers can then access the granule data on the remote server without concern for its quality. Such a server could be maintained by a university hospital, government entity, or other trusted source. FIGS. 2 and 3 show variations of the system of the present invention, the variations based on the type of Internet access available.  
         [0035]    The present invention contemplates that different users may have different types of Internet access. For example, health care providers in metropolitan areas may have high speed Internet connections while health care providers in rural areas may be limited to low speed Internet connection systems. FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a high speed Internet connection system in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 2, a professional at the point of need uses an Internet connected device  30  to access a granule knowledge server  32 . The granule knowledge server  32  then returns the requested information. Usually this data will be from one of two sources: either data local to the granule knowledge server  32 , such as stored in a local granule database  38 , or else data from a second site approved for providing granule data, such as a server  42  with approved granule data  44 . The granule knowledge server  32  will also record the health care provider&#39;s use of the system and account for and store the associated continuing education credits. These continuing education credits can be stored either locally or remotely. For example, these continuing education credits can be stored in database  40 .  
         [0036]    The present invention also contemplates the health care provider is at the point of need during the time of need and uses a disconnected device such as a handheld computer  34 . The handheld computer  34  will access point of need data that is stored locally. This local data  36  may be a subset of data available through the granule knowledge server  32 . When the health care provider later synchronizes the disconnected device  34 , it will access the granule knowledge server  32  via a network connection to allow the granule knowledge server  32  to account for and store the associated continuing education credits such as stored in database  40 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 assumes that the device  30  and the handheld device  34  are provided with Internet access. For example, such Internet access can be through a local access server (not shown).  
         [0038]    Thus, when the health care provider is not at the point of need, the health care provider can use either a connected device  30  or a disconnected device  34  to access data. Generally, however, the health care provider would choose to use the connected device  30  to access larger granules of data, in particular those granules of data that are provided in a follow-up message as opposed to those provided at the point and time of care.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention where the health care provider has limited, slow Internet access. In FIG. 3, a local granule knowledge server assistant  50  is used. The local granule knowledge server assistant  50  is connected to a granular data and continuing education credits database  52 . According to FIG. 3, the Internet connected device  30  or a disconnected device  34  communicate with the local granular knowledge server assistant  50 . The local granular knowledge server assistant  50  then provides the granular data and records the continuing education credits locally. Periodically, the local granular knowledge server assistant  50  can communicate with the granular knowledge server  32  in order to synchronize both the granular data and the continuing education credits. Because the information is stored locally, local granular knowledge can be quickly provided at the point of need and at the time of need even when a limited band width, slow Internet access is all that is available.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 provides a point of care CME system work context diagram. As shown in FIG. 4, a health care provider  60  communicates with the point of care continuing medical education server  62 . Further the invention provides that the health care provider  60  may be required to first make a login request  64  to the server  62 . The server  62  then provides a response  66 . If the response is successful, then a health care provider  60  can make a request  68  for point of care granules of information or CME information. The server  62  will then appropriately respond with a response  69  providing the point of care or CME information. In addition, the server  62  communicates with an accounting component  70 . The accounting component  70  can make a request  72  for access or membership information to the server  62 . Server  62  can then respond with the access or membership information  74 . Using accounting component  70 , health care providers who use the system can be billed for the use of the system. The present invention contemplates that the access to the granular knowledge and/or receipt of CME credits are services that are of value to health care providers. The present invention contemplates that these services may be sold on a subscription basis, transaction basis, or according to other business models.  
         [0041]    In addition, the server  62  communicates with a CME data maintenance and data verification component  76 . The maintenance and verification component  76  can make a request to add new data to the server  62  and is provided with a status  80  of this request from the server  62 .  
         [0042]    A point of care—CME database  82  is properly connected to the server  62  so that the server  62  can make a request  84  to add new data to the database  82  and that database  82  component can respond with the status  86  of that request. This allows the database  82  to be updated as needed with current granules of knowledge or CME information. Further, the present invention contemplates that there may be a CME verification administration component  88  in order to ensure that only properly earned credit is given. The CME verification administration component  88  can make a request  90  to the server  62  for the test score of a member or group of members and the corresponding response  92  is given to the CME verification and administration component  88 .  
         [0043]    Thus, a method for providing education at a point of need has been disclosed. The present invention contemplates numerous variations in the type of information used, the topology of a network used to deliver the information, the type of device used to access the information, and other variations within the spirit and scope of the invention.