Patent Publication Number: US-10332629-B2

Title: Central station integration of patient data

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In a medical setting, patient data may be obtained via various workflows. In one workflow, physiological sensor devices are physically attached to a patient and patient data is continually monitored from the physiological sensor devices. In another workflow, spot or episodic data is obtained from a patient, typically by a nurse or other clinician at intervals dictated by the workflow and by an acuity level for each patient. 
     Patient data obtained on a continuous basis is commonly displayed on a central display station so that clinicians can easily view vital signs being monitored for the patient. Patient data obtained on a spot or episodic basis is often manually entered on a patient chart or stored in a computer system. Clinicians needing to view both patient data obtained on a continuous basis and patient data obtained on a spot or episodic basis often need to access multiple computer systems, display stations or documents in order to view both types of patient data. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for displaying medical data. Physiological data is received from a first medical monitoring device. The physiological data is obtained on a continuous basis. Physiological data is received from a second medical monitoring device. The physiological data from the second medical monitoring device is obtained on a non-continuous basis. The physiological data received from the first medical monitoring device and the physiological data received from the second medical monitoring device are displayed on a central display station. The central display station is located centrally within a care unit of a caregiving facility. 
     The details of one or more techniques are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of these techniques will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an example system that supports integration of continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient at a central display station. 
         FIG. 2  shows an example user interface of the central display station of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows an example layout for a display tile of the user interface of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows an example screen shot for a display tile. 
         FIG. 5  shows components of the example system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows components of the example system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a screen shot of an example device detail screen that includes a display of physiological data for a patient processed by the integrated review module component of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a screen shot of an example patient review screen. 
         FIG. 9  shows another screen shot of an example patient review screen. 
         FIG. 10  shows a screen shot of a patient alarms screen. 
         FIG. 11  shows a screen shot of example controls used on the review screens of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment for the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  shows an example flowchart of a method for providing an integrated display of continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient on a medical display station. 
         FIG. 14  shows an example flowchart of a method for implementing an integrated review function. 
         FIG. 15  shows example physical components of the central display station of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to a system and methods for integrating continuous and episodic data from a patient at a central display station. 
     In example embodiments, the central display station receives patient data from one or more monitoring devices that receive continuous physiological data for the patient. The central display station also receives patient data from one or more spot or episodic devices that obtain physiological data from the patient from spot or episodic monitoring devices, for example a portable vital signs measurement device. The continuous physiological data and the episodic physiological data are integrated and displayed at the central display station. 
     The central display station is typically located at a central location within a care unit of caregiving facility (e.g., hospital or clinic), for example at a central nurse&#39;s station, so that the physiological data may be easily viewed by clinicians. A care unit is an area of the caregiving facility in which patients are treated and monitored. In example embodiments, a caregiving facility may have one or more central display stations located at hubs or nurses areas in care units throughout the facility so that caregivers can easily access the central display stations to monitor multiple patients at once. In this disclosure, episodic physiological data refers to physiological data obtained on a non-continuous basis. In this disclosure, the terms “episodic” and “spot” are used interchangeably. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example system  100  that supports integration of continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient at a central display station. The system  100  includes a continuous monitoring device  102 , an episodic monitoring device  104 , and a central display station  106 . 
     The continuous monitoring device  102  may be physically connected to the central display station  106  or may be connected to the central display station  106  via a wireless connection. The episodic monitoring device  104  is typically connected to the central display station  106  via a wireless connection. More than one continuous monitoring device  102  and episodic monitoring device  104  may be used. 
     The example continuous monitoring device  102  is a monitoring device that receives physiological data from a patient on a continuous basis, typically at millisecond intervals. Continuous physiological data is typically obtained for acute patients, for example from surgical patients or from post-surgical patients in an intensive care unit. Examples of continuous physiological data include blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, oxygen saturation level (SPO2), end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) and respiratory rate. Other types of physiological data are possible. The physiological data is typically displayed on the continuous monitoring device  102 , which is typically located near the patient. An example of a continuous monitoring device is the Welch Allyn 1500 Patient Monitor from Welch Allyn, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. 
     The example episodic monitoring device  104  is a monitoring device that receives physiological data from a patient on an episodic or spot basis. Episodic data is typically obtained for less acute patients, for example a patient recovering from surgery but out of intensive care. For these patients, physiological data may be obtained via a vital signs device that may be manually operated by a clinician, for example by a nurse or a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Examples of episodic data obtained from the vital signs device include blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate and SPO2. Other examples of episodic data are possible. Episodic data such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate and SPO2 may also be obtained on a continuous basis. However, when this data is obtained at specified intervals, for example when a nurse manually takes a patient&#39;s blood pressure and temperature, the data is designated as episodic data. For example, a nurse may manually obtain an oxygen saturation reading by manually clipping an SPO2 sensor to the patient and monitoring the SPO2 via a vital signs device. An example vital signs device is the Connex® Vital Signs Monitor from Welch Allyn, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. Intervals are typically specified by physician orders or care unit protocols. 
     The example central display station  106  includes a continuous connectivity service module  108 , an episodic connectivity service module  110 , a continuous patient data service module  112 , a central display station user interface  114 , a client services module  116 , a continuous patient data store  118  and a vital signs database  120 . In examples, the continuous patient data store  118  and the vital signs database  120  may be stored on databases external to the central display station  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , physiological data from the continuous monitoring device  102  is processed by continuous connectivity service module  108 . The example continuous connectivity service module  108  provides connectivity services for continuous monitoring of devices such as the continuous monitoring device  102 . Example connectivity services provided by the continuous connectivity service module  108  include receiving and routing continuous physiological data for a patient to application software for displaying the continuous physiological data on user interface  114  of the central display station and for storing the continuous physiological data in a continuous patient data store  118  and in a vital signs database  120 . 
     Physiological data from the episodic monitoring device  104  is processed by episodic connectivity service module  110 . The example episodic connectivity service module  110  provides connectivity services for episodic monitoring devices such as the episodic monitoring device  104 . Example connectivity services provided by the episodic connectivity service module  110  includes routing episodic physiological data for a patient to application software for displaying the episodic physiological data on user interface  114  of the central display station and for storing the episodic physiological data in the vital signs database  120 . 
     The example continuous patient data service module  112  is an application programming interface (API) used by the continuous connectivity service module  108  to store continuous physiological data for the patient in the continuous patient data store  118 . API commands from the continuous connectivity service module  108  are used to store the continuous physiological data for the patient in the continuous patient data store  118 . In addition, as explained later herein, API commands from the continuous patient data service module  112  are used to retrieve continuous patient data from the continuous patient data store  118  and provide the continuous patient data to central display station user interface  114 . 
     The example central display station user interface  114  provides a user interface for the central display station. The user interface includes a plurality of display tiles that display physiological information for patients, as explained in more detail later herein. 
     The example client services module  116  provides support for storage, retrieval and modification of data entries, including, but not limited to patients, visits, episodic tests, user accounts and device connections. Access to the client services module  116  is via APIs typically provided by a dynamic link library (DLL), referred to as a client framework, not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The example continuous patient data store  118  is a repository for physiological data received from continuous monitoring device  102  and from other continuous monitoring devices. The physiological data stored in the continuous patient data store  118  can be later retrieved for detailed display on the user interface of the central display station  106 . 
     The example vital signs data base  120  is a repository for physiological data received from episodic monitoring device  104  and from other episodic monitoring devices. The physiological data stored in the vital signs database  120  can be later retrieved for detailed display on the user interface of the central display station  106 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an example user interface display  200 , as provided by the central display station user interface  114 . The user interface display  200  includes a plurality of display tiles  202 - 204 . Each of the display tiles  202 - 204  provides a display of physiological data for a patient. Typically, each of the display tiles  202 - 204  displays physiological data for a different patient. The physiological data can include both continuous physiological data and episodic physiological data. The example user interface display  200  includes 36 display tiles, organized into six rows of six display tiles each. Other example display tile configurations include 24 display tiles organized into four rows of six display tiles each and 48 display tiles organized into eight rows of six display tiles each. Other configurations of display tiles are possible. 
       FIG. 3  shows the example display tile  202  in more detail. The display tile  202  displays physiological data for one patient. The display tile  202  includes a timestamp  304 , episodic parameters  306 ,  308  and continuous parameters  310 - 320 . The continuous parameters  310 - 320  are updated on a continuous basis, typically at one second intervals. The timestamp  304  displays a timestamp indicating when the episodic parameters  306 ,  308  were last updated. The episodic parameters  306 ,  308  display episodic physiological data, for example non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) and temperature. Each episodic parameter  306 ,  308  displays physiological data for a different episodic parameter. The continuous parameters  310 - 320  display continuous physiological data, for example respiration rate and oxygen saturation (SPO2). 
       FIG. 4  shows an example screen shot of a display tile  400  corresponding to display tile  202 . The display tile  400  includes a room identifier  402  for the patient, a name of the patient  404 , an icon  406  representing the sex of the patient, a timestamp  408 , episodic parameter  410  corresponding to non-invasive blood pressure, episodic parameter  412  corresponding temperature, continuous parameter  414  corresponding to end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), continuous parameter  416  corresponding to an integrated pulmonary index (IPI), continuous parameter  418  corresponding to pulse rate (PR), continuous parameter  420  corresponding to respiration rate (RR), continuous parameter  422  corresponding to venous calibrated total hemoglobin (SPHBV) and continuous parameter  424  corresponding to oxygen saturation (SPO2). Other episodic and continuous parameters are possible. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example system  500  that includes components of the system  100  of  FIG. 1  used in a data acquisition aspect of system  100  for obtaining and storing continuous and episodic data for a patient. In the example system  500 , physiological data obtained on a continuous basis for a patient is sent to the continuous connectivity service module  108 . The continuous connectivity service module  108  sends the continuous physiological data for the central display station user interface  114  for display on a display tile, for example display tile  202 , of the user interface  200  of the central display station  106 . The continuous connectivity service module  108  also sends the continuous physiological data for the patient to the continuous patient data service module  112 . The continuous connectivity service module  108  also sends episodic data collected from a continuous device to the vital signs database  120  using client services  116 , as discussed later herein. 
     The continuous connectivity service module  108  uses one or more API commands to send the continuous physiological data for the patient to the continuous patient data service module  112 . The continuous patient data service module  112  uses file system API commands to store the continuous physiological data for the patient in the continuous patient data store  118 . 
     The continuous connectivity service module  108  also sends the continuous physiological data for the patient to client service module  116 . The client service module  116  uses API commands, typically SQL commands, to store the continuous physiological data in the vital signs database  120 . As discussed, the vital signs database  120  stores episodic physiological data for a patient. However, some physiological data collected from a continuous device may also include episodic type data. For example, pulse rate may be obtained on an episodic basis when a nurse or CNA makes rounds and manually obtains the pulse rate of a patient. However, pulse rate is also obtained during the process of measuring oxygen saturation (SPO2). Because pulse rate data is available from the measurement of SPO2, that pulse rate data is also stored in the vital signs database  120 . 
     As another example, NIBP may be measured manually by a nurse or CNA but may also be automatically taken at intervals, for example when an automatic blood pressure machine is connected to the patient. Pulse rate is typically obtained by automatic blood pressure machines when measuring blood pressure. The pulse rate obtained on an interval basis by the automatic blood pressure machine is stored in the vital signs database  120  in addition to blood pressure obtained from spot vital signs measuring devices. 
     In the example system  500 , physiological data obtained on an episodic basis for a patient is sent to the episodic connectivity service module  110 . The episodic connectivity service module  110  uses one or more API commands to send the episodic physiological data to the client services module  116 . The client services module  116  uses API commands, typically SQL commands, to store the episodic physiological data for the patient in the vital signs database  120 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an example system  600  that includes components of the system  100  of  FIG. 1  used in an integrated review aspect of system  100  for retrieving and displaying continuous and episodic data for a patient. The integrated review aspect of system  100  permits a clinician to display a more detailed view of patient physiological data than is available from a normal display tile, for example from display tile  202 . The integrated review aspect of system  100  is more detailed in terms of historical data. The normal display tile generally shows only a current value of the patient physiological data. The integrated review aspect of system  100  may show historical data going back multiple days, thereby permitting a clinician to view more recent data in the context of historical data values. 
     The system  600  includes an example integrated review module  602  that integrates continuous physiological data stored in the continuous patient data store  118  with episodic physiological data stored in the vital signs database  120 . The integrated review module  602  displays the integrated continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient on a detailed display tile of the user interface  200  of the central display station  106 . The integrated review module  602  also permits a display of alarms for a patient and provides continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient in graphical timeline and tabular formats. 
     In system  600 , the integrated review module  602  receives physiological data obtained for a patient on a continuous basis from the continuous patient data store  118 . A request is made via API commands to the continuous patient data service module  112 . The continuous patient data service module  112  uses file system API commands to obtain the continuous physiological data from the continuous patient data store  118  and send the continuous physiological data for the patient to the integrated review module  602 . 
     The integrated review module  602  also receives physiological data obtained for a patient on a spot or episodic basis from the vital signs database  120 . A request is made via API commands and a client framework to the client service module  116 . The client services module  116  uses database commands, typically SQL commands, to obtain episodic physiological data for the patient from the vital signs database  120  and send the episodic physiological data for the patient to the integrated review module  602 . 
     The integrated review module  602  integrates the physiological data received from the continuous patient data store  118  and the vital signs database  120  and supplies the integrated physiological data to the user interface of the central display station  106 . Integrating the physiological data refers to identifying and processing continuous and episodic physiological data with common time positions and presenting the continuous and episodic physiological data for display. Integration may also involve correlating some physiological data from the continuous patient data store  118  and the vital signs database  120 . 
     For example, a pulse rate may have been obtained from a NIBP measurement stored in the vital signs database  120  and from a SPO2 measurement stored in the continuous patient data store  118 . The integration results in a display of the pulse rate in a correct time position in relation to other physiological data occurring during a common time period. The integrated physiological data may be displayed on a device detail screen or on one or more review screens, as explained later herein. 
     Processing the physiological data from the continuous patient data store  118  and the vital signs database  120  also involves up-sampling or down-sampling the physiological data. Large amounts of physiological data may be stored in the continuous patient data stored  118  and the vital signs database  120 . For example, physiological data for a patient from one or more physiological sensors may be obtained at short intervals, for example at one second intervals, on a continuous basis. This amount of continuous data can be too much data to be effectively displayed on the user interface of the central display station  106 . 
     For this reason sampling is used. Down-sampling involves displaying only a portion of the data stored in the continuous patient data store  118  or the vital signs database  120 . Down-sampling refers to sampling at a higher sampling rate to display less physiological data on a chart or graph. Up-sampling refers to sampling at a lower rate to display more physiological data on the chart or graph. For example, when a clinician wants to see a high-level summary of the physiological data, for example at hour intervals, down-sampling may be used. When a clinician needs to focus on a portion of the physiological data, for example at one second intervals, up-sampling may be used. 
     The integrated review module  602  typically comprises two layers—a plug-in module and an integrative review service. The plug-in module typically provides a user interface for displaying the one or more review screens. The integrative review service provides application software for integrating and processing the review data. In some embodiments, the user interface functions and the integrative review service both reside on the central display station. 
     In other embodiments, the integrative review service may reside on a server computer and the plug-in functionality may reside on a laptop or other portable computer. When the plug-in functionality resides on the laptop or other portable computer, the laptop or other portable computer acts as a thin client. A thin client refers to a small application running on the laptop or other portable computer. When physiological data is transferred between the laptop or other portable computer and the server computer, the physiological data transferred comprises sampled physiological data. Performing integration and processing of the physiological data on the server computer and transferring down-sampled physiological data to the laptop or other portable computer significantly reduces the amount of physiological data that needs to be transmitted, improving the user experience and reducing demands on the wireless network that typically interconnects those devices. 
       FIG. 7  shows a screen shot of an example device detail screen  700  that includes a display of physiological data for a patient processed by the integrated review module  602 . The device detail screen  700  includes a name  702  of a patient, a gender  704  for the patient, a patient type  706 , in this case an adult, a patient ID  708 , a room/bed number for the patient,  710 , a date of birth  712  for the patient, an age  714  of the patient and a display of physiological parameters for the patient including IPI (integrated pulmonary index)  716 , SPO2 (oxygen saturation)  718 , SPHBV (venous calibrated total hemoglobin)  720 , PR (pulse rate)  722 , RR (respiration rate)  724 , ETCO2 (end-tidal carbon dioxide)  726 , NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure)  728 , and temperature  730 . 
     The example device detail screen also includes data  732  such as height, weight, pain indication and BMI (body mass index) for the patient, alarm threshold ranges for the patient such as an alarm threshold range  734  of 50-200 for pulse rate and an alarm threshold range  736  of 10-30 for respiration rate. More or fewer details and physiological parameters may be displayed. 
     The example device detail screen  700  also includes an example review button  738 . When the review button  738  is selected, a review screen is displayed. The review screen permits a clinician to display alarms that have occurred for the patient and tabular or graphical displays of continuous and episodic physiological data for the patient. In addition, the review screen includes controls that permit refinement of the tabular and graphical displays of the continuous and episodic and physiological data for the patient. An example of a graphical display is a timeline showing changes in the continuous and episodic physiological data over time. 
       FIG. 8  shows a screen shot of an example review screen  800 . The example review screen  800  includes three tabs—a flow sheet tab  802 , a continuous trends tab  804  and a patient alarms tab  806 . When the example flow sheet tab  802  is selected, trends of episodic physiological data for the patient are displayed. When the example continuous trends tab  804  is selected, trends of continuous physiological data combined with episodic data for the patient are displayed. When the example patient alarms tab  806  is displayed, recent alarms in both continuous and episodic data for the patient are displayed. In review screen  800 , the flow sheet tab  802  is selected. 
     The flow sheet tab  802  includes three controls  808 ,  810 ,  812  that permit refinement of the trend episodic physiological data displayed on the review screen  800 . History control  808  permits selection of a history time period for the episodic physiological data. The history time period represents a time range for which the episodic physiological data is obtained from a vital signs database, for example from vital signs database  120 . 
     Every entry of episodic physiological data stored in vital signs database  120  includes a timestamp. The history time period represents a range of time for which entries are retrieved from vital signs database  120 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , episodic physiological data is retrieved from the vital signs database  120  for a period of time corresponding to the last 24 hours. Other time periods are possible, including for example 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, seven days, one month and six months. 
     Timespan control  810  permits selection for a timespan for the display of episodic physiological data for the patient. The timespan represents a range of time that is actually displayed on the review screen  800 , in this case 8 hours. By adjusting scroll bar  820 , up to 8 hours of trend episodic data may be displayed. Other time spans are possible, for example 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours Timespans of 8 hours or 12 hours may be default timespans, corresponding to typical lengths of a nurse&#39;s shift. 
     Time window control  812  shows a time window corresponding to the timespan selected by control  810 . For example, the length of control  812  corresponds to a period of 8 hours. A user can move the position of time window control  812  to select other 8 hour time intervals within the history data available, in this example within a 24 hour period. 
     The trend episodic physiological data displayed in review screen  800  provides example episodic physiological parameters including TEMP, NIBP, PR, SPO2, pain, weight and height. Values of each of these parameters are provided in tabular form for selected times and dates, including a first set of displayed values  816  from 03/06 at 15:56:02 to a last displayed values  818  from 03/06 at 15:29:45. 
       FIG. 9  shows a screen shot of an example review screen  900  showing trends of continuous physiological data for a patient. In the review screen  900 , a continuous trends tab  902  is selected. The review screen  900  includes a history control  904 , a timespan control  906  and an interval control  908 . The history control  904  permits selection of a history time period for the continuous physiological data. The history time period represents a time range for which the continuous physiological data is obtained from a continuous patient data store, for example from continuous patient data store  118 . 
     Every entry of continuous physiological data stored in continuous patient data store  118  includes a timestamp. The history time period represents a range of time for which entries are retrieved from continuous patient data store  118 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , continuous physiological data is retrieved from the continuous patient data store  118  for a period of time corresponding to the last 24 hours. Other time periods are possible, including for example 48 hours, 72 hours and 96 hours. 
     Timespan control  906  permits selection for a timespan for the display of continuous physiological data for the patient. The timespan represents a range of time that is actually displayed on the review screen  900 , in this case 8 hours. By adjusting scroll bar  914 , up to 8 hours of trend episodic data may be displayed. Other time spans are possible. 
     Interval control  908  permits selection of a frequency for down-sampling continuous data from the continuous patient data store  118 . Review screen  900  shows a sampling frequency of 15 minutes, indicating that physiological data for each continuous physiological parameter displayed on review screen  900  is obtained from the continuous patient data store  118  every 15 minutes. If a clinician needed more detailed trend data, a shorter frequency, for example one minute, may be selected. If a clinician wanted less detail, a longer frequency, for example one hour, may be selected 
     Time window control  916  shows a time window corresponding to the timespan selected by interval control  908 . For example, the length of time window control  916  corresponds to a period of 8 hours. A user can move the position of control  916  to select other 8 hour time intervals within the history data available, in this example within a 24 hour period. 
     In review screen  900 , continuous physiological data and episodic physiological data are shown in tabular form. Timestamps for trend data are shown in a column labeled  910 . The physiological parameters being monitored are shown in a row labeled  912 . In this example, the physiological parameters being monitored include temperature (TEMP), non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), pulse rate (PR), respiration rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SPO2), end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), integrated pulmonary index (IPI) and total hemoglobin (SPHB). The values for the physiological parameters show trends in these parameters over time. 
       FIG. 10  shows a screen shot of an example patient alarms screen  1000  for a patient. The patient alarms screen  1000  includes an alarm detail area  1002  that lists alarm events for the patient. A time stamp is provided with each listed alarm, showing a date and time at which the alarm event occurred. 
       FIG. 11  shows example controls  1100  of a review screen for continuous trends in more detail. The controls  1100  include a history control  1102 , a timespan control  1104 , an interval control  1106 , and a time window control  1108 . The history control  1102  permits selection of a history time period for continuous physiological data. The history time period represents a time range for which the continuous physiological data is obtained from a continuous patient data store. 
     The timespan control  1104  permits selection for a timespan for the display of continuous physiological data for the patient. The timespan represents a range of time that is actually displayed on the review screen, in this case 8 hours. The interval control  1106  permits selection of a frequency for sampling continuous data from the continuous patient data store. The time window control  1108  provides selection of a time window within the timespan selected. 
       FIG. 12  shows an example system  1200  that supports integration of continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient at a central display station and that is an alternate embodiment of system  100  of  FIG. 1 . In contrast to system  100  where processing and storage for continuous and episodic physiological data are all implemented at central display station  106 , in system  1200 , the processing and storage of episodic physiological data are implemented at server computer  1226 . Server computer  1226  includes episodic connectivity service module  1228 , client services module  1230 , and vital signs database  1232 . 
     Central display station  1204  includes a replica  1220  of vital signs database  1232  and a replica  1212  of client services module  1230 . A TCP connection transfers data between vital signs database  1232  and vital signs database replica  1220 . Episodic physiological data displayed on a user interface  1210  of central display station  1204  is obtained from vital signs database replica  1220 , which is synchronized via the TCP connection with vital signs database  1232  on server computer  1226 . 
     As discussed in regard to system  100 , central display station  1204  in system  1200  includes a connectivity services module  1206  that sends continuous physiological data to a patient data store  1216  via a continuous patient data service module  1208 . The central display station  1204  also includes a central display station user interface  1210  that receives continuous physiological data from the connectivity services module  1206  and displays the continuous physiological data in real time on a user interface of the central display station user interface  1210 . The central display station user interface module  1210  also includes an integrated review module that includes the same functionality of integrated review module  602 . 
       FIG. 13  shows an example flowchart for a method  1300  for providing an integrated display of continuous and episodic physiological data for a patient on a medical display station. At operation  1302 , physiological data for a patent is received from a medical monitoring device that monitors one or more physiological parameters for the patient on a continuous basis. Examples of physiological parameters that are monitored on a continuous basis include pulse rate, respiration rate and end-tidal carbon dioxide. An example of a medical monitoring device that monitors physiological parameters for a patient on a continuous basis is the Welch Allyn 1500 Patient Monitor. 
     At operation  1304 , physiological data for a patent is received from a medical monitoring device that monitors one or more physiological parameters for the patient on an episodic basis. Examples of physiological parameters that are monitored on an episodic basis include temperature and non-invasive blood pressure. An example of a medical monitoring device that monitors physiological parameters for a patient on an episodic basis is the Connex® Vital Signs Monitor from Welch Allyn, Inc. 
     At operation  1306 , both the continuous and episodic physiological data received for the patient are displayed in real time on a display screen of a central display station, for example central display station  106 . The continuous and episodic physiological data is integrated and displayed together on the same display screen. 
     At operation  1308 , the continuous physiological data is stored in a continuous patient data store, for example continuous patient data store  118 . At operation  1310 , the episodic physiological data is stored in a vital signs database, for example vital signs database  120 . 
     At operation  1312 , a device detail screen is displayed on the central display station  106 . The device detail screen is displayed when a user clicks on a display tile, for example display tile  202  on the user interface  200  of the central display station  106 . Physiological data for the patient is obtained from the continuous patient data store  118  and the vital signs database  120  and displayed on the display tile  202 . 
     At operation  1314 , an integrated review function is implemented on the central display station. In examples, the integrated review function is implemented by clicking on a review button on the display tile  202 . The integrated review function permits the display of patient alarms and of trend data for continuous and episodic physiological data for the patient. 
       FIG. 14  shows an example a flow chart for a method  1400  for implementing an integrated review function. At operation  1402 , a review function display screen is displayed on the central display station  106 . An example review function display screen is provided by review screen  800 , shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     At operation  1404 , an episodic review trends tab is selected on the review function display screen. On review screen  800 , the episodic review trends tab corresponds to flow sheet tab  802 . Selection of the flow sheet tab  802  results in a display of trends in episodic physiological data, as shown in review screen  800 . 
     At operation  1406 , a history time period is selected on the review function display screen. On review screen  800 , control  808  is used to select the history time interval. The history time period represents a time range for which episodic physiological data is obtained from vital signs database  120 . A history time period of 24 hours is shown as being selected on review screen  800 . 
     At operation  1408 , a time span period is selected on the review function display screen. On review screen  800 , control  810  is used to select the time span period. The timespan represents a range of time that is actually displayed on the review screen  800 , in this case 8 hours. By adjusting scroll bar  820 , up to 8 hours of trend episodic data may be displayed. 
     At operation  1410 , a time window is selected on the review function display screen. On review screen  800 , control  812  is used to select the time window. The time window indicates a length of time corresponding to the timespan selected by control  810 . For example, the length of control  812  corresponds to a period of 8 hours. A user can move the position of control  812  to select other 8 hour time intervals within the history data available, in this example within a 24 hour period. 
     At operation  1412 , a continuous trends tab, for example continuous trends tab  804 , is selected on the review function display screen. Selection of the continuous trends tab displays a continuous trends review screen, showing trends in continuous physiological data for a patient. An example continuous trends review screen is shown on review screen  900  in  FIG. 9 . 
     At operation  1414 , a history time period is selected on the continuous trends tab. On review screen  900 , history control  904  is used to select the history time interval. The history time period represents a time range for which episodic physiological data is obtained from vital signs database  120 . A history time period of 24 hours is shown as being selected on review screen  900 . 
     At operation  1416 , a time span period is selected on the continuous trends tab. On review screen  900 , timespan control  906  is used to select the time span period. The timespan represents a range of time that is actually displayed on the review screen  800 , in this case 8 hours. By adjusting vertical scroll bar  914 , up to 8 hours of trend episodic data may be displayed. 
     At operation  1418 , a presentation period time interval is selected on the continuous trends tab. On review screen  900 , interval control  908  permits selection of a presentation period time interval. The presentation time period corresponds to a sampling frequency for sampling continuous data from the continuous patient data store  118 . Review screen  900  shows a sampling frequency of 15 minutes, indicating that physiological data for each continuous physiological parameter displayed on review screen  900  is obtained from the continuous patient data store  118  every 15 minutes. 
     At operation  1420 , a time window is selected on the review function display screen. On review screen  900 , control  916  is used to select the time window. The time window indicates a length of time corresponding to the timespan selected by control  908 . For example, the length of control  916  corresponds to a period of 8 hours. A user can move the position of control  916  to select other 8 hour time intervals within the history data available, in this example within a 24 hour period. 
     At operation  1422 , a patient alarms tab is selected on the review function display screen. On review screen  800 , patient alarms tab  806  is selected. Selecting the patient alarms tab displays a patient alarms screen. An example patient alarms screen is patient alarms screen  1000 , shown in  FIG. 9 . The patient alarms screen  1000  provides alarm information for the patient and highlights the alarm in a highlighting color, typically red or yellow. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates example physical components of the central display station  106 . As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 15 , the central display station  106  includes at least one central processing unit (“CPU”)  1502 , a system memory  1508 , and a system bus  1522  that couples the system memory  1508  to the CPU  1502 . The system memory  1508  includes a random access memory (“RAM”)  1510  and a read-only memory (“ROM”)  1512 . A basic input/output system contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the central display station  106 , such as during startup, is stored in the ROM  1512 . The central display station  110  further includes a mass storage device  1514 . The mass storage device  1514  is able to store software instructions and data. 
     The mass storage device  1514  is connected to the CPU  1502  through a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the bus  1522 . The mass storage device  1514  and its associated computer-readable data storage media provide non-volatile, non-transitory storage for the central display station  110 . Although the description of computer-readable data storage media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or solid state disk, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable data storage media can be any available non-transitory, physical device or article of manufacture from which the central display station can read data and/or instructions. 
     Computer-readable data storage media include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable software instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Example types of computer-readable data storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROMs, digital versatile discs (“DVDs”), other optical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the central display station  110 . 
     According to various embodiments of the invention, the central display station  110  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote network devices through the network  1520 , such as a local network, the Internet, or another type of network. The central display station may connect to the network  1520  through a network interface unit  1504  connected to the bus  1522 . It should be appreciated that the network interface unit  1504  may also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computing systems. The central display station  110  also includes an input/output controller  1506  for receiving and processing input from a number of other devices, including a keyboard, a mouse, a touch user interface display screen, or another type of input device. Similarly, the input/output controller  1506  may provide output to a touch user interface display screen, a printer, or other type of output device. 
     As mentioned briefly above, the mass storage device  1514  and the RAM  1510  of the central display station  110  can store software instructions and data. The software instructions include an operating system  1518  suitable for controlling the operation of the central display station  110 . The mass storage device  1514  and/or the RAM  1510  also store software instructions, that when executed by the CPU  1502 , cause the central display station  110  to provide the functionality of the central display station  110  discussed in this document. For example, the mass storage device  1514  and/or the RAM  1510  can store software instructions that, when executed by the CPU  1502 , cause the central display station  110  to display the user interface  200  screen and other screens. 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limiting. Various modifications and changes that may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.