Patent ID: 7809761

Claim:
A method of tracking a data object of a data management system, the method comprising: creating a first data object; creating a first tracking object separate from the first data object including a first status data having a first status value representing a status of said first data object, said first tracking object for tracking only said first data object; creating or modifying a second data object, wherein the first tracking object does not track the second data object; creating a second tracking object including a second status data having a second status value representing a status of the second data object, said second tracking object for tracking only said second data object; associating said second data object with said first data object, thereby linking the first and second data objects independent of other associations; and automatedly updating said first status data with a third status value based on said creating or modifying of said second data object, said third status value providing a current status of said first data object as being associated with the second data and wherein, the first data object is an object related to the delivery of healthcare.