Patent ID: 8326649

Claim:
A system for providing expert care from a remote location to outpatients located at outpatient care locations (OPCLs) comprising: a network; patient monitoring stations located at the OPCLs for monitoring patient data elements from outpatients, wherein the monitored patient data elements comprise data elements indicative of medical conditions of the outpatients and wherein each patient monitoring station comprises a communications interface that transmits the monitored patient data elements to a remote command center via the network; and the remote command center connected to the network, wherein the remote command center comprises a rules engine, wherein the rules engine comprises rules comprising conditions, and wherein the remote command center comprises instructions which when executed by the remote command center cause the remote command center to: receive the monitored patient data elements from the OPCLs; acquire other patient data elements, wherein the other patient data elements are indicative of the medical conditions of the outpatients and wherein the monitored patient data elements and the other patient data elements are collectively referred to as “patient data elements;” utilize the rules engine to apply rules in accordance with the requirements of the rules to at least two patient data elements; determine when the conditions of any one of the rules have been satisfied; and when the conditions of any one of the rules has been satisfied, taking an action in accordance with the any one of the rules with respect to a particular one of the outpatients to whom the any one of the rules applies, and wherein the monitoring and determining when the conditions of the any one of rules has been satisfied occurs in an automated fashion at the remote command whenever the computerized patient care management system determines that the action should be taken.