Messaging system for initiating event based workflow

A computer-implemented electronic messaging method for initiating at least one medical workflow for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of:
• presenting an electronic message template via a display wherein the electronic message includes at least one target field configured to receive a general event descriptor and at least one message field adapted to provide contextual information related to the general event descriptor;
• associating the electronic message template with a patient identifier;
• receiving the general event descriptor via an interface in the target message field and using the general event descriptor to access a rules database to identify at least one medical workflow;
• using the general event descriptor to format a message in the message field to provide contextual information for a workflow corresponding to the general event descriptor, using the patient identifier to access corresponding contextual information in pre-defined fields in a corresponding patient chart, and providing the corresponding contextual information in the message field;
• using the general event descriptor to access an entity capability rules database to identify at least one entity that is capable of providing the workflow identified by the general event descriptor in the target field;
• and
• transmitting an electronic message including the message field to that at least one entity that is identified to be capable of providing the workflow being requested by the user to initiate the workflow being requested.

A computer-implemented electronic messaging system for initiating at least one workflow associated with a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• a database including patient charts, each patient chart including patient medical records for an associated patient, the patient medical records including pre-defined fields;
• a rules database;
• an entity capability database;
• and
• a processor, the processor programmed to:
• present an electronic message template via a display wherein the electronic message includes fields including a target field and a message field;
• receiving a general event descriptor and a patient identifier in the target field via an interface and utilizing the general event descriptor to format a message entered into the message field;
• use the general event descriptor and the patient identifier as an access key to access the patient database to obtain contextual information from the defined fields in the patient's chart, where the contextual information corresponds to the general event descriptor;
• access the rules database and use the contextual information and the general event descriptor to identify a workflow being requested;
• and
• access the entity capability database and use the general event descriptor to identify at least one entity capable of providing the identified workflow corresponding to the general event descriptor and transmitting the message to the at least one entity that is capable of handling the workflow being requested by the user to begin the workflow.