Method and apparatus for accessing medical data over a network

An operating room master controller for use in treating a patient with a plurality of operating room devices, a network, and a voice input device during a medical procedure in an operating room, the operating room master controller comprising:

• a voice data input coupled to the voice input device for receiving:
• a device command having an associated device qualifier, and
• a data retrieval command having an associated patient record identifier;
• a network output coupled to the network for transmitting a command to retrieve patient information;
• a processor coupling the voice data input to the network output so that the patient data retrieval command is transmitted in response to the data retrieval command and desired patient data can be selected via the network in response to the patient record identifier, the processor receiving the patient information from the network;
• the processor transmitting a control command to a selected operating room device in response to the device command, the medical operating room device selected from the plurality of operating room devices in response to the device qualifier.

An operating room slave controller for use in an operating room with a master controller and at least one medical device or network during a medical procedure on a patient, the slave controller comprising:

• a master/slave communication port;
• at least one command port configured to be coupled to a network or operating room device;
• a memory retrievably storing user interface information and slave control logic;
• and
• a processor coupling the master/slave port to the command port, the processor transmitting a command from the command port in response to a signal from the master/slave communication port per the user interface information and slave control logic so that the command is appropriate for the coupled at least one coupled network or operating room device.