Patient information management system

A system for managing patient information comprising:

• a printer for accepting data wirelessly for printing labels;
• a scanner for reading patient identifier information, printer identifier information, and specimen container identifier information;
• and
• a wireless handheld device for use with said scanner and with said printer for enabling said printer to be dedicated to said handheld device in order to perform printing of labels relating to at least one of patient information and specimen container information by scanning the printer identifier information of said printer and then using said printer identifier information to establish a wireless temporary local area network between said handheld device and said printer wherein said handheld device has the ability to cause said printer to perform label printing tasks wirelessly,
• wherein the handheld device is configured for enabling highlighting of past due requests for patient specimen collection.

A system for managing patient information comprising:

• a printer for accepting data wirelessly for printing labels;
• a scanner for reading patient identifier information, printer identifier information, and specimen container identifier information;
• and
• a wireless handheld device for use with said scanner and with said printer for enabling said printer to be dedicated to said handheld device in order to perform printing of labels relating to at least one of patient information and specimen container information by scanning the printer identifier information of said printer and then using said printer identifier information to establish a wireless temporary local area network between said handheld device and said printer wherein said handheld device has the ability to cause said printer to perform label printing tasks wirelessly,
• wherein said handheld device permits display of an icon when a particular specimen collection order is time sensitive.

A method of printing patient specimen collection labels by using a patient information management system, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving identification information for a first patient;
• receiving identification information for a printer thereby dedicating said printer to print information received from said printer for said first patient for a duration determined by selection of a print mode from a plurality of wireless print modes;
• receiving identification information for a specimen collection container for said first patient;
• printing on said printer at least one label that includes patient information for said first patient;
• receiving identification information for a second patient;
• receiving identification information for a container for said second patient;
• and
• printing on said printer at least one label that includes patient information for said second patient.

A method of printing patient specimen collection labels by using a patient information management system, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving identification information for a first patient;
• receiving identification information for a printer thereby dedicating said printer to print information received from said printer for said first patient for a duration determined by selection of one from a plurality of wireless print modes;
• receiving identification information for a specimen collection container for said first patient;
• printing on said printer at least one label that includes patient information for said first patient;
• receiving identification information for a second patient;
• receiving identification information for a container for said second patient;
• and
• printing on said printer at least one label that includes patient information for said second patient,
• whereby a display on said handheld device prompts a request to determine whether printing will occur on a printer connected by a cable or a printer chosen by scanning printer identifier information in order to establish a wireless temporary local area network.

A method of printing patient specimen collection labels by using a patient information management system, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving identifier information for a first patient;
• receiving identification information for a printer thereby dedicating said printer to print information received from said printer for said first patient for a duration determined by selection of a print mode from a plurality of wireless print modes;
• receiving identification information for a container to be used for specimen collection for said first patient;
• printing at least one label for said first patient;
• receiving identification information for a second patient;
• receiving additional identification information for a printer thereby dedicating said printer to print information received from said printer for said second patient;
• receiving identification information for a container to be used for specimen collection for said second patient;
• and
• printing at least one label for said second patient.

A method of printing patient specimen collection labels by using a patient information management system said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving identifier information for a first patient;
• receiving identification information for a printer thereby dedicating said printer to print information received from said printer for said first patient;
• receiving identification information for a container to be used for specimen collection for said first patient;
• printing at least one label for said first patient;
• receiving identification information for a second patient;
• receiving additional identification information for a printer thereby dedicating said printer to print information received from said printer for said second patient;
• receiving identification information for a container to be used for specimen collection for said second patient;
• and
• printing at least one label for said second patient,
• whereby a display on said handheld device prompts a request to determine whether printing will occur on a printer connected by a cable or a printer chosen by scanning printer identifier information in order to establish a wireless temporary local area network.

A method of managing patient information using a handheld device and a printer with wireless capability, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving patient identification information for a first patient;
• receiving printer identification information thereby dedicating said printer to print at least one label for said first patient for a duration determined by selection of a print mode from a plurality of wireless print modes;
• receiving identification information for at least one container that will be used for collecting a specimen of said first patient;
• printing at least one label for said first patient;
• receiving patient identification information for a second patient;
• receiving identification information for at least one container that will be used for collecting a specimen for said second patient;
• and
• printing at least one label for said second patient.