# US 7,607,571 B2 · Medical work flow system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,571 B2 - Document ID: US7607571B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/857,701 - Filed: 2004-05-28 - Published: 2004-12-02 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-05-30 - Assignees: IntelliDOT Corporation - Inventors: Patrick M. Steusloff; David D. Swenson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607571B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/002: {Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 (other optical apparatus G02B27/00)} - G06K 7/10881: {constructional details of hand-held scanners} - G16H 10/60: for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records - G16H 20/10: relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G16H 10/65: stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A system is described for managing data and information in a healthcare environment, such as a hospital. A handheld code scanner reads codes and either accepts data, or performs instructions based on the read code. The code scanner wirelessly transmits the codes or data to a central server which acts on the read code to carry out necessary functions. The system is useful for tracking patient data, such as for delivery of medicine. In addition, since the system can carry out instructions, it is useful for allowing healthcare workers to quickly and conveniently perform their duties without the necessity of sitting at a computer terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for managing administration of medical care, comprising: a handheld terminal, comprising a code scanner and a wireless transmitter, wherein said code scanner is configured to read first scan codes corresponding to instructions to be performed by the system, and wherein said terminal is configured to execute said instructions locally in said handheld terminal; and a computer, configured to receive said first scan codes from said handheld terminal and initiate a process in response to said first scan codes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said computer is in data communication with at least one peripheral device, and wherein said instructions comprise instructions to be performed by said at least one peripheral device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device is a printer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device is a messaging system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal is further configured to transmit user information with said first scan codes read by said code reader to said computer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises a display for displaying messages to a user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises at least one user input device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein said user input device comprises a button. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein said user input device is an alphanumeric keypad. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises a plurality of code scanners. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is configured to read two-dimensional machine readable codes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is configured to read a barcode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is further configured to read second scan codes corresponding to data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein said terminal is configured to determine whether said second scan codes read by said code scanner corresponds to data or an instruction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a scan code corresponds to a binary number comprising a plurality of bits, and wherein one of said plurality of bits indicates whether said second scan codes corresponds to data or instruction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said computer is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral system, and wherein said instructions comprise instructions to be performed by said at least one peripheral system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one peripheral system includes at least one of a messaging system, a pharmacy system, a laboratory system, and a patient record system. ### Claim 18 A system for managing administration of medical care, comprising: a handheld terminal, comprising a code scanner and a wireless transmitter, wherein said code scanner is configured to read scan codes; a processor in said handheld terminal configured to determine whether a scan code relates to data or an instruction, wherein if said scan code relates to an instruction, said processor determines whether to execute said instruction locally; and a computer, configured to receive said scan codes from the wireless transmitter in said handheld terminal and initiate a process if said instruction is not to be run locally. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said computer is in data communication with at least one peripheral device, and wherein said instructions comprise instructions to be performed by said at least one peripheral device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein said peripheral device is a printer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein said peripheral device is a messaging system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said terminal is configured to execute said instruction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said terminal is further configured to transmit user information with said scan codes read by said code reader to said computer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said terminal comprises a display for displaying messages to a user. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said terminal comprises at least one user input device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein said user input device comprises a button. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein said user input device is an alphanumeric keypad. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said terminal comprises a plurality of code scanners. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said code scanner is configured to read two-dimensional machine readable codes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said code scanner is configured to read a barcode. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said scan codes corresponds to a binary number comprising a plurality of bits, and wherein one of said plurality of bits indicates whether the scan codes corresponds to data or instruction. ### Claim 32 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said computer is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral system, and wherein said instructions comprise instructions to be performed by said at least one peripheral system. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The system of claim 32, wherein said at least one peripheral system includes at least one of a messaging system, a pharmacy system, a laboratory system, and a patient record system.