Importance

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Abstract

A medical communication system for monitoring an ambulatory home-care patient is provided. The system includes a two-way pager worn by the patient and a computer storing the treatment plan of the patient. The computer initiates the transmission of inquiries to the pager worn by the patient and records responses transmitted by the patient back to the computerized system. The computerized system can contact the patient anywhere within a local service area. The patient responds to one or more inquiries from the system by pressing appropriate buttons on the two-way pager which are sent back to the computer. The responses are recorded by the computer. If the computer does not receive a response from the patient or if the responses do not fall within compliance guidelines, an automated phone call is initiated requesting the same information. If the patient responds to the automated phone call, the responses are recorded by the computer. If the patient fails to respond or provides non-complying responses to both the pager and the automated phone call, the treatment plan is forwarded to a staff nurse, who attempts to contact the patient by telephone. If no response or an unsatisfactory response is secured, emergency medical services and/or health care providers are contacted according to a response plan tailored to the particular patient and stored within the computer.

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First Claim