Abstract |
A medical information database intended to connect doctors with patients history, technicians with results, most importantly to compliment patients' access online.
Introduction |
Information reporting is well established in the field of medicine. However, 3D visualization of patient history, or charts, is not. By adding interactivity and depth of field, to this information, both comfortably and completely, the patient is provided with an assurance that would be otherwise unavailable. Through my involvement in the medical field I have created a better system.
The US National Institute of Health announced The Visible Human Project as a long-term research project to develop 3D representation of human bodies to study and for experimental purposes. Their web site provides information about how 3D simulation and modeling techniques are starting to play a role in our lives for imaging purposes and for better patient’s doctor’s understanding of medical conditions.
This software, which will replace the current system with a 3D database, will enable doctors, patients, technicians and pharmacists, to share medical information by preference and interest. This system could be implemented worldwide for better medical information continuity.
This system will enhance the user interface by providing readily accessible information to all at anytime.
The Virtual Medical Database System (VMDS) will provide the ability for doctors, technicians, pharmacists and patients to access medical records in 3D medical charts at their desire, in real-time (ie. X-rays, MRI, CAT scan, etc) anywhere.
This is a great improvement over anything we have now in the medical field. The goal is to provide information to the people that need it, immediately and accessibly so that they can comprehend all that is known, and diagnosed by the Doctors.
Concepts |
1.1 Thesis Overview |
The Virtual Medical Database System (VMDS) is a medical archiving system for patient records that will use a 3Dinterface for easy access to records.
This system will be simpler to read and understand than traditional systems. VMDS will provide access to a patient’s medical records in a quick, efficient manner . This unique system has several benefits.
First, this system will be accessible globally. It will no longer be problematic where you travel or move to as long as the patient his/her access code with him. (ie. Iris Scanner, Microchip embedded (RFID), serial number engraved into the skin, or bar code printed on a key)
Secondly, VMDS will be accessible at anytime with internet access. (ie. Mobile communication device, personal computer) Doctors, patients, lab technicians and pharmacists can access their interface with their interested needs anytime as needed.
Thirdly, this system allows the doctor to access the entire medical history in raw data form, MRI images, CT images, X-Ray images, notes by previous doctors, allergy to past prescriptions and will all be accessible by using this program. Doctors do not have to move to special viewing rooms to medical results or contact other doctor’s offices to receive a patient’s previous records. It saves time, and it is efficient. The quicker the service goes the quicker the patients get their treatment and can return to healthy living.
These are the main areas of in VMDS. This system will revolutionize the traditional methods of innovation found.
Rationale |
Traditional medical charting systems need enhancements. Everyone needing medical treatment faces trouble with time, accessibility and inconvenience. In modern society where technology and the internet is available anywhere in the world. All services require very rapid results. People believe that faster is better and that it guarantees a better life. This enhanced medical charting system provides an accurate and sufficient delivery of information. This type of system has been predicted by doctors and other professionals but never implemented. I believe patients deserve faster responses, and to access to their results. My intention is to provide the solution.
Goal |
The main goal for creating VMDS is present the system that works and to design an interface that is easy for doctors, patient, lab, and pharmacist to use.
The main issues I am trying to resolve are:
i. What is the most desirable, efficient, and secure system for accessing information? What is a mechanism that patients can use that are durable and that easily accessed without loss?
Implanting a microchip method is the most reliable way of identifying individuals. This is a permanent system, and would be useful if a patient is unconscious. (add ethical issues with compatibility) EU-RFID at different frequency can also be used for this method.
Engraving on the skin is a second reliable way of identifying an individual that would be permanent since it is stamped on the body, with less growth occurs. However, opponents such as religious groups or (add ethical issues)
Iris scanning
Small keys on key chains with personal ID barcode
ii. Interface of the application :
Order of appearance on the interface.
What should the interface look like? How much details appear on the interface?
Chronology of medical records
Animation sequence (main screen, when first accessed)
Transition of viewing data mode to back to the general mode
Accurate diagnostics and results delivered in most efficient
and timely manner. Possible to have informed conversations with professionals
about a diagnosis. Up close and personal review of medical records/results, etc
Available anytime, anywhere on-line. Patients need no more carrying papers, chart and files around, ie. Referrals, prescriptions, results, etc
Audience and interaction time |
For the beta testing stage, there are four main focus groups, Medical Doctor, Patients, Lab technicians and Pharmacist. The main area is focused on MD and patient groups.
Images can tell more information than many forms of text. The 3D image of the human body will be more interactive than the current 2D medical charts. They will also provide
more information than any form of wording. This system primary uses pictorial language.
Doctors, technicians and pharmacists are professionals and accustomed to the charts this system enhances to the established organizations. When parents want to explain a medical condition to their child, they can easily show the 3D diagram of the body as well as the medical files allowed by the doctors. The primary language will be English, however, five different languages (English, German, French, Chinese and Korean) will be available for international audiences. It can be used by a single person or for group viewing.
This application will contain a very simple how-to manual. There will be four different manuals for each segments of the audience. An online assistant will also be available with help pages. This application will be self-explanatory; it won’t need any teachers or thick guide books. Basically you click on your segments (ie. Doctor’s screen, patient’s screen, technicians’ screen and pharmacist’s screen) and fill in the access code to log on to view/input/update information.
Virtual Medical Database System (VMDS) can be logged into anywhere there is Internet access through unique access code. It can be used at home, in public spaces, out door areas with wireless devices, doctor’s offices, laboratory offices, etc.
Core Features and Functionality |
Nature of user’s experience
Patient’s case
The patient will receive medical results (for review purposes only, after meeting with the doctor and by doctor’s approval) Most of the time, when patients receive results from the doctor, they are ignored, and most of the time they do not get a chance to view the raw data. With this system they can access their own data at home in their own time, which will help with better understanding their health.
Doctor’s case
Doctors meet with the patients and review records on the system, as well as input comments about the patient’s reason for visiting the doctor, doctor’s observations, etc. They give out prescriptions that will automatically go into the pharmacist’s database under the patients/doctors ID/name. Also doctors can request tests to be done on the patients such as X-Rays, MRI, etc. Once the doctor pass testing referrals into the system, the technicians will have them in their system directly on-line so when the patients walk into the technicians’ office, they already will be waiting for them. Doctor will know from the system whether his patient has picked up a prescription.
Technicians’ case
Technicians access past test and examinations done with patients through the system. When patients arrive they check the system under the doctor’s/patient’s access number where they can view the designated testing upon patients. Then they take tests on the patients and as soon as the results come out, they will upload the raw data files into the system where it will be accessible for the doctors. They can also activate a notification when new results arrive for medical doctors for quick and fast diagnostic purposes)
Pharmacist’s case
Pharmacist receive patient’s prescriptions in their system under the patients’/doctors’ ID number. Pharmacist prepare the prescribed medication for the patient after 30 minutes and ready when the patient arrives.
Graphic/raw data input (photographs) /video will be used for this application
A Touch Screen pad would be ideal for this application. The device should be portable so it can be used in the doctor’s office. However, in reality, it will be presented as a touch screen when it is activated it will be a touch sensitive light table. The other usage is with possible projecting onto a wall, or for doctor’s teleconference on discussion with patient about certain patients and second opinions, etc.
Sound inputs might also be added in the future, but have not yet been defined.
The interface will include 3D model of the body in which rotates front and back (difference with the 2D chart is the rotation and using one image instead of two)
The interface design includes few sections as described below.
For the prototype of VMDS, I have created two finished demonstration of the features for Medical doctor and Patient.
User Scenario |
VMDS User Scenarios 01
>> Easily accessible and sharable VMDS with user friendly interface
(1) Medical Doctor
Doctor Bob is sitting in his office at his stark, black desk. No paper is visible anywhere and no computer. He places his index finger in a finger print recognition slot on his desk. A rectangular section of his desktop rises 15 degrees towards him and the back-light of the VMDS screen automatically turns on. He hears the familiar, “Welcome to VMDS” message which he has come to know so well and finds himself already logged on to VMDS, thanks to the fingerprint ID. He scans through his appointments and patients’ updated lab results using the touch screen. He’s happy to see that all the latest lab results have been submitted by the various technicians he relies on using VMDS from their remote locations. Doctor Bob selects one patient, Jane, who he saw earlier in the day and is particularly concerned about and scans through her MRI images. He then opens her medical history so that he can make some comparisons with prior MRIs. He notices a flag icon when checking through her records. It indicates that she has sent him a question about the medication he prescribed that morning. He touches the keyboard icon on the VMDS screen and uses the virtual keyboard touch-type a reply to her concerns.
(2) Patient
Janet is very concerned about the new medication her doctor prescribed after a visit to his office earlier in the day. She comes home and talks about her concerns with her husband, who is not quite sure what she is talking about. To help him understand, she takes him to her computer and logs on to the VMDS system using her internet browser. She opens up her recent MRI results from the lab and reviews them with her husband. He looks over the MRIs carefully and begins to understand her condition a bit better. Janet also shows him Dr. Bob’s diagnosis and prescribed treatment plans. Her concern is that she started taking the new prescription right after her office visit and is now feeling very drowsy. Using VMDS, she and her husband together do some research to find out the typical side effects of the medication and also send Dr. Bob an email directly through VMDS about Janet’s concerns. Her next appointment with him is not for another month and she wonders if she needs to see him sooner. She is hoping to get an answer back by the end of the day. After using the VMDS system she has a much more solid understanding of her health situation and feels good that she has been able to share it at home with her husband.
VMDS User Senarios 02
>>VMDS can be accessed anywhere in the world
A businessman goes to a doctor’s office during his business trip to Canada, because he feels pain in his eyes. He sits quietly in the waiting room. There is no fuss of filling out new patient’s registration forms although he is not a citizen of Canada. The nurse calls, and he gets up to see the doctor. As he enters the doctor’s office, the doctor holds a touch screen displaying medical charts. All he needs to access the files is the serial number embedded in the patient’s skin. It is a microchip that will never be lost. (if the patient was unconscious, the ER would be able to pull out the patient’s medical histories by scanning the microchips with a barcode reader.
The doctor shows him the 3D body interface with related medical results attached. The patient and doctor go over the past results, the patient is asked why he came to visit.
He has an eye problem. He used to get infections in the past. The doctor the eyes area on the 3D body interface for the historical records on it to see what kind of treatments were done in the past. (For doctors; the 3D body will not be available due to the time constraints of continued development)
The Visual Medical Database System will produce a system of information access that will link visual medical information to symbolic information like written reports. In this case the doctor can see from past diagnosis, that the patient had allergic reactions to certain air-born substance. Now the doctor examines the patient’s eye and sees the same problem. The doctor prescribes the same medicine (which was given in the past – shown from the VMDS) and enters the prescriptions into the system. Now all the patient has to do is to go pick up the prescription from any pharmacy in the world at anytime without charging the prescription paper.
This simulation was created to represent my idea of the benefits of the VMDS in a practical application.
Summary/Conclusions |
Overall I have met my goal for Virtual Medical Database System. However there were a lot of questions and concerns about using the this specific programs of Virtools program* rather than other easily used interactive media such as Flash, etc. I have chosen this media to give more in depth interactivity in the future within the area of 3D.
3D is limited in Flash. However, getting raw data’s input through PHP (MRI sequences, getting a video into details of bones, and exploration in future developments, Virtools is the right tool. It has an embedded encryption which assures a safe security of the system.
My project was very successful in terms of meeting the goal I set up before I began which was to present the current system in a visual system. VMDS, an enhance merit of the current system, has added special features as calendars, instant dialogue features where MD and patient can interact before the next appointment about the semi-important issues which means better service with streamlined inter-connectivity of uses.
It is available anytime, anywhere where internet technology and patients requires no more paper, ie. Referrals, prescriptions, results, etc
Implications I had through working on this project is to find out legal issues on information transaction amongst all 4 beta-testing groups. VMDS main system will back-up the data automatically every day to ensure the quality service as well.
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