WO2001035314A1

WO2001035314A1 - Medical information management system

Info

Publication number: WO2001035314A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/042008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Y. Lu; Shugiang Li; Ziqiang Chen
Original assignee: Medical Online, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-11-08
Filing date: 2000-11-08
Publication date: 2001-05-17
Also published as: WO2001035314A8; AU2752301A

Abstract

A medical information management system includes a first terminal (3) having a database of medical information, a wireless interface (87) for communicating the medical information over a wireless network (11), and a second terminal (1) having a second wireless interface for accessing the communicated medical information.

Description

MEDICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a medical information management system.

Doctors need access to relevant patient information to provide quality medical care. Doctors need to know, for example, what medicines their patients are allergic to, what chronic illnesses their patients suffer from, and what medicines the patients are taking. This information is often written on sheets of paper and collected in patient files. The patient files are stored in a library or archive facility. The only way to access a patient's medical information is to physically read through the patient's file. There is no convenient way to search through or to make a backup copy of a patient's file.

To provide treatment in emergency situations, it is critical that patient information be immediately accessible. A delay in retrieving the archived file can cause injury to a patient. People with chronic illnesses sometimes wear medical alert bracelets to alert others of their condition, but the medical alert bracelets obviously do not contain the entire patient file.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one general aspect of the invention, a medical information management system includes a first terminal having a database of medical information, a first wireless interface for communicating the medical information over a wireless network, and a second terminal having a second wireless interface for accessing the communicated medical information. The second terminal can be used to remotely access the medical information.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following. The second terminal may have an input interface for collecting input information and the second wireless interface may be configured to transmit the input information to the first terminal. This allows a user to store new medical information on the first terminal using the portable unit. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate medical information in response to the input information. The second terminal may have a presentation interface for presenting the communicated medical information. Thus the system may be used to retrieve selected information from the first terminal.

The medical information may include patient information, diagnostic information, or administrative information. The administrative information may inctude medical supply inventory, staffing requests, equipment availability, appointment reservation, or ward availability information. The patient information may include demographic, patient history, payment, or laboratory test information. The demographic information may include a patient's age, a patient's body weight, or information on a patient's habits. The patient's history may include a record of a patient's past visit, a patient's past symptoms, a patient's past treatment, a patient's allergies, a patients family medical history, or a patient's chemical dependence history. Thus the system can be used to collect, manage and display patient information for use in treating the patient. The system can also be used to collect, manage, and display information that is used to manage a medical facility, such as a hospital.

The diagnostic information may include information about a possible illness that a patient could be suffering from. The possible illness may be determined by the first terminal based on the input information sent from the second terminal. The first terminal may include a medical expert system for determining the possible illness based on the input information. The input information may include an image from a patient. The first terminal may have an image-searching module for retrieving medical images similar to the image from the patient. The retrieved image may be included in the diagnostic information. The system provides tools to assist a doctor in making diagnoses, treatment plans, and prognosis. The tools may use stored patient information to yield more relevant diagnostic results.

The presentation interface may have a CRT display, an LCD display, a printer, or a speaker. The presentation interface may be removably attached to the second terminal using a docking port, a serial bus, a universal serial bus, a SCSI bus, or an Ethernet interface. The input interface may be removably attached to the second terminal using a docking port, serial bus, universal serial bus. SCSI bus, or Ethernet. Thus the first terminal allows a user to choose a presentation interface or an input interface that is suited to the user's needs.

The input interface maybe a text input interface that includes a keyboard, a scanner or a stylus. The input interface may include a module for recognizing handwritten information or signatures. In addition, the input interface may include a graphical input interface including a camera, a scanner, an X-ray machine, an MR image machine, a CT machine, an ECG machine, or a SPECT machine. The input interface may include an audio input interface having a microphone. The audio input interface may include a speech recognition module for converting speech to data; a video input module including a video camera; and a cursor pointing module that includes a touch screen, a computer mouse, or a trackball. Using these interfaces, the second terminal allows the user to enter data in a variety of formats for storage and searching on the server.

The first terminal may be connected to the telephone system so that signals are conveyed between the first terminal and the telephone system. The first terminal may be connected to a telephone interface for receiving medical emergency information, and the first wireless interface may be configured to transmit the medical emergency information to the second terminal. The first terminal may be connected to a police radio interface for receiving medical emergency information, and the first wireless interface may be configured to transmit the medical emergency information to the second terminal. The first terminal may be connected to a third terminal for storing alternate infoπnation. the first terminal being configured to retrieve the alternate information in response to input infoπnation from the second terminal. The system provides access to a variety of infoπnation sources that can be used to manage the medical facility. The ability to access a third terminal can be used to access patient information from another medical facility.

The first terminal may include computer memory, disk space, or a database management system for storing the medical infoπnation. The first terminal may have a backup system for creating a backup copy of the medical infoπnation. The wireless interfaces may include a transmitter or a receiver for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves representing the medical infoπnation. The electromagnetic waves may include infrared or RF waves. The wireless interfaces may be configured to communicate either digital or analog information according to CDMA. TDMA. FDMA. IP,

TCP, or blue-tooth protocols.

The first wireless interface and the first terminal may be integrated into a single unit. Alternatively, the first wireless interface may be connected to the first terminal by an IP network, a serial bus, a universal serial bus, a SCSI bus or a local area network. The second terminal may have an RFID system for determining an ID based on received RF signals. In another general aspect of the invention a method of managing medical information includes: collecting input information at a first terminal; transmitting the input information over a wireless network to a second terminal; transmitting selected medical information over the wireless network from the second terminal to the first terminal, and displaying the medical information at the second terminal

Other advantages and features c the ιnveπ,.on will become apparent from the descπption and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. la shows a medical information management system FIG. lb shows an alternate implementation of the medical infoπnation management system of FIG. la.

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the portable unit of FIG. la. FIG. 2b is a block diagram of the portable unit of FIG. 2a

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the information management process implemented by the information management system of FIG. la.

FIG 4 is a screenshot of the main menu of the information portable unit of FIG. 2a FIG. 5a is a screenshot of a patient infoπnation screen of the portable unit of FIG 2a FIG 5b is a screenshot of a patient demographic information screen of the portable unit of FIG. 2a. FIG. 5c is a screenshot of a patient history infoπnation screen of the portable unit of

FIG. 2a.

FIG 5d is a screenshot of a patient laboratory test screen of the portable unit of FIG 2a.

FIG 5e is a screenshot of a patient payment information screen of the portable unit ot FIG. 2a

FIG 6a is a screen shot of a diagnostic search interface of the portable unit of FIG 2a.

FIG. 6b is a screenshot of the results of the diagnostic search of FIG. 5a FIG 7a is a screenshot of the administrative information interface of the information portable unit of FIG 2a FIG 7b is a screenshot of the supplies availability interface of the portable unit o^ FIG. 2a.

FIG 7c is a screenshot of the staffing requests interface of the portable unit of FIG. 2a. FIG 7d is a screenshot of the medical appointments interface of the portable unit of

FIG 2a.

FIG 7e is a screenshot of the equipment availability interface of the portable unit of FIG. 2a.

FIG 7f is a screenshot of the bed availability interface of the portable unit of FIG. 2a. FIG 8 is a screenshot of an alert.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig. 1, portable units 1,2 can access medical information that is stored on information server 3 over wireless network 1 1. The portable units 1 and 2 can also send information over wireless network 1 1 to be stored on information server 3. The portable units 1,2 may also be configured to directly communicate with each other over the wireless network 1 1. Medical personnel (such as nurses, doctors, and interns) carry the portable units as they perform their duties. The system provides the professionals with immediate access to information stored on the information server 3. It also allows authorized professionals to instantaneously update the medical information on the infoπnation server. Additionally, the portable units can be configured so that they require a password to avoid unauthorized access to the medical information.

The information server has a memory 43 and disk space 44 for storing infoπnation. The information is managed in a database management system (DBVIS) 45. such as a DBMS available from Oracle. DBMS 45 provides quick access to stored information. A backup copy of the stored medical information is periodically created using tape backup unit 90.

This backup copy can be used to retrieve the medical infoπnation w hen the information server 3 is unavailable. Additionally, the information server is equipped with medical expert logic 47, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,S35,6S3 to Corella et al (Corella). incorporated herein by reference. The expert logic 47 diagnoses a patient's condition based on symptoms transmitted from a portable unit, and stored patient information. A doctor may use the diagnosis as a guide in determining a treatment plan.

Doctors have the option of submitting an image from a current patient and having image search logic 46 retrieve similar images and associated information from past patients. The information from the past patients is used in determining a treatment plan for the current patient. Pending U.S. patent application serial 09/390,089 filed on September 3, 1999. by Michael Y: Lu et al (Lu) describes the image search logic 46 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information server 3 allows the portable units 1, 2 to communicate with other systems over the wireless network by connecting the portable units 1, 2 to the other systems.

For example, professionals can receive telephone calls through phone a 41 , which is connected to the information server 3. The infoπnation server 3 transmits signals between the phone 41 and the portable unit 1 , allowing the person carrying the portable unit to receive telephone calls. Additionally, the information server 3 transmits signals between an RF unit 42 and the portable unit 1, allowing the portable units to communicate with other RF units

(not shown) over radio frequency. Medical professionals can receive medical alerts by monitoring police and fire department RF transmission frequencies over the information server 3 and the RF unit 42. Thus, the hospitals can prepare for an influx of patients from an accident site. The information server 3 is also connected to a second infoπuation server 48 at a different location, allowing medical professionals to access medical infoπnation from a different facility. The interconnection of different facilities allows medical professionals to immediately access patient information from a different facility. This is especially useful when there is an emergency and a patient must see a doctor other than his primary care physician. The interconnection also allows medical professionals to evenly distribute patients among available hospitals in an emergency, thus providing better care.

Referring to FIG. lb. in other implementations the portable units 1 ' and 2' can be connected to the information server 3' through a wireless network hub 9'. The information server 3' is also connected to the network hub 9' through a \\ ireless connection. Alternate embodiments may have the information server 3' connected to the wireless network hub 9' by a cable, such as an Ethernet cable, to free some transmission bandwidth for the portable units

1.2. In both FIGs.la and lb, the wireless transmissions are carried by electromagnetic waves 1 1', such as radio waves or infrared waves. The transmissions are implemented in code division multiple access protocol (CDMA) although other protocols such as TDMA. and FDMA may be used instead. CDMA transmissions are digital but analog transmission protocols can be used instead. The IP protocol is used to communicate between the wireless devices, although protocols, such as blue-tooth, may be used instead.

Referring to Fig. 2a, the portable unit 1 has input interfaces for inputting information into the portable unit. The inputted information may be transmitted to the information server 3 for storage. For example, a doctor may use portable unit 1 to enter a patient's symptoms, diagnosis, prescription, and prognosis. Alternatively, the information could be used as a key for search on the information server 3. For example, a doctor could enter a patient's name and use it as a search key to retrieve the patient's medical record.

Some of the input interfaces, such as the keyboard 7 and the stylus 12, are integrated into the portable unit. The integrated units are connected to an input port 27 by an internal bus. The keyboard 7 is used to type information into the portable unit, while the stylus 12 can be used to handwrite information into the LCD display 6 of the portable unit. Additional input interfaces can be attached to the input port 27. Depending on the nature of the input port 27, multiple devices can be concurrently connected to the input port. For example, USB and SCSI ports allow multiple devices to be concurrently connected. A larger keyboard (not Ξ o' r c: another :ext input interface could be attached to the input port 27. A cursor pointing device, such as a computer mouse 24, a computer trackball 25. or a scanner 26 may be attached to the input port 27.

Image capture devices may also be connected to the input port 27. for example, a computer tomography (CT) machine 21 , an X-ray machine 19. a magnetic resonance imaging (MR) machine 20. an electro-cadiograph (ECG) machine 22, a positron emission tomography

(PET) machine (not shown), a single photon emission computed tomograph (SPECT) machine 23, or a camera (not shown). A video capture device, such as a video camera, or an audio capture device, such as integrated microphone 18. may also be connected to the input port. The image, \ ideo and audio (multimedia) capture save the time that it would take the doctor to describe a feature in the image. The portable unit also allows the doctor to use the stylus 12 to make notes on an image before uploading the image. Certain portable units may be equipped with a radio frequency ID (RFID) unit 49 for automatically identifying people or objects. To be identified by the RFID, one must wear a compatible RF transmitter that transmits a signal that is unique to the wearer. The RFID may be used to authenticate the person using the portable unit 1. The RFID is also a convenient way of identi fying a patient.

The portable unit 1 also has output interfaces, such as LCD display 6 and speaker 17. Other output devices may be connected to output port 13. For example, a printer 14 may be attached to the portable unit. Additionally, the portable unit may be attached to a CRT display 15 or a touch screen display 16. Although the input and output ports 27, 13 are illustrated as separate ports, the same port may be used to perform both functions. For example, a SCSI or L'SB port can concurrently connect multiple input and output devices.

Referring to FIG. 2b, the portable unit 1 comprises a wireless transmission unit 30, input circuitry 35, output circuitry 33 and a processor 40. The wireless transmission unit communicates over the wireless network. It includes a transmitter 31 for sending transmissions and a receiver 32 for receiving transmission over antenna 4. The input circuitry 35 includes an input port 36 for connecting both integrated and external input interfaces. When enabled, speech recognition module 37 automatically converts audio signals from the microphone 18 into text, thus allowing the user to enter data when his hands are occupied. Handwriting recognition unit 38 automatically com. /ts text that is entered with stylus 12 into ASCII format, which is used to represent text in the computer. Additionally, signature recognition module 39 may be used to authenticate a user based on a signature that is written with the stylus 12. The output circuitry 33 includes the output port 34 for connecting integrated and external output interfaces including the LCD display 6. Processor 40 routes data between the various components to ensure that the system operates correctly. The processor 40 is equipped with memory 40a for running computer programs on portable unit 1. The memory 40a is flash memory that is not erased when the portable unit is powered down. The portable unit is configured to run a browser program 40b for displaying and collecting information. Using the browser program, a user may transmit information over the wireless network 1 1 and store the information on the information server

3. A user may also enter information and use it as key for a search on the information serer Referring to Fig. 3, the operations of the portable unit 1 and the infoπnation server 3 will be explained. When the input interface 35 receives information (at step 100) it processes the information. For example, if the information is handwritten, the handwriting recognition module 38 converts it into ASCII format, and if the information is speech the speech recognition module converts it into text. The processor 40 then conveys the infoπnation to the wireless unit 30 for transmission (at step 101) to the information server 3 over the wireless network 11.

When the wireless interface on the information server 3 receives (at step 102) the information, the information server determines (step 103) whether the portable unit is uploading information or querying the server. If the portable unit is uploading information, the server stores (step 108) the information and sends (step 109) acknowledging information over wireless network 1 1. Otherwise if the portable unit is not uploading information, the server retrieves (at step 104) information associated with the search key using the DBMS 45, image search logic 46, or medical expert logic 47. The information server then sends (step 105) the retrieved information over the wireless network 1 1 to the portable unit 1.

Upon receiving (step 106) the retrieved information, the wireless interface conveys the infoπnation to the processor 40. The processor 40 presents (step 107) the information to the user on a pre-se eeted output interface, such as the LCD display.

Referring to FIG. 4, the user can select the information that he is interested in by clicking the cursor on patient information 50, diagnostic information 51 or administrative information. Each user may customize the interfaces on the portable unit to suit his specific needs.

Referring to FIG. 5a, upon clicking on patient infoπnation, the user is presented with an input 90 for entering the name of a patient. The user can select the patient infoπnation that he would like to view by clicking on demographic infoπnation 91 , patient history 92 or payment information 93, laboratory test results 94. The patient interfaces allows authorized users to change the patient information by either deleting portions of the presented information or adding to the patient information.

FIG. 5b shows the information that is displayed when the user clicks on demographic information 91. The displayed infoπnation includes the patient's age 96. weight 97, height

98, and gender 99. Additionally, any habits 100 of the patient that could affect the patient's health such frequency of exercise or cigarette smoking are also displayed. The demographic information is useful in determining a diagnosis for a patient's illness. For example, the expert logic 47 uses demographic information to assist_. the doctor in deteπnining a diagnosis for the patient's illness. The demographic information can also be used to determine which doctor should see a patient. FIG. 5c shows the information displayed when the user clicks on patient history. The displayed information includes the medical history of the patient's family 102, a list 103 of things that the patient is allergic to, and a record 104a-c of past patient visits and treatment. The history information allows a doctor who is, otherwise, unfamiliar with a patient to quickly learn the patient's history and provide quality medical care. History information also reduces the likelihood that a patient's condition will be misdiagnosed. History information is also used by the expert logic 47 to assist the doctor in diagnosing the patient's condition. FIG. 5d shows the information presented when the user clicks on laboratory tests. The information includes a listing 105a-d of past medical test results. A test result can be viewed by clicking on the corresponding item on the list. Laboratory infoπnation is immediately available to the doctors when they need it to treat the patient. Immediate access to laboratory information reduces the cost of medical care by reducing the likelihood that the same test will be repeated because the results have been lost. Both the expert logic 47 and the image search server 46 may be configured to use the laboratory information when retrieving medical infoπnation so that they retrieve more relevant infoπnation. FIG. 5e shows the information presented when the user clicks on payment information. It includes the HMO 107 that provides the patient's insurance coverage; the patient's HMO ID 108 is used to bill the HMO 107; and a short summary 109 of the patient's health insurance plan. The information also includes a listing 1 l Oa-c of the patient^'s past medical visits and how much the patient owes because of the past visits. The hospital billing staff uses the payment infoπnation to write billing and accounting reports.

FIG. 6a shows the diagnostic search interface that is presented when the user clicks on diagnostic information. The user can select a patient's name using input 55. The information server 3 uses the selected name to access other patient infoπnation. such as patient history, or demographic information. The accessed infoπnation is used in the search key to ensure that the search results are relevant. The user can also enter a patient's symptoms in inputs 56-58. Finally, the patient can enter an image input file name in input 59. Alternatively, the user can enter the name of the interface that is being used to capture the image in input 59. The image is submitted to the image search logic 46. which searches for similar images as described in the Lu patent application. When all the information has been entered, the user clicks on button 60 to submit the search.

FIG. 6b shows the diagnostic results presented to the user as a result of a diagnostic search. The results include expert system results 61 from expert logic 47. These results are the expert logic's diagnosis of the patient's condition. The doctor may use them as a guide in determining a treatment plan for the patient. If the doctor submitted an image with the diagnostic search, the results also include image-matching results 62 as described in Lu. The results shown in 6b are for a search that did not include an image. FIG. 7a shows the interface that is presented to the user after clicking on administrative information. The user has the option of either viewing or updating supplies inventory 66,67, staffing requests 68,69, equipment availability 70,71 , medical appointments 72,73, ward availability 74,75. FIGs. 7b-e show the interfaces presented when the user clicks on the previously listed options. If the user clicked on update, the user will be allowed to update the infoπnation. Otherwise the user will only be allowed to view the infoπnation.

The system may also be configured to require a password before either updating or viewing information to maintain privacy and to avoid tampering with the information.

FIGs. 7b, 7e, 7f show supply, equipment and bed availability. After selecting the supply type 76, equipment type 83 or the department 85, depending on which availability screen the user is viewing, a listing of the relevant items ^{" ~}a-c. S4a-c S6a-b and their availability is shown. These interfaces may be used to restock or to optimally schedule the use of items.

FIG. 7d shows the interface presented when the user clicks on medical appointments. After selecting a doctor's name 80, the corresponding appointments S l -b for the current day are displayed. This interface can be used to schedule a doctor's appointments. The interface also displays a summary 82a-b of the condition of the corresponding patient. The summary provides a quick reminder to the doctor of the nature of the medical appointment. The summary can also be used to assign the appointments to another suitable doctor if the scheduled doctor is unavailable. FIG. 7c shows the interface presented when the user clicks on staffing requests. After selecting a medical section 79, the staffing needs of the section are listed. The staffing needs are used to recruit or assign doctors to different sections. Doctors may also use the staffing needs request to determine what section of the hospital to work in.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the information server 3 may be configured to send an audible message from the speaker 17 of a specific portable unit 1 requesting the person carrying the portable unit to report to a certain section of the facility. This is a less noisy paging method than the intercoms that are currently used in medical facilities. The portable unit may, alternatively, be configured to alert the person by vibrating and displaying the message in text, instead of sending out an audible sound. FIG. 8 shows a text message used to alert a doctor.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A medical information management system comprising: a first terminal having a database of medical infoπnation, a first wireless interface for communicating the medical infoπnation over a wireless network; and a second terminal having a second wireless interface for accessing the communicated medical information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second terminal has an input interface for collecting input infoπnation, the second wireless interface being configured to transmit the input information to the first terminal.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first wireless interface is configured to communicate medical information in response to said input infoπnation.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second terminal has a presentation interface for presenting the communicated medical information.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical information includes at least one of patient information, diagnostic information, and administrative infoπnation.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the input information includes at least one of patient information diagnostic infoπnation, and administrative infoπnation.

7. The system of claim 5 or 6 wherein the administrative infoπnation includes at least one of medical supply inventor,', staffing requests, equipment availability, appointment reservation, and ward availability infoπnation.

8. The system of claim 5 or 6 wherein the patient information includes at least one of demographic, patient history, payment, and laboratory test infoπnation.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the demographic information includes at least one of a patient's age, a patient's body weight, and information on a patient^'s habits.

_ 3-

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the patient's history includes a record of at least one of a patient's past visit, a patient's past symptoms, a patient's, past treatment, a patient's allergies, a patients family medical history, and a patient's chemical dependence history.

1 1. The system of claim 5 or 6 wherein the diagnostic infoπnation includes infoπnation about a possible illness that a patient could be suffering from.

12. The system of claim 1 1 wherein the possible illness is deteπnined by said first terminal based on the input information sent from the second terminal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first terminal includes a medical expert system for determining said possible illness based on said input information.

14. The system of claim 1 1 wherein the input information includes an image from a patient, the first terminal including an image-searching module for retrieving medical images similar to the image from the patient, the diagnostic information including the retrieved images.

15. The system of claim 4 wherein the presentation interface has at least one of a CRT display, an LCD display, a printer, and a speaker.

16. The system of claim 4 wherein the presentation interface is removably attached to the second terminal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the presentation interface is attached using at least one of a docking port, a serial bus, a universal serial bus. a SCSI bus. and an Ethernet interface.

18. The system of claim 2 wherein the input interface is remov ably attached to the second terminal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the input interface is attached using at least one of a docking port, serial bus, universal serial bus, SCSI bus. and Ethernet.

20. The system of claim 2 wherein the input interface includes a text input interface.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the text input interface includes at least one of a keyboard, a scanner and a stylus.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the text input interface includes a module for recognizing handwritten information.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the text input interface includes a module for recognizing signatures.

24. The system of claim 10 wherein the input interface includes a graphical input interface.

25. The system of claim 10 wherein the graphical input interface includes at least one of a camera, a scanner, an X-ray machine, an MR image machine, a CT machine, an ECG machine, and a SPECT machine.

26. The system of claim 2 wherein the input interface includes an audio input interface.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the audio input interface has a microphone.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the first terminal is connected to the telephone system so that signals are conveyed between the first terminal and the telephone system.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal is connected to a telephone interface for receiving medical emergency infoπnation, the first \\ ireless interface being configured to transmit the medical emergency information to the second terminal.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal is connected to a police radio interface for receiving medical emergency infoπnation, the first wireless interface being configured to transmit the medical emergency infoπnation to the second terminal.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the audio input interface further includes a speech recognition module for converting speech to data.

32. The system of claim 2 wherein the input interface includes a video input module.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the video input interface includes a video camera.

34. The system of claim 2 wherein the input interface includes a cursor pointing module.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the cursor pointing module includes at least one of a touch screen, a computer mouse, and a trackball.

36. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal further includes computer memory for storing the medical information

37. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal further includes disk space for storing said medical information.

38. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal further includes a database management system for storing said medical infoπnation.

39. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface includes a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic waves representing the medical information.

40. The system of claim 39 where the electromagnetic waves include at least one of infrared, and RF.

41. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface includes a receiver for receiving electromagnetic waves.

42. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces are configured to communicate at least one of digital and analog information.

43. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces are configured to communicate according to at least one of CDMA, TDMA, FDMA. IP, TCP, and blue-tooth protocols.

44, The system of claim 1 wherein the first wireless interface and the first terminal are integrated into a single unit.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wireless interface is connected to the first terminal by at least one of an IP network, a serial bus, a universal serial bus, a SCSI bus and a local area network.

46. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal has a backup system for creating a backup copy of the medical information.

47. The system of claim 1 wherein the second terminal has an RFID system for determining an ID based on received RF signals.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the RFID system is used to authenticate a user to determine the user's access privileges.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the RFID system is used to identify a patient.

50. The system of claim 2 wherein the first terminal is connected to a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to retrieve information from the second terminal in response to the input information from the second terminal.

51. A method of managing medical information comprising: collecting input information at a first terminal, transmitting the input information over a wireless network to a second terminal, transmitting selected medical information over the wireless network from the second terminal to the first terminal, and displaying the medical information at the second terminal.