Providing a continuity of care across multiple care settings
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12336837-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides methods of providing a continuity of care for a patient during transfer between care settings. The method includes the steps of deciding to transfer a patient from a first care setting to a second care setting, performing a first assessment of the patient in the first care setting, preparing a transfer record of the assessment, and transferring the transfer record with the patient to the second care setting.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of providing continuity of care for a patient at risk of developing pressure ulcers during transfer from a first care setting to a second care setting. The method identifies a current PU intervention of level-K provided at the first care setting, where the current PU intervention of level-K is provided in a transfer record. The transfer record further comprises results obtained from performing a first SEM scan of at least one body location of the patient while in the first care setting, including a plurality of measurements of an SEM value and calculation of a first delta value from the plurality of SEM values.
In the second care setting, the method makes a plurality of Sub-Epidermal Moisture (SEM) measurements at a body location, where each SEM measurement comprises a measurement of biocapacitance. The method calculates a delta value by a difference between a maximum SEM value and a minimum SEM value of the plurality of SEM measurements, and determines whether the delta value exceeds a threshold. If the delta value does not exceed the threshold, the method makes further SEM measurements at a pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-K that is longer than every 15 minutes and continues to administer the current PU intervention of level-K based on the delta value.
If the delta value exceeds the threshold, the method makes further SEM measurements at a pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-N, where N has a value greater than K and the pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-N is shorter than the pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-K and longer than or equal to every 15 minutes. The method administers a new PU intervention of level-N based on the delta value, where level-N corresponds to a higher risk level for pressure ulcer than level-K. Delta values computed from SEM scanning are therefore used to stratify pressure ulcer risk after transfer and to adjust intervention level and monitoring frequency.
The document further describes integrating SEM scanning into transfer workflows by using transfer records and database reporting to support continuity across care facilities. A central registry/database aggregates records across care settings and enables queries and trend analyses based on delta time histories and derived delta trend features, such as slope, acceleration, curve shape, and time-to-intercept. This supports selecting monitoring intervals and intervention escalation or de-escalation logic during and after patient transfer.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to a continuity-of-care transfer method that uses SEM scan-derived delta values and threshold comparisons to select intervention level and SEM monitoring frequency. The main inventive features establish (i) transfer-record continuity of a level-K intervention, (ii) SEM scan delta computation and threshold exceedance determination, and (iii) level-based adjustment to further SEM monitoring frequency and PU intervention assignment.
Continuity-of-care transfer with level-K intervention in a transfer record
The method provides continuity of care for a patient at risk of developing pressure ulcers during transfer from a first care setting to a second care setting by identifying a current PU intervention of level-K received by the patient at the first care setting, wherein the current PU intervention of level-K is provided in a transfer record that includes results obtained from performing a first SEM scan of at least one body location of the patient and calculation of a first delta value from the plurality of SEM values.
SEM delta threshold decision to select monitoring frequency and intervention level
The method makes a plurality of Sub-Epidermal Moisture (SEM) measurements at a body location at the second care setting, calculates a delta value as a difference between a maximum SEM value and a minimum SEM value of the plurality of SEM measurements, determines whether the delta value exceeds a threshold, and selects further SEM measurement frequency and PU intervention administration based on whether the delta value exceeds the threshold.
Level-based escalation or continuation using pre-determined SEM measurement frequencies
If the delta value does not exceed the threshold, the method makes further SEM measurements at a pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-K that is longer than every 15 minutes and continues to administer the current PU intervention of level-K based on the delta value; if the delta value exceeds the threshold, the method makes further SEM measurements at a pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-N (N greater than K) that is shorter than the pre-determined frequency corresponding to level-K and longer than or equal to every 15 minutes, and administers a new PU intervention of level-N based on the delta value, where level-N corresponds to a higher risk level for pressure ulcer than level-K.
Overall, the independent claim covers continuity-of-care transfer using transfer-record SEM scan delta values to compute a second delta value, compare it to a threshold, and then continue or escalate PU intervention levels with corresponding pre-determined SEM monitoring frequencies.
Stated Advantages
Enables risk-based escalation or continuation of pressure ulcer interventions during transfer between care settings based on SEM delta values and threshold comparisons.
Documented Applications
Continuity of care for a patient at risk of developing pressure ulcers during transfer from a first care setting to a second care setting, using SEM scanner-derived delta values to manage monitoring frequency and PU intervention levels.
Using a central registry/database to aggregate continuity-of-care records across multiple care settings and support queries/trend analyses of delta time histories and derived curve features such as slope, acceleration, curve shape, and time-to-intercept.
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