Smartphone Software to Manage Electronic Patient Data Without Internet Access

Provides a Platform to Locate and Identify Patients and Maintain Medical Records When Operating Offline, During Disease Outbreaks, or During Natural Disasters

This smartphone data-collection software optimizes medical providers' access to and management of patient medical records, integrate diagnostics, and automates evidence-based treatment guidelines despite a lack of internet connectivity. Worldwide, individuals affected by disease outbreaks reside in remote areas that lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation. These particular environments often also have limited internet connectivity and are unmapped by GPS systems, making it harder for medical responders to accurately identify patients or associate their correct health records and maintain them electronically.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a mobile device software with a decision-support system for health professionals to identify patients via fingerprint, map their locations within an unmapped regions, and input and access their medical records. This technology is particularly useful in remote areas without a strong internet connection. The platform will also monitor for an internet connection and resolve data-entry conflicts after reconnection.

Application

Mobile device platform designed for medical record maintenance and clinical decision-support in remote areas with limited internet connectivity

Advantages

• Stores input of medical records from various user devices when offline for upload to a remote server after restoration of internet connectivity, ensuring resolution of data conflicts in the event of multiple user inputs to the same records
• Associates residence information with an individual’s electronic health record, providing a geospatial distribution map of recorded residents and treatment locations
• Authenticates patient identity using a low-cost electronic fingerprint scanner, ensuring a match between patient and medical record

Technology

This mobile data-collection software platform gives medical providers solutions to managing digital health records when working in areas lacking an internet connection. An algorithm monitors the network connection and optimizes performance by storing data to a server on user devices when offline. The new data then synchronizes to the system after detection of a strong internet connection. If a conflict of data arises, a communication interface prompts the user to confirm the correct data. This software also features a scanning system that uses an algorithm applied to fingerprint data to associate patients with their electronic health records. Additionally, patient location data provides another safeguard to match patients with their health records, even in areas with unreliable GIS data. Residence mapping integrates a patient’s description of their location, using a culturally relevant location hierarchy, including their district, union and village for instance, with existing GIS application data. This allows users to more efficiently monitor outbreaks or medical trends in a geospatial arrangement.