Reference table

Abstract: A reference table has columns associated with data attributes and rows containing related words assigned to those attributes in a collection of data, those words coming from different data tables having independent numbers of records. The stored data include word thesauruses associated with the attributes, and reference table row identifier lists respectively associated with thesaurus entries. Each word thesaurus associated with an attribute has a respective entry for each word assigned to this data attribute in the collection of data. The reference table, which may be a virtual table, defines a unified algebraic framework for the entries of all the thesauruses. Query criteria can be examined with reference to the relevant thesauruses to obtain a row-ID list or bitmap vector which represents all the reference table rows matching the query criteria, if any. The results can then be delivered through the original data tables, or preferably, by means of the thesauruses.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture for ensuring that the content and appearance of medication information is consistent, accurate, and reliable across multiple hospitals, sites, and users. Publicly available databases provide medication information. Relevant data is extracted from such databases and placed into a drug reference table. The drug reference table is combined with a hospital formulary such that the medication information in the formulary is modified, completed, reformatted, etc. Such modifications, completions, and reformatting are conducted by enforcing one or more rules that are applied to elements and attributes of a medication. The resulting medication information content is stored in a hospital formulary file that is accessed and utilized for maintaining, displaying, administering, etc. medication. To combine the drug reference table with the formulary, a hospital setup tool comprising a graphical user interface that allows a user to approve and finalize medication information may be utilized.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system that allows changes made to an original database table found on a server computer to be reflected in client copies of the database table based on intermittent client requests for synchronization. A server makes periodic updates of table differences between a current table receiving database change events and a reference table. Each client copy of a database table and update created by the server has a sequential version number associated therewith. The server will compare the version number of a client copy of a database table with the most recent version number of the table on the server to determine which updates need be applied in order to make the client copy current. Next, the updates will be translated from a generic format into instructions that are specific to the type of database engine being run on the client. Finally, the instructions are transmitted to the client (along with the new version number) so that the client may operate the database engine to apply the instructions for making the database table current with the original managed on the server.