Augmentation system for documentation

• US 20010042080A1
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary E. Ross
• Original Assignee: Gary E. Ross
• Inventors: Ross, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/506
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

According to the present invention, there is provided a documentation system including an augmenting mechanism that elicits more accurate conclusions through the analysis of entered information and predetermined criteria. The present invention also provides for a method of documentation based upon the augmenting mechanism and a method of augmenting to calculate more accurate conclusions based upon all entered information and related predetermined criteria. Additionally, the present invention includes a software program for operating the documentation system and method for the operation of the augmenting mechanism. The present invention provides for a computerized documentation entry system for determining more accurate conclusions including a software program having an augmenting mechanism and a graphic user interface for displaying, accessing and interacting with users of the documentation system. Preferably, the present invention is directed towards a system, software program, and method for accurately and completely determining payment reimbursement in the health care field.

Claims

1. A documentation system comprising augmenting means for eliciting more accurate conclusions through the analysis of entered information and predetermined criteria input.

2. The system according to

claim 1

including storage means for recording inputted predetermined criteria, entered information and conclusions thereof into a database.

3. The system according to

claim 1

including a software program encoding for said augmenting means.

4. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein said augmenting means is further defined as a selection option mechanism.

5. The system according to

claim 4

, wherein said augmenting means includes at least one of data addition means for adding information and data substituting means for substituting information.

6. The system according to

claim 4

, wherein said augmenting means includes an elicitation database for intelligently suggesting at least one of more accurate conclusions, alternative conclusions, and predetermined criteria to support the conclusions.

7. The system according to

claim 6

, wherein said augmenting means includes eliciting conclusions selected from the group consisting essentially of medical payment codes, billing codes, treatment codes, and service codes.

8. The system according to

claim 4

, wherein said augmenting means includes analysis of predetermined criteria input wherein the criteria includes phrases, words, numbers and symbols relating to the conclusions.

9. The system according to

claim 1

utilized on a device selected from the group consisting essentially of hand-held devices, portable computers, desktop computers, wireless devices, web-based technology systems, touch screen devices, typing devices, and electronic devices.

10. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein said system further includes accuracy confirming means for confirming the accuracy of previously entered information.

11. The system according to

claim 1

including searching means for locating words and phrases.

12. The system according to

claim 1

including linking means for linking to a listing and description of predetermined criteria.

13. The system according to

claim 1

including free-text entry means for entering text into said system.

14. The system according to

claim 1

including security means for restricting access to said system.

15. A software program for providing more accurate conclusions, said program comprising augmenting means for eliciting more accurate conclusions through analysis of entered information and predetermined criteria input.

16. The software program according to

claim 15

, being accessible through communication systems selected from the group consisting essentially of the Internet, Intranet, Extranet, and electronically.

17. The software program according to

claim 15

, wherein said augmenting means is further defined as a selection option mechanism.

18. The software program according to

claim 17

, wherein said augmenting means includes at least one of data addition means for adding information and data substituting means for substituting information.

19. The software program according to

claim 17

, wherein said augmenting means includes an elicitation data base for intelligently suggesting at least one of more accurate conclusions, alternative conclusions, and needed criteria to support the conclusions.

20. The software program according to

claim 17

, wherein said augmenting means includes eliciting conclusions selected from the group consisting essentially of medical payment codes, billing codes, treatment codes, and service codes.

21. The software program according to

claim 17

, wherein said augmenting means includes analysis of predetermined criteria input wherein the criteria includes phrases, words, numbers and symbols relating to the conclusions.

22. The software program according to

claim 15

, wherein said software further includes accuracy confirming means for confirming the accuracy of previously entered information.

23. The software program according to

claim 15

, wherein said software further includes security means for restricting access to said software.

24. The software program according to

claim 15

including searching means for locating words and phrases.

25. The software program according to

claim 15

including linking means for linking to a listing and description of predetermined criteria.

26. The software program according to

claim 15

including free-text entry means for entering text into said system.

27. A documentation method comprising the steps of:

inputting predetermined criteria into a documentation system comprising information prompting forms;

selecting desired information prompting form;

inputting data into the information prompting form;

modifying the inputted data to provide more accurate conclusions based upon the predetermined criteria; and

calculating more accurate conclusions based upon at least one completely entered information prompting forms and all related predetermined criteria.

28. The documentation method according to

claim 27

, wherein said inputting step is defined as inputting criteria selected from the group consisting essentially of phrases, words, numbers, and symbols relating to conclusions.

29. The documentation method according to

claim 28

, wherein said inputting step includes requesting a password from a user for access to the documentation system.

30. The documentation method according to

claim 27

, wherein said inputting step includes saving the information entered.

31. The documentation method according to

claim 27

, wherein said selecting step includes viewing a welcome display page comprising links to different information prompting forms.

32. The documentation method according to

claim 31

, wherein said selecting step is further defined as selecting the desired information prompting form containing previously entered data regarding an individual.

33. The documentation method according to

claim 31

, wherein said selecting step is further defined as selecting the desired information prompting form including demographics, chief complaints, history of present illness, past medical family social history, review of systems, and physical exam.

34. The documentation method according to

claim 27

, wherein said augmenting step includes eliciting more accurate conclusions based on predetermined criteria input.

35. The documentation method according to

claim 34

, wherein said augmenting step includes at least one of adding, deleting, and modifying inputted data relating to the predetermined criteria input.

36. The documentation method according to

claim 34

, wherein said augmenting step includes verifying accuracy and completeness of information inputted into the information prompting form.

37. The documentation method according to

claim 34

, wherein said augmenting step includes providing a listing and description of predetermined criteria input.

38. The documentation method according to

claim 27

, wherein said calculating step includes a saving step for recording inputted information and calculated conclusions thereof.

39. The documentation method according to

claim 38

, wherein said calculating step includes a summarizing step for providing a summary of all entered information.

40. The documentation method according to

claim 38

, wherein said calculating step includes calculating more accurate conclusions based upon required information prompting forms.

41. The documentation method according to

claim 38

, wherein said method is utilized in a business field selected from the group consisting essentially of medical, legal, accounting, automotive, and business services.

42. An augmenting method comprising the steps of:

displaying previously entered information and corresponding conclusions;

selecting the desired information and corresponding conclusions to be augmented;

providing at least one of alternative conclusions and additional criteria to be inputted;

choosing at least one of the previously entered information, corresponding conclusions, alternative conclusions, and additional criteria; and

calculating more accurate conclusions based upon all entered information and related predetermined criteria.

43. The augmenting method according to

claim 42

, wherein said displaying step is further defined as displaying a selection of prompted information forms containing previously entered information including demographics, chief complaints, history of present illness, past medical family social history, review of systems, and physical exam.

44. The augmenting method according to

claim 42

, wherein said selecting step includes selecting type of patient encounter.

45. The augmenting method according to

claim 42

, wherein said providing step includes displaying conclusions selected from the group consisting essentially of more accurate conclusions, alternative conclusions, and predetermined criteria supporting the conclusions.

46. The augmenting method according to

claim 42

, wherein said choosing step includes choosing any combination of at least one of adding conclusions, deleting conclusions, and modifying conclusions.

47. The augmenting method according to

claim 46

, wherein said choosing step includes adding information into the selected prompted information form.

48. The augmenting method according to

claim 42

, wherein said calculating step further includes providing additional prompted information forms to be augmented.

49. A documentation entry system for determining more accurate conclusions comprising:

a processor;

a graphic user interface comprising display means connected to said processor and input means for communicating with said processor;

data memory storage means for accumulating, storing and manipulating information and criteria entered therein by user; and

a software program comprising augmenting means for eliciting more accurate conclusions based on predetermined criteria input.

50. A method of documentation for accurately and completely determining payment reimbursement that is dependent upon predetermined criteria comprising the steps of:

prompting the elicitation of information relevant to the determination of the appropriate payment codes;

entering and storing the prompted information;

analyzing the prompted information in order to provide the most accurate and complete information; and

converting the analyzed information into payment codes based upon various predetermined criteria.

51. A documentation method comprising the steps of eliciting more accurate conclusions through the analysis of entered information and predetermined criteria input and subsequent augmenting of the entered information therein.