System and associated methods for providing claimant services with prioritized dispatch

• US 20020077994A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Access Transport Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Access Transport Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Dombroski, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/961,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

The system and method are operable over a telephone network and the Internet for providing services to a claimant by a service vendor, as scheduled by a scheduler, and paid for by a payor. Claimant data is processed and stored on a server connected to the Internet, and at least one scheduler workstation is provided for scheduling services for a claimant. The workstation includes a scheduler computer connected to the server for entry of claimant data by the scheduler and display of claimant data to the scheduler, and a telephone interface for communication between the scheduler and at least one of the payor, claimant and service vendor. The claimant data for scheduled services is prioritized, and queued to the scheduler computer based upon priority. Also, a service vendor list is generated to the scheduler computer based upon a geographical area related to the claimant and/or previous vendors for that claimant.

Claims

1. A system, operable over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and Internet, for use in providing services to a claimant by a service vendor, as scheduled by a scheduler, and paid for by a payor, the system comprising:

a server for processing and storing claimant data and connected to the Internet; and

at least one scheduler workstation for scheduling services for a claimant and comprising

a scheduler computer connected to the server for entry of claimant data by the scheduler and display of claimant data to the scheduler, and

a telephone interface connected to the PSTN for communication between the scheduler and at least one of the payor, claimant and service vendor;

the server comprising a dispatch unit for prioritizing the claimant data for scheduled services, queuing the claimant data to the scheduler computer based upon priority, and generating a service vendor list to the scheduler computer based upon a geographical area related to the claimant.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the service vendor list includes any previous service vendors for the claimant.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the service vendor list includes a quality rating of the listed service vendors.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the services comprise at least one of transportation, translation, delivery of durable medical equipment (DME), and delivery of pharmaceuticals.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the services comprise claimant transportation.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the service vendors comprise at least one of independent transportation providers, taxi companies and ambulatory companies.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the server comprises a report generation unit for generating reports based upon claimant data for the payor.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the reports are downloadable by the payor into a spreadsheet document on a payor computer via the Internet.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the server comprises a payor secure online ordering unit for permitting entry and review of claimant data on the server via the Internet and a payor computer.

10. A system, operable over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and Internet, for use in providing services to a claimant by a service vendor, as scheduled by a scheduler, and paid for by a payor, the system comprising:

a server for processing and storing claimant data and connected to the Internet; and

at least one scheduler workstation for scheduling services for a claimant and comprising

a scheduler computer connected to the server for entry of claimant data by the scheduler and display of claimant data to the scheduler, and

a telephone interface connected to the PSTN for communication between the scheduler and at least one of the payor, claimant and service vendor;

the server comprising a dispatch unit for queuing the claimant data to the scheduler computer, generating a service vendor list to the scheduler computer based upon a geographical area related to the claimant, the service vendor list including any previous service vendors for the claimant.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the service vendor list includes a quality rating of the listed service vendors.

12. A system according to claim 10 wherein the services comprise at least one of transportation, translation, delivery of durable medical equipment (DME), and delivery of pharmaceuticals.

13. A system according to claim 10 wherein the services comprise claimant transportation.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the service vendors comprise at least one of independent transportation providers, taxi companies and ambulatory companies.

15. A system according to claim 10 wherein the server comprises a report generation unit for generating reports based upon claimant data for the payor.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the reports are downloadable by the payor into a spreadsheet document on a payor computer via the Internet.

17. A system according to claim 10 wherein the server comprises a payor secure online ordering unit for permitting entry and review of claimant data on the server via the Internet and a payor computer.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the service vendor list includes a quality rating of the listed service vendors.

20. A system according to claim 18 wherein the services comprise at least one of transportation, translation, delivery of durable medical equipment (DME), and delivery of pharmaceuticals.

21. A system according to claim 18 wherein the services comprise claimant transportation.

22. A system according to claim 21 wherein the service vendors comprise at least one of independent transportation providers, taxi companies and ambulatory companies.

23. A system according to claim 18 wherein the server comprises a report generation unit for generating reports based upon claimant data for the payor.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein the reports are downloadable by the payor into a spreadsheet document on a payor computer via the Internet.

25. A system according to claim 18 wherein the server comprises a payor secure online ordering unit for permitting entry and review of claimant data on the server via the Internet and a payor computer.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the service vendor list includes a quality rating of the listed service vendors.

28. A method according to claim 26 wherein the services comprise at least one of transportation, translation, delivery of durable medical equipment (DME), and delivery of pharmaceuticals.

29. A method according to claim 26 wherein the services comprise claimant transportation.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the service vendors comprise at least one of independent transportation providers, taxi companies and ambulatory companies.

31. A method according to claim 26 further comprising generating reports on the server based upon claimant data for the payor to access via a payor computer and the Internet.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the reports are downloadable by the payor into a spreadsheet document on the payor computer via the Internet.

33. A method according to claim 26 further comprising permitting entry and review of claimant data on the server via the Internet and a payor computer.

18. A system, operable over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and Internet, for use in providing services to a claimant by a service vendor, as scheduled by a scheduler, and paid for by a payor, the system comprising:

a server for processing and storing claimant data and connected to the Internet; and

at least one scheduler workstation for scheduling services for a claimant and comprising

a scheduler computer connected to the server for entry of claimant data by the scheduler and display of claimant data to the scheduler, and

a telephone interface connected to the PSTN for communication between the scheduler and at least one of the payor, claimant and service vendor;

the server comprising a dispatch unit for prioritizing the claimant data for scheduled services, queuing the claimant data to the scheduler computer based upon priority, and generating a service vendor list to the scheduler computer including any previous service vendors for the claimant.

26. A method, operable over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and Internet, for use in providing services to a claimant by a service vendor, as scheduled by a scheduler, and paid for by a payor, the method comprising:

processing and storing claimant data on a server connected to the Internet;

scheduling services for a claimant via at least one scheduler workstation which comprises

a scheduler computer connected to the server for entry of claimant data by the scheduler and display of claimant data to the scheduler, and

a telephone interface connected to the PSTN for communication between the scheduler and at least one of the payor, claimant and service vendor;

prioritizing the claimant data for scheduled services;

queuing the claimant data to the scheduler computer based upon priority; and

generating a service vendor list to the scheduler computer based upon at least one of a geographical area related to the claimant and any previous service vendors for the claimant.