Method and system for ordering a laboratory test for a patient and obtaining results thereof

• US 20020161606A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
• Inventors: Eastman, Ryan Michael, Bennett, Richard Joseph, Rapperport, David Andrew, DeBold, Randall Scott, Tate, Albert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method is provided for receiving an order for a laboratory test of a biological specimen for a patient utilizing a computer network including a client computer and a central computer. The method includes facilitating a connection between the client computer and the central computer. A laboratory test request is received at the central computer from the client computer. Patient, billing, and diagnosis information corresponding to the requested laboratory test is also received at the central computer from the client computer. Information is transmitted from the central computer to the client computer for generating a test requisition and a label for use with the biological specimen.

Claims

1. In a computer network including a client computer and a central computer, a method of receiving an order of a laboratory test of a biological specimen for a patient comprising the steps of:

(a) facilitating a connection between the client computer and the central computer;

(b) receiving at the central computer a laboratory test request from the client computer and patient, billing, and diagnosis information corresponding to the requested laboratory test; and

(c) transmitting to the client computer information for generating a test requisition and a label for use with the biological specimen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying at the central computer that the requested laboratory test is payable by a responsible party identified in the billing information for the identified diagnosis.

3. The method of claim 2, said receiving step comprising receiving a diagnosis code and a laboratory test code, said verifying step comprising searching a code database for correspondence between the diagnosis code and the laboratory test code.

4. The method of claim 2, said verifying step comprising determining for the identified diagnosis and the requested laboratory test whether a maximum number of tests has been exceeded for the identified diagnosis.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting a notification to the client computer if the requested laboratory test is not payable by the identified responsible party for the identified diagnosis.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of requesting a payment guarantee from the client in response to the notification.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting a request for additional diagnosis information to the client computer if the requested laboratory test is not payable by the identified responsible party for the identified diagnosis.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a request for additional information if ask-at-order-entry questions are required for the requested laboratory test.

9. The method of claim 1, said receiving step comprising:

(a) receiving a patient identification at the central computer from the client computer, thereby obtaining information about the patient for whom the test is being ordered;

(b) receiving billing information at the central computer from the client computer, thereby obtaining information about a party responsible for payment of the test being ordered for the identified patient; and

(c) receiving a patient diagnosis at the central computer from the client computer, thereby obtaining at least one diagnosis for the identified patient.

10. In a computer network including a client computer and a central computer, a method of ordering a laboratory test of a biological specimen for a patient comprising the steps of:

(a) facilitating a connection between the client computer and the s central computer;

(b) transmitting to the central computer a laboratory test request from the client computer and patient, billing, and diagnosis information corresponding to the requested laboratory test; and

(c) receiving from the central computer information for generating a test requisition and a label for use with the biological specimen.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving a notification from the central computer if the requested laboratory test is not payable by a responsible party identified in the billing information for the identified diagnosis.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of guaranteeing payment by the client in response to the notification.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting additional diagnosis information to the central computer if the requested laboratory test is not payable by the identified responsible party for the identified diagnosis.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting additional information to the central computer if ask-at-order-entry questions are required for the requested laboratory test.

15. The method of claim 10, said transmitting step comprising selecting a laboratory test code corresponding to the requested laboratory test from a menu of laboratory test codes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of customizing the menu of laboratory test codes to include laboratory test codes commonly used by the client.

17. The method of claim 10, said transmitting step comprising selecting a diagnosis code corresponding to the identified diagnosis from a menu of diagnosis codes.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of customizing the menu of diagnosis codes to include diagnosis codes commonly used by the client.

19. The method of claim 10, said transmitting step comprising:

(a) transmitting a patient identification from the central computer to the client computer, thereby providing information about the patient for whom the test is being ordered;

(b) transmitting billing information from the central computer to the client computer, thereby providing information about a party responsible for payment of the test being ordered for the identified patient; and

(c) transmitting a patient diagnosis from the central computer to the client computer, thereby providing at least one diagnosis for the identified patient.

20. In a computer network including a client computer and a central computer, a method of providing results of a laboratory test of a biological specimen for patients comprising the steps of:

(a) facilitating a connection between the client computer and the central computer;

(b) receiving at the central computer laboratory test results;

(c) receiving at the central computer a request from the client computer for laboratory test results and an identification of a patient or group of patients; and

(d) transmitting to the client computer the laboratory test results.

21. The method of claim 20, said receiving step comprising receiving an identification of a group of patients based on one of patient sex, a laboratory test, a time period, patient age, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 20, said transmitting step comprising transmitting a cumulative report of laboratory test results for a patient, said receiving step comprising receiving an identification of a patient and a number of reports to be transmitted in the cumulative report.

24. The method of claim 23, said transmitting step comprising transmitting an identification of a group of patients based on one of patient sex, a laboratory test, a time period, patient age, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 23, said receiving step comprising receiving a cumulative report of laboratory test results for a patient, said transmitting step comprising transmitting an identification of a patient and a number of reports to be received in the cumulative report.

23. In a computer network including a client computer and a central computer, a method of obtaining results of a laboratory test of a biological specimen for patients comprising the steps of:

(a) facilitating a connection between the client computer and the central computer;

(b) transmitting to the central computer a request from the client computer for laboratory test results and an identification of a patient or group of patients; and

(d) receiving from the central computer the laboratory test results.