Method and system for electronically transmitting authorization to release medical information

• US 20020194131A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ingenix Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ingenix Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dick, Richard S.
• Application Number:
  US09/883,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194131A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• 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

The present invention relates to a method and system for searching for medical information. The method of searching may be executed by one or more computers. The present invention comprises the steps of searching for a person'"'"'s medical information by first receiving a request for medical information from a requester including identification of the and by receiving digitally signed authorization to release the medical information. A query is then transmitted to a medical information repository for information pursuant to the request; and a response to the request based on the query is transmitted.

Claims

1. A method of searching for medical information executed by one or more computers comprising:

(a) receiving a request for medical information from a requestor including and biometrically authenticated medical information release form bearing a digital signature;

(b) transmitting a query to a medical information repository for information pursuant to the request; and

(c) transmitting a response to the request including information based on the response to the query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the query is transmitted to the medical information repository by an internet website communicating with the medical information repository.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a computer communicating with the internet website operates according to input from a device capable of detecting the presence of an authorized user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response to the query.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the response is transmitted directly to the requester.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital is accomplished using private key encryption.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital signature is accomplished using public key encryption.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the release

9. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using a digital certificate.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using cyclic redundancy check verification.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using passwords.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using check sum verification.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using hashing algorithms.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication is a retinal eye scan.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication is accomplished using is a hand writing signature recognition system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital signature is accomplished using electronic watermarks.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication is a fingerprint scan.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication is accomplished using a voice recognition system

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said digital signature is accomplished using private key encryption.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said digital signature is accomplished using public key encryption.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using a digital certificate.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using cyclic redundancy check verification.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using passwords,

25. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using check sum verification.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the source of the request using hashing algorithms.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the biometric authentication is a retinal eye scan.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the biometric authentication is accomplished using is a hand writing signature recognition system.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said digital signature is accomplished using electronic watermarks.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the biometric authentication is a fingerprint scan.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein the biometric authentication is accomplished using a voice recognition system

32. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying the request includes verifying the digital signature on a medical information release form using a digital certificate.

19. A method of electronically transmitting authorization to release medical information over a computer network comprising:

(a) attaching a digital signature of an authorized individual to an electronic medical information release form requesting the release of a subject'"'"'s medical information, said request including identification of the subject;

(b) biometrically authenticating the identity of the subject digitally signing the release form verifying the request;

(c) verifying said digital signature; and

(d) transmitting said digitally signed request form over a computer internet to a medical information repository.

33. A method for electronically requesting and obtaining a person'"'"'s medical information comprising:

(a) receiving a request for medical information from a requester including identification of the subject;

(b) receiving a digitally signed authorization of the subject;

(c) authenticating the subject by biometric identification;

(d) authenticating the source of the request by biometric identification;

(e) integrating said authorization into a query;

(f) transmitting said query to a medical information repository for information pursuant to the request; and

(g) transmitting a response to the request based on the query.

34. A program storage device encoding instructions executable by one or more computers including instructions for performing the operations of:

(a) attaching a digital signature of an authorized individual to an electronic medical information release form requesting the release of a subject'"'"'s medical information, said request including identification of the subject;

(b) biometrically authenticating the identity of the subject digitally signing the release form;

(c) verifying the request;

(d) verifying said digital signature; and

(e) transmitting said digitally signed request form over a computer internet to a medical information repository.