Method, system, and program for electronically maintaining medical information between patients and physicians

• US 20030144874A1
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Janaki K K Davda
• Inventors: BARRET, D. Neale, Shaw, Deanna M., Nakamura, Joy, Eaton, Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Disclosed is a method, system, program, and data structure for maintaining electronic patient medical information. An electronic patient data structure is generated to include patient biographical information and one of medical history information, medication schedule information, and appointment schedule information. The patient data structure is electronically transmitted between a physician computer and a portable patient device. The patient data structure is capable of being modified.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining electronic patient medical information, comprising:

generating an electronic patient data structure including patient biographical information and one of medical history information, medication schedule information, and appointment schedule information; and

electronically transmitting the patient data structure between a physician computer and a portable patient device, wherein the patient data structure is capable of being modified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable patient device includes a display, further comprising:

displaying, in the display of the portable computing device, views of the patient medication and appointment schedule information stored in the patient data structure to allow the patient to review scheduled medication and appointments.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

indicating, with the portable patient device, that one scheduled patient medication was taken; and

storing the indication in the patient data structure that the patient took the scheduled medication in the patient data structure in the portable computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting an alarm to activate to provide an alert of one scheduled patient medication or appointment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating log information indicating modifications to information in the patient data structure, wherein the log information is read-only and once generated cannot be altered.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding, with the physician computer, one of appointment and medication events to the patient data structure, wherein one appointment event indicates a scheduled medical related visit and one medication event indicates a drug prescription; and

transmitting the modified patient data structure to the patient device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the patient device includes a display, further comprising:

displaying, in the display of the patient device, views of the patient medication and appointment schedule information stored in the patient data structure that were added to the patient data structure to allow the patient to review scheduled medication and appointments.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing, with the physician computer patient data structures for multiple patients;

displaying, at the physician computer, an interactive schedule of patient appointments from appointment schedule information maintained in the patient data structures, wherein appointment events are added to one patient data structure through the displayed interactive schedule of patient appointments.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient data structure further includes patient insurance billing information that can be used to generate insurance claims for patient services.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using an additional computer to modify information in the patient data structure and transmit the modified patient data structure to the portable patient device.

11. A medical information system for maintaining electronic patient medical information for use in a physician computer and a portable patient device, the physician computer comprising:

a computer readable medium including an electronic patient data structure including patient biographical information and one of medical history information, medication schedule information, and appointment schedule information; and

at least one communication port capable of transmitting the patient data structure to the portable patient device and receiving the patient data structure from the portable patient device; and

means for modifying information in the patient data structure, wherein the modified patient data structure is capable of being transmitted to the portable patient device via the communication port.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the physician computer further comprises:

means for displaying views of the patient medication and appointment schedule information stored in the patient data structure to allow the physician to review scheduled medication and appointments.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the physician computer further comprises means for generating log information indicating modifications to information in the patient data structure, wherein the log information is read-only and once generated cannot be altered.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the physician computer further comprises:

means for adding one of appointment and medication events to the patient data structure, wherein one appointment event indicates a scheduled medical related visit at and one medication event indicates a drug prescription; and

transmitting, via the communication port, the modified patient data structure to the portable patient device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the physician computer further comprises:

means for storing patient data structures for multiple patients;

means for displaying an interactive schedule of patient appointments from appointment schedule information maintained in the patient data structures, wherein appointment events are added to one patient data structure through the displayed interactive schedule of patient appointments.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the patient data structure further includes patient insurance billing information that the physician computer uses to generate insurance claims for patient services.

17. A medical information system for maintaining electronic patient medical information for use in a physician computer and a portable patient device, wherein the patient device includes:

computer readable medium including an electronic patient data structure including patient biographical information and one of medical history information, medication schedule information, and appointment schedule information; and

at least one communication port capable for transmitting the patient data structure to the physician computer and receiving the patient data structure from the physician computer, wherein the patient data structure is capable of being modified.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable patient device further includes:

a display for displaying views of the patient medication and appointment schedule information stored in the patient data structure to allow the patient to review scheduled medication and appointments.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the portable patient device further comprises:

means for indicating that one scheduled patient medication was taken; and

means for storing the indication in the patient data structure that the patient took the scheduled medication.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable patient device further comprises means for setting an alarm to activate to provide an alert of one scheduled patient medication or appointment.

21. The system claim 17, wherein the portable patient device further comprises means for generating log information indicating modifications to information in the patient data structure, wherein the log information is read-only and once generated cannot be altered.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the patient data structure further includes patient insurance billing information that can be used to generate insurance claims for patient services.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising an additional computer, wherein the additional computer includes:

means for transmitting the electronic patient medical information between the additional computer and the portable patient device, wherein the additional computer is capable of modifying information in the patient data structure and transmitting the modified patient data structure to the portable patient device.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable patient device comprises one of a smart card, palm computing device, hand-held computing device, and laptop computer.

25. An article of manufacture for use in a medical information system to maintain electronic patient medical information for use in a physician computer and a portable patient device, the article of manufacture comprising at least one computer program capable of causing the physician computer to perform:

reading an electronic patient data structure including patient biographical information and one of medical history information, medication schedule information, and appointment schedule information; and

transmitting the patient data structure to the portable patient device;

receiving the patient data structure from the portable patient device; and

modifying information in the patient data structure, wherein the modified patient data structure is capable of being transmitted to the portable patient device via the communication port.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, further causing the physician computer to perform:

displaying views of the patient medication and appointment schedule information stored in the patient data structure to allow the physician to review scheduled medication and appointments.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, further causing the physician computer to perform:

generating log information indicating modifications to information in the patient data structure, wherein the log information is read-only and once generated cannot be altered.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 26, further causing the physician computer to perform:

adding one of appointment and medication events to the patient data structure, wherein one appointment event indicates a scheduled medical related visit and one medication event indicates a drug prescription; and

transmitting the modified patient data structure to the portable patient device.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 25, further causing the physician computer to perform:

storing patient data structures for multiple patients;

displaying an interactive schedule of patient appointments from appointment schedule information maintained in the patient data structures, wherein appointment events are added to one patient data structure through the displayed interactive schedule of patient appointments.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the patient data structure further includes patient insurance billing information, further causing the physician computer to perform:

accessing the insurance billing information from the patient data structure to use in billing medical services to the patient'"'"'s insurance company.

31. An article of manufacture for use in a medical information system to maintain electronic patient medical information for use in a physician computer and a portable patient device, the article of manufacture comprising at least one computer program capable of causing the portable patient device to perform:

storing an electronic patient data structure including patient biographical information and one of medical history information, medication schedule information, and appointment schedule information; and

transmitting the patient data structure to the physician computer;

receiving the patient data structure from the physician computer, wherein the patient data structure is capable of being modified.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further causing the patient device to perform:

displaying views of the patient medication and appointment schedule information stored in the patient data structure to allow the patient to review scheduled medication and appointments.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 32, further causing the patient device to perform:

indicating that one scheduled patient medication was taken; and

storing the indication in the patient data structure that the patient took the scheduled medication.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising setting an alarm to activate to alert the user of one scheduled patient medication or appointment.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further causing the patient device to perform:

generating log information indicating modifications to information in the patient data structure, wherein the log information is read-only and once generated cannot be altered at the physician computer or by the patient device.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further causing the patient device to perform:

transmitting the electronic patient medical information to an additional computer, wherein the additional computer is capable of modifying information in the patient data structure and transmitting the modified patient data structure to the portable device.