PATIENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20030177030A1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Estate of Nicki C Turner By Rose Turner Per REP
• Original Assignee: Michael McNeil
• Inventors: SCHEPP, SHARON L., TURNER, NICKIE C.
• Application Number:
  US09/442,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20030177030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• 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 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A patient information system comprises a computer server having a patient information forum for at least one patient. Each of the patient information forums contains information regarding an individual patient. A publicly accessible computer output device is networked to the computer server. Also networked to the computer server is a publicly accessible computer input device. A security subsystem is operably positioned between the patient information forum and the input device.

Claims

1. A patient information system comprising:

a computer server having a patient information forum for at least one patient, and each said patient information forum containing information regarding an individual patient;

a publicly accessible computer output device networked to said computer server;

a publicly accessible computer input device networked to said computer server; and

a security subsystem operably positioned between said patient information forum and said input device.

2. The patient information system of claim 1 wherein said patient information forum is subdivided into a plurality of levels, and a different portion of said patient information forum being available at different ones of said plurality of levels;

and

said security subsystem being operable to limit access to said patient information forum to a predetermined group of persons, and limit access to different ones of said levels to subsets of said predetermined group of persons.

3. The patient information system of claim 2 wherein said predetermined group of persons includes third party individuals identified by a particular patient to which said patient information forum relates, and said third party individuals include relatives of said particular patient.

4. The patient information system of claim 1 wherein a particular patient has an ailment;

and

said patient information forum for said particular patient includes a link to a database having information regarding said ailment.

5. The patient information system of claim 1 wherein said patient information forum includes a location for dialogue.

6. The patient information system of claim 1 wherein said computer server is an Internet server;

and

said patient information system has an Internet address.

7. The patient information system of claim 1 wherein said security subsystem includes an assignment of passwords to a predetermined group of persons that are approved for access to said patient information forum of a particular patient.

8. A method of exchanging information regarding a patient comprising the steps of:

establishing a patient information forum for a particular patient on a computer server;

networking said computer server into a publicly accessible computer network; and

limiting access to said patient information forum to a predetermined group of persons.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said establishing step includes a step of dividing said patient information forum into a plurality of levels;

and

said limiting access step includes a step of limiting subsets of said predetermined group of persons to different ones of said levels.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

identifying said predetermined group of persons; and

assigning a password to each person in said predetermined group of persons.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said establishing step includes a step of providing a location for dialogue in said patient information forum.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said particular patient has an ailment;

and

said establishing step includes a step of providing a link in said patient information forum to a database having information regarding said ailment.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said networking step includes a step of providing a patient information system with a Internet address;

and

networking said computer server to at least one Internet server.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

networking a special needs computer to said computer server; and

providing said special needs computer with at least one of a visually impaired computer interface, a touchscreen computer interface and a voice recognition computer interface.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of providing said patient information forum with a bulletin board location having new information added to said patient information forum.

16. A software program comprising:

means for establishing a patient information forum on a publicly accessible computer network;

means for limiting access to said patient information forum to a predetermined group of persons; and

means for posting information regarding a particular patient on said patient information forum.

17. The software program of claim 16 wherein said means for limiting includes:

means for requesting a password; and

means for evaluating a password.

18. The software program of claim 16 further comprising means for enabling a dialogue among said predetermined group of persons.

19. The software program of claim 16 wherein a particular patient has an ailment;

and

means for linking said patient information forum to a database having information regarding said ailment.

20. The software program of claim 17 wherein said means for limiting access includes a means for creating gradations of access dependent upon evaluation of said password.