Website messaging system for soliciting volunteers for medical clinical trials

• US 20040210457A1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph Sameh
• Original Assignee: Joseph Sameh
• Inventors: Sameh, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/413,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for processing a message from a patient for one of a plurality of physicians through a web site. The method includes the steps of providing one or more web pages to the patient from the web site containing indicia of identity for each physician of the plurality of physicians and detecting selection by the patient of a physician of the plurality of physicians. The method further includes the steps of determining an information content of the message and routing the message based upon the determined information content and a predetermined routing criteria provided by the selected physician.

Claims

1. A method of recruiting human test subjects for clinical trials, such method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of websites for arranging appointments between physicians and patients;

determining whether a clinical study at a location of a website of the plurality of websites still needs volunteers; and

if the clinical study still needs volunteers, then downloading an invitation to enter the clinical study to patients accessing the website.

2. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 1 further comprising downloading an appointment request webpage from the website to a patient accessing the website.

3. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 1 wherein the step of downloading the appointment request webpage further comprises displaying the invitation as a clinical trial invitation softkey on the appointment request webpage downloaded to the patient.

4. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 3 further comprising appending text to the clinical trial invitation softkey announcing the objective of the clinical trial and inviting the patient to press the softkey to obtain more information.

5. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 3 wherein the step of displaying the invitation as a clinical trial invitation softkey on an appointment request webpage downloaded to the patient further comprises sending a notification packet to a clinical trial sponsor when the patient activates the softkey.

6. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 1 further comprising sending a notification packet to a clinical trial sponsor when the patient accesses the website.

7. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 1 further comprising downloading a description and requirements list of the clinical study to the patient.

8. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 7 wherein the step of downloading a description and requirements list of the clinical study to the patient further comprises downloading an interactive sign-up window to the patient.

9. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 8 wherein the step of downloading an interactive sign-up window to the patient further comprises receiving personal data from the patient by the clinical trial sponsor via operation of the interactive sign-up window.

10. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 9 wherein the step of receiving personal data from the patient via the interactive sign-up window further comprises comparing the personal data from the patient with a set of requirements for the clinical trial and accepting the patient as a volunteer for the clinical trial when the personal data from the patient meets the criteria provided by the set of requirements for the clinical trial.

11. The method of recruiting human test subjects as in claim 10 wherein the step of accepting the patient as a volunteer for the clinical trial further comprises determining whether the clinical trial still needs additional volunteers.

12. An apparatus for recruiting human test subjects for clinical trials, such apparatus comprising:

means for providing a plurality of websites for arranging appointments between physicians and patients;

means for determining whether a clinical study at a location of a website of the plurality of websites still needs volunteers; and

means for downloading an invitation to enter the clinical study to patients accessing the website when the clinical study still needs volunteers.

13. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 12 further comprising means for downloading an appointment request webpage from the website to a patient accessing the website.

14. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 12 wherein the means for downloading the appointment request webpage further comprises means for displaying the invitation as a clinical trial invitation softkey on the appointment request webpage downloaded to the patient.

15. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 14 further comprising means for appending text to the clinical trial invitation softkey announcing the objective of the clinical trial and inviting the patient to press the softkey to obtain more information.

16. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 14 wherein the means for displaying the invitation as a clinical trial invitation softkey on an appointment request webpage downloaded to the patient further comprises means for sending a notification packet to a clinical trial sponsor when the patient activates the softkey.

17. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 12 further comprising means for sending a notification packet to a clinical trial sponsor when the patient accesses the website.

18. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 12 further comprising means for downloading a description and requirements list of the clinical study to the patient.

19. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 18 wherein the means for downloading a description and requirements list of the clinical study to the patient further comprises means for downloading an interactive sign-up window to the patient.

20. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 19 wherein the means for downloading an interactive sign-up window to the patient further comprises means for receiving personal data from the patient by the clinical trial sponsor via operation of the interactive sign-up window.

21. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 20 wherein the means for receiving personal data from the patient via the interactive sign-up window further comprises means for comparing the personal data from the patient with a set of requirements for the clinical trial and accepting the patient as a volunteer for the clinical trial when the personal data from the patient meets the criteria provided by the set of requirements for the clinical trial.

22. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 21 wherein the means for accepting the patient as a volunteer for the clinical trial further comprises means for determining whether the clinical trial still needs additional volunteers.

23. An apparatus for recruiting human test subjects for clinical trials, such apparatus comprising:

a plurality of websites for arranging appointments between physicians and patients;

a processor adapted to determine whether a clinical study at a location of a website of the plurality of websites still needs volunteers; and

an interface processor adapted to download an invitation to enter the clinical study to patients accessing the website when the clinical study still needs volunteers.

24. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 23 further comprising an appointment request webpage downloaded from the website to a patient accessing the website.

25. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 24 wherein the appointment request webpage further comprises a clinical trial invitation softkey displayed on the appointment request webpage downloaded to the patient.

26. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 25 further comprising text appended to the clinical trial invitation softkey announcing the objective of the clinical trial and inviting the patient to press the softkey to obtain more information.

27. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 25 wherein the clinical trial invitation softkey on an appointment request webpage downloaded to the patient further comprises a notification packet sent to a clinical trial sponsor when the patient activates the softkey.

28. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 23 further comprising a notification packet sent to a clinical trial sponsor when the patient accesses the website.

29. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 23 further comprising a description and requirements list of the clinical study downloaded to the patient.

30. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 29 wherein the description and requirements list of the clinical study to the patient further comprises an interactive sign-up window downloaded to the patient.

31. The apparatus for recruiting human test subjects as in claim 30 wherein the interactive sign-up window further comprises a comparator provided by the sponsor and adapted to compare the personal data from the patient with a set of requirements for the clinical trial and to accept the patient as a volunteer for the clinical trial when the personal data from the patient meets the criteria provided by the set of requirements for the clinical trial.

32. A method of recruiting human test subjects for clinical trials, such method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of websites for arranging appointments between physicians and patients;

determining a location of each website of the plurality of websites;

determining whether a clinical study at a location of each website still needs volunteers; and

if the clinical study still needs volunteers, then downloading an invitation to enter the clinical study to patients accessing the website.

33. A method of recruiting human test subjects for clinical trials, such method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of websites for arranging appointments between physicians and patients;

detecting access to a website of the plurality of websites by a patient of the physician'"'"'s patients;

determining a location of the website;

determining whether a clinical study at the location of the website still needs volunteers; and

if the clinical study still needs volunteers, then downloading an invitation to enter the clinical study to the patient.