System, method, and business method for storage, search and retrieval of clinical information
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for processing patient medical information for storage, comprising:
- separating the patient medical information into a first information portion that includes at least information identifying a patient and information identifying a physician of the patient, and a second information portion that includes clinical and demographic information for the patient, and the information identifying the physician, but that does not include information identifying the patient;
generating a unique code for the patient which does not identify the patient;
placing the unique code into the first and second information portion;
providing the first information portion for storage in a first storage; and
providing the second information portion for storage in a second storage, separate from the first storage.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Patient medical information is processed for storage and retrieval subject to anonymity constraints. The patient medical information is divided into a first information portion including information identifying a patient and information identifying a physician of the patient, and a second information portion including clinical and demographic information for the patient and the information identifying the physician. A unique code associated with the patient, but which does not identify the patient, is obtained when the first and second information portions are processed. The unique code is appended to the first and second information portions. The first information portion is then stored in a first information storage facility with other first information portions for other patients, and the second information portion is stored in a second information storage facility, separate from the first information storage facility, with second information portions for other patients. The anonymity constraints include the ability to mine the second information storage facility for clinical and demographic information useful for evaluating protocols for clinical trials and assembling candidate groups for the clinical trials without revealing the identities of the patients. Search results are made available to physicians who are identified in the results. Those physicians may then recruit their patients for participation in clinical trials.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for processing patient medical information for storage, comprising:
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separating the patient medical information into a first information portion that includes at least information identifying a patient and information identifying a physician of the patient, and a second information portion that includes clinical and demographic information for the patient, and the information identifying the physician, but that does not include information identifying the patient;
generating a unique code for the patient which does not identify the patient;
placing the unique code into the first and second information portion;
providing the first information portion for storage in a first storage; and
providing the second information portion for storage in a second storage, separate from the first storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An entry processor for processing patient medical information for storage, comprising:
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means for separating the patient medical information into a first information portion that includes at least information identifying a patient and information identifying a physician of the patient, and a second information portion that includes clinical and demographic information for the patient, and the information identifying the physician, but that does not include information identifying the patient;
means for placing a unique code for the patient which does not identify the patient into the first and second information portion; and
means for providing the first information portion for storage in a first storage, and for providing the second information portion for storage in a second storage, separate from the first storage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A processor associated with a physician for retrieving patient medical information from storage, the patient medical information having been separated into first records stored in a first database and second records stored in a second database, separate from the first database, each first record being for a respective patient of the physician and associated with a second record for the same patient by a unique code which is contained in the first and second records and which does not identify the patient, each first record including at least patient identification information identifying a patient and information identifying the physician, each second record including clinical and demographic information for a patient, and information identifying a physician of the patient, but not including information identifying a patient, the physician processor comprising:
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means for receiving results of a search conducted on the second database according to clinical trial search criteria, the results including one or more unique codes for patients of the physician;
means for using the one or more unique codes to obtain patient identification information from the first database; and
means for recruiting one or more patients identified by the patient identification information obtained from the first database. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A processor combination for processing patient medical information for storage and retrieval, comprising:
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at least one entry processor with;
means for separating patient medical information into a first information portion that includes at least information identifying a patient and information identifying the patient'"'"'s physician, and a second information portion that includes clinical and demographic information for the patient, and the information identifying the patient'"'"'s physician (PHID), but that does not include information identifying the patient;
means for placing a unique code (PID) which does not identify the patient into the first and second information portion; and
means for providing the first information portion for storage in a first storage, and for providing the second information portion for storage in a second storage, separate from the first storage; and
at least one additional processor, with;
means for searching the second data storage using clinical trial search criteria;
means for receiving search results from the second data storage in response to the clinical trial search criteria. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A business method for evaluating a clinical trial protocol using patient medical information and one or more processors, comprising:
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receiving patient medical information;
the patient medical information including patient identification information and clinical and demographic information;
storing the patient identification information separately from the clinical and demographic information;
subjecting the stored patient identification information and the stored clinical and demographic information to anonymity constraints;
according at least one subscriber a privilege level with respect to the clinical and demographic information denying identification of patients associated with the clinical and demographic information;
permitting the subscriber to search the clinical and demographic information according to search criteria for a clinical trial protocol; and
providing results to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification