Method and apparatus for generating patient reminders

• US 20050114182A1
• Filed: 09/04/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Bamet Gersh, Donley Ray Psimer, Philip Lee Miller, Robin Lynn Randolph
• Original Assignee: David Bamet Gersh, Donley Ray Psimer, Philip Lee Miller, Robin Lynn Randolph
• Inventors: Randolph, Robin Lynn, Psimer, Donley Ray, Gersh, David Bamet, Miller, Philip Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/934,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• 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

Abstract

A patient reminder system for a plurality of patient sites with home care devices includes a patient server is provided with a database containing information about the devices, their manufacturer and a list of payors that provide payment to patients under certain conditions dictated by a set of rules. The server monitors the sites for devices eligible for a payment, replacement or a new accessory. When such an event is detected, a message is generated and sent to the patient. Alternatively, the server monitors the dispensal of drugs and generates a message when the prescription of a drug expires or needs renewal.

Claims

1. A patient server comprising:

a patient interface receiving information from a plurality of sites, each site including a home care device; and

a processor receiving said information and making a determination based on said information regarding eligibility of a patient associated with a site for a payment associated with said home care device, said processor generating a reminder message when said patient is found to be eligible.

2. The patient server of claim 1 further comprising a display, said display generating a reminder to a user based on said reminder message,

3. The patient server of claim 1 wherein said processor generates a reminder letter to a customer based on said reminder message.

4. The patient server of claim 1 wherein said processor generates said reminder message when the patient is eligible for a device conversion.

5. The patient server of claim 1 further comprising an accessory associated with said device, wherein said processor generates said reminder message when said accessory can be replaced.

6. The patient server of claim 1 further comprising a database defining rules determining said eligibility.

7. A patient server comprising:

a patient interface receiving information from a patient site, including information about a home care device disposed at said patient site;

a database including eligibility rules; and

a processor receiving said information, analyzing said information using said eligibility rules, and generating a reminder message when said device is eligible for a status change based on said rules.

8. The patient server of claim 7 wherein said device is eligible for a conversion.

9. The patient server of claim 7 further comprising an accessory associated with said device and wherein said message includes information regarding the replacement of said accessory.

10. The patient server of claim 7 further comprising a database including device manufacturer data descriptive of manufacturers making the device.

11. The patient server of claim 10 further comprising a device database with data describing a plurality of devices made by said manufacturers.

12. A method of generating a payment to a patient with a home care device at his site comprising:

storing at a central location information regarding the device;

storing a set of rules describing device payments;

generating an output message related to payment for said device by analyzing said set of rules using said information; and

presenting said message.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein further comprising storing in said database a list of manufactures making said device and generating said output message using rules applied to said list.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising to storing device data descriptive of said device and using said device data with said set of rules.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending a patient message to the patient based on said output message.

16. A method of dispensing drugs to patients comprising:

generating a prescription;

providing said a drug to a patient based on said prescription;

providing information about the drug to a central station;

at the central station analyzing said information; and

sending a reminder message to a patient when said prescription needs to be renewed or replaced.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said reminder message is a fax.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said reminder message is e-mail.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said reminder message is sent days before the prescription expires.

20. A method of distributing medical devices and associated accessories comprising the steps:

providing patients with the devices;

registering with a patient server the patients, the corresponding devices, and a set of rules regulating the replacement of the devices or their accessories;

checking with said patient server when a device or accessory becomes eligible for a replacement device or accessory; and

generating a corresponding reminder message.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising sending said a message to the patient indicating that his device or accessory is eligible for replacement.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving a response from the patient and generating by said patient server an order.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said device or accessory has to be collected further comprising generating a pickup request by said patient server, sending said pickup request to a courier, and picking up the device or accessory by said courier.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said rules require a predetermined usage of the device for eligibility, further comprising monitoring the usage of the device, collecting information regarding said usage and providing said information to a payor.