Healthcare administration transaction method and system for the same

• US 20060085222A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medrule Business Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Medrule Business Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Huang, Paul, Yeh, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/965,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for automated processing of encounter and billing data while in a roaming environment, comprising a static system that creates appointment and encounter slots, and reserves a space for data from a missing patient encounter, and a wireless system that includes (1) a handheld device that receives and displays reminders and encounter slot number information; and (2) a handheld device that captures and transmits encounter data to the static system, wherein the static system and the wireless system substantially decrease administrative manual transaction data processing is disclosed. A healthcare transaction method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A healthcare transaction method, comprising:

providing a healthcare worker user access to a remote central server through a user interface, and providing a payer connection to the server or an associated server; and

receiving information from the healthcare worker through the user interface;

wherein the user interface comprises a handheld device that receives data directly from the healthcare worker, and wirelessly transmits it to a wireless telecommunications network that is connected to the remote central server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a radio frequency transmitter that receives manually-input data directly from the healthcare worker, and wirelessly transmits it to a handheld transceiver connected to a wireless network that is connected to the remote central server.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is a pen and the transceiver is a mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is a pen that applies marking indicia as it receives data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld device receives data by reading a first pattern that has distinct sections.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first pattern is optically, magnetically, electrostatically, radioactively, or thermally readable.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein over, under, co-extensive, or adjacent to the pattern is placed user-readable indicia that distinguish to the user, the sections of the first pattern from one another.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each of the sections is associated with an action.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the action is identifying an encounter, indicating an encounter slot, queuing a request to bill for a particular service, ordering a product, canceling an incorrect billing request, or transmitting data to the central server.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein previously stored action data is transmitted by marking a section of the pattern.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the action data is transmitted from a pen to a mobile phone to the central server.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the pattern and the user readable indicia are printed onto paper that is marked by the user with a marking indicium to initiate the action.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the pattern is read by a laser light having a range of wavelength.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the user readable indicia has low absorption of the wavelength range of the laser light.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the marking indicium has a low absorption of the wavelength range of the laser light.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein an incorrectly selected action is correctable by un-selecting the action.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein un-selecting the action can automatically occur before or after data is transmitted to the central server.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the action can be selected and un-selected as many times as the user wants.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein the handheld device is a pen that applies marking indicium as it receives data.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the pen transmits data to a telecommunications-to-server gateway that is in communication with the remote central server.

21. The method of claim 8 wherein the handheld device applies marking indicia to one or more of the sections.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the central server or an associated server automatically corrects an omitted indicium marking.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the central server, an associated server, or a person interprets an indicium marking that exists in two or more adjacent sections as designating a single action.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the indicium marking is a check mark.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the central server sends the user an appointment reminder.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the central server sends the user an available encounter slot indication.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the slot number is used to associate a hardcopy encounter record with a set of encounter data.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld device records relative positioning data as it is moved by the user.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the handheld device moves in concert with a surgical instrument.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the handheld device moves in concert with a writing instrument.

31. A healthcare transaction method, comprising:

providing a healthcare worker access to a remote central server through at least one user interface, and providing at least one payer connection to the server;

receiving information from the healthcare worker through the at least one user interface; and

providing the healthcare worker automated claim handling and claim submission to the at least one payer, based on regularly updated rules;

wherein the at least one user interface comprises a handheld device that receives data directly from the healthcare professional, and wirelessly transmits it to a wireless telecommunications network that is connected to the remote central server.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the handheld device is a pen that applies marking indicia as it receives data.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the pen transmits data to a telecommunications-to-server gateway that is in communication with the remote central server.

34. A healthcare transaction system, comprising

a user interface that provides a healthcare worker user access to a remote central server, which receives encounter data from the healthcare worker through the interface;

and

an electronic data connection between the central server or an associated server and a payer, through which the server automatically bills the payer;

wherein the user interface comprises a handheld device that receives the encounter data directly from the healthcare worker, and wirelessly transmits it to a wireless telecommunications network that is connected to the remote central server.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the user interface comprises a radio frequency transmitter that receives manually-input data directly from the healthcare worker, and wirelessly transmits it to a handheld transceiver connected to a wireless network that is connected to the remote central server.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the transmitter is a pen and the transceiver is a mobile phone.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the handheld device is a pen that applies marking indicia as it receives data.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein the handheld device receives data by reading a first pattern that has distinct sections.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the first pattern is optically, magnetically, electrostatically, radioactively, or thermally readable.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein over, under, co-extensive, or adjacent to the pattern is placed user-readable indicia that distinguish to the user, the sections of the first pattern from one another.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein each of the sections is associated with an action.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the action is identifying an encounter, indicating an encounter slot, queuing a request to bill for a particular service, ordering a product, canceling an incorrect billing request, or transmitting data to the central server.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein previously stored action data is transmitted by marking a section of the pattern.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the action data is transmitted from a pen to a mobile phone to the central server.

45. The system of claim 41 wherein the pattern and the user readable indicia are printed onto paper that is marked by the user with a marking indicium to initiate the action.

46. The system of claim 40 wherein the pattern is read by a laser light having a range of wavelength.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the user readable indicia has low absorption of the wavelength range of the laser light.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the marking indicium has a low absorption of the wavelength range of the laser light.

49. The system of claim 41 wherein an incorrectly selected action is correctable by un-selecting the action.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein un-selecting the action can automatically occur before or after data is transmitted to the central server.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the action can be selected and un-selected as many times as the user wants.

52. The system of claim 41 wherein the handheld device is a pen that applies marking indicium as it receives data.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the pen transmits data to a telecommunications-to-server gateway that is in communication with the remote central server.

54. The system of claim 41 wherein the handheld device applies marking indicia to one or more of the sections.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the central server or an associated server automatically corrects an omitted indicium marking.

56. The system of claim 54 wherein the central server or an associated server automatically interprets an indicium marking that exists in two or more adjacent sections as designating a single action.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the indicium marking is a check mark.

58. The system of claim 34 wherein the central server sends the user an appointment reminder.

59. The system of claim 34 wherein the central server sends the user an available encounter slot indication.

60. The system of claim 34 wherein the slot number is used to associate a hardcopy encounter record with a set of encounter data.

61. The system of claim 34 wherein the handheld device records relative positioning data as it is moved by the user.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the handheld device moves in concert with a surgical instrument.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the handheld device moves in concert with a writing instrument.

64. The system of claim 34 wherein the handheld device simultaneously creates and hard copy and soft copy of the encounter data.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the hard copy and the soft copy of the data are in the user'"'"'s personal possession at the time of their creation.

66. A system for automated processing of encounter and billing data while in a roaming environment, comprising:

a static system that creates appointment and encounter slots, and reserves a space for data from a missing patient encounter, and a wireless system that includes, a handheld device that receives and displays reminders and encounter slot number information; and

a handheld device that captures and transmits encounter data to the static system, wherein the static system and the wireless system substantially decrease administrative manual transaction data processing.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the handheld device creates, gathers, stores, and transfers encounter or billing data.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein the static and wireless systems reduces potential fraud by restricting prescription requests to an attending physician or other healthcare worker.