Remote Health Care

• US 20080126125A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HeartWatch LLC
• Original Assignee: HeartWatch LLC
• Inventors: Lichtenstein, Jay, Laifer, Franklyn
• Application Number:
  US11/832,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Among other things, a remote health care system includes a diagnostic receiver, a medical records module in data communication with the diagnostic receiver, and an emergency services module in data communication with the diagnostic receiver. The diagnostic receiver is configured to receive a diagnostic test from a patient, the medical records module includes a medical record of the patient, and the emergency services module includes a description of a geographic location and an emergency vehicle dispatch center corresponding to the location.

Claims

1. A remote health care system comprising:

a diagnostic receiver configured to receive a diagnostic test from a patient;

a medical records module in data communication with the diagnostic receiver, the medical records module including a medical record of the patient; and

an emergency services module in data communication with the diagnostic receiver, the emergency services module including a description of a geographic location and an emergency vehicle dispatch center corresponding to the location.

2. The remote health care system of claim 1 further comprising a fault detection module configured to:

detect a malfunctioning component of the remote health care system and;

activate a duplicate component of the health care system.

3. The remote health care system of claim 1 further comprising a communications module in data communication with the emergency services module, the communications module configured to cause the emergency vehicle dispatch center to dispatch an emergency vehicle to the patient.

4. The remote health care system of claim 1 further comprising a communications module in data communication with the medical records module, the communications module configured to transmit the medical record to a treatment facility.

5. The remote health care system of claim 1 further comprising a communications module in data communication with the medical records module, the communications module configured to transmit a cardiac evaluation of the patient to a personal physician of the patient.

6. The remote health care system of claim 1, further comprising a communications module in data communication with the medical records module, the communications module configured to allow a cardiologist to access the diagnostic test.

7. The remote health care system of claim 1 further comprising a communications module in data communication with the medical records module, the communications module configured to allow a cardiologist to access a medical history of the patient.

9. The remote health care system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic receiver includes an EKG module, and the diagnostic test includes an EKG test.

10. The remote health care system of claim 9, wherein the EKG test includes a 12-lead EKG test.

11. The remote health care system of claim 9 wherein the EKG module is configured to compare the EKG test to a previously recorded EKG.

42. A method of dispatching an emergency vehicle comprising:

receiving instructions from a system described in claim 1 about a patient, the instructions including a geographic location of the patient, a destination care facility for the patient, and a medical condition of the patient;

dispatching an emergency vehicle to said patient.

43. The method of claim 42, in which the instructions also include a recommended course of medical care for the patient while the patient is in transit to the destination care facility.

8. The remote health care system of 7, in which the medical record includes a prior EKG test of the patient.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a medical record for a patient;

subsequently receiving a description of symptoms from the patient, the symptoms describing a current medical state of the patient;

transmitting a description of the symptoms to a cardiologist,

receiving a diagnostic test from the patient; and

transmitting the results of the diagnostic test to the cardiologist.

13. The method of claim 12, in which the diagnostic test includes an EKG test.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the diagnostic test includes a blood test.

15. The method of claim 12 in which the medical record includes a description of a medical history including a description of at least one cardiac test result.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the medical record includes a complete medical history of the patient.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting a portion of the medical history to the cardiologist.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining a location of the patient.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining an emergency vehicle dispatch center based on the location of the patient.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising causing the emergency vehicle dispatch center to dispatch an emergency vehicle to the location of the patient.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising determining a probable course of treatment for the patient.

22. The method of claim 21 in which the probable course of treatment is determined by the cardiologist based on at least one of:

the diagnostic test, the symptoms, and the medical record of the patient.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising determining a treatment facility based on the probable course of treatment.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising causing the emergency vehicle dispatch center to dispatch an emergency vehicle to the location of the patient and transport the patient to the treatment facility.

26. The method of claim 12 further comprising querying a personal physician of the patient for an updated medical record for the patient.

27. The method of claim 12 further comprising querying the patient for an updated diagnostic test.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the diagnostic test is an EKG test.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the diagnostic test is a blood test.

30. The method of claim 12 further comprising seeking reimbursement for a provided service.

31. The method of claim 30 in which the reimbursement is sought from an insurer of the patient.

32. The method of claim 12, wherein the patient is located in a first country and one of the cardiologist or an operator is located in a second country.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the patient is located in a first country and the cardiologist is located in a second country and the operator is in a third country.

34. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving information about the medical condition of the patient from the cardiologist, and transmitting the information to a health care provider.

35. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

recording an evaluation of the current medical state of the patient by the cardiologist;

displaying the evaluation to a quality-control cardiologist; and

receiving a quality review of the evaluation from the quality-control cardiologist.

23. The method of 22 in which the probable course of treatment is determined to mitigate an adverse cardiac condition of the patient.

36. A method of treating a patient for a cardiac disorder comprising:

receiving diagnostic information describing a current cardiac condition of a patient from a remote source;

in response to said information, scheduling a service for the patient.

37. The method of claim 36, in which the service includes administering medication to the patient.

38. The method of claim 37, in which the medication includes a component selected from the group consisting of:

tPA, uokinase, enoxaparin, and heparin.

39. The method of claim 36, in which the service includes performing a surgical procedure.

40. The method of claim 39, in which the surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of:

performing bypass surgery, performing an angioplasty, and installing a stent.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the service is performed within 4 hours of receiving information from the remote source.

44. A method of discounting treatment for a cardiac patient, the method comprising:

receiving information from a remote health care system about a medical condition of the cardiac subject, the information being received prior to an arrival of the cardiac subject;

based on the information, preparing a treatment, the preparing taking place prior to the arrival of the cardiac subject;

administering the treatment for the cardiac subject after the arrival of the cardiac subject;

based on having received the information from the remote health care system, producing a bill for the treatment at a discounted rate, the discounted rate being less than a standard rate the treatment would cost a general cardiac subject having a medical condition equivalent to the medical condition of the cardiac subject.

45. The method of claim 44, in which the treatment includes a medication.

46. The method of claim 44, in which the treatment includes a surgical procedure.

47. A method of providing insurance benefits for a cardiac patient, the method comprising:

determining that the cardiac patient is enrolled with a remote health care facility, the remote health care facility being capable of;

receiving a medical record for the cardiac patient;

subsequently receiving a description of symptoms from the cardiac patient, the symptoms describing a current medical state of the cardiac patient;

transmitting a description of the symptoms to a cardiologist, receiving a diagnostic test from the patient; and

transmitting the results of the diagnostic test to the cardiologist;

providing the insurance benefit, based on the cardiac patient being enrolled with the remote health care facility.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the insurance benefit includes providing a first level of reimbursement for the treatment to the cardiac patient, in which a different, second level of reimbursement for the treatment is provided to a second patient who is not enrolled with the remote health care facility.

49. The method of claim 48, in which the insurance benefit includes a reduced premium of an insurance policy on the cardiac patient.