METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A DOCTOR BASED ON AN OBSERVED EXPERIENCE LEVEL

• US 20090043801A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Sholtis, Steven A., LeClair, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates the selection of a doctor based on an observed experience level with a condition or a procedure. During operation, the system receives from a user a selection criteria for selecting of a doctor. The system also receives from the user a medical profile for the user. Next, the system receives from a third-party a plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles. Then, the system ranks the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles into a ranked list based on the selection criteria and conditions within the medical profile. Finally, the system sends the ranked list to the user.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the selection of a doctor based on an observed experience level with a condition or a procedure, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a selection criteria for selecting a doctor;

receiving a medical profile for the user;

receiving from a third-party a plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles;

ranking the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles into a ranked list based on the selection criteria and conditions within the medical profile; and

sending the ranked list to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection criteria can include:

a geographic location;

an offset from a geographic location;

a healthcare plan;

a healthcare provider organization;

an in-network flag that indicates if a potential doctor is in the user'"'"'s healthcare network;

a time indicator that indicates if a potential doctor is available at the indicated time;

a new-patient indicator indicating if a potential doctor is accepting new patients;

a satisfaction rating;

an amenities rating;

a transportation rating;

a dispute rating;

a procedure cost;

a recency rating; and

an experience rating.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical profile can include:

a list of medications used by the user;

a history of past procedures for the user;

a physical condition of the user;

a race of the user;

an age of the user;

a sex of the user; and

a religious affiliation of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each profile in the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles can include:

a geographic location;

a healthcare plan;

a healthcare provider organization;

a time indicator that indicates when a doctor is available;

a new-patient indicator indicating if a doctor is accepting new patients;

a satisfaction rating;

an amenities rating;

a transportation rating;

a dispute rating;

a recency rating;

a procedure cost; and

an experience rating.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third-party can include:

a patient;

an insurance company;

a healthcare organization;

a professional organization;

a government; and

any organization that collects statistical information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles are stored in a database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles are stored using a star schema.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the ranked list based on at least one of the selection criteria and the medical profile.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user a selection of a profile from the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles; and

sending the user additional information about a doctor associated with the profile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the doctor can include one of:

a medical doctor;

a dentist;

an optometrist;

a therapist;

a chiropractor; and

anyone else who provides healthcare services to the user within the medical field.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating the selection of a doctor based on an observed experience level with a condition or a procedure, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a selection criteria for selecting of a doctor;

receiving from the user a medical profile for the user;

receiving from a third-party a plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles;

ranking the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles into a ranked list based on the selection criteria and conditions within the medical profile; and

sending the ranked list to the user.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the selection criteria can include:

a geographic location;

an offset from a geographic location;

a healthcare plan;

a healthcare provider organization;

an in-network flag that indicates if a potential doctor is in the user'"'"'s healthcare network;

a time indicator that indicates if a potential doctor is available at the indicated time;

a new-patient indicator indicating if a potential doctor is accepting new patients;

a satisfaction rating;

an amenities rating;

a transportation rating;

a dispute rating;

a procedure cost;

a recency rating; and

an experience rating.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the medical profile can include:

a list of medications used by the user;

a history of past procedures for the user;

a physical condition of the user;

a race of the user;

an age of the user;

a sex of the user; and

a religious affiliation of the user.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein each profile in the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles can include:

a geographic location;

a healthcare plan;

a healthcare provider organization;

a time indicator that indicates when a doctor is available;

a new-patient indicator indicating if a doctor is accepting new patients;

a satisfaction rating;

an amenities rating;

a transportation rating;

a dispute rating;

a recency rating;

a procedure cost; and

an experience rating.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the third-party can include:

a patient;

an insurance company;

a healthcare organization;

a professional organization;

a government; and

any organization that collects statistical information.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles are stored in a database.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles are stored using a star schema.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises filtering the ranked list based on at least one of the selection criteria and the medical profile.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from the user a selection of a profile from the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles; and

sending the user additional information about a doctor associated with the profile.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the doctor can include one of:

a medical doctor;

a dentist;

an optometrist;

a therapist;

a chiropractor; and

anyone else who provides healthcare services to the user within the medical field.

21. An apparatus configured for facilitating the selection of a doctor based on an observed experience level with a condition or a procedure, comprising:

a receiving mechanism configured to receive from a user a selection criteria for selecting of a doctor;

wherein the receiving mechanism is further configured to receive a medical profile for the user;

wherein the receiving mechanism is further configured to receive from a third-party a plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles;

a ranking mechanism configured to rank the plurality of doctors'"'"' profiles into a ranked list based on the selection criteria and conditions within the medical profile; and

a delivery mechanism configured to send the ranked list to the user.

22. A method for facilitating the selection of professional based on an observed experience level of the professional, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a selection criteria for selecting the professional;

receiving a user profile for the user;

receiving from a third-party a plurality of professionals'"'"' profiles;

ranking the plurality of professionals'"'"' profiles into a ranked list based on the selection criteria and conditions within the user profile; and

sending the ranked list to the user.

23. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating the selection of professional based on an observed experience level of the professional, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a selection criteria for selecting the professional;

receiving a user profile for the user;

receiving from a third-party a plurality of professionals'"'"' profiles;

ranking the plurality of professionals'"'"' profiles into a ranked list based on the selection criteria and conditions within the user profile; and

sending the ranked list to the user.