Automated Credentialing for Physicians and Other Professionals

• US 20090144814A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John S. Sacco
• Original Assignee: John S. Sacco
• Inventors: Sacco, John S.
• Application Number:
  US11/949,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

An automated system for credentialing physicians or practitioners in other professions employs a databank of verified practitioner data on a central computer server. The file for each practitioner can include education, employment history, board certification record, and derogatory information, such as disciplinary proceedings, if any. A remote computer station can access the central computer server to download a credentialing profile on the computer screen. The computer station can have an RFID reader for inputting a practitioner identity code that uniquely identifies the respective practitioner. There may be RFID tags embedded in diplomas or certificates to aid in verifying authenticity.

Claims

1. System for credentialing professional practitioners comprising:

a central computer server containing a multiplicity of credential history files for a respective number of practitioners, each said file including educational records, employment history, board certification record, and file of derogatory information including a history of disciplinary proceedings, if any, for the respective practitioner;

a plurality of remote computer stations each at a location remote from the central computer server, and each said computer station having means for inputting a practitioner identity code that uniquely identifies the respective practitioner;

means connecting over a network with said central computer server; and

means for transmitting said practitioner identity code thereto;

said computer server having software adapted for accepting said practitioner identity code and transmitting back to the requesting remote computer station a practitioner credentialing profile which includes for the identified practitioner the respective employment history, educational history, board certification(s), and existence of any derogatory information for said practitioner.

2. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein each said remote computer station includes an RFID reader.

3. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein each said remote computer station includes a fingerprint scanner.

4. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein each said remote computer station includes a voice recognition device.

5. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein each said remote computer station includes a retinal scanner.

6. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein said remote computer station includes a biometric identification input device.

7. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein said server includes for each said practitioner a photograph of the practitioner, and said credentialing profile includes a photograph of the associated practitioner.

8. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein said credential history files include a history of malpractice insurance claims involving said practitioner.

9. Credentialing system according to claim 1, further comprising for each practitioner a set of one or more credentialing documents, and at least one of said credentialing documents including a detectable coded device that is hidden on said credentialing document and each said coded device carrying a unique code;

and wherein each said remote computer station includes a reader device adapted to detect the unique code on said credentialing document.

10. Credentialing system according to claim 1, wherein each said detectable coded device includes an RFID tag embedded in said credentialing document.

11. Process for verifying credentials for each of a multiplicity of professional practitioners, each said practitioner having a credentialing history stored on a central server computer and including a unique identity code, educational history, employment history, board certification(s), history of disciplinary actions, if any, and a photograph of the practitioner;

and wherein a plurality of remote computer stations are connected with the central computer server via a network;

the process comprising the steps of

inputting one of said remote computers with the unique identity code for one of said practitioners;

transmitting the identity code to said central server computer;

the server computer responding by sending to said remote computer a credentialing file for the practitioner associated with said unique identity code, said credentialing file including for said practitioner at least a summary of the associated educational history, employment history, board certification(s), personal identification data, and disciplinary actions, if any; and

displaying on a video screen said credentialing file.

12. Process for verifying credentials according to claim 11, wherein said step of inputting one of said remote computers with a unique identity code includes scanning a credentialing document with a scanning device, wherein the credentialing document includes a hidden embedded coded device containing said unique identity code.

13. Process for verifying credentials according to claim 11, wherein said embedded coded device includes a hidden RFID tag;

and said scanning device includes an RFID reader.

14. Process for verifying credentials according to claim 11, wherein said personal identification data includes biometric data unique to said practitioner.

15. Process for verifying credentials according to claim 11, wherein said personal identification data includes a photograph of said practitioner.