METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ONLINE MEDICAL RECORDS

• US 20120116814A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MyMedicalRecords Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MyMedicalRecords Incorporated
• Inventors: Lorsch, Robert H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A method is provided for providing a user with the ability to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner. The method includes assigning a phone number to the user for private fax and voice communications from service providers, associating access information with the user for the user to use to access a web site, receiving a private fax communication comprising a record associated with the user for which the user has requested and given permission to the service provider to send to the phone number, converting the private fax communications into an image file format, storing the record encoded in the image file format, and providing the user with access to the web site using the access information and providing on the web site an interface to the records of the user for the user to access the record.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user with a web-based service to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner, comprising:

assigning through a web site a phone number to the user for private fax and voice communications from service providers;

assigning through the web site a user account to the user;

associating access information with the user for the user to access the user account on the web site on a web server;

creating through the web site a document for the user to provide to the service providers requesting the service providers to send the records to the phone number and granting the service provider permission to send the records to the phone number;

receiving a private fax communication at a fax server, the private fax communication comprising a record associated with the user for which the user has requested and given permission to the service provider to send to the phone number;

converting the private fax communication into an image file format at the fax server;

storing the record encoded in the image file format such the record is accessible through the user account on the web site on the web server;

providing the user with access to the user account on the web site on the web server using the access information and providing on the web site an interface to the records of the user for the user to access the record; and

wherein the web site interface further provides for organizing and annotating the records by the user into separate file folders with functionality for the user to name the file folders and add file folders.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the user with an emergency access card comprising the access information and adapted for use by a third-party to access the records associated with the user in event of an emergency associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the web site interface further provides for assigning additional password protection to one or more of the folders.

4. The method of claim 3 further wherein the web site interface further provides for associating the record with a service provider from a database of service providers.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising providing a means of receiving voice communications message from the service provider to the user and maintaining the voice communications message as private.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing a means alerting the user of the voice communications message from the service provider.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising alerting the user of a fax transmission from the service provider.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving payment from the user for facilitating access to the records associated with the user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning through the web site an email address associated with the user for receipt of email from the service provider.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving email at the email address and making available the email as a record in the user account on the web site.

11. A method for providing a user with the ability to access and collect records associated with the user in a private manner, comprising:

assigning through the web site a user account associated with the user;

assigning through a web site a first destination address associated with the user for receipt of fax communications from a service provider;

assigning through the web site a second destination address associated with the user for receipt of email from the service provider;

associating access information with the user for the user to use to access the user account through the web site, the web site stored at a web server;

receiving a private fax communication at a fax server, the private fax communication comprising a record associated with the user for which the user has requested and given permission to the service provider to send to a fax number;

converting the record into an image file format at the fax server;

storing the record encoded in the image file format such that the record is accessible through the user account on the web site;

associating the record encoded in the image file format with the user account of the user;

wherein a web site stored on the web server provides an interface to the user for accessing the record, annotating the record, and organizing the record.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first destination address comprises a fax number.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second destination address comprises an email address.

14. A system for storing records, the system comprising:

a fax server for receiving a fax from a service provider and converting at least a portion of the fax into a an image;

a web server in operative communication with the fax server and configured to receive the image and store the image as a record associated with a user account;

wherein the web server being adapted to provide the user with access to view, store, and delete the record;

wherein the web server being further adapted to receive uploaded records uploaded by the user to the user account;

wherein the web server being further adapted to receive emailed records emailed to an email address associated with the user account;

wherein the web server being further adapted to generate a document to provide to a service provider exercising legal rights of the user for access to records, the document requesting the service provider to send the health records to at least one of a fax number associated with the user account or the email address associated with the user account.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising an emergency access card access information and adapted for use by a third-party to access the user account in event of an emergency associated with a user of the user account.