METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR LOCATING HEALTH FACILITIES BASED ON COST OF HEALTHCARE

• US 20120203454A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Strumolo, Gary Steven, Schunder, Mark, Nelson, Edward Clark
• Granted Patent: US 9,964,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/439
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Various embodiments may include methods and systems for locating health facilities based on a cost of healthcare. Information may be received identifying a source for receiving health service cost information. Further, vehicle user insurance information may be transmitted to obtain health service cost information. The health service cost information may be received from the identified source and presented at a vehicle computer. The identified source may include information by or from a health facilities and/or information from one or more members of the public.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing health care facility information in a vehicle, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving at one or more computers a geographic location of a vehicle;

identifying at the one or more computers one or more health facilities based on the geographic location of the vehicle;

receiving at the one or more computers health condition information for a vehicle user and health care insurance information for the vehicle user;

determining at the one or more computers a health care service cost for the vehicle user at the one or more identified health care facilities based on the vehicle user'"'"'s health condition and health care insurance information; and

presenting the health care service cost within a vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein presenting the health care service cost includes presenting the cost audibly, visually, or both.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring at the vehicle computer the health condition of the vehicle user in the vehicle;

receiving at the one or more computers the health condition based on the monitoring.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the one or more computers are remote from the vehicle, the method further comprising communicating at the vehicle computer with the one or more computers over a data network connection.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the one or more computers is a network of one or more members of the public.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein determining the health care service cost is based on information from the network of one or more members of the public.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising receiving user input at the vehicle computer defining a selection of the health facility.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating a route to the selected health facility; and

navigating to the health facility based on the route.

9. A system for providing health care facility information in a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one computer configured to receive information from one or more members of the public including health care service costs and health care insurance information for the one or more members of the public; and

at least one vehicle computer housed in a vehicle communicating with the at least one computer configured to;

receive health care insurance information for a vehicle user;

receive a health care service cost from the at least one computer based on the information from the one or more members of the public, wherein the information is applicable to the vehicle user based on the health care insurance information for the vehicle user and the health care insurance information for the one or more members of the public; and

present the health care service cost.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle computer is further configured to store the information from the one or more members of the public.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle computer is further configured to determine if the information from the one or more members of the public is applicable to the vehicle user based on a service type for the vehicle user and a service type for the one or more members of the public.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle computer is further configured to:

receive health condition information for a vehicle user; and

receive the health care service cost further based on the health condition information.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a wellness device communicating with the at least one vehicle computer and configured to receive the health condition information.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising memory storing health care service cost obtained from a health care facility.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the memory is on at least one computer remote from the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the communicating is over the Internet, wherein the at least one vehicle computer is further configured to:

determine if an Internet connection is available; and

if not, receiving the health care service cost from memory storing the health care cost.

17. A system comprising:

at least one computer configured to;

receive information identifying a source for receiving health service cost information;

transmit vehicle user insurance information to obtain health service cost information;

receive the health service cost information from the identified source; and

present the health service cost information at a vehicle computer.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the source is cost information obtained from a health facility.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the source is cost information from one or more members of the public.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one computer is further configured to:

receive information identifying one or more health facilities; and

determine, based on the vehicle user insurance information, if the one or more health facilities are a member of an insurance network; and

if so, present the member health facilities.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one computer is further configured to present the member and non-member health facilities.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one computer is further configured:

receive information about one or more health facilities; and

present the health facility cost information and the information about the one or more health facilities.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein information about the one or more health facilities includes at least one of type of provider, contact information, hours of service, services offered, and insurance plans accepted.