Method and apparatus for automated patient information retrieval

• US 5,926,526 A
• Filed: 12/29/1995
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC), Linda Rapaport
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Rapaport, Seymour A. Rapaport
• Inventors: Rapaport, Seymour A., Rapaport, Stanley L., Jackson, Terry A., Rapaport, Jeffrey A., Don, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US08/581,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 379/38, 379/67, 379/69, 379/88, 379/89, 379/111, 379/114, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A automated patient information retrieval system is provided for notifying patients of medical information. The automated patient information retrieval system includes a processor coupled to memory and a telephone interface circuitry. A processor is also coupled to a modem and an I/O interface. The system allows for a medical provider to enter medical information into voice mailboxes. The messages many be time-sensitive wherein the system automatically calls patients to notify of pending medical information in voice mailboxes. The patient then may telephone the system to receive a medical message stored in a patient mailbox. Medical providers may generate custom voice messages or enter predetermined bulletin codes associated with pre-recorded voice messages. Also, medical providers can enter notes associated with medical voice mailboxes which are only accessible by the medical provider. Message integrity and security are enhanced by requiring the patient to enter both a patient identification number and a medical provider identification number.

Claims

1. A method for providing a medical voice message in a medical message delivery system, comprising the steps of:

providing a voice mailbox;

generating a medical voice message in the voice mailbox accessible by a patient; and

,

generating a voice message note by a medical provider associated with the medical voice message, wherein the voice message note is accessible by only the medical provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating an alert message to a medical provider when the patient has not retrieved the medical voice message in the voice mailbox.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating a signal identifying a voice message note.

4. A method for providing status information in an automated patient information retrieval system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an amount of medical messages entered by a medical provider during a predetermined period of time; and

,

presenting respective titles associated with the respective medical messages entered.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining respective patient names associated with the respective medical messages; and

,

obtaining respective bulletins associated with the respective medical messages.

6. A method for providing a medical voice message in an automated patient information retrieval system, comprising the steps of:

providing a voice mailbox having a plurality of voice segments;

entering a mailbox number associated with the voice mailbox; and

,

providing a user a predetermined selection responsive to the mailbox number and contents of a first voice segment in the plurality of voice segments in the voice mailbox.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first voice segment is a patient medical message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first voice segment is a medical provider note.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first voice segment is a patient name.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined selection is a selection in an edit menu.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a user is presented with multiple choices of editing the plurality of voice segments.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

presenting a medical voice message stored in the voice mailbox.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

presenting a title which summarizes a medical voice message stored in the first voice segment.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

placing a medical message in the voice mailbox; and

,

entering alert information into the voice mailbox.

15. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

presenting a medical provider note stored in the first voice segment.

16. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

presenting a patient name stored in the first voice segment.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

presenting alert information, stored in a second voice segment in the plurality of voice segments, associated with the patient name.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a medical voice message is stored in a second voice segment in the plurality of voice segments, and is categorized in repsonse to the medical voice message being presented to a medical provider.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a medical voice message is stored in a second voice segment and is categorized in response to the alert information being presented to the medical provider.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

presenting a list of medical voice messages having respective alert information associated with a respective plurality of mailboxes which have been presented to the medical provider.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

removing a medical voice message from the list.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a first list of medical voice messages, corresponding to a first category, to a medical provider; and

,

presenting a second list of medical voice messages, corresponding to a second category, to a medical provider.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

preventing access to a medical voice message, stored in a third voice segment in the plurality of voice segments, responsive to the medical voice message being presented to the patient.

24. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

placing the medical message in the voice mailbox; and

,

entering contact information in the voice mailbox.

25. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

entering alert information in the voice mailbox; and

,

entering contact information in the voice mailbox.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a list of titles of medical voice messages having respective alert information associated with the respective plurality of mailboxes which have been presented to the medical provider.