System and method for conducting a physician-patient consultation
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a physician-patient consultation, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first clinic station operable by a physician, a patient station remote from the first clinic station for communicating information relating to the patient, and a second clinic station operable by medical personnel to conduct a patient examination;
providing a communications network including a first communication link between the first clinic station and the patient station, whereby the first communications link utilizes an interactive computer network, and a second communications link between the second clinic station and the first clinic station;
remotely interviewing the patient via the first communications link to communicate a first set of patient information from the patient station to the first clinic station and the physician;
storing the first set of patient information in the database, such that the set of information is accessible by the first clinic station;
at the fist clinic station, determining a second set of patient information distinct from the first set of patient information as being necessary to complete the consultation;
directing the patient to the second clinic station for examination by medical personnel and obtaining the second set of patient information;
storing the second set of patient information in the database such that both the first and second sets of information are accessible by the first clinic station;
at the first clinic station, receiving the second set of patient information, wherein the second set of patient information is obtained by examination of the patient at the second clinic station and is communicated to the first clinic station via the second communications link;
at the first clinic station, evaluating the patient'"'"'s condition upon review of the first and second sets of patient information; and
from the first clinic station and via the first communications link, communicating a consultation service selected from the group of consultation services consisting of;
providing a diagnosis;
prescribing a medication;
prescribing a treatment; and
combinations thereof;
wherein the communications network includes an Internet website accessible by the patient station, and wherein said step of remotely interviewing the patient includes communicating information from the patient station to the first clinic station via the website; and
wherein said first set of patient information excludes information obtainable only via direct contact with the patient, and said second set of patient information includes patient information obtainable only by direct contact with the patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for conducting a physician-patient consultation is disclosed wherein the patient is located, at least initially, remotely from the physician. The system includes a first clinic station operable by a physician, a patient station remote from the first clinic station for communicating information relating to the patient, and a second clinic station operable by medical personnel for direct contact with the patient, i.e., conducting a physical examination of the patient. A communications network is also provided which includes a communication link between the first clinic station and the patient station, whereby the fist communication link utilizes an interactive computer network and a second communications link between the second clinic station and the first clinic station. In the method, a first set of patient information is communicated from the patient station to the first clinic station and thus to the physician. A first type of patient information is obtained for the purpose of advancing or firing consultation. A second set of patient information is then gathered by the second clinic station through direct contact with the patient, i.e., direct interview and/or physical examination. Both types or sets of patient information is stored in the computer database and are accessible by the physician station.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a physician-patient consultation, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first clinic station operable by a physician, a patient station remote from the first clinic station for communicating information relating to the patient, and a second clinic station operable by medical personnel to conduct a patient examination;
providing a communications network including a first communication link between the first clinic station and the patient station, whereby the first communications link utilizes an interactive computer network, and a second communications link between the second clinic station and the first clinic station;
remotely interviewing the patient via the first communications link to communicate a first set of patient information from the patient station to the first clinic station and the physician;
storing the first set of patient information in the database, such that the set of information is accessible by the first clinic station;
at the fist clinic station, determining a second set of patient information distinct from the first set of patient information as being necessary to complete the consultation;
directing the patient to the second clinic station for examination by medical personnel and obtaining the second set of patient information;
storing the second set of patient information in the database such that both the first and second sets of information are accessible by the first clinic station;
at the first clinic station, receiving the second set of patient information, wherein the second set of patient information is obtained by examination of the patient at the second clinic station and is communicated to the first clinic station via the second communications link;
at the first clinic station, evaluating the patient'"'"'s condition upon review of the first and second sets of patient information; and
from the first clinic station and via the first communications link, communicating a consultation service selected from the group of consultation services consisting of;
providing a diagnosis;
prescribing a medication;
prescribing a treatment; and
combinations thereof;
wherein the communications network includes an Internet website accessible by the patient station, and wherein said step of remotely interviewing the patient includes communicating information from the patient station to the first clinic station via the website; and
wherein said first set of patient information excludes information obtainable only via direct contact with the patient, and said second set of patient information includes patient information obtainable only by direct contact with the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for providing a physician-patient consultation, said system comprising:
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a first clinic station operable by a physician;
a patient station accessible by a patient for communicating a first set of patient information, said patient station being remote from said first clinic station;
a second clinic station operable by medical personnel, said second clinic station being adapted for direct contact with a patient to obtain a second set of patient information; and
a communications network including a first communications link between said first clinic station and said patient station, said first communications link including a computer network interface adapted to communicate said first set of patient information from said patient station to said first clinic station, a second communication link for communicating said second set of patient information from said second clinic station to said first clinic station, and at least one computer and a computer database accessible by said computer for storing said first and second sets of patient information, said computer database being accessible by said first clinic station and adapted to receive said first set from said first communications link for storage in said computer database and to receive said second set from said second communications link for storage in said computer database, wherein said second set of patient information is patient information selected from the group consisting of;
vital signs, physical examination results, radiological information, results of interventional studies, physical therapy data, electrical conduction study data specialist consultation data, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification