Software article, system and method for physician referral services

• US 7,558,738 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerrold V. Flatt
• Original Assignee: Jerrold V. Flatt
• Inventors: Flatt, Jerrold V.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RINES, ROBERT D
• Application Number:
  US09/992,764
• Time in Patent Office: 2,800 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A system and method relating to managing patient referrals is disclosed. One method includes providing a web site accessible to a plurality of health care providers; receiving through the web site, a plurality of health care provider registrations each associated with a health care provider; receiving a request for a patient consultation from a first health care provider to be performed by a second health care provider, both the first health care provider and the second health care provider having a health care provider registration; and notifying the second health care provider of the request for a patient consultation.

Claims

1. A method of managing patient referrals, comprising:

providing a web site accessible to a plurality of health care providers;

receiving through the web site, a plurality of health care provider registrations each associated with a health care provider;

receiving a request for a patient consultation from a first health care provider to be performed by a second health care provider, both the first health care provider and the second health care provider having a health care provider registration;

notifying the second health care provider of the request for a patient consultation according to a preferred mode of communication setting set by the second health care provider on the web site; and

receiving a peer rating from the first health care provider of the second health care provider.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a response from the second health care provider accepting or declining the request for a patient consultation.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising scheduling a time for the patient consultation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the peer rating is anonymous.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the peer rating is attributed to the first health care provider.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the peer rating to the second health care provider.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a health care provider profile associated with a health care provider registration.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for patient consultation includes patient demographic data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for patient consultation includes insurance information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for patient consultation includes patient contact information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for patient consultation includes appointment preference information.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing information concerning the request for patient consultation to an insurer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving notification of approval or denial from the insurer.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of notifying is notifying via email.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of notifying is notifying via fax.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of notifying is notifying via paging.

17. A system for managing patient referrals, comprising:

a web site accessible to a plurality of health care providers;

at least one registration web page within the web site to allow each of the plurality of health care providers to register to become registered health care providers;

an inbox within the web site associated with at least one of the registered health care providers and containing at least one request for a patient consult made to the at least one of the registered health care providers;

an outbox within the web site associated with the at least one of the registered health care providers and containing at least one request for a patient consult made by the at least one of the registered health care providers;

a peer review component for providing feedback related to a patient consult by a consulting health care provider from a referring health care provider;

a mode of communication preference set by a referring health care provider and provided to a consulting health care provider.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one registration web page includes a physician registration web page.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one registration web page includes a clinic registration web page.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one registration web page includes a department registration web page.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a patient registration web page.

22. A method of managing patient referrals, comprising:

providing a web site accessible to a plurality of health care providers, the plurality of health care providers including a referring physician and a consulting physician;

receiving a request on the web site from the referring physician for a patient consultation to be performed by the consulting physician on a patient;

notifying the consulting physician of the request for a patient consultation;

requesting an authorization number for the patient consultation from an insurer providing insurance to the patient;

wherein the step of notifying the consulting physician is notifying the consulting physician according to a preferred mode of communications setting set by the consulting physician on the web site.