System and method for automatically routing and storing coded information and displaying an interaction device

• US 7,561,287 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2000
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MMF Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MMF Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Seth-Smith, Nick, Baird, John C., Antonacci, Robert, Kasi, Srinandan R., Laumas, Sandeep, Srinivasan, Mahendra, Capoor, Manu Nath
• Primary Examiner(s): Park; Chan S
• Application Number:
  US09/664,969
• Time in Patent Office: 3,223 Days
• Field of Search: 358/403, 358/1.15, 358/1.14, 358/1.16, 358/1.18, 358/402, 358434-436, 358/453, 358/462, 358/470, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/462.15, 380/51, 380241-243, 380/202, 380/239, 710/20
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32545 Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32769 in response to detection of an original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0079 Medical imaging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document

Abstract

A system comprising a facsimile device configured to transmit a code-associated information material, an interactive user device, and a processor. Typically, the code-associated information material is a medical record to which a barcoded fax cover sheet is appended. The interactive device is preferably a computer terminal, wherein the processor is coupled to the interactive user device via the Internet. The processor is configured to receive from the facsimile device a transmission of the information material, and to display it to an authorized user upon a request from the authorized user. The information material may be displayed via Internet, or else may be faxed to an authorized user in response to a telephone call.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmissions from a plurality of health care providers via a facsimile device, said transmission including a facsimile image of a document containing medical information relating to a patient of a health care provider, along with a separate facsimile form having a first coded information thereon, said first coded information being used to associate said document with an account relating to said patient, said separate facsimile form further having a second coded health care provider identifier, said second coded health care provider identifier identifying a health care provider submitting said document containing medical information, said facsimile device transmitting said transmission to a processor via a public-switched telephone network;

receiving at said processor a plurality of said transmissions from said plurality of health care providers, each of said transmission, including said documents containing medical records relating to a plurality of said patients and each of said transmissions including said separate facsimile form, sent from said plurality of health care providers, wherein each set of said documents is received along with said separate facsimile form;

automatically storing at said processor said images of said transmissions in a memory location relating to one of said patient account associated with said first coded information on said separate facsimile form and further associating said images of said transmissions with said second coded health care provider identifier; and

providing at least one image from said images of said transmissions from said account associated with said first coded information to an authorized user at a user designated device in response to a request received.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said separate facsimile form further comprises a third coded information identifying a particular type of medical information being received.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said coded information is a barcode.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said third coded information identifies a form of medical information selected from the group consisting of blood test, radiology and EKG.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of receiving said transmission from said account associated with said first coded information includes providing said patient an access information for accessing document containing medical information.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving documents containing medical information from two or more health care providers, among said plurality of health care providers, each having separate coded health care provider identifiers;

storing said received documents containing medical information in association with said first coded information; and

allowing said one or more health care providers to subsequently review only said documents containing medical information stored in association with said second coded information.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

allowing said patient to alter access rights to said documents containing medical information stored in association with said first coded information; and

allowing a first health care provider having a corresponding first coded health care provider identifier to review documents containing medical information stored in association with said first coded information that are associated with a second health care provider having a corresponding second coded health care provider identifier.