Patient-interactive healthcare management

• US 7,979,286 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carepartners Plus
• Original Assignee: Carepartners Plus
• Inventors: Minniti, Martha Jean Elizabeth, Manning, Michael G., Rawson, Ian G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan; Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRAN N
• Application Number:
  US11/848,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• 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

A patient-interactive health care management system provides means for healthcare services rendered by a physician to a patient to be confirmed by the patient immediately after the healthcare services are rendered. The patient is provided the ability to verify the accuracy of an invoice for the rendered services/goods and provide an assessment of the rendered services/goods. In an example embodiment, the patient provides this information via an information station located at the healthcare facility in which the healthcare services/goods are rendered. The information gathered from the patient is provided to the party responsible for paying for the rendered healthcare services/goods. In an example embodiment, the paying party compares the patient provided information with the invoice received from the healthcare provider to assess the accuracy of the invoice.

Claims

1. A patient-interactive method for managing healthcare, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving healthcare;

selecting, by a patient that received the healthcare, via a processor, a treatment provided during the healthcare;

providing treatment specific questions based on the selected treatment;

evaluating, by the patient, the selected treatment by answering the treatment specific questions, via the processor, directed to treatment specific procedures performed during the received healthcare, wherein;

the evaluating is conducted at a point of service, at which the patient was located during the received healthcare; and

the evaluating occurs prior to notification to a third party pertaining to the received healthcare; and

providing, via the processor, an indication of a result of the evaluating.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaluating comprises verifying an accuracy of a cost of the healthcare service.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

if the cost is determined to be accurate, providing an indication of the cost to an entity for paying at least a portion of the cost; and

if the cost is determined to be inaccurate, correcting the inaccuracy.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising storing healthcare related information for tracking at least one of:

durable medical equipment;

or

a prescribed medication.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing at least one of:

an indication of a rating of a healthcare provider;

or

an indication of a patient specific healthcare report.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaluating comprises assessing procedures performed by the practitioner in rendering the healthcare service.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaluating is performed via at least one of:

an information station located at the point of service;

or

a network.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaluating comprises responding to a survey pertaining to the healthcare service.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaluation is provided to an entity for paying at least a portion of a cost of the healthcare service.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a result of the evaluating is provided to a healthcare provider in order to change a healthcare related behavior.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the evaluating comprising generating a list comprising the rendered healthcare service; and

the providing comprising providing the list for comparison with an invoice of the healthcare service.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaluating comprising:

generating a list comprising the rendered healthcare service; and

comparing the list with an invoice of the healthcare service.

13. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising conducting a therapeutic intervention with the patient.

14. A patient-interactive system for managing healthcare, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive from a patient, responsive to the patient receiving healthcare, a selection of a treatment provided during the healthcare;

provide treatment specific questions based on the selected treatment;

receive an evaluation, by the patient, of the selected treatment via answers to the treatment specific questions directed to treatment specific procedures performed during the received healthcare, wherein;

the evaluation is conducted at a point of service, at which the patient was located during the received healthcare;

the evaluation occurs prior to notification to a third party pertaining to the received healthcare service; and

provide an indication of a result of the evaluation.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the evaluation comprises a verification of an accuracy of a cost of the healthcare service.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

the processor further is configured to;

determine if the cost is accurate; and

if the cost is determined to be accurate, provide an indication of the cost to an entity for paying at least a portion of the cost; and

if the cost is determined to be inaccurate, correct the inaccuracy.

17. The system in accordance with claim 14, the processor further configured to provide at least one of:

an indication of a rating of a healthcare provider;

or

an indication of a patient specific healthcare report.

18. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the evaluation comprises an assessment of procedures performed by the practitioner in rendering the healthcare service.

19. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the evaluation is performed via at least one of:

an information station located at the point of service;

or

a network.

20. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the evaluation comprises a response to a survey pertaining to the healthcare service.

21. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the evaluation is provided to an entity for paying at least a portion of a cost of the healthcare service.

22. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the evaluation is provided to a healthcare provider in order to change a healthcare related behavior.

23. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

the evaluation comprises a list comprising the rendered healthcare service; and

the list is provided for comparison with an invoice of the healthcare service.

24. The system in accordance with claim 14, the processor further configured to provide, to the patient, contemporaneously with the received healthcare service, healthcare related educational information.

25. The system in accordance with claim 14, the processor further configured to store healthcare related information for tracking at least one of:

durable medical equipment;

or

a prescribed medication.