Method and system for selecting a healthcare provider with minimal office wait times
First Claim
1. A computing system implemented process for selecting a healthcare provider comprising:
- obtaining a list of one or more healthcare providers, the list of one or more healthcare providers comprising information associated with one or more healthcare providers;
initiating a healthcare provider search request using one or more healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider;
in response to the healthcare provider search request, searching the list of one or more healthcare providers to identify one or more healthcare providers that match at least of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider, the process operable to match criteria including one or more geographical areas to exclude from search results thus ensuring that no providers located within the excluded geographical areas are included within the identified one or more healthcare providers, the one or more geographical areas to exclude being provided in the search request;
obtaining available appointment time data and estimated wait time data from at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider; and
providing the healthcare consumer with information regarding at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider, the information comprising appointment time data and estimated wait time data associated with the at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for selecting a healthcare provider includes a process for selecting a healthcare provider whereby healthcare provider list data is obtained, along with various data regarding the healthcare providers on the healthcare provider list, and the data is stored in a healthcare provider database. When a healthcare consumer initiates a healthcare provider search request, one or more healthcare consumer criteria for acceptable/desired healthcare providers and/or healthcare services needed is obtained and used to search the healthcare provider database to identify one or more healthcare providers most closely meeting the healthcare consumer'"'"'s criteria. The availability of appointments and/or estimated wait times for the identified one or more healthcare providers are then obtained. The healthcare consumer is then provided information regarding the one or more identified healthcare providers along with the available appointments and/or estimated office wait times for the one or more identified healthcare providers.
26 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computing system implemented process for selecting a healthcare provider comprising:
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obtaining a list of one or more healthcare providers, the list of one or more healthcare providers comprising information associated with one or more healthcare providers; initiating a healthcare provider search request using one or more healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider; in response to the healthcare provider search request, searching the list of one or more healthcare providers to identify one or more healthcare providers that match at least of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider, the process operable to match criteria including one or more geographical areas to exclude from search results thus ensuring that no providers located within the excluded geographical areas are included within the identified one or more healthcare providers, the one or more geographical areas to exclude being provided in the search request; obtaining available appointment time data and estimated wait time data from at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider; and providing the healthcare consumer with information regarding at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider, the information comprising appointment time data and estimated wait time data associated with the at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for selecting a healthcare provider comprising:
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a nontransitory computer readable medium; and computer program code, encoded on the computer readable medium, comprising computer readable instructions for; obtaining a list of one or more healthcare providers, the list of one or more healthcare providers comprising information associated with one or more healthcare providers; initiating a healthcare provider search request using one or more healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider; in response to the healthcare provider search request, searching the list of one or more healthcare providers to identify one or more healthcare providers that match at least of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider, the process operable to match criteria including one or more geographical areas to exclude from search results thus ensuring that no providers located within the excluded geographical areas are included within the identified one or more healthcare providers, the one or more geographical areas to exclude being provided in the search request; obtaining available appointment time data and estimated wait time data from at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider; and providing the healthcare consumer with information regarding at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider, the information comprising appointment time data and estimated wait time data associated with the at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that match at least one of the healthcare consumer criteria for selecting a healthcare provider. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for selecting a healthcare provider comprising:
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obtaining a list of one or more healthcare providers, the list of one or more healthcare providers comprising information associated with one or more healthcare providers; a healthcare consumer initiating a healthcare provider search request; in response to the healthcare consumer initiated healthcare provider search request, providing access to data representing the list of one or more healthcare providers; in response to the healthcare consumer initiated healthcare provider search request, searching the list of one or more healthcare providers to identify one or more healthcare providers that are closest to a location designated by the healthcare consumer, the process operable to match criteria including one or more geographical areas to exclude from search results thus ensuring that no providers located within the excluded geographical areas are included within the identified one or more healthcare providers, the one or more geographical areas to exclude being provided in the search request; obtaining available appointment time data and estimated wait time data from one or more of the identified one or more healthcare providers that are closest to the location designated by the healthcare consumer; providing the healthcare consumer with the ability to select one of the at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that are closest to a location designated by the healthcare consumer; and automatically making the next available appointment with the selected one of the at least one of the identified one or more healthcare providers that are closest to a location designated by the healthcare consumer.
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Specification