Methods, systems, and devices for transferring medical files from a source facility to a destination facility

• US 8,090,596 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OneMedNet Corp.
• Original Assignee: OneMedNet Corp.
• Inventors: Maresh, Guy, Yu, Jeffrey N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koppikar, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRANG T
• Application Number:
  US13/151,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining by a computer system first identification information associated with a patient from a first database in a source computing system, the first identification information corresponding to a first electronic medical file stored in the first database, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with a destination computing system separate from the source computing system;

obtaining by the computer system second identification information associated with the patient from a second database in the destination computing system, the second identification information corresponding to a second electronic medical file stored in the second database;

identifying by the computer system that the first electronic medical file and the second electronic medical file are both associated with the patient based on the first identification information and the second identification information;

transmitting by the computer system an electronic communication to cause sending of the first electronic medical file from the source computing system to the destination computing system via a secure network connection between the source computing system and the destination computing system,

wherein the transmitting by the computer system the electronic communication further causes the first identification information within the first electronic medical file to be adjusted so as to correspond to the second identification information such that a patient identification system of the destination computing system can identify the first electronic medical file as being associated with the patient, and

wherein the computer system comprises at least a computer processor and an electronic storage device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted first identification information is included in a header of the first electronic medical file.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the source computing system and the destination computing system use different patient identification systems.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a main server comprises the computer system, and wherein the main server is separate from both the source computing system and the destination computing system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at a source medical facility.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at a destination medical facility.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with the destination computing system due to not being associated with the second identification information associated with the patient.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a format of the first electronic medical file such that the first electronic medical file is compatible with the destination computing system, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with the destination computing system due to being in a different format.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a header of the first electronic medical file such that the first electronic medical file is compatible with the destination computing system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting by the computer system the electronic communication further marks or causes to mark the first electronic medical file as signed, so that the first electronic medical file does not appear to a medical professional as unread and/or a new study.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises one or more computer systems.

12. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices programmed to;

obtain first identification information associated with a patient from a first database in a source computing system, the first identification information corresponding to a first electronic medical file stored in the first database, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with a destination computing system separate from the source computing system;

obtain second identification information associated with the patient from a second database in the destination computing system, the second identification information corresponding to a second electronic medical file stored in the second database;

identify that the first electronic medical file and the second electronic medical file are both associated with the patient based on the first identification information and the second identification information;

cause transmission of the first electronic medical file from the source computing system to the destination computing system via a secure network connection between the source computing system and the destination computing system; and

transmit by the one or more computing devices an electronic communication to cause the first identification information within the first electronic medical file to be adjusted so as to correspond to the second identification information such that a patient identification system of the destination computing system can identify the first electronic medical file as being associated with the patient.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the adjusted first identification information is included in a header of the first electronic medical file.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the source computing system and the destination computing system use different patient identification systems.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a main server comprises the one or more computing devices, and wherein the main server is separate from both the source computing system and the destination computing system.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more computing devices are accessible by or reside at a source medical facility.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more computing devices are accessible by or reside at a destination computing system.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with the destination computing system due to not being associated with the second identification information associated with the patient.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the one of more computing systems are further programmed to modify a header of the first electronic medical file such that the first electronic medical file is compatible with the destination computing system.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the one of more computing systems are further programmed to modify a format of the first electronic medical file such that the first electronic medical file is compatible with the destination computing system, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with the destination computing system due to being in a different format.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitting the electronic communication further marks or causes to mark the first electronic medical file as signed, so that the first electronic medical file does not appear to a medical professional as unread and/or a new study.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed perform a method, the method comprising:

obtaining by a computer system first identification information associated with a patient from a first database in a source computing system, the first identification information corresponding to a first electronic medical file stored in the first database, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with a destination computing system separate from the source computing system;

obtaining by the computer system second identification information associated with the patient from a second database in the destination computing system, the second identification information corresponding to a second electronic medical file stored in the second database;

identifying by the computer system that the first electronic medical file and the second electronic medical file are both associated with the patient based on the first identification information and the second identification information;

transmitting by the computer system an electronic communication to cause sending of the first electronic medical file from the source computing system to the destination computing system via a secure network connection between the source computing system and the destination computing system,

wherein the transmitting by the computer system the electronic communication further causes the first identification information within the first electronic medical file to be adjusted so as to correspond to the second identification information such that a patient identification system of the destination computing system can identify the first electronic medical file as being associated with the patient, and

wherein the computer system comprises at least a computer processor and an electronic storage device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the adjusted first identification information is included in a header of the first electronic medical file.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the source computing system and the destination computing system use different patient identification systems.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein a main server comprises the computer system, and wherein the main server is separate from both the source computing system and the destination computing system.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at a source medical facility.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at a destination medical facility.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with the destination computing system due to not being associated with the second identification information associated with the patient.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, further comprising modifying a format of the first electronic medical file such that the first electronic medical file is compatible with the destination computing system, wherein the first electronic medical file is incompatible with the destination computing system due to being in a different format.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises modifying a header of the first electronic medical file such that the first electronic medical file is compatible with the destination computing system.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the transmitting by the computer system the electronic communication further marks or causes to mark the first electronic medical file as signed, so that the first electronic medical file does not appear to a medical professional as unread and/or a new study.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer system comprises one or more computer systems.

33. A computer-implemented method comprising:

matching by a computer system a first patient identification information associated with a patient in a first medical facility with a second patient identification information associated with the patient in a second medical facility, wherein the first patient identification information corresponds to a first electronic medical file accessible by the first medical facility and the second patient identification information corresponds to a second electronic medical file accessible by the second medical facility, wherein the first electronic medical file comprises a first file format and the second electronic medical file comprises a second file format;

transmitting by the computer system an electronic communication to cause the first patient identification information associated with the first electronic medical file to be adjusted so as to correspond to the second patient identification information, wherein the first medical facility uses the first patient identification information for identifying the patient and the second medical facility uses the second patient identification information for identifying the patient,

wherein the transmitting by the computer system the electronic communication further causes conversion of the first file format of the first electronic medical file to the second file format of the second electronic medical file to enable the first electronic medical file to be compatible with the second electronic medical file, and

wherein the computer system comprises at least a computer processor and an electronic storage device.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides, at the first medical facility.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at the second medical facility.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein a main server comprises the computer system, and wherein the main server is separate from both the first medical facility and the second medical facility.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the computer system comprises one or more computer systems.

38. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices programmed to;

match a first patient identification information associated with a patient in a first medical facility with a second patient identification information associated with the patient in a second medical facility, wherein the first patient identification information corresponds to a first electronic medical file accessible by the first medical facility and the second patient identification information corresponds to a second electronic medical file accessible by the second medical facility, wherein the first electronic medical file comprises a first file format and the second electronic medical file comprises a second file format;

cause, by the one or more computing devices, the first patient identification information associated with the first electronic medical file to be adjusted so as to correspond to the second patient identification information, wherein the first medical facility uses the first patient identification information for identifying the patient and the second medical facility uses the second patient identification information for identifying the patient; and

cause conversion of the first file format of the first electronic medical file to the second file format of the second electronic medical file to enable the first electronic medical file to be compatible with the second electronic medical file.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the one or more computing devices are accessible by or reside at the first medical facility.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the one or more computing devices are accessible by or reside at the second medical facility.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein a main server comprises the one or more computing devices, wherein the main server is separate from both the first medical facility and the second medical facility.

42. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed perform a method, the method comprising:

matching by a computer system a first patient identification information associated with a patient in a first medical facility with a second patient identification information associated with the patient in a second medical facility, wherein the first patient identification information corresponds to a first electronic medical file accessible by the first medical facility and the second patient identification information corresponds to a second electronic medical file accessible by the second medical facility, wherein the first electronic medical file comprises a first file format and the second electronic medical file comprises a second file format;

transmitting by the computer system an electronic communication to cause the first patient identification information associated with the first electronic medical file to be adjusted so as to correspond to the second patient identification information, wherein the first medical facility uses the first patient identification information for identifying the patient and the second medical facility uses the second patient identification information for identifying the patient,

wherein the transmitting by the computer system the electronic communication further causes conversion of the first file format of the first electronic medical file to the second file format of the second electronic medical file to enable the first electronic medical file to be compatible with the second electronic medical file, and

wherein the computer system comprises at least a computer processor and an electronic storage device.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at the first medical facility.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the computer system is accessible by or resides at the second medical facility.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein a main server comprises the computer system, and wherein the main server is separate from both the first facility and the second facility.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the computer system comprises one or more computer systems.