Methods and systems for managing distributed digital medical data
First Claim
1. A method operable on a computer for managing distributed medical files, comprising the steps of:
- storing, by a computer, a database entry containing standardized attributes extracted from a metadata file generated from a remotely stored patient medical file by an agent associated with a storage location of a medical information system containing the patient medical file, the standardized attributes being standardized for content of the patient medical file and the storage location of the patient medical file in the medical information system, the standardized attributes representing data having the same meaning across different medical information systems where each medical information system has respective agents that generate metadata files for locally stored patient medical files;
receiving, by the computer, a search request including patient medical data attributes;
comparing, by the computer, the patient medical data attributes in the search request to the standardized attributes in the database entry to determine whether the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file; and
initiating, when the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file, a request to release the remotely stored patient medical file to a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network for mediating the peer-to-peer transfer of digital patient medical data includes a plurality of distributed agents each associated with a health care provider and connected to a central system. Periodically the agents collect local information relating to patient medical files and/or data streams, for example diagnostic images and associated reports, and process that information into metadata files acting as pointers to the original files. The metadata files are transmitted to the central system where they are parsed and the attributes are stored on the central system in patient records with records from the same patient grouped together whenever possible. Registered users can search the central system, even in the absence of a unique identifier, to identify patient records pointing to the remote patient medical files. Upon finding a patient medical file, the invention provides a streamlined process for communicating access authorization from the patient to the hospital or facility storing the medical files. Once patient authorization is received, secure processes are provided for transferring the data in its entirety to or for viewing by the user in a peer-to-peer fashion.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method operable on a computer for managing distributed medical files, comprising the steps of:
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storing, by a computer, a database entry containing standardized attributes extracted from a metadata file generated from a remotely stored patient medical file by an agent associated with a storage location of a medical information system containing the patient medical file, the standardized attributes being standardized for content of the patient medical file and the storage location of the patient medical file in the medical information system, the standardized attributes representing data having the same meaning across different medical information systems where each medical information system has respective agents that generate metadata files for locally stored patient medical files; receiving, by the computer, a search request including patient medical data attributes; comparing, by the computer, the patient medical data attributes in the search request to the standardized attributes in the database entry to determine whether the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file; and initiating, when the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file, a request to release the remotely stored patient medical file to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for managing distributed medical files, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory connected to the processor and storing control instructions for controlling the operation of the processor to perform the steps of; storing a database entry containing standardized attributes extracted from a metadata file generated from a remotely stored patient medical file by an agent associated with a storage location of a medical information system containing the patient medical file, the standardized attributes being standardized for content of the patient medical file and the storage location of the patient medical file in the medical information system, the standardized attributes representing data having the same meaning across different medical information systems where each medical information system has respective agents that generate metadata files for locally stored patient medical files; receiving a search request including patient medical data attributes; comparing the patient medical data attributes in the search request to the standardized attributes in the database entry to determine whether the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file; and initiating, when the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file, a request to release the remotely stored patient medical file to a user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for managing distributed medical files, comprising:
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means for storing a database entry containing standardized attributes extracted from a metadata file generated from a remotely stored patient medical file by an agent associated with a storage location of a medical information system containing the patient medical file, the standardized attributes being standardized for content of the patient medical file and the storage location of the patient medical file in the medical information system, the standardized attributes representing data having the same meaning across different medical information systems where each medical information system has respective agents that generate metadata files for locally stored patient medical files; means for receiving a search request including patient medical data attributes; means for comparing the patient medical data attributes in the search request to the standardized attributes in the database entry to determine whether the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file; and means for initiating, when the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file, a request to release the remotely stored patient medical file to a user.
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14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code stored thereon that, when executed, causes a computer to manage distributed medical files by performing the steps of:
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storing, by the computer, a database entry containing standardized attributes extracted from a metadata file generated from a remotely stored patient medical file by an agent associated with a storage location of a medical information system containing the patient medical file, the standardized attributes being standardized for content of the patient medical file and the storage location of the patient medical file in the medical information system, the standardized attributes representing data having the same meaning across different medical information systems where each medical information system has respective agents that generate metadata files for locally stored patient medical files; receiving, by the computer, a search request including patient medical data attributes; comparing, by the computer, the patient medical data attributes in the search request to the standardized attributes in the database entry to determine whether the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file; and initiating, when the search request identifies the remotely stored patient medical file, a request to release the remotely stored patient medical file to a user.
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Specification