System and method for cardiovascular testing

• US 8,688,472 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collaborative Care Diagnostics LLC
• Original Assignee: Collaborative Care Diagnostics LLC
• Inventors: Romans, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Michelle L
• Application Number:
  US13/483,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A system includes a test device at a test location, a recipient computer at a diagnosis center, and a server operatively connected to the test device and the recipient computer remote from the test location and diagnosis center at a different facility. The test device can generate test data. The recipient computer is configured to receive the patient data from the test device and display the test data to a medical specialist for entry of a diagnosis. The server can send a signal to the recipient computer after the test device produces test data, and further transmit input indicative of the diagnosis to the computer at the test location. The billing computer is configured to receive billing information from the test device and recipient computer, and transmit signals conveying information indicative of billing signals to a payer computer selected as a function of insurance information contained in the patient record.

Claims

1. A system for testing and diagnosis of a medical condition, comprising:

a test device located at a test location and configured to perform a medical testing protocol for generating test data, the test device including a computer and memory module for storing a patient record containing test data and a communications module for sending the patient record to a medical specialist;

a recipient computer at a diagnosis center located remote from the test location configured to receive the patient data from the test device, the recipient computer configured to display the test data to the medical specialist, the test location and the diagnosis center located at different facilities, wherein the recipient computer includes an input device configured to enter input indicative of a diagnosis by the medical specialist as a function of medical analysis of the test data;

a server operatively connected to the test device and the recipient computer, the server located remote from both the test location and the diagnosis center at a different facility and configured to send a signal to the recipient computer after the test device produces a set of test data, the signal being indicative of the availability of the test data for diagnosis by the medical specialist, the server being further configured to transmit the input indicative of the diagnosis to the computer at the test location; and

a billing computer located remote from both the test location and the diagnosis center at a different facility,

wherein the recipient computer is further configured to transmit a signal conveying information indicative of billing by the medical specialist,

wherein the computer in the test device is configured to transmit a signal conveying information indicative of billing by a user of the test device, and

wherein the billing computer is operatively connected to payer computers and configured to receive the billing information from the test device and recipient computer, and transmit signals conveying information indicative of the billing signals to a selected payer computer, where the payer computer is selected as a function of insurance information contained in the patient record.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input indicative of the diagnosis includes an electronic signature executed by the medical specialist.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server associates a medical procedure code with the test data from the test device, and wherein the medical procedure code is incorporated into at least one of the signals conveying information indicative of the billing signals transmitted to the selected payer computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the server and the billing computer are operatively connected such that the billing computer can recall information stored by the server.

5. A method of diagnosing a medical condition, comprising the steps of:

initiating an automated test protocol utilizing a test device at a test location;

generating test data using the test device according to the test protocol, wherein the test data is indicative of performance of a physiological body function;

transmitting the test data to a medical specialist at a diagnosis center located remotely from the test location, wherein the test location and the diagnosis center are located at different facilities, and wherein the at least a portion of the diagnosis report is transmitted from the diagnosis center to the test location via an intermediate server located remotely from the test location and the diagnosis center at a different facility;

generating a diagnosis report based on medical analysis of the transmitted test data by the medical specialist;

transmitting at least a portion of the diagnosis report to the test location;

generating a first payment request from the test device indicative of a payment for producing the test data;

generating a second payment request from a remote computer at the diagnosis center indicative of a payment for providing the diagnosis report; and

transmitting the first and second payment requests to the intermediate server located remotely from both the test location and the diagnosis center at the different facility.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting the test data to a medical specialist at the diagnosis center comprises transmitting the test data to a remote computer at the diagnosis center, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating patient identifying data;

associating a first portion of the patient identifying data with the test protocol; and

transmitting the first portion of the patient identifying data to the medical specialist at the diagnosis center along with the test data.

7. The method of claim 5 and further comprising:

storing information on types of tests the test device is capable of making;

storing information on a plurality specialists, the plurality of specialists including the medical specialist; and

determining diagnostic work flow with the intermediate server as a function of the stored information on the types of tests and the plurality of specialists.

8. The method of claim 5 and further comprising the step of:

generating statistical data with the intermediate server as a function of the test data transmitted from the test location.

9. The method of claim 5 and further comprising:

tracking a number of tests performed at the test location on a periodic basis; and

wherein generating a first payment request from the test device indicative of a payment for producing the test data is based on a service agreement as a function the number of tests performed at the test location in a given time period.

10. A system for testing and diagnosis of a medical condition, comprising:

a test device located at a test location and configured to perform a medical testing protocol for generating test data, the test device including a computer and memory module for storing a patient record containing test data and a communications module for sending the patient record to a medical specialist;

a recipient computer at a diagnosis center located remote from the test location configured to receive the patient data from the test device, the recipient computer configured to display the test data to the medical specialist, the test location and the diagnosis center located at different facilities, wherein the recipient computer includes an input device configured to enter input indicative of a diagnosis by the medical specialist as a function of medical analysis of the test data; and

an intermediate server operatively connected to the test device and the recipient computer, the intermediate server located remote from both the test location and the diagnosis center at a different facility and configured to send a signal to the recipient computer after the test device produces a set of test data, the signal being indicative of the availability of the test data for diagnosis by the medical specialist, the intermediate server being further configured to transmit the input indicative of the diagnosis to the computer at the test location,

wherein the recipient computer is further configured to transmit a signal conveying information indicative of billing by the medical specialist,

wherein the computer in the test device is configured to transmit a signal conveying information indicative of billing by a user of the test device, and

wherein the intermediate server is operatively connected to a payer computer and configured to receive the billing information and transmit signals conveying information indicative of the billing signals to the payer computer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the input indicative of the diagnosis includes an electronic signature executed by the medical specialist.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the intermediate server associates a medical procedure code with the test data from the test device, and wherein the medical procedure code is incorporated into at least one of the signals conveying information indicative of the billing signals transmitted to the selected payer computer.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the intermediate server includes a billing computer processor.

14. The system of claim 10 and further comprising at least one additional payer computer, wherein the intermediate server selects the payer computer or one of the at least one additional payer computer, to which signals conveying information indicative of the billing signals are transmitted, as a function of insurance information contained in the patient record.