Electronic kiosk system and method for dispensing medical smart cards and managing healthcare information and services

• US 8,733,641 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital Processing Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Digital Processing Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Drew, Norman J., Childers, James Owen, Lee, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/493,109
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/382, 705/2
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic kiosk for dispensing medical smart cards and healthcare related forms, and for managing individual healthcare services and information. The electronic kiosk provides access control to healthcare information stored on medical smart cards by including biometric authentication, a high definition camera for capturing images, and an interactive touch screen. A central client-server configuration is provided where a plurality of electronic kiosks are connected to an application server, via a network. Individuals may access the electronic kiosk to request prescription refills and receive confirmation via, text or email when the prescription is ready.

Claims

1. A card dispensing kiosk comprising:

a frame including a base joined to two vertical sidewalls extending upwards from

said base, a central panel, a front panel, a rear panel, and a lateral shelf, all assembled together to form a chamber for housing a computer system for operating electronic components including;

an interactive touch screen accessible through an opening formed in said central panel;

a first printer for printing receipts, and a second printer for printing healthcare related forms, said first printer associated with a printer slot provided in said central panel, and said second printer associated with a second printer slot provided in said front panel;

a card reader system selectively interfacing with medical smart cards including

healthcare information stored on said medical smart card, and credit cards;

a card dispenser associated with a card dispensing slot provided in said central panel, said card dispenser sequentially dispensing said medical smart cards upon each successful completion of an application process;

a biometric authentication system including a biometric sensor situated on said central panel;

a high definition camera operated to capture images of individuals using said kiosk; and

a keyboard disposed on or within said lateral shelf, wherein said central panel is setback a distance from front longitudinal edges of said vertical sidewalls to provide a zone of privacy;

wherein

said healthcare information includes an individual'"'"'s demographic and profile information, medical emergency contact information, physician/specialist information, medical conditions, procedural medical history, information relating to prescription and over-the-counter medicine, vitamins or supplements, vaccination or immunization historical records, advance directives, medical insurance information, and a photograph of an individual owner of said medical smart card, and wherein said healthcare related forms includes any of service agreements, authorizations to treat, advanced directives, immunization forms, privacy statements, laws and rules, power of attorney, and living will.

2. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 1, wherein said computer system includes a processor, memory, an internal hard drive, and software including medical application software and programs.

3. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 2, further including an audio system electrically coupled to said computer system and including one or more speakers associated with speaker holes formed in said central panel, and a trackball located adjacent said keyboard.

4. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 3, further including a ventilation system for circulating air out from and within said chamber.

5. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 4, further including wireless technology including any one of 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, WiMax or Blue Tooth technology, a secure Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) connection, and a GSM modem.

6. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 5, further including a handicapped audio access port provided on said central panel, said audio access port electrically coupled to said computer system for providing audible information.

7. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 6, wherein said card dispenser includes a card ejector for ejecting smart cards, and a card storage bin for storing a plurality of smart cards therein.

8. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 7, further including an input/output (I/O) interface including telephone or cable connections, modem connectors, universal serial bus (USB) and/or Ethernet ports, parallel or serial connectors, and HDMI connections.

9. The card dispensing kiosk of claim 7, wherein said biometric sensor includes any one of a fingerprint sensor, a palm sensor, a speech recognition system, or a retinal validation sensor, and wherein said biometric authentication system further includes a biometric signature database including biometric signatures associated with a plurality of individuals authorized to use said card dispensing kiosk.

10. A method of managing healthcare information and services comprising:

providing an electronic kiosk comprising;

a frame including a base joined to two vertical sidewalls extending upwards from said base, a central panel, a front panel, a rear panel, and a lateral shelf, all assembled together to form a chamber for housing a computer system including a processor, and memory, and kiosk system components, said computer system electrically connected to and operating said kiosk system components including;

an interactive touch screen;

a first printer for printing receipts, and a second printer for printing healthcare related forms, said printers associated with slots provided in a central panel;

a card reader system selectively interfacing with medical smart cards including healthcare information stored thereon, and credit cards;

a card dispenser associated with a card dispensing slot provided in said central panel, said card dispenser dispensing smart cards;

a biometric authentication system including a biometric sensor situated on said central panel;

a high definition camera operated to capture images of individuals using said card dispensing kiosk;

an audio system including speakers and a handicapped audio access port; and

operating an application server hosting medical service application software associated with managing individual healthcare information and services, said electronic kiosk electrically communicating with said application server over a wired or wireless network;

capturing an image with said high definition camera of an individual using said kiosk, and processing a biometric signature of an individual user; and

receiving information from an individual user applying for a medical smart card, and sequentially dispensing a medical smart card upon successful completion of each application process completed by individual users, or selectively interfacing a medical smart card with said card reader system of said kiosk to view and manage healthcare information and services when said biometric signature of said individual user is authenticated, said medical smart card including healthcare information;

further including the step of requesting prescription refills of medication, and sending a text or email message confirming readiness of said refills;

wherein the step of processing a biometric signature of an individual user includes the step of reading a biometric fingerprint signature of said user when said user places a finger on said biometric sensor;

wherein the step of providing information of an individual user to apply for a medical smart card includes the step of entering personal information, and paying a fee with a credit card to complete said application process.

11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of printing a receipt via, said first printer, and further including the step of printing said healthcare related forms via, said second printer, said receipt and said healthcare related forms forwarded through a corresponding slot.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said medical service application software provides an interface on said touch screen including menus, links, tabs and icons for managing healthcare associated with individual users, said medical service application software being executed on said electronic kiosk.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said healthcare information includes, but is not limited to, demographic and profile information, emergency contact information, physician/specialist information, current medical conditions, medical history, prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements, vaccinations or immunization history, advance directives, insurance information, medical test results, labs, or scans, and a picture of a person providing said healthcare information.

14. An electronic kiosk for dispensing and interfacing with medical smart cards, said electronic kiosk comprising:

a computer system having memory and a processor and including;

an interactive touch screen;

a first printer for printing receipts, and a second printer for printing healthcare related forms;

a card reader system selectively interfacing with medical smart cards including healthcare information stored on said medical smart card, and credit cards;

a card dispenser sequentially dispensing medical smart cards upon each successful completion of an application process;

a biometric authentication system including a biometric fingerprint sensor;

a high definition camera operated to capture images of individuals using said card kiosk;

input devices for inputting data; and

a machine readable medium including a medical service application software stored thereon that when executed on said computer system displays an interface on said interactive touch screen, said interface comprising menus, links, tabs, and icons, associated with managing said healthcare information, and allowing a user to selectively read healthcare information stored on said medical smart card or to selectively write said healthcare information to said medical smart card when said medical smart card electrically communicates with said card reader system and when said biometric authenticating system correctly authenticates a fingerprint signature of an authorized user;

wherein

said healthcare information includes an individual'"'"'s demographic and profile information, medical emergency contact information, physician/specialist information, medical conditions, procedural medical history, information relating to prescription and over-the-counter medicine, vitamins or supplements, vaccination or immunization historical records, advance directives, medical insurance information, and a photograph of an individual owner of said medical smart card, and wherein said healthcare related forms includes any of service agreements, authorizations to treat, advanced directives, immunization forms, privacy statements, laws and rules, power of attorney, and living will.

15. The electronic kiosk of claim 14, further including an audio system including speakers and a handicapped audio access port, and wherein said input devices include a keyboard and a trackball.

16. The electronic kiosk of claim 15, further including a ventilation system, and a backup power supply, aid card dispenser including a storage bin for storing a plurality of smart cards therein.