Integrated method and system for diagnosis determination

• US 8,900,141 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medred LLC
• Original Assignee: Medred LLC
• Inventors: Creed, John, Christensen, James, Smith, William Kennedy
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORIANO, BOBBY GILES
• Application Number:
  US11/707,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,846 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 705/2
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and system for creating a database for diagnosis determination that includes receiving baseline symptoms in a memory, receiving diagnoses in the memory, classifying the diagnoses that correspond to the baseline symptoms as diagnoses linked to the baseline symptoms, and rendering the diagnoses accessible on the basis of the corresponding baseline symptoms. A method and system for determining a diagnosis and treatment that includes receiving patient symptoms, comparing patient symptoms to previously stored baseline symptoms, identifying the patient symptoms that correspond to the baseline symptoms, and providing diagnoses that correspond to the identified patient symptoms to a user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a data repository for diagnosis and/or treatment determination, the data repository containing a baseline representation of at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the baseline representation including a combination of signs and symptoms that are weighted and assigned thresholds, the computer including a processor and a data repository, the method comprising:

receiving via the processor the at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

receiving the combination of signs and symptoms that is associated with the at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

attaching a weight to each of the signs and symptoms based on the significance of each of the signs and symptoms to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

assigning a threshold to each of the weighted signs and symptoms relative to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment; and

rendering the baseline representation accessible by charting the weighted medical signs and symptoms of a patient that are greater than the assigned thresholds;

wherein a depiction of the baseline representation is used for comparison of the combination of weighted signs and symptoms with a combination of the medical signs and symptoms of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment are updated in a memory on the basis of current medical knowledge.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the baseline representation is rendered accessible via a user-generated query.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the data repository is customized to specific practice areas or environments.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the baseline representation accessible comprises rendering the baseline representation accessible via at least one of a graphical user interface and a network.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the baseline representation comprises aggregate symptom complexes.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the attached threshold is determined independently of the patient.

4. A computer-implemented method for determining a diagnosis and/or treatment using a data repository, the data repository containing a baseline representation of at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the baseline representation having a combination of baseline signs and symptoms, each being weighted and assigned baseline thresholds based on a significance to an associated diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the computer comprising a processor and a data repository, the method comprising:

receiving via the processor a plurality of symptoms and signs for a patient;

attaching a weight to each of the symptoms and signs for the patient based on the significance of each of the symptoms and signs for the patient to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

assigning a threshold to each of the weighted signs and symptoms for the patient relative to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

comparing a combination of the received symptoms and signs for the patient that are greater than the assigned thresholds to the combination of weighted baseline signs, symptoms and/or indications of the baseline representation that are reater than the baseline thresholds; and

generating one or more patient diagnosis, condition and/or treatment recommendation based on the comparison.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the baseline signs and symptoms have been previously stored in the data repository.

25. The method of claim 4, wherein the diagnosis and/or treatment are customized to specific practice areas or environments.

26. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more patient diagnosis and/or treatment recommendation are provided via at least one of a graphical user interface and a network.

28. The method of claim 4, wherein the baseline representation comprises aggregate symptom complexes.

33. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer is separately located at a patient site.

35. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of symptoms and signs for the patient is received via a questionnaire, and

the method further comprises the patient responding to the questionnaire by choosing between more than two possible answers.

38. The method of claim 4, wherein the attached threshold is determined independently of the patient.

6. A system for diagnosis and/or treatment determination including a data repository, the data repository containing a baseline representation of at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the baseline representation having a combination of baseline signs and symptoms, each being weighted and assigned baseline thresholds based on a significance to an associated diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface configured to function via the processor; and

another repository accessible by the processor;

wherein the system is configured to;

receive via the processor a plurality of symptoms and signs for a patient;

attach a weight to each of the symptoms and signs for the patient based on the significance of each of the symptoms and signs for the patient to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

assign a threshold to each of the weighted signs and symptoms for the patient relative to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

compare a combination of the received symptoms and signs for the patient that are greater than the assigned thresholds to the combination of weighted baseline signs, symptoms and/or indications of the baseline representation that are greater than the baseline thresholds; and

generate one or more patient diagnosis, condition and/or treatment recommendation based on the comparison.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to display a screen, wherein the screen comprises at least one of a summary section, a patient profile section, a contacts and insurance section, a medication, a medical conditions section, a laboratory data section, a radiology section, a mammography section, a doctor visits section, a procedures section, a prevention/screening section, an immunization section, a private information section, a document inbox section, and an account management section.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the sections are accessible by the user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein data displayed in the sections is updated with new information.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein a unique identifier is assigned to each patient.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the received patient symptoms and signs and the generated diagnosis and/or treatment recommendation are accessible for each patient by using the unique identifier.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more diagnosis and/or treatment recommendation is provided by labeling the diagnosis and/or treatment recommendation at least one of consider, rule out, probable and confirm.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is housed on a terminal selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a main frame computer, a microcomputer, a hand held device, and a telephonic device.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is housed on a server selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a main frame computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is coupled to a network via a coupling selected from a group consisting of a wired connection, a wireless connection, and a fiberoptic connection.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the other repository is housed on a server coupled to a network.

17. The system of claim 6, further comprising a hand-held interface device that allows the user to access the other repository.

29. The system of claim 6, wherein the baseline representation comprises aggregate symptom complexes.

34. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is separately located at a patient site.

36. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of symptoms and signs for the patient is received via a questionnaire, and

the system is further configured to have the patient respond to the questionnaire by choosing between more than two possible answers.

18. A computer program product including a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to determine diagnosis and/or treatment via a data repository, the data repository containing a baseline representation of at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the baseline representation having a combination of baseline signs and symptoms each being weighted and assigned baseline thresholds based on a significance to an associated diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the control logic comprising:

means for receiving via the processor a plurality of symptoms and signs for a patient;

means for attaching a weight to each of the symptoms and signs for the patient based on the significance of each of the symptoms and signs for the patient to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

means for assigning a threshold to each of the weighted signs and symptoms for the patient relative to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

means for comparing a combination of the received symptoms and signs for the patient that are greater than the assigned thresholds to the combination of weighted baseline signs, symptoms and/or indications of the baseline representation that are greater than the baseline thresholds; and

means for generating one or more patient diagnosis, condition and/or treatment recommendation based on the comparison.

30. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the baseline representation comprises aggregate symptom complexes.

19. A system for determining a diagnosis and/or treatment via a data repository, the data repository containing a baseline representation of at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the baseline representation and having a combination of baseline signs and symptoms, each being weighted based on a significance to an associated diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the system comprising:

means for receiving via the processor a plurality of symptoms and signs for a patient;

means for attaching a weight to each of the symptoms and signs for the patient based on the significance of each of the symptoms and signs for the patient to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

means for assigning a threshold to each of the weighted signs and symptoms for the patient relative to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

means for comparing a combination of the received symptoms and signs for the patient that are greater than the assigned thresholds to the combination of weighted baseline signs, symptoms and/or indications of the baseline representation that are greater than the baseline thresholds; and

means for generating one or more patient diagnosis, condition and/or treatment recommendation based on the comparison.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein the baseline representation comprises aggregate symptom complexes.

22. A system for creating a data repository for diagnosis and/or treatment determination, the data repository containing a baseline representation of at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment, the baseline representation including a combination of signs and symptoms that are weighted and assigned thresholds, the system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface configured to function via the processor; and

another repository accessible by the processor;

wherein the system is configured to;

receive via the processor the at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

receive the combination of signs and symptoms that is associated with the at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

attach a weight to each of the signs and symptoms based on the significance of each of the signs and symptoms to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment;

assign a threshold to each of the weighted signs and symptoms relative to each diagnosis, condition and/or treatment; and

render the baseline representation accessible by charting the weighted medical signs and symptoms of a patient that are greater than the assigned thresholds;

wherein a depiction of the baseline representation is used for comparison of the combination of weighted signs and symptoms with a combination of the medical signs and symptoms of the patient.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the received at least one diagnosis, condition and/or treatment are updated in a memory on the basis of medical knowledge.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the baseline representation is rendered accessible via a user-generated query.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the baseline representation comprises aggregate symptom complexes.