Method of delivering diagnostic services

• US 20060111938A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Med-Tek LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrated Medical Technologies Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Vitiello, Marco N.
• Application Number:
  US10/997,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111938A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• 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

Abstract

The Invention is a method of providing medical diagnostic services. An examination provider subscribes to a subscriber network and receives examination equipment, protocols and training during the term of the examination provider'"'"'s subscription as a benefit of that subscription. The examination provider conducts physical examinations of patients utilizing the examination equipment and provides examination data to an evaluating entity. The evaluating entity evaluates the data using an automated expert system. A network administrator submits claims for payment to payors and pays a testing fee to the examination provider and a reading fee to the evaluating entity.

Claims

1. A method for administering medical diagnostic services, the method comprising:

a. allowing by a system operator for an examination provider to subscribe to a subscriber network for a period of time upon satisfaction by said examination provider of a condition;

b. providing of examination equipment by said system operator to said examination provider as a benefit for subscribing to said subscriber network;

c. receiving by said system operator from said examination provider of examination data resulting from a physical examination of a patient using said examination equipment;

d. evaluating by said system operator of said examination data using an evaluation technology.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said examination equipment is selected from the list consisting of a dynamic neuromyography, an X-ray imaging device, an MRI imaging device, a CAT imaging device, an EEG and an EKG.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said condition for subscribing to said subscriber network satisfied by said examination provider comprises:

a. providing a location for installation of said equipment;

b. providing a personnel to operate said equipment.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

a. providing by said system operator to said examination provider of a training in a use of said equipment;

b. providing by said system operator to said examination provider of a protocol in said use of said equipment;

c. providing by said system operator to said examination provider of a maintenance of said examination equipment;

d. said training, said protocol and said maintenance being provided by said system operator during said period of time of said subscription by said examination provider to said subscriber network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said evaluation technology comprises an automated expert system, said evaluation of said examination data using said evaluation technology resulting in a diagnostic conclusion.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

reporting by said system operator of said diagnostic conclusion to a prescribing physician.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said system operator comprises an evaluating entity, said steps performed by said evaluating entity comprise:

said step of receiving said examination data;

said step of evaluating said examination data; and

said step of reporting said diagnostic conclusion to said prescribing physician.

8. The method if claim 7 wherein said step of receiving said examination data comprises means for receiving said examination data, said means for receiving said examination data being selected from the list consisting of:

receiving said examination data over a computer network, receiving said examination data appearing on a paper, receiving of electronic media containing said examination data, receiving said examination data by an auditory information, receiving said examination data over a cable, and receiving said examination data utilizing radio.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said system operator further comprises a network administrator, said steps performed by said network administrator comprise:

said step of allowing said examination provider to subscribe to said subscriber network, said step of providing said examination provider with said examination equipment, and said steps of providing said training, said protocol and said maintenance.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

a. scheduling by said network administrator of said physical examination of said patient by said examination provider.

b. submitting by said network administrator to a payor of a claim for a payment of a testing fee for said physical examination and for a payment of a reading fee for said evaluation of said examination data;

c. receiving by said network administrator of said payments from said payor;

d. paying by said network administrator of said testing fee to said examination provider.

11. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

a. scheduling by said examination provider of said physical examination of said patient by said examination provider;

b. submitting by said examination provider to a payor of a claim for a payment for a testing fee for said physical examination and for a payment of a reading fee for said evaluation of said examination data;

c. receiving by said examination provider of said payments from said payor;

d. paying said reading fee to said evaluating entity.

12. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

a. scheduling by a broker of said physical examination of said patient by said examination provider;

b. submitting by said broker to a payor of a claim for a payment for a testing fee for said physical examination and for a payment of a reading fee for said evaluation of said examination data;

c. receiving by said broker of said payments from said payor;

d. paying by said broker of said reading fee to said evaluating entity.

e. paying by said broker of said testing fee to said examination provider.

13. A method of providing medical diagnostic services by a network administrator, the method comprising:

a. Providing by the network administrator of a subscriber network;

b. Allowing by the network administrator of an examination provider to subscribe to said subscriber network upon satisfaction by said examination provider of a condition;

c. Providing by the network administrator of an examination equipment to said examination provider as a benefit for subscribing to said subscriber network;

d. Submitting by the network administrator of a claim for a payment to a payor, said payment comprising a testing fee for a conduct of a physical examination of a patient by said examination provider utilizing said examination equipment, said payment further comprising a reading fee for an evaluation by an evaluating entity of an examination data generated using said examination equipment during said physical examination;

f. Receiving by the network administrator of said payment from said payor;

g. Paying by the network administrator of said testing fee to said examination provider for performing said physical examination;

h. Paying by the network administrator of said reading fee to said evaluating entity for said evaluation of said examination data by said evaluating entity.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said examination equipment is selected from the list consisting of dynamic neuromyography, X-ray, MRI, CAT, EEG and EKG equipment.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said evaluation of said examination data by said evaluating entity comprises performing by said evaluating entity of an automated analysis by an expert system of said examination data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing by the network administrator to said examination provider of training and protocols for operation of said examination equipment as a benefit for subscribing to said subscriber network.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said condition for allowing said examination provider to subscribe to said subscriber network comprises said examination provider supplying a location for installation of said examination equipment and further comprises said examination provider providing personnel to operate said examination equipment.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said condition for allowing said examination provider to subscribe to said subscriber network further comprises:

receiving by the network administrator of a subscription fee paid by said examination provider.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said examination equipment is adapted to generate said examination data as a result of said physical examination and wherein said evaluating entity receives said examination data using means for receiving said examination data.

20. The method if claim 19 wherein said means for receiving said examination data is selected from the list consisting of:

receiving said examination data over a computer network, receiving said examination data appearing on a paper, receiving of electronic media containing said examination data, receiving said examination data by an auditory information, receiving said examination data over a cable, and receiving said examination data utilizing radio.

21. A method of providing medical diagnostic services by an examination provider, the method comprising:

a. Subscribing by the examination provider to a subscriber network upon satisfaction by the examination provider of a condition;

b. Receiving by the examination provider of an examination equipment from a system operator as a benefit of subscribing to said subscriber network;

c. Retaining by the examination provider of said examination equipment for a duration of said subscription of the examination provider to said subscriber network;

d. Conducting by the examination provider of a physical examination of a patient using said examination equipment;

e. Collecting of examination data generated by the examination equipment as a result of said physical examination;

f. Transmitting by the examination provider of said examination data to a system operator using a means for transmitting said examination data, said system operator evaluating said examination data utilizing an evaluation technology, said evaluation technology comprising an automated expert system;

g. Receiving by the examination provider of a testing fee for conduct of said physical examination.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said examination equipment is selected from the list consisting of dynamic neuromyography, X-ray, MRI, CAT, EEG and EKG equipment.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said condition for subscribing to said subscriber network comprises providing a location for said examination equipment and providing a personnel to operate said examination equipment.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

a. receiving by said examination provider of training in use of said examination equipment;

b. receiving by said examination provider of protocols for use of said examination equipment;

c. receiving by said examination provider of maintenance of said equipment, said training, said protocols and said maintenance being received from said system operator as a benefit for subscribing to said subscriber network during a duration of said subscription to said subscriber network by said examination provider.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

surrendering by said examination provider of said examination equipment upon a termination of said subscription of the examination provider to said subscriber network.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said means for transmitting said examination data is selected from the list consisting of:

transmitting said examination data over a computer network, delivering said examination data appearing on a paper, delivering of electronic media containing said examination data, transmitting said examination data by an auditory information, transmitting said examination data over a cable, and transmitting said examination data utilizing radio.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of receiving said testing fee comprises receiving said testing fee from said system operator or a broker.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a schedule of said physical examination of said patient from said system operator or said broker.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

a. submitting by the examination provider of a claim for payment to a payor, said payment comprising a testing fee for said examination of said patient and a reading fee for said evaluating of said examination data by said system operator, said payment further comprising an administrative fee for operation of said subscriber network by said system operator;

b. receiving by the examination provider of said payment from said payor;

c. paying by said examination provider of said reading fee and said administrative to said system operator.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein said system operator comprises an evaluating entity, said step of transmitting by the examination provider of said examination data comprising:

receiving by said evaluating entity of said examination data, said evaluating entity performing said evaluation of said examination data using said automated expert system.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said system operator comprises a network administrator, said network administrator allowing said examination provider to perform said step of subscribing to said subscriber network upon satisfaction of said condition, said network administrator providing said examination provider with said equipment, said network administrator providing said examination provider with said training, said protocols and said maintenance.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of conducting said physical examination of said patient by said examination provider using said examination equipment occurs at a home or a business of said patient.

33. A method of providing medical diagnostic services by an evaluating entity, the method comprising:

a. Receiving by the evaluating entity of examination data, said examination data being collected during a physical examination of a patient by an examination provider, said examination provider subscribing to a subscriber network upon satisfaction by said examination provider of a condition;

said examination provider receiving examination equipment as a benefit of subscribing to said subscriber network, said examination data being collected utilizing said examination equipment;

b. Evaluating by the evaluating entity of said examination data by application of an evaluation technology;

c. Producing a report by the evaluating entity of said evaluation of said examination data;

d. Transmitting by the evaluating entity of said report to a prescribing physician;

e. Receiving by the evaluating entity of a reading fee for said evaluating of said examination data and producing said report of said evaluation.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said examination equipment is selected from the list consisting of a dynamic neuromyography, an X-ray imaging device, an MRI imaging device, a CAT imaging device, an EEG and an EKG.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said evaluation technology comprises an automated expert system.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said step of receiving by the evaluating entity of said reading fee comprises receiving said reading fee from a broker, a network administrator, said examination provider, or a system operator.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said examination provider retains said examination equipment during a duration of said subscription by said examination provider to said subscriber network and said examination provider relinquishes said examination equipment upon termination of said examination provider'"'"'s subscription to said subscriber network.