System and method for using and maintaining a master matching index

• US 20060271401A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Health Catalyst, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medicity Incorporated (Health Catalyst, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lassetter, James K., Coyle, David, Crapo, Jared
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof

Abstract

A master matching index (MMI) is accessible to a plurality of entities connected over a network. Access to the MMI is provided via MMI adapters distributed among the entities. A distributed MMI adapter contains matching algorithms that specify how record queries from its associated entity should be compared against information in the MMI. Accordingly, an MMI may be searched for matches according to matching algorithms specified by disparate entities.

Claims

1. A system for accessing a master matching index (MMI), comprising:

an MMI services unit operatively coupled to the MMI and arranged to control access to the MMI; and

an MMI adapter operatively coupled to the MMI services unit, wherein the MMI adapter is accessible to a secondary system,

wherein the MMI services unit is further arranged to receive a query initiated by the secondary system and attempt to match the query to information in the MMI according to a matching algorithm specified by the MMI adapter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter is remote from at least one of the MMI services unit and the MMI.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a filtering module arranged to specify the matching algorithm.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI services unit is further arranged to match the query based on at least one of a probabilistic matching method and a deterministic matching method.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a configuration module arranged to at least one of configure and render a user interface accessible to the secondary system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a data transformation module arranged to convert data in a format of the secondary system to a format of the MMI.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a resolution module arranged to resolve multiple records returned by at least one of the MMI services unit and the MMI.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a reporting module arranged to indicate a statistic relating to queries by the secondary system in the MMI.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a training module arranged to test the matching algorithm with known data, wherein the matching algorithm is adjustable dependent on the test.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter comprises:

a training module arranged to compare results of the matching algorithm with results of another matching algorithm, wherein the matching algorithm is adjustable dependent on the comparison.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI adapter is operatively coupled to the MMI services unit at least in part over the Internet.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI comprises at least one pool for storing an entity and associated data elements.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary system comprises at least one of a hospital, a medical group, an insurance provider, a health care provider, a veterinary care-related entity, a pharmacy, and a private clinic.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the MMI comprises information relating to at least one of patients, physicians, insurance plans, pharmacies, animals, and product inventory.

15. A method, comprising:

accessing a user interface supported by a master matching index (MMI) adapter operatively coupled to an MMI;

specifying a query for a record via the user interface; and

comparing the query against information in the MMI according to a matching algorithm specified in the MMI adapter.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the user interface.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising resolving multiple records returned in response to the query.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a report indicating at least one statistic relating to a record returned in response to the query.

19. A method for matching information in a master matching index (MMI), comprising:

receiving a query from an entity via an MMI adapter; and

attempting to match the query with a record indexed in the MMI according to a matching algorithm specified in the MMI adapter.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising returning the record if a single match is found in response to the attempting.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising returning at least one potential match if the record is not found in response to the attempting.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising merging records if at least two matches are found in response to the attempting.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising recording duplicate matches if more than one match is found in response to the attempting.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the attempting comprises at least one of:

deterministically matching the query; and

probabilistically matching the query.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising allowing a user to modify data stored in the MMI.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising returning data specific to the entity in response to the attempting.

27. A method for passing information over a network having at least first and second health care related entities, comprising:

storing patient information in a master patient index (MPI);

receiving a first query from the first health care related entity for patient information in the MPI, wherein a first MPI matching algorithm for the first query is specific to the first health care related entity; and

receiving a second query from the second health care related entity for patient information in the MPI, wherein a second MPI matching algorithm for the second query is specific to the second health care related entity, and

wherein performance of the first MPI matching algorithm and performance of the second MPI matching algorithm are independent of one another.