Apparatus and method for utilizing biometrics in medical applications

• US 20070258626A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imprivata Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bruce Reiner
• Inventors: Reiner, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1171 based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• 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 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

In the present invention, the user will sign onto a system, utilizing a biometrics authentication or identification procedure. Once authentication and identification takes place, local, regional, and centralized medical databases can be automatically queried using the identification-specific biometrics signature. All data intrinsic to the medical procedure or examination being performed will be automatically tagged and downloaded into that specific patient'"'"'s electronic medical database. At the same time, that patient'"'"'s medical database is queried to provide all historical data relevant to the medical examination or procedure being performed to assist with planning, protocol, and analysis of the data being collected. The biometrics authentication can be performed at patient intake, at an imaging device, at a pharmacy, or in the operating room, to ensure that the personnel and the patient are correctly identified before any procedure is performed or drug administered.

Claims

1. A method of identifying and authenticating an individual for access or privileges, comprising:

utilizing a biometrics device to obtain biometrics information on the individual;

recording said biometric information on the individual in memory of an enterprise system of an enterprise;

sending said biometrics information to one of a local, regional, or national database for identification;

forwarding records on the individual from one of said local, regional or national database, when matched with said biometrics information, to a display of said enterprise system; and

allowing access to at least one of said records or said enterprise system when the individual is matched for identity and authenticated.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input regarding the individual into said memory regarding scheduling of a predetermined procedure.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

forwarding information on said scheduling to the individual and to the scheduler.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

performing a secondary biometrics analysis of the individual at the scheduled time.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

confirming said biometrics and demographic information upon completion of said secondary biometrics analysis.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

performing editing on at least one of said biometrics or demographic information when said information is not confirmed upon said secondary biometrics analysis.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

performing a quality assurance audit of said editing procedure.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

performing a third biometrics analysis of the individual after editing is completed.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said secondary biometrics analysis is performed at an acquisition device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

providing a summary of said procedure and individual demographic information for verification by a predetermined professional.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein upon verification, a query is forwarded to said local, regional and national databases to retrieve relevant records on the individual.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

querying said acquisition device for matching records on the individual and said procedure.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

confirming said procedure is authorized at said acquisition device and performing said procedure at said acquisition device.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving and storing examination data after completion of said procedure; and

forwarding said examination data to said local, regional and national databases.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

delivering said examination data to a predetermined list of recipients.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said procedure is a radiological procedure.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the individual approves said list of recipients.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

performing a biometrics analysis at said recipient to allow approved communication to take place between said individual and said recipient.

25. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an error message when records are not found regarding the individual and the procedure; and

suspending controls on said acquisition device for performance of the procedure on the individual.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

establishing the individual'"'"'s identification to lift said suspension of controls.

27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

initiating a quality assurance audit of the suspension.

28. The method according to claim 1, wherein the individual is initiating an order.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

receiving an order from said individual.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

cross-referencing said order with said records to confirm privileges or access of said individual are commensurate with said order.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

confirming there are no contraindications to said order by cross-referencing said records.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

initiating a quality assurance audit and denying access to said individual when said privileges lack authorization.

33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

initiating a quality assurance audit and denying fulfillment of said order when contraindications are present.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

forwarding said order to a fulfillment department or individual.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising:

receiving biometrics input of said fulfillment department or individual authorized to fulfill said order.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

tagging said order upon fulfillment; and

receiving biometrics input of said fulfillment individual completing said order.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising:

receiving biometrics input of a recipient of said order upon receipt of said order.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising:

notifying said individual and said fulfillment department or individual, that said recipient has received said order.

39. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

initiating a quality assurance audit and denying fulfillment of said order when fulfillment department or individual is not authorized.

40. The method according to claim 37, further comprising:

initiating a quality assurance audit and denying said order to said recipient when biometrics analysis does not authenticate the recipient.

41. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:

recording information related to said order in said memory and said databases.

45. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:

notifying said ordering individual of said receipt by said recipient of said order.

46. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

recording information related to said order in said memory and said databases.

47. The method according to claim 46, further comprising:

confirming said order by cross-referencing said order with a biometrics information of a recipient of said order, to ensure no contraindications are present.

48. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

scheduling said order completion date and calendaring said order completion date; and

forwarding said scheduling information to said individual and said recipient.

53. The method according to claim 1, wherein said enterprise is one of a school, prison, hospital, law enforcement facility, bank, or court.

54. The method according to claim 1, wherein said biometrics information includes information on the individual'"'"'s unique DNA genomic analysis, which is authenticated through said records on the individual.

55. The method according to claim 28, wherein the individual is one of a patient or a physician, and further comprising:

providing context-specific educational content for the individual to review.

56. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the individual of scheduling and calendar items when the individual'"'"'s biometrics is authenticated.

57. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing financial data related to the individual'"'"'s financial accounts when the individual'"'"'s biometrics is authenticated.

58. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

checking said order against said databases to ensure controlled substances are correctly authorized.

2. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

displaying an error message when the individual is not matched with said database; and

requesting registration of the biometrics and demographic information of the individual when the individual is not matched or identified.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein registration is performed only at predetermined locations.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the biometrics information includes at least two biometric scans on the individual.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the biometrics information includes at least one of a fingerprint, palm print, voice recognition, facial recognition, retinal scan, venous flow identification, and electronic signature recognition.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said biometrics and demographic information is forwarded to said one of said local, regional and national databases.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said local, regional, and national databases are cross-checked for accuracy.

42. The method according to claim 42, wherein said order is a prescription and said department or individual is a pharmacy or pharmacist.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein said order is a surgical procedure, and said department or individual is a surgical center and said individual is a physician.

49. The method according to claim 43, further comprising:

performing a biometrics analysis of personnel at said surgical center and of said physician, to authenticate access and privileges to perform said surgical procedure.

50. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

performing a check of said databases to ensure there are no contraindications to performing said surgical procedure on said recipient.

51. The method according to claim 50, further comprising:

providing a timeout period at said surgical center whereby electronic verification of said surgical procedure is confirmed by personnel at said surgical center and by said physician.

52. The method according to claim 51, further comprising:

confirming a surgical site on said recipient; and

authenticating said recipient for said surgical procedure using biometrics analysis.

59. An apparatus which provides identification and authentication of an individual such that the individual can gain access or privileges or receive a procedure, at an enterprise, comprising:

a device which allows access, provides a procedure, or acquires information on the individual, said device which is connected to or contains a database which stores said information; and

a biometrics apparatus which obtains biometrics information on the individual, said biometrics information which is stored in said database;

wherein said biometrics apparatus is integrated within said device; and

wherein said biometrics information is cross-referenced with said database such that when information from said database on the individual matches said biometrics information, said device allows access to, allows a procedure on, or performs an acquisition on, the individual.

60. The apparatus according to claim 59, further comprising:

a communication link which forwards said biometrics information and said information stored in said database, to one of a local, regional, or national database.

61. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the enterprise is one of a school, prison, hospital, law enforcement facility, bank, or court.

62. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said device is an imaging device, pharmacy computer, physician computer, or surgical equipment.

63. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the biometrics information includes at least one of a fingerprint, palm print, voice recognition, facial recognition, retinal scan, venous flow identification, and electronic signature recognition.