SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATING MEDICAL IMAGING DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE DELIVERY

• US 20090204435A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Scott Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Baker Scott Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Gale, Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/361,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204435A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method of automatically assigning diagnostic imaging centers, uploading diagnostic data, selecting and routing data to electronically connected reviewing physicians, on-line report generation and automatic billing is presented.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer system comprising:

Receiving data representing a request for a diagnostic test for a patient from a first computer;

Transmitting data representing the identity of at least one diagnostic imaging center;

Receiving data representing a diagnostic image from a second computer, said diagnostic image a result of conducting the diagnostic test;

Transmitting the data representing a diagnostic image to a third computer;

Receiving from the third computer data representing a report regarding the diagnostic image;

Storing in a database the data representing the report.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Receiving data representing a selection of one of the at least one diagnostic imaging centers.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

Transmitting at least one data representing available times to conduct a diagnostic test, such transmitted at least one data corresponding to the at least one diagnostic imaging center.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Selecting at least one diagnostic imaging center.

5. The method of claim 4 where the selection is made as a function of at least one of:

geographic location, availability at a particular time, type of diagnostic test.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

From a plurality of computers, selecting the third computer to receive the data representing the diagnostic image.

7. The method of claim 6 where the selection step is made as a function of at least one of:

practice specialty, seniority, diagnostic credentials, fee charged, time availability.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Receiving data representing the identity of the patient'"'"'s insurance carrier;

Generating data representing an invoice;

Transmitting the data representing the invoice to a fourth computer.

9. The method of claim 6 where the selection step is made as a function of the type of diagnostic test that was requested.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Transmitting to the third computer data representing a list of at least one element, said element a reference to at least one corresponding set of diagnostic images that are in need of a report.

11. The method of claim 10 where the list is presented in the order of urgency of said report.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Causing to be displayed on the third computer display device at least one pre- determined text phrase, each said at least one text phrase being associated with the type of diagnostic test.

13. The method of claim 1 where the received report is comprised of at least one pre-determined text phrase.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Transmitting to said third computer at least one predetermined text item selected from a plurality of predetermined text items, to be inserted into said report, said selection being made as a function of the type of diagnostic test requested.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Receiving from memory a plurality of data representing the fee to be charged for a report received from each of a plurality of candidate third computers;

Selecting from the plurality of candidate third computers a computer to operate as the third computer where the fee corresponding to said selected computer is the lowest of the plurality of received candidate fees.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Transmitting data representing notice to the physician referring the diagnostic test that the report has been received.

17. The method of claim 4 where the selection is a function of matching the identity of the insurance carrier of the patient with imaging centers that are authorized by the same insurance carrier.

18. The method of claim 4 where the selection step comprises:

Receiving from the first computer a first data representing the insurance carrier associated with the patient;

Retrieving from memory a second data representing the identity of at least one insurance carrier associated with the diagnostic imaging center.

Determining if the first data and second data substantially match.

19. The method of claim 8 where the fourth computer is operated on behalf of an insurance payment clearance service or an insurance carrier.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Transmitting to a fourth computer associated with an RHIO, data representing an indicia of identity of the patient and the type of test.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Transmitting to a computer system operating as a critical test result management service data representing notice that the diagnostic report has been completed.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Receiving from memory a plurality of data representing the fee to be charged for conducting a diagnostic test received from each of a plurality of candidate second computers;

Selecting from the plurality of candidate second computers a computer to operate as the second computer where the fee corresponding to said selected computer is the lowest of the plurality of received candidate fees.

26. A computer system comprising at least one memory device containing program data, that when executed causes the computer system to execute the method of claim 1.

27. A computer readable medium, said medium comprised of data that when executed causes the computer system to execute the method of claim 1.

21. A method executed by a computer system comprising:

Transmitting data representing a request for a diagnostic test for a patient;

Receiving data representing the identity of at least one diagnostic imaging center;

Transmitting data representing the identity of one of the at least one diagnostic imaging centers.

Receiving data representing a notice that a report on the requested diagnostic test is available.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

Receiving at least one data representing available times corresponding at least one diagnostic imaging center.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

Receiving data representing a report on the requested diagnostic test.