System and method for conducting a physician-patient consultation

• US 6,850,889 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Internet Treatment Consulting, N.V.
• Original Assignee: Internet Treatment Consulting, N.V.
• Inventors: Zayas, Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, CAROLYN M
• Application Number:
  US09/590,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4, 600300-301, 725/24
• US Class Current: 705/3
• 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: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for conducting a physician-patient consultation is disclosed wherein the patient is located, at least initially, remotely from the physician. The system includes a first clinic station operable by a physician, a patient station remote from the first clinic station for communicating information relating to the patient, and a second clinic station operable by medical personnel for direct contact with the patient, i.e., conducting a physical examination of the patient. A communications network is also provided which includes a communication link between the first clinic station and the patient station, whereby the fist communication link utilizes an interactive computer network and a second communications link between the second clinic station and the first clinic station. In the method, a first set of patient information is communicated from the patient station to the first clinic station and thus to the physician. A first type of patient information is obtained for the purpose of advancing or firing consultation. A second set of patient information is then gathered by the second clinic station through direct contact with the patient, i.e., direct interview and/or physical examination. Both types or sets of patient information is stored in the computer database and are accessible by the physician station.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a physician-patient consultation, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a first clinic station operable by a physician, a patient station remote from the first clinic station for communicating information relating to the patient, and a second clinic station operable by medical personnel to conduct a patient examination;

providing a communications network including a first communication link between the first clinic station and the patient station, whereby the first communications link utilizes an interactive computer network, and a second communications link between the second clinic station and the first clinic station;

remotely interviewing the patient via the first communications link to communicate a first set of patient information from the patient station to the first clinic station and the physician;

storing the first set of patient information in the database, such that the set of information is accessible by the first clinic station;

at the fist clinic station, determining a second set of patient information distinct from the first set of patient information as being necessary to complete the consultation;

directing the patient to the second clinic station for examination by medical personnel and obtaining the second set of patient information;

storing the second set of patient information in the database such that both the first and second sets of information are accessible by the first clinic station;

at the first clinic station, receiving the second set of patient information, wherein the second set of patient information is obtained by examination of the patient at the second clinic station and is communicated to the first clinic station via the second communications link;

at the first clinic station, evaluating the patient'"'"'s condition upon review of the first and second sets of patient information; and

from the first clinic station and via the first communications link, communicating a consultation service selected from the group of consultation services consisting of;

providing a diagnosis;

prescribing a medication;

prescribing a treatment; and

combinations thereof;

wherein the communications network includes an Internet website accessible by the patient station, and wherein said step of remotely interviewing the patient includes communicating information from the patient station to the first clinic station via the website; and

wherein said first set of patient information excludes information obtainable only via direct contact with the patient, and said second set of patient information includes patient information obtainable only by direct contact with the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the second set of patient information precedes the remote interviewing step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network further includes a third-party station operable by a responsible third-party entity, said method further including the step of communicating patient information between the third-party entity and at least one of the first clinic station and the second clinic station by utilizing the communications network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third-party entity is an insurer and wherein said step of communicating information between the third-party entity and the first client station includes requesting verification and preauthorization from the insurer.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of billing the third-party entity via the communications network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said communications network is an interactive computer network including a server station and an information database interconnected with the server station, and a client station at each of the patient station, first clinic station, and second clinic station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating, via the first communications link, a physician'"'"'s evaluation from the first clinic station to the patient station, after the evaluating step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said second set of patient information is obtained by direct physical examination and not obtainable by the remote interviewing step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of patient information includes information not obtainable by the remote interviewing step but necessary for the evaluating step.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote interviewing step includes communicating information selected from the group of types of patient information consisting of:

administrative information including patient name, date of birth, address and contact numbers, patient history including allergies, medical history, medication, and family history, and combinations thereof; and

wherein the step of receiving a second set of patient information includes receiving the types of information selected from the group of types of patient information consisting of;

laboratory data, radiology data, laboratory work data, information gathered from interventional studies, information gathered from electrical conduction studies, information gathered from other physical examinations, and combinations thereof.

11. A system for providing a physician-patient consultation, said system comprising:

a first clinic station operable by a physician;

a patient station accessible by a patient for communicating a first set of patient information, said patient station being remote from said first clinic station;

a second clinic station operable by medical personnel, said second clinic station being adapted for direct contact with a patient to obtain a second set of patient information; and

a communications network including

a first communications link between said first clinic station and said patient station, said first communications link including a computer network interface adapted to communicate said first set of patient information from said patient station to said first clinic station,

a second communication link for communicating said second set of patient information from said second clinic station to said first clinic station, and

at least one computer and a computer database accessible by said computer for storing said first and second sets of patient information, said computer database being accessible by said first clinic station and adapted to receive said first set from said first communications link for storage in said computer database and to receive said second set from said second communications link for storage in said computer database, wherein said second set of patient information is patient information selected from the group consisting of;

vital signs, physical examination results, radiological information, results of interventional studies, physical therapy data, electrical conduction study data specialist consultation data, and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said communications network includes an interactive computer network providing at least said first communications link, said interactive computer network being interconnected with said at least one computer.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said network interface includes a web site accessible by said patient station to communicate said first set of patient information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said communications network includes a terminal at each of said patient station, said first clinic station, and said second clinic station, each said terminal being adapted to access the website and to access said computer database for communicating patient information therebetween.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a third party billing station and a third communications link between said communications network and said third party billing station, said third party communications link being adapted to communicate information relating to the patient'"'"'s account between said communications network and said third party billing station.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said computer database is adapted to integrate said first and second sets of patient information in one accessible memory storage area.