Patient information management method and system employing the same

• US 6,876,985 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawanaka, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cangialosi, Salvatore
• Application Number:
  US10/147,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 705/3, 705/50, 705/51, 713/182, 713/201
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A patient information management method having a configuration described below is provided that makes it possible to provide efficiently patient information to an appropriate partner while maintaining the secret thereof. In a storage management device, patient information is encrypted so that it can be decrypted when both patient ID information and a password decided by a patient are used. The encrypted patient information is stored in a storage device. The storage management device issues a use request to the storage device to receive encrypted patient information, and uses patient ID information and a password to decrypt it for use.

Claims

1. A method of managing patient information exchanged between an information use side that creates and uses the patient information, and an information storage side that stores the patient information,

the method comprising the steps of:

in the information use side, issuing patient identification information unique to patient and encrypting patient information of the patient;

sending the encrypted patient information from the information use side to the information storage side;

in the information storage side, storing the encrypted patient information received from the information use side in a retrievable format;

in response to a request from the information use side, sending the encrypted patient information pertaining to the request from the information storage side to the information use side;

decrypting, by the information use side, the encrypted patient information by applying the patient identification information and a password decided by the patient; and

in the information use side, using the encrypted patient information received from the information storage side after said decrypting of the encrypted patient information.

2. The patient information management method according to claim 1, wherein the information use side and the information storage side associate and manage the patient identification information of the patient and the patient information.

3. The patient information management method according to claim 2, wherein:

the information use side sends the request to the information storage side together with the patient identification information; and

the information storage side reads the encrypted patient information corresponding to the patient identification information received from the information use side, and sends the read encrypted patient information to the information use side.

4. The patient information management method according to claim 1, wherein the information storage side charges the information use side when the encrypted patient information is sent to the information use side.

5. The patient information management method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information use side stores the patient information for a first period; and

the information storage side stores the encrypted patient information for a second period longer than the first period.

6. A patient information management system comprising:

a storage management device provided in an information use side using patient information; and

a storage device provided in an information storage side storing the patient information, wherein;

the storage management device comprises;

an issuing means for issuing patient identification information unique to a patient;

an encrypting means for encrypting patient information of the patient;

a first sending means for sending the encrypted patient information and a request to use the patient information to the storage device;

a first receiving means for receiving the encrypted patient information from the storage device; and

a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted patient information by using the patient identification information and a password decided by the patient;

the storage device comprises;

a second receiving means for receiving the encrypted patient information and the request from the storage management device;

a storing means for storing the encrypted patient information;

a control means for reading the encrypted patient information from the storing means in response to the request; and

a second sending means for sending the read encrypted patient information to the storage management device.

7. The patient information management system according to claim 6, wherein the storage management device and the storage device associate and manage the patient identification information of the patient and the patient information.

8. The patient information management system according to claim 7, wherein:

the first sending means of the storage management device sends the request to the storage device together with the patient identification information;

the second receiving means of the storage device receives the patient identification information;

the control means of the storage device reads the encrypted patient information corresponding to the patient identification information received by the second receiving means from the storing means; and

the second sending means of the storage device sends the read encrypted patient information to the storage management device.

9. The patient information management system according to claim 6, wherein the storage device charges the information use side when the patient information is sent to the information use side.

10. The patient information management system according to claim 6, wherein:

the storage management device further has a storing means that stores the patient information for a first period; and

the storing means of the storage device stores the encrypted patient information for a second period longer than the first period.

11. A patient information management system comprising:

a first storage management device provided in a first information use side using patient information;

a storage device provided in an information storage side storing the patient information; and

a second storage management device provided in a second information use side using the patient information, wherein;

the first storage management device comprises;

an issuing means for issuing patient identification information unique to a patient;

an encrypting means for encrypting the patient information of the patient; and

a first sending means for sending the encrypted patient information to the storage device together with the patient identification information;

the second storage management device comprises;

a second sending means for specifying the patient identification information with a request to use the patient information;

a first receiving means for receiving the encrypted patient information from the storage device; and

a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted patient information received by the first receiving means, wherein said decrypting means decrypts the encrypted patient information by applying the patient identification information and a password decided by the patient; and

the storage device comprises;

a second receiving means for receiving the encrypted patient information from the first storage management device and receiving the use request from the second storage management device;

a storing means for storing the received encrypted patient information;

a control means for reading the encrypted patient information from the storing means in response to the use request; and

a third sending means for sending the read encrypted patient information to the second storage management device.

12. The patient information management system according to claim 11, wherein the second storage management device uses the patient identification information that the patient obtained from the first storage management device.

13. The patient information management system according to claim 11, wherein the storage device charges the second storage management device when the patient information is sent to the second storage management device.