Method and apparatus for operative event documentation and related data management

• US 7,409,354 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integration Management, Inc. (Centauri Health Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Medison Online Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Mark G., Putnam, Matt D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Giligan; C. Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Najarian; Lena
• Application Number:
  US10/134,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• 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

In one embodiment, method and apparatus are disclosed which provide that a plurality of physicians each enter operative event data into an operative event database, wherein the operative event data documents planned or completed operative events and the physicians enter the operative event data use a wide area network through a user interface assisting the physicians in coding operative events in a consistent manner. The physicians access the operative event database to obtain information concerning upcoming or previously performed operative events, with a service provider maintaining an on-line system including one or more servers to support the entering of operative event data into the database through the Internet and the user interface. The physicians subscribe to the on-line system wherein the physicians are allowed access and use the on-line system, and wherein the physicians retain control over the use and disposition of the operative event data entered by the physician.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a plurality of physicians who perform operative events and wherein each of the plurality of physicians has a subscription to an on-line system provided by an application service provider;

at least a first of the plurality of physicians performing different operative events at two or more different clinic or hospital organizations;

wherein the first physician enters operative event data for the different operative events into an operative event database, wherein the operative event data documents the different operative events;

the first physician entering the operative event data using a wide area network through a user interface assisting the first physician in coding operative events in a consistent manner at least in part by presenting for selection at least one pre-determined group of codes related to the operative event being coded;

the first physician accessing the operative event database to obtain information concerning the operative events entered by the first physician;

the application service provider maintaining the on-line system including one or more servers to support the entering of operative event data into the database through the wide area network and the user interface;

wherein the first physician can make the operative event data entered by the first physician available to only first selected ones of the plurality of clinic or hospital organizations;

at least one second physician entering operative event data respecting operative events performed by the second physician using the wide area network through the user interface assisting the second physician in coding operative events in a consistent manner by presenting for selection at least one pre-determined group of codes related to the operative event being coded;

wherein a second physician can make the operative event data entered by the second physician available to only second selected ones of the plurality of clinic or hospital organizations the second physician allows to access the operative event data entered by the second physician;

each of the plurality of physicians paying at least one charge to the application service provider for use of the on-line system to document operative events and to distribute operative event data to the plurality of clinic or hospital organizations;

wherein the plurality of physicians retain control over the use and disposition of the operative event data entered by the physicians;

entering at least some patient outcome data for operative events wherein the outcome data is correlated with at least some of the coded operative events entered by the plurality of physicians, and wherein the application service provider maintains the integrity of the patient outcome data; and

making at least some of the operative event data and associated outcome data for at least some of the plurality of physicians available to at least some other parties.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein an assistant enters the operative event data for the physician.

3. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the operative event data is used to obtain payment from a payer for medical services rendered.

4. A method according to claim 1 further wherein more than one physician uses the system to enter coding for different medical services rendered in connection with the same operative event.

5. A method according to claim 4 further wherein the system assists in conforming one of the codings for an operative event with another coding for the same operative event.

6. A method according to claim 1 further wherein at least some of the operative event data is made available to third parties.

7. A method according to claim 6 further wherein the operative event data is made available so that any patient identifying information is omitted.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the operative event data is made available in summary form.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the operative event data is made available according to geographical areas.

10. A method according to claim 1 further including making operative event data for a subscriber physician available to potential patients.

11. A method according to claim 10 further including entering patient outcome data into the system and correlating the outcome data with coded operative events.

12. A method according to claim 11 further including making at least (i) a summary of operative event data or (ii) outcomes associated with operative events for a subscriber physician available to potential patients.

13. A method according to claim 1 including reporting coded operative events by frequency of diagnosis, procedure, age distribution, and satisfaction index.

14. A method according to claim 1 including reporting coded operative events to a physician office, hospital or designated copy sites for use or distribution.

15. A method according to claim 14 including combining reporting coded operative events for a plurality of physicians to form a group report.

16. A method according to claim 15 including comparing an individual physician'"'"'s coded operative events summary with a group summary.

17. A method according to claim 1 further including collecting similar coded operative events for different patients and associated outcomes as part of a study and reporting the collected data to allow tracking of a study.

18. A method according to claim 1 further including inputting patient satisfaction data into the system corresponding to operative events.

19. A method according to claim 18 further including reporting patient satisfaction data.

20. A method according to claim 19 above wherein the reporting is obtained on-line by a prospective patient.

21. A method according to claim 1 further including the physician electronically signing the operative event data.

22. A method according to claim 1 further including a physician paying a fee to the service provider based on the entry of an operative note into the system.

23. A method according to claim 1 further including downloading an operative note to a hospital and the hospital paying a fee to the service provider for downloading an operative note.

24. A method according to claim 1 further including generating discharge reports from the system in response at least in part to the operative event data entered by physicians.

25. A method according to claim 24 further including a hospital or clinic treating a discharged patient paying the service provider a fee for each discharge report.

26. A method according to claim 1 further including a physician paying the service provider an annual charge for access to the system.

27. A method according to claim 1 further including a non-physician entity paying an annual fee for access to the system.

28. A method according to claim 1 further including outputting printed reports, electronic reports or electronic downloads of operative event data from the system.

29. A method according to claim 1 further including allowing the code entering physician to view and access his or her data only.

30. A system, comprising:

an on-line system including one or more servers to support the entering of operative event data into an operative event database through a wide area network and a user interface presented on a client computer, wherein the on-line system is an application service provider system;

the operative event database containing operative event data documenting completed operative events performed by a plurality of physicians who perform operative events and wherein each of the plurality of physicians has a subscription to the on-line system and at least a first of the plurality of physicians performs different operative events at two or more different clinic or hospital organizations and at least a second of the plurality of physicians performs other operative events at the same or other of the two or more different clinic or hospital organizations;

the client computer connected to the one or more servers through a wide area network;

the user interface adapted to assist the first physician in coding operative events in a consistent manner at least in part by presenting for selection at least one pre-determined group of codes related to the operative event being coded;

wherein the first physician enters operative event data for the different operative events into the operative event database, wherein the operative event data documents the different operative events;

an account management system operative on the one or more servers and maintaining a list of subscribing physicians authorized to use the on-line system;

a billing module operative on the one or more servers to charge each of the plurality of physicians at least one charge payable to the application service provider for use of the on-line system to document operative events and to distribute operative event data from the on-line system to the plurality of clinic or hospital organizations;

an operative event data management system operative on the one or more servers allowing authorized physicians to control the use and disposition of the operative event data entered by the physician in the on-line system;

wherein the operative event data management system is further operative on the one or more servers to enable the first physician or the second physician to make the operative event data entered by the respective first physician or second physician available to only respective first selected ones or second selected ones of the plurality of clinic or hospital organizations;

a data input module to enter at least some patient outcome data for operative events and to correlate the outcome with at least some of the coded operative events entered by the plurality of physicians, and wherein the application service provider maintains the integrity of the patient outcome data; and

a data output module to make at least some of the operative event data and associated outcome data for at least some of the plurality of physicians available to at least some other parties.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein an assistant enters the operative event data for the physician.

32. A system according to claim 30 further wherein the operative event data is used to obtain payment from a payer for medical services rendered.

33. A system according to claim 30 further wherein the operative event data is entered by more than one physician to document different medical services rendered in connection with the same operative event.

34. A system according to claim 33 further wherein the system includes a data processing module that assists in conforming one of the codings for an operative event with another coding for the same operative event.

35. A system according to claim 30 further including a data output module outputting at least some of the operative event data to third parties.

36. A system according to claim 35 further wherein the operative event data is output without any patient identifying information.

37. A system according to claim 35 wherein the operative event data is output in summary form.

38. A system according to claim 35 wherein the operative event data is output according to geographical areas.

39. A system according to claim 30 further including a prospective patient data output module for making operative event data for a subscriber physician available to potential patients.

40. A system according to claim 39 further including an outcome data input and storage system for entering patient outcome data into the system and correlating the outcome data with coded operative events.

41. A system according to claim 40 further including a reporting module for making at least a summary of operative event data and associated outcomes for a subscriber physician available to potential patients.

42. A system according to claim 30 including a further reporting module for reporting coded operative events by frequency of diagnosis, procedure, age distribution, and satisfaction index.

43. A system according to claim 30 including a reporting module for outputting coded operative event reports to a physician office, hospital or designated copy sites for use or distribution.

44. A system according to claim 43 further wherein the reporting module includes a sub-module for combining reporting coded operative events for a plurality of physicians to form a group report.

45. A system according to claim 44 further wherein the reporting module includes a sub-module for comparing an individual physician'"'"'s coded operative events summary with a group summary.

46. A system according to claim 30 further a study module for collecting similar coded operative events for different patients and associated outcomes as part of a study and reporting the collected data to allow tracking of a study.

47. A system according to claim 30 further including a satisfaction data input module receiving patient satisfaction data into the system corresponding to operative events.

48. A system according to claim 47 further including a satisfaction data output module.

49. A system according to claim 30 further including a signing module enabling a physician to electronically sign the operative event data.

50. A system according to claim 30 further including a billing module for charging a physician a fee to the service provider based on the entry of an operative note into the system.

51. A system according to claim 30 further wherein the billing module includes a sub-module for charging a fee to a hospital for downloading an operative note.

52. A system according to claim 30 further including a discharge reporting module for generating discharge reports from the system in response at least in part to the operative event data entered by physicians.

53. A system according to claim 52 further wherein the billing module includes a sub-module for billing a hospital or clinic treating a discharged patient a fee for each discharge report.

54. A system according to claim 30 further wherein the billing module includes a sub-module for charging a physician or other entity an annual charge for access to the system.

55. A system according to claim 30 further including an output sub-module for outputting printed reports, electronic reports or electronic downloads of operative event data from the system.

56. A system according to claim 30 further including a sub-module allowing the code entering physician to view and access his or her data only.