System and method for reducing the steps involved in searching for available appointment times and scheduling appointments in a health care environment

• US 8,140,370 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Epic Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Epic Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Steven J., Fuhrmann, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jasmin, Lynda
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEENEY, BRETT A
• Application Number:
  US11/099,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,541 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/7.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A system and method for searching for and scheduling appointments in a health care environment. The present invention is a computerized searching and scheduling system and method for scheduling appointments. The computerized searching and scheduling system and method comprises a plurality of search definitions for defining a plurality of standard searches based on health care provider pools, date offsets and time ranges. The plurality of search definitions define a plurality of appointment visits that are available for scheduling appointments. The computerized searching and scheduling system and method further comprises a plurality of scheduling algorithms for determining a scheduling solution based on parameters and rules by visit type, procedure, providers, and/or resources. Execution of the plurality of search algorithms provides a plurality of available appointment time options for selection in scheduling an appointment.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more computing devices cause the one or more computing devices to:

control presentation of a search definition window, wherein the search definition window includes a first pass definition section and a second pass definition section, wherein the first pass definition section includes a first search parameter input interface for entering a first parameter of a plurality of search parameters defining characteristics for identifying an appointment and the second pass definition section includes a second search parameter input interface for entering a second parameter of the plurality of search parameters defining characteristics for identifying the appointment;

receive a first parameter indicator identified using the first search parameter input interface;

receive a second parameter indicator identified using the second search parameter input interface;

store a search definition including the received first parameter indicator and the received second parameter indicator;

control presentation of a plurality of appointment types from which a user can select an appointment type for scheduling a new appointment, wherein an appointment type of the plurality of appointment types is associated with the stored search definition;

receive an indicator of the appointment type selected from the plurality of appointment types; and

execute a search engine to search an appointment database to identify one or more appointments satisfying the stored search definition, wherein the search engine performs a first pass using the received first parameter indicator and performs a second pass using the received second parameter indicator to identify the one or more appointments, wherein the order of performance of the first pass and the second pass is user selectable using the search definition window.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search definition window further includes a title interface window, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to receive a title based on text entered in the title interface window, wherein the title is used to identify the appointment type in the presented plurality of appointment types.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search definition window further includes a department selector for selecting a medical department associated with the search definition, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to receive a department indicator based on a selection from the department selector wherein the stored search definition includes the received department indicator.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search definition window further includes a visit type selector for selecting a visit type associated with the search definition, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to receive a visit type indicator based on a selection from the visit type selector.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search definition window further includes a status selector for selecting a status of the search definition, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to receive a status indicator based on a selection from the status selector.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search definition window further includes a validate selector, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to determine if the search definition is valid upon selection of the validate selector.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a provider to search for an appointment.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a plurality of provider types, wherein the first search parameter input interface presents a provider based on a selection from the plurality of provider types.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the plurality of provider types includes at least one of an individual provider type, a group provider type, a subgroup provider type, a department provider type, a specialty provider type, and a primary care physician type.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the provider includes a group of providers.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a date.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the date includes a start date for searching for the appointment.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the date includes an end date for searching for the appointment.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a time.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the time includes a start time for searching for the appointment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the time includes an end time for searching for the appointment.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a stop parameter, wherein selection of the stop parameter indicates that the search engine stop searching the appointment database if one or more appointments have been identified in a previous pass.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a link to a second search definition, wherein the search engine further searches the appointment database to identify one or more second appointments satisfying the second search definition.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of a report including the identified one or more appointments satisfying the stored search definition.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to receive a selected appointment indicator identifying a selected appointment selected from the identified one or more appointments satisfying the stored search definition.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to store information associated with the selected appointment in the appointment database.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of a notification related to the selected appointment.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of a provider message associated with the selected appointment.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of a scheduling instruction associated with the selected appointment.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of a referral requirement alert associated with the selected appointment.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of an out-of-network notification associated with the selected appointment.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to control presentation of a non-covered service notification associated with the selected appointment.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to track referral information associated with the selected appointment.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes an overbooking parameter, wherein selection of the overbooking parameter indicates that the search engine can identify one or more appointments that require that the one or more appointments be overbooked.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a block parameter, wherein selection of the block parameter indicates that the search engine exclude a selected provider.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the selected provider includes at least one of an individual provider, a provider pool, a provider group, and a provider department.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the presented plurality of appointment types is filtered based on user information.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the user information includes at least one of a user position, a user department, a user facility, and a user security level.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the presented plurality of appointment types is filtered based on a patient characteristic for which the one or more appointments is identified.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the presented plurality of appointment types is filtered by a user.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a patient preference parameter.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search engine further determines if the one or more appointments satisfies eligibility criteria associated with a patient for which the one or more appointments is identified.

38. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to

control presentation of a search definition window, wherein the search definition window includes a first pass definition section and a second pass definition section, wherein the first pass definition section includes a first search parameter input interface for entering a first parameter of a plurality of search parameters defining characteristics for identifying an appointment and the second pass definition section includes a second search parameter input interface for entering a second parameter of the plurality of search parameters defining characteristics for identifying the appointment;

receive a first parameter indicator identified using the first search parameter input interface;

receive a second parameter indicator identified using the second search parameter input interface;

store a search definition including the received first parameter indicator and the received second parameter indicator;

control presentation of a plurality of appointment types from which a user can select an appointment type for scheduling a new appointment, wherein an appointment type of the plurality of appointment types is associated with the stored search definition;

receive an indicator of the appointment type selected from the plurality of appointment types; and

execute a search engine to search an appointment database to identify one or more appointments satisfying the stored search definition, wherein the search engine performs a first pass using the received first parameter indicator and performs a second pass using the received second parameter indicator to identify the one or more appointments, wherein the order of performance of the first pass and the second pass is user selectable using the search definition window.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the search definition window further includes a title interface window, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to receive a title based on text entered in the title interface window, wherein the title is used to identify the appointment type in the presented plurality of appointment types.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the search definition window further includes a department selector for selecting a medical department associated with the search definition, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to receive a department indicator based on a selection from the department selector wherein the stored search definition includes the received department indicator.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the search definition window further includes a visit type selector for selecting a visit type associated with the search definition, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to receive a visit type indicator based on a selection from the visit type selector.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the search definition window further includes a status selector for selecting a status of the search definition, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to receive a status indicator based on a selection from the status selector.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the search definition window further includes a validate selector, and the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to determine if the search definition is valid upon selection of the validate selector.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a provider to search for an appointment.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a plurality of provider types, wherein the first search parameter input window presents a provider based on a selection from the plurality of provider types.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the plurality of provider types includes at least one of an individual provider type, a group provider type, a subgroup provider type, a department provider type, a specialty provider type, and a primary care physician type.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a date.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a time.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a stop parameter, wherein selection of the stop parameter indicates that the search engine stop searching the appointment database if one or more appointments have been identified in a previous pass.

50. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a link to a second search definition, wherein the search engine further searches the appointment database to identify one or more second appointments satisfying the second search definition.

51. The system of claim 38, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of a report including the identified one or more appointments satisfying the stored search definition.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to receive a selected appointment indicator identifying a selected appointment selected from the identified one or more appointments satisfying the stored search definition.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to store information associated with the selected appointment in the appointment database.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of a notification related to the selected appointment.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of a provider message associated with the selected appointment.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of a scheduling instruction associated with the selected appointment.

57. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of a referral requirement alert associated with the selected appointment.

58. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of an out-of-network notification associated with the selected appointment.

59. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to control presentation of a non-covered service notification associated with the selected appointment.

60. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to track referral information associated with the selected appointment.

61. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes an overbooking parameter, wherein selection of the overbooking parameter indicates that the search engine can identify one or more appointments that require that the one or more appointments be overbooked.

62. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of search parameters includes a block parameter, wherein selection of the block parameter indicates that the search engine exclude a selected provider.

63. The system of claim 38, wherein the presented plurality of appointment types is filtered based on user information.

64. The system of claim 38, wherein the presented plurality of appointment types is filtered based on a patient characteristic for which the one or more appointments is identified.

65. The system of claim 38, wherein the search engine further determines if the one or more appointments satisfies eligibility criteria associated with a patient for which the one or more appointments is identified.