User interface system for maintaining organization related information for use in supporting organization operation

Abstract

A system and user friendly display interface supports creation and modification of a flexible and comprehensive organization structure model able to support provision of clinical care, patient tracking, billing and administration. A method provides a user interface for maintaining organization related information in support of organization operation. The method involves receiving search criteria for use in identifying organization characteristic information. The search criteria is employed in searching a profile comprising information identifying an encompassing organization structure including information identifying multiple constituent organizations and associated organization type and user determinable organization role. Search result information is processed in providing organization characteristic information suitable for presentation to a user via a displayed image in response to user command. A user interface menu supports modification of information representing the encompassing organization structure by adding, removing or moving an organization in the encompassing organization structure and updating a database to incorporate the modifications.

1 . A method for providing a user interface for maintaining organization related information in support of organization operation, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving search criteria for use in identifying organization characteristic information;    employing said search criteria in searching a user modifiable profile comprising information identifying an encompassing organization structure including information identifying a plurality of constituent organizations and associated organization type and user determinable organization role to find an organization of a particular type for performing a particular role for a particular patient; and    processing search result information in providing organization characteristic information suitable for presentation to a user via a displayed image in response to user command.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said user modifiable profile is modifiable to alter information indicating said encompassing organization structure and    said search criteria information is received via prompt elements in a displayed image including at least one of, (a) a prompt element prompting a user to search an organization for hosting a patient encounter and (b) a prompt element prompting a user to search an organization capable of accommodating a patient.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said search criteria is provided by user entry via prompt elements in at least one displayed image and    said particular role is selected from a plurality of roles including a clinical role and a financial role performed for said particular patient.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said search criteria comprises at least two of, (a) a portion or whole organization legal name, (b) a portion or whole organization alias name, (c) organization type, (d) organization role, (e) organization identifier, (f) employer information, and (g) service provider information.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of 
 selecting said constituent organization from said plurality of constituent organizations via a displayed user interface image and wherein,    said user is provided with information concerning said selected constituent organization.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said searched profile organization type information identifies an organization type comprising at least one of, (a) a health care provider organization, (b) a health care payer organization, (c) a health care administration organization and (d) a business organization.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said searched profile organization role information identifies an organizational relationship comprising at least one of, (a) a relationship between an individual involved in health care delivery and a health care service provider, (b) a relationship between a creditor and a business organization and (c) a relationship between a health care service provider and an organization including a location for hosting a patient encounter with a healthcare enterprise involving patient and healthcare enterprise interaction.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said searched profile organization role information identifies an organizational role comprising at least one of, (a) an employer, (b) an issuer of identifiers for identifying items associated with a person, (c) a payment guarantor, (d) a creditor, (e) a service provider and (f) an organization hosting a patient encounter with a healthcare enterprise involving patient and healthcare enterprise interaction.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of 
 said searched profile includes a constituent organization legal name and an alias name.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of 
 said searched profile includes contact information supporting contacting of a constituent organization.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said constituent organization contact information comprises at least one of, (a) contact name, (b) contact address, (c) contact phone number and (d) contact Email address.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said searched profile identifies a hierarchical organization of constituent organizations and an associated date of validity of said profile.    
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a user interface facilitating movement of a patient in an organization, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving patient identification information;    in response to user command,    processing user modifiable organization profile information identifying an encompassing organization structure including information identifying a plurality of constituent organizations and associated organization type and user determinable organization role, in order to determine an organization of a particular type for performing a particular role for a patient having particular medical characteristics; and    initiating generation of at least one displayed image showing said determined organization and prompting a user to select a particular available location in said determined organization for a particular patient.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 said user modifiable organization profile information is modifiable by altering information indicating said encompassing organization structure and    said patient particular medical characteristics include at least one of, (a) a medical condition, (b) medical insurance information, (c) billing information and (d) patient identifier information.    
     
     
         15 . A system for providing a user interface for maintaining organization related information in support of organization operation, comprising: 
 an interface for receiving search criteria for use in identifying organization characteristic information;    a search processor for, 
 employing said search criteria in searching a user modifiable profile comprising information identifying an encompassing organization structure including information identifying a plurality of constituent organizations and associated organization type and user determinable organization role to find an organization of a particular type for performing a particular role for a particular patient; and  
 processing search result information in providing organization characteristic information suitable for presentation to a user via a displayed image in response to user command.