System, Apparatus, and Methods for Developing and Delivering Health Information

Abstract

An individual is enabled to develop medical contingency plans that are automatically activated if the individual is rendered unable to assert his or her own will by an injury or a medical condition. Medical information and health information are assembled and advance directives are formulated in a manner that combines systematic guidance to optimize contingency plan effectiveness and individual autonomy to permit individuals to design their own plan. When a participating individual is rendered unable to assert his or her own will by an injury or medical emergency, identification information and instructions carried by the individual enable responding care givers to access enforceable documents that direct medical care and address personal needs. The documents produced are designed to overcome mitigating factors associated with the urgency of the individual's condition, institutional policy, conflicting family member opinions, information transmission difficulties, the attitudes of treating physicians, language discrepancies, and the governmental rules in effect where the emergency happens.

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating an end-of-life health care information product, the method comprising:
 transmitting over a network to an information input interface an end-of-life health care menu of choices associated with end-of-life guidance information;   receiving over the network a selection of a choice from the end-of-life health care menu of choices associated with the end-of-life guidance information;   receiving over the network participant end-of-life information associated with the selection of the choice from the end-of-life health care menu of choices;   analyzing the received participant end-of-life information and the selected choice in light of reference information to determine at least one available end-of-life health care option;   transmitting over the network the at least one available end-of-life health care option;   receiving over the network an election from the at least one available end-of-life health care option; and   transmitting over the network the end-of-life health care information product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant end-of-life information comprises enforcement information, the enforcement information legally enforceable in a jurisdiction where the participant requires the end-of-life health care information product to be utilized or where the participant resides. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer includes at least one processor that at least partially causes generation of the end-of-life health care information product. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reference information is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. an electronic medical record;   b. guideline information;   c. a medical protocol;   d. a physician's practice management program;   e. at least a portion of a medical record;   f. at least a portion of a laboratory report;   g. at least a portion of a medical image; and   h. an analysis tool.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the analysis tool is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. outcome measurement;   b. outcome prediction;   c. treatment evaluation and comparison;   d. organ donation evaluation and comparison;   e. drug interaction analysis;   f. disease and injury correlation;   g. end-of-life choice analysis; and   h. end-of-life information product implementation analysis.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 transmitting a second end-of-life health care menu of choices associated with end-of-life guidance information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant end-of-life information comprises administrative information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the administrative information is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. privacy information;   b. security information;   c. a participant identification parameter;   d. a unique identification parameter;   e. a link to another participant;   f. payment account information;   g. a customer service note;   h. event log information;   i. primary place of residence;   j. secondary place of residence;   k. social security identification number;   l. driver's license identification number;   m. passport identification number;   n. annual income;   o. a date of birth;   p. gender;   q. a designation of at least one person to be contacted in case of an emergency;   r. a designation of at least one physician; and   s. health care insurance information.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant end-of-life information includes end-of-life information selected from a group consisting of:
 a. an authorization to rely on a copy of an original document;   b. an authorization to rely on a summary of an original document;   c. a designation of at least one medication;   d. a designation of at least one allergy;   e. a designation of at least one health condition;   f. a designation of at least one person to be contacted in case of emergency;   g. a designation of at least one physician;   h. emergency health information;   i. an end-of-life choice;   j. an advance directive;   k. a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order;   l. a document signed by a physician concerning medical care associated with an end-of-life condition;   m. an authorization to donate an organ;   n. output recipient information;   o. enforcement information;   p. medical information; and   q. a portion of an end-of-life item a-p.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end-of-life health care menu of choices includes a choice of an advance directive selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a living will;   b. a health care power of attorney;   c. a selection of an end-of-life condition response;   d. a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order;   e. an authorization to donate an organ;   f. a document signed by a health care professional concerning medical care associated with an end-of-life condition;   g. a physician orders for life-sustaining treatment;   h. a medical orders for life-sustaining treatment;   i. a selection of medical treatment; and   j. a refusal of medical treatment.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product includes information selected from a group consisting of:
 a. an authorization to rely on a copy of an original document;   b. an authorization to rely on a summary of an original document;   c. a designation of at least one medication;   d. a designation of at least one allergy;   e. a designation of at least one health condition;   f. a designation of at least one person to be contacted in case of emergency;   g. a designation of at least one physician;   h. emergency health information;   i. an end-of-life choice;   j. an advance directive;   k. output recipient information;   l. enforcement information;   m. medical information; and   n. a health care insurance information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end-of-life health care menu of choices includes a choice of an end-of-life choice selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a palliative care choice;   b. a comfort care choice;   c. a residence choice;   d. a religious choice;   e. a spiritual choice;   f. a funeral arrangement choice; and   g. a non-medical choice.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end-of-life health care menu of choices includes an end-of-life condition selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a central nervous system disorder   b. a lung disease   c. a heart/cardiovascular disease   d. a digestive disorder   e. a kidney disease   f. a malignant disease   g. a connective tissue disease   h. multiple organ failure; and   i. other end-of-life condition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the end-of-life heath care menu of choices includes an end-of-life condition response selected from a group consisting of:
 a. artificial breathing sustenance   b. artificial blood oxygenation   c. artificial blood circulation   d. artificial renal function   e. radiation   f. chemotherapy   g. organ transplantation; and   h. administration of nutrients.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 storing in an information storage registry at least a portion of:   a. the received choice from the end-of-life health care menu;   b. the participant end-of-life information associated with the selection of the choice; or   c. the election from the at least one available end-of-life health care option.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information storage registry is stored in a standard or a non-standard format. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 providing to a medical community for research or practice at least a portion of:   a. the received choice from the end-of-life health care menu;   b. the participant end-of-life information associated with the selection of the choice; or   c. the election from the at least one available end-of-life health care option.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information input interface is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a stationary telephone;   b. a portable telephone;   c. a cellular telephone;   d. a mobile telephone;   e. an interactive user interface accessible via an Internet connection;   f. a personal computer;   g. a facsimile machine;   h. a smart card;   i. a personal data assistant;   j. a handheld computer;   k. a computer-to-computer link;   l. a modem;   m. a wireless transceiver; and   n. voicemail.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant end-of-life information includes end-of-life information selected from a group consisting of:
 a. raw data; and   b. elections.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein end of life health care information product comprises a participant identification instrument. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the participant identification instrument is selected from:
 a. an identification card   b. a smart card; or   c. a personal data assistant.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant end-of-life information may be stored in an electronically or electromagnetically readable format, an optically readable format, or in any other appropriate format. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the end-of-life health care information product is provided to a medical community for research or practice. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 updating the reference information to include new or revised medical or legal information.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 updating the end-of-life health care information product.   
     
     
         26 . A computer-implemented method for retrieval by an output user of an end-of-life health care information product associated with a participant, the method comprising:
 receiving over a network an identification parameter associated with the participant;   retrieving at least a portion of the end-of-life health care information product corresponding to the participant; and   transmitting over the network to the output user the retrieved portion of the end-of-life health care information product corresponding to the identification parameter associated with the participant.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the retrieved portion of the end-of-life health care information product is transmitted over the network to an information product output interface for use by the output user. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the retrieved portion of the end-of-life health care information product is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. an electronic medical record;   b. guideline information;   c. a medical protocol;   d. a physician's practice management program;   e. at least a portion of a medical record;   f. at least a portion of a laboratory report;   g. at least a portion of a medical image; and   h. an analysis tool.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the analysis tool is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. outcome measurement;   b. outcome prediction;   c. treatment evaluation and comparison;   d. organ donation evaluation and comparison;   e. drug interaction analysis;   f. disease and injury correlation;   g. end-of-life choice analysis; and   h. end-of-life information product implementation analysis.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , the method further comprising:
 retrieving at least a second end-of-life health care information product.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the health care end-of-life information product comprises administrative information. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the administrative information is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. privacy information;   b. security information;   c. a participant identification parameter;   d. a unique identification parameter;   e. a link to another participant;   f. payment account information;   g. a customer service note;   h. event log information;   i. primary place of residence;   j. secondary place of residence;   k. social security identification number;   l. driver's license identification number;   m. passport identification number;   n. annual income   o. a date of birth;   p. gender;   q. personal contact information;   r. medical contact information; and   s. health insurance information.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product includes participant end-of-life information selected from a group consisting of:
 a. an authorization to rely on a copy of an original document;   b. an authorization to rely on a summary of an original document;   c. a designation of at least one medication;   d. a designation of at least one allergy;   e. a designation of at least one health condition;   f. a designation of at least one person to be contacted in case of emergency;   g. a designation of at least one physician;   h. emergency health information;   i. an end-of-life choice;   j. an advance directive;   k. a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order;   l. a document signed by a physician concerning medical care associated with an end-of-life condition;   m. an authorization to donate an organ;   n. output recipient information;   o. enforcement information;   p. medical information; and   q. a portion of an end-of-life item a-p.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product includes end-of-life health care information selected from a group consisting of:
 a. an authorization to rely on a copy of an original document;   b. an authorization to rely on a summary of an original document;   c. a designation of at least one medication;   d. a designation of at least one allergy;   e. a designation of at least one health condition;   f. a designation of at least one person to be contacted in case of emergency;   g. a designation of at least one physician;   h. emergency health information;   i. an end-of-life choice;   j. an advance directive;   k. output recipient information;   l. enforcement information;   m. medical information;   n. a long-term health care insurance policy; and   o. health insurance information.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product includes an advance directive selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a living will;   b. a health care power of attorney;   c. a selection of an end-of-life condition response;   d. a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order;   e. an authorization to donate an organ;   f. a document signed by a health care professional concerning medical care associated with an end-of-life condition;   g. a physician orders for life-sustaining treatment;   h. a medical orders for life-sustaining treatment;   i. a selection of medical treatment; and   j. a refusal of medical treatment.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product includes an end-of-life choice selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a palliative care choice;   b. a comfort care choice;   c. a residence choice;   d. a religious choice;   e. a spiritual choice;   f. a funeral arrangement choice; and   g. a non-medical choice.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product includes the participant's end-of-life condition selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a central nervous system disorder   b. a lung disease   c. a heart/cardiovascular disease   d. a digestive disorder   e. a kidney disease   f. a malignant disease   g. a connective tissue disease   h. multiple organ failure; and   i. other end-of-life condition.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life heath care information product includes an end-of-life condition response selected from a group consisting of:
 a. artificial breathing sustenance   b. artificial blood oxygenation   c. artificial blood circulation   d. artificial renal function   e. radiation   f. chemotherapy   g. organ transplantation; and   h. administration of nutrients.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product is legally enforceable in a jurisdiction where the participant requires the end-of-life health care information product to be utilized or where the participant resides. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product is transmitted in a language understood by the output user. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end-of-life health care information product output interface is selected from a group consisting of:
 a. a stationary telephone;   b. a portable telephone;   c. a cellular telephone;   d. a mobile telephone;   e. an interactive user interface accessible via an Internet connection;   f. a personal computer;   g. a facsimile machine;   h. a smart card;   i. a personal data assistant;   j. a handheld computer;   k. a computer-to-computer link;   l. a modem;   m. a wireless transceiver; and   n. voicemail.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26 , the method further comprising:
 retrieving at least a second portion of the end-of-life health care information product corresponding to the participant;   transmitting over the network to the output user the retrieved second portion of the end-of-life health care information product corresponding to the identification parameter associated with the participant.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the retrieved portion of the end-of-life health care information product is in a form of a computer-generated document or a summary of a document. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 26 , the method further comprising:
 providing guidance information to the output user.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 26 , the method further comprising:
 receiving outcome information about the participant after the retrieved portion of the end-of-life health care information product has been transmitted to the output user.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 26 , the method further comprising:
 providing to a medical community for research or practice at least a portion of:   a. the end-of-life health care information product; or   b. outcome information about the participant.   
     
     
         47 . A system for generating an end-of-life health care information product, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a computer readable storage medium having instructions for execution by the processor which causes the processor to generate the end-of-life health care information product;   wherein the processor is coupled to the computer readable storage medium, the processor executing the instructions on the computer readable storage medium to:   transmit over a network to an information input interface an end-of-life health care menu of choices associated with end-of-life guidance information;   receive over the network a selection of a choice from the end-of-life health care menu of choices associated with the end-of-life guidance information;   receive over the network participant end-of-life information associated with the selection of the choice from the end-of-life health care menu of choices;   analyze the received participant end-of-life information and the selected choice in light of reference information to determine at least one available end-of-life health care option;   transmit over the network the at least one available end-of-life health care option;   receive over the network an election from the at least one available end-of-life health care option; and   transmit over the network the end-of-life health care information product.