Physician to patient network system fo real-time electronic communication & transfer of patient health information

Abstract

The Physician To Patient (P2P) network system, a private & secure infrastructure for independently practicing physicians and patients for real-time electronic communication & transfer of patient health information is disclosed by the invention. The invention also discloses an efficient and natural method for creation of Electronic Medical Records by physicians in their own handwriting. The P2P network system utilizes a plurality of devices and components defined by the invention, and custom programming to integrate all equipment, devices and components of the network system. The invention also discloses a highly targeted method of advertising, the One2One Advertising, for healthcare product manufacturers to reach physicians and patients. A number of healthcare related business processes, currently executed manually are performed automatically by P2P network system software. The invention will improve the quality of services to patients, and reduce the overhead cost of the medical offices, and the healthcare industry.

1 . A physician to patient (P2P) system for transfer of patient health information among healthcare user groups and patients, the system comprising:
 i. a network connected to a plurality of healthcare user computers;   ii. a network connected to a plurality of patient computers;   iii. at least one secure central server connected to the network to store patient health information to be shared among authorized healthcare user groups and patients;   iv. at least one private server for at least one healthcare user group to store patient health information private to the healthcare user group wherein the private patient health information is transferred automatically or upon request to the central server, or to at least one authorized healthcare user or to the patient;   v. means for authorizing users to connect to the network.   
   
   
       2 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: transfer of patient health information related to patient health management by at least one healthcare service provider. 
   
   
       3 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: electronic communication and transfer of secure electronic messages among P2P members. 
   
   
       4 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a network of computers configured for collaboration among P2P members. 
   
   
       5 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 4 , further comprising: a network of computers configured for independently practicing physicians with offices located remotely from each other or within the same building. 
   
   
       6 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 4 , further comprising: enabling P2P members to tele-working by allowing said P2P member the ability to remotely connect to the network computers. 
   
   
       7 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 4 , further comprising: a network of computers configured for video conferencing among P2P members. 
   
   
       8 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: enabling P2P members to conduct research by accessing patient information stored within the network and create, store, view and print research reports. 
   
   
       9 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: enabling P2P members to analyze patient health information stored within the network and create, store, view and print community health reports. 
   
   
       10 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a network of computers configured for independently practicing physician offices located remotely from each other or within the same building. 
   
   
       11 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a patient appointment scheduling wherein the patient connects to the central server, selects at least one P2P member healthcare provider and inputs an appointment request. 
   
   
       12 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 11 , further comprising: authorizing and scheduling a patient using a series of questions initiated by the P2P system that describes the patient's health condition in an appointment request and submitting the appointment request to a healthcare staff member for review. 
   
   
       13 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a patient registration wherein the patient connects to the P2P central server and inputs his personal/healthcare information, the patient registration data is stored at the central server and further sent to at least one of healthcare user group's private server. 
   
   
       14 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an electronic patient sign-in sheet wherein the patient signs in to be listed and displayed on an electronic waiting room list. 
   
   
       15 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: automated/manual exam room scheduling for the healthcare provider to view the status of exam rooms. 
   
   
       16 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: automated/manual insurance verification for at least one patient appointment wherein P2P software assists a healthcare staff member connecting to the insurance company server to perform verification. 
   
   
       17 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: allowing the healthcare provider or staff member creating and saving an electronic superbill after examining a patient. 
   
   
       18 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 17 , further comprising: an electronic superbill to assist the healthcare provider or staff member in selecting at least one diagnosis code and at least one procedure code after the patient has been examined by accessing information related to diagnosis code/procedure code stored within the network and automatically searching the P2P network data storages to present the resulting information to the healthcare provider or staff member. 
   
   
       19 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an automated electronic insurance claims submission to submit electronic insurance claims to a clearinghouse computer or directly to an insurance company computer. 
   
   
       20 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an automated electronic payment posting in a medical facility data storage after extracting insurance payment information from an electronic file sent by an insurance company. 
   
   
       21 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: check-out time patient billing for generating a check-out statement after the healthcare provider has completed a superbill. 
   
   
       22 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: electronically sending the patient's statement to the patient. 
   
   
       23 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an on-request or automated transfer of patient electronic medical records among authorized healthcare user groups or the patient. 
   
   
       24 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an on-request or automated transfer of patient electronic referrals among authorized healthcare service providers or the patient. 
   
   
       25 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an on-request or automated transfer of patient electronic prescriptions among authorized healthcare service providers or the patient. 
   
   
       26 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a storage of electronic reference books accessible by P2P members. 
   
   
       27 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a conversion of paper medical records to electronic medical records. 
   
   
       28 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: the patient remotely accessing detailed healthcare product or service information and the ability to purchase a plurality of healthcare products or services. 
   
   
       29 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: enabling healthcare provider or lab technician to tele-diagnosis by allowing said healthcare provider or lab technician the ability to view diagnostic test results and send diagnosis reports. 
   
   
       30 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: allowing the patient access to their healthcare related information including at least one of: medical bill, health insurance information, diagnosis report, and electronic medical record. 
   
   
       31 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: allowing the patient access to their billing account, wherein the patient is able to view and pay their medical bill. 
   
   
       32 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a q-rating system to provide feedback as to the quality of healthcare services to patients. 
   
   
       33 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a creation of electronic medical records by healthcare provider written in their own handwriting. 
   
   
       34 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a central P2P website having links to P2P member websites allowing the patients to view healthcare information displayed on P2P websites. 
   
   
       35 . A physician to patient (P2P) system for tele-examining a patient, the system comprising:
 i. a network connected to a plurality of healthcare service provider computers;   ii. a network connected to a plurality of patient computers;   iii. at least one secure central server connected to the network to store patient health information to be shared among authorized healthcare user groups and patients;   iv. means for authorizing users to connect to the network;   v. the patient to be examined having plurality of remote devices including a remote video camera connected to the network;   vi. the healthcare service provider tele-examining the patient using a plurality of remote devices including the remote video camera, and saving the results of examination within the network.   
   
   
       36 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 35 , further comprising: enabling healthcare provider or lab technician to tele-diagnosis by allowing said healthcare provider or lab technician the ability to view videos/images from diagnostic tests and send diagnosis reports. 
   
   
       37 . The Physician to Patient (P2P) system of  claim 35 , further comprising: at least one private server for at least one healthcare service provider to store patient health information private to the healthcare service provider wherein the private patient health information is transferred automatically or upon request to the central server, or to at least one authorized healthcare user or to the patient. 
   
   
       38 . A One2One healthcare advertising system comprising:
 i. a network connected to a plurality of healthcare user computers;   ii. a network connected to a plurality of patient computers;   iii. at least one secure central server connected to the network to store patient health information including specific health conditions of patient, and healthcare advertisements related to specific health condition, said patient health information to be shared among authorized healthcare user groups and patients;   iv. means for authorizing users to connect to the network;   vi. the healthcare product supplier or service provider sending One2One healthcare advertisement or other One2One healthcare information to at least one patient or at least one healthcare service provider.   
   
   
       39 . The One2One healthcare advertising system of  claim 38 , further comprising: at least one private server for at least one healthcare service provider to store patient health information including specific health conditions of patient, said patient health information being private to said healthcare service provider, wherein the private patient health information is transferred automatically or upon request to the central server, or to at least one authorized healthcare user or to the patient. 
   
   
       40 . The One2One healthcare advertising system of  claim 38 , further comprising: an electronic display in the healthcare service provider waiting room to display One2one advertisements or any other One2One healthcare information.