System and Method for Improved Healthcare Delivery

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a interactive system and method for improved health care delivery operated over a network in conjunction with a user device. The user device is connected over the network to an identification module which may be operable to identify a patient and associate that patient with pre-established criteria. A screening module allows a user to enter data into the user device which relates to the patient's pre-established criteria, while a monitoring module determines whether the patient has complied with the criteria. An output module may transmit information relating to the patient's compliance to the same, or another, user device. The invention may also include a database for storing information transmitted by the output module, an instant communication interface and an incentive generation engine for randomly selected or specifically targeted users.

1 . A computer-implemented system for providing improved health care delivery to a patient through communication over a network, the health care delivery system comprising:
 at least one user device associated with a user, the at least one user device being operable on the network;   a processor for implementing at least one of:
 an identification module operable to associate the patient with at least one pre-established criterion; 
 a screening module for allowing the user to enter data into the at least one user device relating to the at least one pre-established criterion for the patient; 
 a monitoring module, operable to determine, based at least in part on the data entered into the at least one user device, whether the patient has complied with the at least one pre-established criterion; and 
 an output module for transmitting information relating to the patient's compliance with the at least one pre-established criterion to at least one receiving user device; 
   a database for storing information transmitted by the output module;   an instant communication interface; and   an incentive generation engine in communication with the output module, the incentive generation engine being operable to assign at least one reward to at least one patient or user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user device is further operable to access a diagnostic inquiry module for the purpose of assisting in the diagnosis of a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the database is operable to associate the information relating to the patient's compliance with the at least one pre-established criterion with an electronic medical record. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user is a health coach. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the user regularly enters data into the at least one user device relating to the at least one pre-established criterion for the patient, at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user is the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the user regularly enters data into the at least one user device relating to the at least one pre-established criterion for the patient, at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instant communication interface is selected from a group consisting of: a telephone hotline, instant messaging functionality, video chat functionality, text messaging service or web form. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive generation engine is operable to designate a subset of qualifying patients, and to randomly select at least one winning patient from the subset of qualifying patients to win the at least one reward. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive generation engine is operable to designate a subset of qualifying users, and to randomly select at least one winning user from the subset of qualifying users to win the at least one reward. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for providing improved health care delivery to a patient through communication over a network, the method comprising:
 associating at least one user device with a user, the at least one user device being operable on the network, and being further associated with an instant communication interface;   identifying, by an identification module, the patient;   entering, by a screening module, data into the at least one user device relating to at least one pre-established criterion for the patient;   determining, by a monitoring module, whether the patient has complied with the at least one pre-established criterion by monitoring the data entered into the at least one user device, the monitoring module being implemented by a computer processor;   transmitting, by an output module, information relating to the patient's compliance with the at least one pre-established criterion to at least one receiving user device;   storing the information transmitted by the output module in a database; and   assigning, by an incentive generation engine in communication with the output module, at least one reward to at least one user or patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising accessing a diagnostic inquiry module for the purpose of assisting in the diagnosis of a patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising associating the information relating to the patient's compliance with an electronic medical record. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user is a health coach. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user regularly enters data into the at least one user device relating to the at least one pre-established criterion for the patient, at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user is the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user regularly enters data into the at least one user device relating to the at least one pre-established criterion for the patient, at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the instant communication interface is selected from a group consisting of: a telephone hotline, instant messaging functionality, video chat functionality, text messaging service or web form. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising designating, by the incentive generation engine, a subset of qualifying patients, and randomly selecting at least one winning patient from the subset of qualifying patients to win at least one prize. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising designating, by the incentive generation engine, a subset of qualifying users, and randomly selecting at least one winning user from the subset of qualifying user to win at least one prize.