System and method for managing medical imaging professional certifications

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, professional certifications functionality is provided by a mammography management system that allows system users such as radiologist and technologists to track their professional credentials such as licenses, certifications, and education. The functionality is flexible such that a variety of credential types may be entered and stored in the system and so that the progress of such credentials are tracked and monitored for relevant continuing education requirements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device comprising a processor and accessible storage having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to perform a method for managing medical imaging credentials, the method comprising:
 processing medical imaging credential data to identify a renewal date for each of the plurality of credential identities, wherein the medical imaging credential data comprises a user identity, a plurality of credential identities logically associated with the user identity, and a renewal schedule logically associated with each of the plurality of credential identities and wherein the renewal date is identified from the renewal schedules;   displaying to a display device, operably coupled to the computing device, the plurality of medical imaging credential identities, associated renewal dates, a first input field configured to receive input indicating a user's renewed status and a second input field configured to receive input indicating a corresponding date the renewed status was obtained; and   wherein the receiving by the processor of the indication of renewed status and date of renewed status causes the processor to update the renewal schedule.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the renewal schedule comprises a renewal date and wherein the identifying comprises selecting a tabulated renewal date. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the renewal schedule comprises a last renewal date and a period of renewal and wherein the processing the renewal schedule comprises calculating the renewal date as the date that is the sum of the last renewal date and the period of renewal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the medical credential data further comprises a credential type associated with each of the plurality of credential identities and credential requirement information associated with at least one of the plurality of credential identities and further comprising displaying for each displayed medical credential identity, the associated credential type, and, if any, the credential requirement information associated with the displayed credential identities. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the medical credential data further comprises one or more continuing education units (CEU) identities logically associated with at least one of the credential identities and a CEU value logically associated with each CEU identity and further comprising displaying to the display device the one or more CEU identities and logically associated CEU values for at least one of the displayed of the credential identities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising displaying to the display device a third input field configured to receive input for a CEU identity to be logically associated with one of the displayed credential identities and a fourth input field configured to receive input for a CEU value to be logically associated with the received CEU identity and wherein the receiving of the CEU identity and the CEU value causes the medical credential data to be updated. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the medical credential data further comprises one or more facility identities logically associated with at least one credential identity and at least one exam/reading count logically associated with each facility identity and further comprising displaying to the display device the one or more facility identities and logically associated exam/reading count for at least one of the displayed credential identities. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising displaying to the display device a fifth input field configured to receive input for a facility identity to be logically associated with one of the displayed credential identity and a sixth input field configured to receive input for an exam/reading count to be logically associated with the received facility identity and wherein the receiving of the facility identity and the exam/reading count causes the medical credential data to be updated. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein each displayed credential identity and logically associated renewal schedule was added to the medical credential data by receiving input from a plurality of graphically displayed user input fields comprising an input credential identity and logically associated input renewal schedule. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1  further comprising evaluating the medical imaging credential data to identify medical imaging credential identities having a reminder date that is the current date and automatically electronically mailing to the user, for each identified medical imaging credential identities, a reminder message, wherein the medical imaging credential data further comprises a reminder schedule logically associated with at least one of the medical imaging credential identities and wherein the reminder date is determined from the reminder schedule. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10  wherein the reminder schedule comprises a tabulated reminder date and wherein the reminder date is the tabulated reminder date. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 10  wherein the reminder schedule comprises a tabulated reminder date and a reminder period and wherein the reminder date is the sum of the tabulated reminder date and the reminder period. 
     
     
         13 . A computing device comprising a processor and accessible storage having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to perform a method for managing a database comprising a plurality of medical imaging credential entries, the method comprising:
 editing an entry in the database through a display interface wherein an edit command induces the display of input fields on a display device operable connected to the processor to guide the input of information to populate the database entry in its edited configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 13  wherein the editing comprises adding a new entry to the database of medical imaging credential entries and wherein the displaying comprising displaying a credential name input field, a credential obtained date input field, a credential type input field and a renewal schedule input field;
 wherein receiving input from the input fields creates a new entry in the database and associates the entry with a selected user. 
 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14  wherein the displaying further comprises displaying a plurality of credential requirement input fields comprising a continuation education unit (CEU) value field, a CEU period field, an exam/reading value field and an exam/reading period field. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 14  wherein the displaying further comprises a displaying a reminder notice date input field and a reminder address input field. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 16  further comprising processing the database to identify users having a credential identity associated with a reminder notice date that is the current date and automatically sending a notification message to the identified users, the notification message informing the user that the corresponding credential identity should be renewed, wherein the database comprises a plurality of user identities, one or more credential identities associated with each user identity, and a reminder notice date associated with at least one of the credential identities. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 13  wherein the editing comprises modifying an existing entry and wherein the displaying comprises displaying a credential identity input field, a credential obtained date input field, a credential type input field and a renewal schedule input field and wherein the input fields are automatically populated with their existing values in the database for the corresponding entry. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 18  wherein the displaying further comprises displaying a plurality of continuing education unit (CEU) fields and a plurality of exam/reading fields. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 18  wherein the displaying further comprises displaying a reminder notice date input field and a reminder address input field. 
     
     
         21 . The computing device of  claim 13  wherein the editing comprises modifying an existing entry and wherein the displaying comprises displaying for a credential identity associated with a user in the database a continuing education unit (CEU) date input field, a course identity input field; a CEU credit input field, and corresponding values for credits previously completed by the user.