Systems and methods for facilitating virtual healthcare consultations

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating virtual consultations between a patient and a healthcare professional include at least one patient computer device and one healthcare professional computer device, each having a processor and computer-readable memory. A virtual consultation application is hosted on a server and electronically accessible over at least one network system to provide an interface for the patient computer device and the healthcare professional computer device. The virtual consultation application receives a request to initiate a virtual consultation from a patient using the patient computer device, and receives information input by the patient relating to a health-related inquiry. The virtual consultation application searches for a healthcare professional to perform a virtual consultation, selects a healthcare professional available via the healthcare professional computer device accessing the virtual consultation application, and provides a communications interface for virtual consultation between the patient and the healthcare professional, facilitating video, audio, and chat communications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for facilitating virtual consultations between a patient and a healthcare professional, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a virtual consultation application hosted at least partially on a server having a processor and computer-readable memory, wherein the virtual consultation application provides an interface for at least one patient computer device having a processor and computer-readable memory, and wherein the virtual consultation application is accessible by the at least one patient computer device over at least one network system;   b. receiving, by the virtual consultation application, a request to initiate a virtual consultation from a patient using the patient computer device, wherein the request to initiate a virtual consultation causes the virtual consultation application to search for a healthcare professional to perform a virtual consultation;   c. receiving, by the virtual consultation application, information input by the patient relating to a health-related inquiry;   d. selecting a healthcare professional available to provide a virtual consultation via a healthcare professional computer device accessing the virtual consultation application, the healthcare professional computer device having a processor and computer-readable memory; and   e. providing, by the virtual consultation application, a communications interface for virtual consultation between the patient and the healthcare professional, wherein the communications interface facilitates at least one of: video, audio and chat communications.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving, by the virtual consultation application, attachment information provided from the patient computer device. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment information is at least one of: a visual image taken by a camera from the patient computer device, written information related to the health-related inquiry, and health-related records. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the patient with medical information relating to the health-related inquiry. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting a healthcare professional is based on the health-related inquiry. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting a healthcare professional is based on a position of the patient in a queue of patients seeking a virtual consultation. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient chooses the healthcare professional from a plurality of available healthcare professionals using the patient computer device. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting the patient and the healthcare professional in a virtual consultation. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the patient selects at least one of the video, audio, and chat communications. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing, by the virtual consultation application, a compensation interface between the patient and the healthcare professional. 
     
     
         11 . A system for virtual healthcare consultations, comprising:
 at least one patient computer device having a processor and computer-readable memory;   at least one healthcare professional computer device having a processor and computer-readable memory; and   a virtual consultation application, hosted at least partially on a server having a processor and computer-readable memory and electronically accessible over at least one network system to provide an interface for the at least one patient computer device and the at least one healthcare professional computer device, wherein the virtual consultation application:
 a. receives a request to initiate a virtual consultation from a patient using the at least one patient computer device; 
 b. receives information input by the patient relating to a health-related inquiry; 
 c. searches for a healthcare professional to perform a virtual consultation; 
 d. selects a healthcare professional available to provide a virtual consultation via the at least one healthcare professional computer device accessing the virtual consultation application; and 
 e. provides a communications interface for virtual consultation between the patient and the healthcare professional, wherein the communications interface facilitates at least one of: video, audio and chat communications. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual consultation application further receives attachment information provided from the patient computer device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment information is at least one of: a visual image taken by a camera from the patient computer device, written information related to the health-related inquiry, and health-related records. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual consultation application further provides the patient with medical information relating to the health-related inquiry. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein selecting a healthcare professional is based on the health-related inquiry. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein selecting a healthcare professional is based on a position of the patient in a queue of patients seeking a virtual consultation. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the patient chooses the healthcare professional from a plurality of available healthcare professionals using the patient computer device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual consultation application further connects the patient and the healthcare professional in a virtual consultation. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the patient selects at least one of the video, audio, and chat communications. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual consultation application further provides a compensation interface between the patient and the healthcare professional.