System and method for initiating telemedicine conference using self-diagnostic test

Abstract

A method for initiating a telemedicine conference on a mobile device that receives at least one image of a diagnostic testing device having a test result area at a server. Digital image processing is performed on the at least one image of the diagnostic testing device. The processing recognizes, in the at least one image, a diagnostic test identifier on the diagnostic testing device. The diagnostic test identifier identifies that the diagnostic testing device that is associated with testing of a specific medical condition. Colored pixels are counted in at least a portion of the test result area in the at least one image. A color intensity of digital pixels in the counted colored pixels is identified in the test result area of the at least one image. Diagnostic test results are determined based on the identified color intensity of the digital pixels in the test result area in the at least one image. If the diagnostic test results are determined to include a positive result for the specific medical condition associated with the diagnostic testing device, a determination is made of whether to initiate a telemedicine conference with a telemedicine provider. The telemedicine conference is initiated with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine initiation option should be initiated. The diagnostic test results are sent to the telemedicine provider responsive to a determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for initiating a telemedicine conference on a mobile device, comprising:
 receiving at least one image of a diagnostic testing device having a test result area;   performing digital image processing on the at least one image of the diagnostic testing device, including:
 recognizing, in the at least one image, a diagnostic test identifier on the diagnostic testing device, wherein the diagnostic test identifier identifies that the diagnostic testing device is associated with testing of a specific medical condition; 
 counting colored pixels in at least a portion of the test result area in the at least one image; 
 identifying a color intensity of digital pixels in the counted colored pixels in the test result area of the at least one image; 
 determining diagnostic test results based on the identified color intensity of the digital pixels in the test result area in the at least one image; 
   determining if the diagnostic test results include a positive result for the specific medical condition associated with the diagnostic testing device;   determining whether to initiate a telemedicine conference with a telemedicine provider;   initiating the telemedicine conference with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine initiation option should be initiated; and   sending the diagnostic test results to the telemedicine provider responsive to a determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether to initiate a telemedicine conference further comprises:
 initiating generation, if the diagnostic test results include a positive result, of a telemedicine initiation option on a screen of the mobile device; and   determining whether the telemedicine initiation option is selected.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of initiating the telemedicine conference further comprises the step of initiating the telemedicine conference responsive to a determination that the telemedicine initiate option has been selected. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether to initiate a teleconference further comprise determining whether to initiate the telemedicine conference with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determined diagnostic test result including the positive test result. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of sending additional medical history information to the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of retrieving at least one medical code from a database, wherein the at least one medical code is associated with the diagnostic test identifier and the diagnostic test result. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of sending the diagnostic test results further includes sending the retrieved medical code to the telemedicine provider. 
     
     
         8 . A system for handing off diagnostic test results to a telemedicine provider, comprising:
 a server coupled to a network;   a memory coupled to the server, the memory storing a plurality of instructions for execution by the server to configure the server to:
 receive at least one image of a diagnostic testing device having a test result area; 
 perform digital image processing on the at least one image of the diagnostic testing device, including:
 recognize, in the at least one image, a diagnostic test identifier on the diagnostic testing device, wherein the diagnostic test identifier identifies that the diagnostic testing device is associated with testing of a specific medical condition; 
 count colored pixels in at least a portion of the test result area in the at least one image; 
 identify a color intensity of digital pixels in the counted colored pixels in the test result area of the at least one image; 
 determine diagnostic test results based on the identified color intensity of the digital pixels in the test result area in the at least one image; 
 
 determine if the diagnostic test results include a positive result for the specific medical condition associated with the diagnostic testing device; 
 determine whether to initiate a telemedicine conference with a telemedicine provider; 
 initiate the telemedicine conference with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine initiation option should be initiated; and 
 send the diagnostic test results to the telemedicine provider responsive to a determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to determine whether to initiate a telemedicine conference further configure the server to:
 initiate generation, if the diagnostic test results include a positive result, of a telemedicine initiation option on a screen of the mobile device; and   determine whether the telemedicine initiation option is selected.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions to initiate the telemedicine conference further configure the server to initiate the telemedicine conference responsive to a determination that the telemedicine initiate option has been selected. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to determine whether to initiate a teleconference further configure the server to determine whether to initiate the telemedicine conference with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determined diagnostic test result including the positive test result. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further configure the server to send additional medical history information to the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further configure the server to retrieving at least one medical code from a database, wherein the at least one medical code is associated with the diagnostic test identifier and the diagnostic test result. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions to send the diagnostic test results further configure the server to send the retrieved medical code to the telemedicine provider. 
     
     
         15 . A system for handing off diagnostic test results to a telemedicine provider, comprising:
 a server coupled to a network;   a database storing a plurality of medical codes associated with diagnostic test identifiers and diagnostic test results;   a memory coupled to the server, the memory storing a plurality of instructions for execution by the server to configure the server to:
 receive at least one image of a diagnostic testing device having a test result area; 
 perform digital image processing on the at least one image of the diagnostic testing device, including:
 recognize, in the at least one image, a diagnostic test identifier on the diagnostic testing device, wherein the diagnostic test identifier identifies that the diagnostic testing device is associated with testing of a specific medical condition; 
 count colored pixels in at least a portion of the test result area in the at least one image; 
 identify a color intensity of digital pixels in the counted colored pixels in the test result area of the at least one image; 
 determine diagnostic test results based on the identified color intensity of the digital pixels in the test result area in the at least one image; 
 
 determine if the diagnostic test results include a positive result for the specific medical condition associated with the diagnostic testing device; 
 retrieve at least one medical code from the database, wherein the at least one medical code is associated with the diagnostic test identifier and the diagnostic test result; 
 determine whether to initiate a telemedicine conference with a telemedicine provider; 
 initiate the telemedicine conference with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine initiation option should be initiated; and 
 send the at least one medical code to the telemedicine provider responsive to a determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions to determine whether to initiate a telemedicine conference further configure the server to:
 initiate generation, if the diagnostic test results include a positive result, of a telemedicine initiation option on a screen of the mobile device; and   determine whether the telemedicine initiation option is selected.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to initiate the telemedicine conference further configure the server to initiate the telemedicine conference responsive to a determination that the telemedicine initiate option has been selected. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions to determine whether to initiate a teleconference further configure the server to determine whether to initiate the telemedicine conference with the telemedicine provider responsive to the determined diagnostic test result including the positive test result. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further configure the server to send additional medical history information to the telemedicine provider responsive to the determination that the telemedicine interview has been initiated.