Abstract: Transactional costs associated with providing professional services are reduced by allowing prospective patients/clients (bidders) and professional service providers to negotiate competitively for desired fees for proffered services through an interactive on-line communications network such as the Internet. In an exemplary arrangement, a transaction system includes a communications network server that interfaces and communicates online with client computer systems belonging to various prospective bidders and personal medical service providers using, for example, an exchange of HTML documents and/or JAVA script applets. A service feedback interface and database are provided for handling online feedback information and comments from patients/clients and providers regarding the complexity and quality of services received or provided. A procedure complexity rating value based on concurrent personal medical problems/pre-existing conditions known to the prospective patient is defined and posted online.

Abstract: Transactional costs associated with providing professional services are reduced by allowing prospective patients/clients (bidders) and professional service providers to negotiate competitively for desired fees for proffered services through an interactive on-line communications network such as the Internet. In an exemplary arrangement, a transaction system includes a communications network server that interfaces and communicates online with client computer systems belonging to various prospective bidders and personal medical service providers using, for example, an exchange of HTML documents and/or JAVA script applets. A transaction system server handles online communications and procedures for conducting auctions for delivery of proffered services and maintains a registration database of service providers and bidders. An authentication/qualifier engine automatically researches and verifies service provider credentials and background information upon registration of a service provider with the system.

Abstract: Transactional costs associated with providing professional services are reduced by allowing prospective patients/clients (bidders) and professional service providers to negotiate competitively for desired fees for proffered services through an interactive on-line communications network such as the Internet. In an exemplary arrangement, a transaction system includes a communications network server that interfaces and communicates online with client computer systems belonging to various prospective bidders and personal medical service providers using, for example, an exchange of HTML documents and/or JAVA script applets. A transaction system server handles online communications and procedures for conducting auctions for delivery of proffered services and maintains a registration database of service providers and bidders. An authentication/qualifier engine automatically researches and verifies service provider credentials and background information upon registration of a service provider with the system.

Abstract: An on-line health market exchange (HME) service method and system is provided which, in addition to hosting an on-line medical services auctioning system, includes interactive tools for arranging financing of successful bids, performing on-line research of proffered services and providers, as well as participating on-line in other healthcare related negotiations and transactions. The on-line HME system provides an Internet accessible web-site that acts as a “one stop” full service on-line marketplace for use by healthcare service providers and prospective consumers/patients for negotiating and consummating transactions for proffered medical/healthcare services and products. The on-line HME service also provides Internet access to customized proprietary databases and interactive tools for obtaining credentials information and for conducting on-line research concerning prospective healthcare service providers/facilities, and for making on-line payments/arrangements for healthcare/medical service financing.