Abstract: A credit card-based prescription benefits plan utilizes an electronic means for telecommunication to rapidly adjudicate prescription claims. The adjudication process includes a third-party claims processor interposed the pharmacy and the patient's credit card clearinghouse to ensure that the subscriber receives all benefits available under the plan. The third-party claims processor may also provide patient counseling and advocacy by performing patient-specific drug regimen reviews to check for potential adverse drug reactions and drug interactions.

Abstract: A method and system of providing biological distance-treatment through a public network includes at least a treatment instrument which is electrically connected with an information connection system for providing a treatment for a registered user, wherein a treatment information data package sent from a service provider via the information connection system through the public network to provide digital treatment signals to control the treatment, wherein the treatment information data package is selected from the treatment information database based on a treatment request sent from the information connection system to the service provider and the health information profile of the registered user in the service provider.

Abstract: An advanced primary nurse care system and process is disclosed which is client-driven for processing a number of clients in a timely manner with enhanced healthcare outcomes. The system and process are sized to provide an optimum patient flow and healthcare. The system includes a computer network having a central system computer. A computer program resides on the system computer for creating a real-time client record as the client proceeds through the system and process. There is a client station connected in the computer network where the client record is initially created and accessed on subsequent visits using a unique client ID code. A client station display monitor displays medical questions regarding the client's health state whereupon the client inputs responses to the questions into the client record. A nurse station is connected in the computer network for receiving the client in the healthcare flow for collecting vital signs and other laboratory information.

Abstract: A communication station is for use with a medical device (such as an infusion pump) and a processing device (such as a computer). The communication station includes a housing, a medical device interface coupled to the housing, a processing device interface coupled to the housing and a processor coupled to the housing. The device interface interfaces with the medical device, and the processing device interface interfaces with the processing device. The processor provides a communication path between the medical device and the processing device such that programming and instructions may be communicated from the processing device to the medical device and data may be transferred from the medical device to the processing device. The communication station may be combined with a system that is capable of generating reports either locally or remotely. In addition, the medical device interface may be a cradle that is configurable to attach to different shaped medical devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system of physician economic performance evaluation in which the relative medical difficulty associated with patients admitted by a particular physician is determined and, given that measurement, judgments made concerning the relative amount of inpatient resources that the physician required. Also, one application of the present invention relates to a method for gainsharing of physician services using a surplus allocation methodology for rewarding physicians in relation to their performance. An incentive pool is determined from previous patient claims and payments made to physicians in advance, such as in a base year. Best practice norms are established for a plurality of classified diagnosis groups. In one embodiment of the present invention, the classified diagnosis related groups are adjusted for severity of illness to compensate for actual clinical challenges faced by individual physicians.

Abstract: A device to make expert knowledge available to a user (doctor) of a medical examination device is provided, with a transmission device in order to transcribe at this examination device a handbook procedure of an outside expert in the form of pulse sequences, protocols, parameter sets or the like for the examination device, coordinated with precise medical diagnoses by the inquiring user with an external (if necessary, decentralized) databank which stores settings for a plurality of clinical cases from patient parameters, as well as a computer (expert system) that searches for appropriate suggestions in the databank upon request, and the user submits one or more suggestions according to the result, in that, on a correspondingly expanded user interface of the user examination device, the respective providers are indicated and parallel and offered to be selected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for processing pharmaceutical orders to determine whether a buyer of pharmaceuticals qualifies for an “own use” discount. “Own use” discounts on pharmaceuticals are available for a limited class of buyers under 35 U.S.C. §13c. Under one method, an auditor receives an order for a quantity of pharmaceuticals, receives a report associated with the order containing sufficient information therein to perform an audit on the order, and compares the information found in the order with the information found in the associated report to make a status determination as to whether a buyer qualifies for an “own use” discount. Preferably a second report containing additional audit information is received as well. The auditor can also audit the order by comparing the order to this additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system of physician economic performance evaluation in which the relative medical difficulty associated with patients admitted by a particular physician is determined and, given that measurement, judgments made concerning the relative amount of inpatient resources that the physician required. Also, one application of the present invention relates to a method for gainsharing of physician services using a surplus allocation methodology for rewarding physicians in relation to their performance. An incentive pool is determined from previous patient claims and payments made to physicians in advance, such as in a base year. Best practice norms are established for a plurality of classified diagnosis groups. In one embodiment of the present invention, the classified diagnosis related groups are adjusted for severity of illness to compensate for actual clinical challenges faced by individual physicians.

Abstract: A communication format and protocol is described for routing and storage “asset” within a computer network. The assets conform to a format in which a first data structure that stores asset meta information to control routing of the asset through a medical imaging network. A second data structure that stores medical imaging information received from a medical imaging modality. A third data structure that stores pixel data received from the medical imaging modality. A fourth data structure that stores patch data that includes modifications to the medical imaging information. A fifth data structure that stores error detection and correction information.

Abstract: A clinical trial study is modeled for automatically generating business intelligence information regarding the clinical trial study. The clinical trial study has a total budget amount and a total amount of deliverables. A software application program is provided that has equations and business rules that together define a process, a timeline, and deliverables associated with the clinical trial study. The program is populated with items including entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables to the clinical trial study, budget items and amounts related to the deliverables for the respective entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables, and for at least some of the budget items, a time frame in which the budget item is expected to be incurred or paid. Business intelligence information is then automatically generated using the equations and business rules in the program, and the items entered into the program.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rapidly and conveniently creating prescriptions through the use of portable digital assistants (PDAs) and bar code scanning technology are provided. Prescriptions are created using a form-based approach in which prescribing options are presented to the prescriber for selection. The system allows entry of medication and patient ID by scanning bar codes. A bar code is generated for each prescription and is used to access the prescription information in a database. The bar code and prescription information can be printed on a ticket, which can be presented at a pharmacy when the prescription is picked up. The use of bar codes allows several levels of checking to ensure that the correct medication is dispensed and that the prescription is valid. Prescription information is transmitted between prescribers and pharmacies via a central site at which prescription information is stored.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a portfolio includes selecting an investment universe with a finite number of assets, forming a belief matrix based on one or more homogeneous inequality relationships among the expected returns of assets in the universe, selecting those asset returns that are consistent with the belief matrix to form a consistent set of return vectors, selecting a set of allowable weight vectors for the assets in the universe, determining a centroid vector of the consistent set of return vectors with respect to a probability measure, and finding an optimal portfolio by finding a weight vector on a boundary of the set of allowable weight vectors that maximizes an inner product with the centroid vector.

Abstract: A system and method for rapid entry of past medical diagnoses allows for development of specific, clinically relevant diagnoses from a simple input medication through use of a developed database that maps an input medication to a specific medical diagnosis through an intermediate indications data set. Input medications are normalized to their generic or chemical name and the normalized medication data is associated to an intermediate diagnosis through a medications indications listing contained in a database. Each medication develops a short list of possible specific and/or macro-diagnoses (indications) consistent with the medications and a selected indication is concept-matched to a specific medical diagnosis in order to develop a proper diagnosis in clinically meaningful terms, from a concept-mapped portion of the database.

Abstract: A method and system for medical analytics implemented on a computer and designed to aid a medical professional in diagnosing one or more diseases afflicting a patient. In contrast to prior art, the present method is based on using clinical data (m) that excludes subjective qualities of and also excludes prevalence of the one or more diseases (i). The method uses a knowledge base that contains disease (i) models exhibiting clinical data (m). Clinical data present (j) in the patient are input into the computer. Then, clinical data present (j) are matched with clinical data (m) in the knowledge base to enable the computer to compose a differential diagnosis list of ruled in diagnoses (k), where k=1 . . . n, for each of the disease (i) models that exhibits at least one clinical datum (m) that matches at least one clinical datum present (j) in the patient.

Abstract: A method and system for automated medical records processing. The method and system includes plural paper and electronic templates specifically designed such that they reduce the complexity of collecting patient encounter information and help generate the appropriate number and type medical codes for a specific type of medical practice when processed. The method and system also includes processing applications that allow easy and automated collection, processing, displaying and recording of medical codes (e.g., diagnosis codes, billing codes, insurance codes, etc.). The medical codes and other types of processed patient encounter information are displayed in real-time on electronic templates immediately after a patient encounter.

Abstract: A method and system suitable for automated adjustment of information represented in the transaction order records from clinical information systems of hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms, in such a manner as to accurately reflect differences in access to care. Techniques from statistical processing are combined in a method that allows for optimization of the parameters such that statistical hypothesis testing using conventional parametric tests are valid and feasible, on account of close approximation to Gaussian normal distribution. The method and system is designed so as to be robust against wide variations in population density and transportation infrastructure, as reflects remote, rural, suburban, and metropolitan environments. Once optimized, the method and system can achieve reliable performance with regard to longitudinal measurement of health access indicators, which are used in planning and managing health services.

Abstract: In general, variations that occur when health care resources are allocated based on dated information may be corrected by receiving a report of a health care transaction to be processed by a health care intermediary administering a health savings account, determining that the health care transaction creates a variation when the health care transaction was initiated based on an indicated status that is different from the actual status of the health savings account, and resolving the variation by interfacing with the health resource provider to correct the variation.

Abstract: A test method that helps identify foods that may be causing a reaction in an individual involves the individual entering into a computer a daily log of all the foods they routinely eat and any reactions that they may experience. The reactions may be headaches, fatigue, physical pain, depression, etc. The test method can be done without the individual having to follow any prescribed diet. After recording several weeks or months of data, the computer analyzes the data to determine if any significant mathematical correlations exist between a reaction and any of the foods, whereby a high positive correlation may suggest that the food is perhaps related to the reaction. In addition to food items, the method can analyze the correlation of other influencing agents such as environmental exposures, inhalants, menses, and stress.

Abstract: The invention herein generally pertains to underwriting an insurance policy utilizing sensors to detect, determine, measure and assess one or more conditions, states of affairs, physical properties and process as each relates an insurable property interest. More specifically is disclosed a method and computerized system for managing the underwriting, quoting and binding an insurance policy with regard to the technology used to militate against the financial consequences of certain property losses. The significance of operable safety related devices or system loads are important diagnostic safety markers for measuring one or more properties affecting the safety or risk aversion and for underwriting an insurable interest. This invention also relates to a system and a method for acquiring and assessing the qualities, variables and parameters that affect the underwriting premium for a building structure (commercial or residential), vehicle, aircraft, marine craft or cargo.

Abstract: Methods of the present invention are designed to offer insurance to lessees of vehicles to cover up front, out-of-pocket lease expenses in the event of a total loss, e.g., theft, and preferably include steps performed by a vehicle leasing dealer as well as steps performed by one or more participating insurers. The steps are preferably performed with the aid of computing devices which are in communication. When the lease is prepared, the relevant information about the lease and the lessee is submitted by the lease dealer to the participating insurers. The insurers determine the cost of supplemental insurance based on this information and, if the cost is acceptable, offer insurance coverage to the lessee.