Abstract: A system and method for analyzing population-based patient information is provided. The method includes the steps of data mining a plurality of patient records using a domain knowledge base relating to a disease of interest; compiling the mined data into a plurality of structured patient records; inputting at least one patient criteria relating to the disease of interest; and extracting at least one structured patient record matching the at least one patient criteria. The system includes a data miner for mining information from the plurality of patient records using a domain knowledge base relating to a disease of interest and for compiling the mined data into a plurality of structured patient records; an interface for inputting at least one patient criteria relating to the disease of interest; and a processor adapted for extracting at least one of the structured patient records matching the at least one patient criteria.

Abstract: An interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask face is proposed. At least two empty images and at least two fill images are recorded in a mask phase A with a matrix-type array of pixels and stored. The empty and fill images are processed such that the gray values of each pixel of the x-ray images from mask phase A are arranged in ascending order. A mask image is computed from the processed empty and fill images such that the smallest gray values are averaged and from which the mask image will be formed. At least one current x-ray image is recorded and subtracted from the mask image to create roadmap images.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a 2D contour of a vessel structure imaged in 3D image data for a first slice plane of the vessel structure, wherein the 3D image data was generated using a medical imaging system and has a multiplicity of image voxels which are all assigned a respective image value.

Abstract: A system that can enable establishment of a self-describing data network is provided. Generally, the innovation provides a mechanism by which self-describing data can be collected, validated and stored in such a way that permits each data element to be inherently self-describing. The manner in which the data is stored can be analogized to a ‘data chemistry’ whereby data is stored in the smallest meaningful bit (e.g., atom) coupled with descriptive metadata (e.g., tags). In a specific example, the data network maintains health-related data where each element includes a core data element wrapped with descriptive metadata. The descriptive metadata (e.g., tags) can be employed to interrelate the data elements for storage as well as to facilitate efficient traversal of the data network as a whole.

Abstract: A medical guideline integration engine is presented. The engine imports medical guideline information from disparate sources based on various guideline standards into a knowledge base. The knowledge base houses the information in a database. Upon request, the engine retrieves the information from the knowledge base and converts the information into a desired guideline format.

Abstract: Certain embodiments present a system for generating a medical teaching file message. An image identifier labels medical images based upon information pertaining to user interaction with the image. The system also provides an image search engine that scans and indexes images within a database based on a set of rules. The image search engine generates a subset of images from a larger group of medical images within a database based upon the rules. The system also includes a supporting data selection engine for accepting a free text search query from an interface. The supporting data selection engine scans medical databases based on the free text search query, and provides the supporting data search results via an interface. A teaching file message is generated either automatically or manually from the subset of images and the supporting data search results for transmission to a teaching file.

Abstract: A station such as a telemedicine booth may send a request for medical service to a routing agent, which may route the request for medical service to a medical service provider. The routing may be based on one or more routing criteria, such as for example medical parameters of a user collected at the station and sent to the routing agent, location of a user, or quality of service indicators.

Abstract: Novel methods for delivering a drug to a patient while preventing the exposure of a fetus or other contraindicated individual to the drug. Embodiments are provided in which the involved prescribers, pharmacies and patients are registered in one or more computer databases. Embodiments are also provided in which registered patients receive counseling information concerning the risks attendant to fetal exposure to the drug. Male patients and female patients who are not pregnant may, in certain circumstances, receive the drug.

Abstract: An online business method and system enables donors or parents or guardians of donors to order and purchase stem-cells extracted from biological tissue sampled from the donor, such as, for example, cord-blood stem cells of a newborn baby, wherein the ordering process interfaces directly with the attending medical services, and the service steps include collection, extraction, preservation, containment, packaging, delivery and storage of the stem cells in a storage medium that can be cost-effectively maintained in a storage facility or by the donor, parent or guardian at home. In one embodiment, preservation is by freeze-drying, containment is in a vacuum vial, and storage is at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of determining a quality of care provided by a healthcare provider to individuals in a population is provided. A data processing apparatus that has one or more processors is disclosed. Data representing biomarkers for individuals in a population is received. Baseline and present risks are determined. Risk reduction values are determined. Based on the current risk reduction, a quality score is determined. A scale is created, and the quality score is mapped to the scale. The global quality score of the disclosure provides numerous benefits over past performance measures.

Abstract: A regional redefiner redefines a bounding area in sets of chromatographic/mass spectroscopic images. The redefiner defines and localizes peaks in the images which point to a common feature of interest. A redefined bounding area locates other peaks associated with the feature of interest. Peaks can be iteratively identified and extracted using constituent images or a composite image formed as a combination of a set of constituent images.

Abstract: A user desiring to check safety of an individual to be rescued can check safety estimation information, medical insurance information, information about a vital sign, and clinical information about an individual via a portable terminal. A system includes a relief database receiving information recorded on a personal medical database and a vital device and recording the information, a safety condition calculating unit calculating safety estimation information where a safety condition of the individual is estimated by comparing the clinical information and the information about the vital sign recorded on the relief database, and a portable terminal accessing the medial insurance information recorded on the relief database, the safety estimation information, and the information about the vital sign and the clinical information recorded on the relief database and displaying the medical insurance information, the safety estimation information, the information about the vital sign, and the clinical information.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for monitoring patients in a unit of a hospital, an entire hospital, or several hospitals. In some of these embodiments, the methods receives data pertaining to multiple patients. The method aggregates the data and calculated scores based on the received data. The method also calculates trends associated with the aggregated data and/or the generated scores. The method further displays the aggregated and calculated data in a unified display that facilitates efficient allocation of resources in the hospital unit, the hospital, or the group of hospitals.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of optimizing the collection of specimens, e.g., of blood, when multiple laboratory tests have been prescribed at one time for a patient. Laboratory tests may use specimens such as blood drawn, e.g., through venipuncture, and patients may experience greater discomfort, inconvenience, and/or anxiety as more and more blood is collected, and at greater expense. Embodiments of the invention include computer systems configured to optimize the collection of specimens for laboratory tests to reduce the number of specimens that must be collected from a patient for any given set of laboratory tests.

Abstract: An image processing system includes an image processing device and an image processing terminal which are connected to each other via a network. The image processing device includes a dye-amount estimating unit that estimates a dye amount of a stained sample stained with a predetermined dye based on a stained sample image obtained by capturing a multiband image of the stained sample, for each pixel of the stained sample image; and a dye-amount transmitting unit that transmits the estimated dye amount of the stained sample to the image processing terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a user to select a healthcare services package is disclosed where a central server generally receives personal information data from the user over the Internet regarding the user's preferences with respect to healthcare service providers and the user's sponsor, i.e., the party responsible for paying for all or part of the user's healthcare costs (such as an employer, an insurance company or the user himself). The server thereafter provides a list comprising a plurality of healthcare service providers and information regarding the healthcare service providers (e.g., specialty, rate, location, hospital affiliation, etc.) to the user for selection by the user of a healthcare services panel.

Abstract: A rule-based unsupervised process for classifying cervical tissue by serially applying classifiers selected from the group that consists of determining size of texture region, opacity parameter, size of acetowhite regions, number of coarse and fine punctations, size of coarse and fine mosaics, size of atypical blood vessels and demographic data, so that the cervical tissue can be classified into no evidence of disease, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia or cancer.

Abstract: In embodiments, a health insurance computer application enterprise system is provided employing a service oriented architecture (SOA) with a service granularity component that dynamically customizes a reusable service based on one or more of user identity element, service data elements, and service action elements parsed from service request parameters. The health insurance enterprise system includes a plurality of applications making use of functionality provided by a reusable service. In an embodiment, the health insurance enterprise system includes a customer service application, a consumer web portal application, and an integrated voice response (IVR) application. The applications provide different channels of communicating health insurance data to various health insurance system constituents by presenting customized views of the data tailored to a given communications method, user access rights, as well as other factors.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods of a healthcare exchange system to exchange medical information, stored in different formats, between different entities. This exchange system provides a channel for the flow of information and patient records across different health care entities that may store data in different formats. The exchange system's ability to receive requests and retrieve corresponding data from various entities, along with the transformation of data from the storing format into a format specified by the requesting entity, allow a flexible and extendable healthcare information exchange system.

Abstract: A system and method is described for building a community of clients and radiologists. The method and system bring clients i.e. persons or organisations requiring the analysis of radiographic images, together with radiologists i.e. persons or organisations qualified to undertake analyses of radiographic images. The clients and radiologists register their respective requirements and services with the system, the system matching a suitable client to a suitable radiologist. The method and system use an algorithm to match client and radiologist(s) most effectively. A open feedback facility in which the client indicates his satisfaction with the radiologist (e.g. quality of report, timeliness, cost), and in which the radiologist also indicates his satisfaction with the client (e.g. image quality, quality of associated data, timely payment) is implemented so the quality of service and client of a teleradiology community evolves and high standards are achieved.