Abstract: A method and computer program product is provided that, in various embodiments, may provide a measure of efficiency of resources used in medical treatment plan options. A normalized Relative Resource Value (RRV) may be obtained that measures the level of resources required to satisfy a “normal” case for a particular aspect of medical care. Applying this value against actual costs allows ranking and/or comparison of health care providers relative to one another on the basis of the price or resources applied or utilized. Moreover, applying the RRV against the quality of outcome allows comparison and ranking of providers on overall value. The invention may be applied to the components of medical care comprising, inter alia, acute inpatient, non-acute inpatient, outpatient, professional office-based care including scheduled outpatient, and pharmacy/prescriptions.

Abstract: A prepaid cellular telephone system and a method of providing prepaid cellular telephone services is provided. The telephone system includes a server operatively connected to a local exchange carrier for placing and receiving telephone calls and a handset for placing and receiving telephone calls over a cellular network. All non-emergency calls placed by the handset are direct to the server. In addition, the handset places a telephone call to the server in response to the receipt of an incoming telephone call by the handset. As a result, all non-emergency telephone calls placed or received by the handset may be monitored by the server for billing purposes.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmitting data between a transmitting device and a receiving device. The method includes the steps of selecting a first type of data path for transmitting the data from the transmitting device to the receiving device. The transmitting device is connected to the receiving device over a wireless telephonic network and a control data packet is transmitted over the wireless network to the receiving device utilizing the first data path. An information data packet is built in response to the control data packet. The information data packet is transmitted from the receiving device to the transmitting device.