Abstract: Methods and apparatus for tracking antimicrobial resistance based on geography. An application server receives a query from a client application to provide antimicrobial resistance data for a geographic location. The application server determines a geographic region based, at least in part, on the geographic location included in the query, and antimicrobial data for samples collected from patients residing in the geographic region are retrieved from at least one health information datastore of a health information system. The retrieved antimicrobial data comprises information describing antimicrobial resistance of an infectious organism detected in the biological samples to at least one antimicrobial agent, and is transmitted to a client device on which the client application that issued the query is executing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for establishing a healthcare data interface for a healthcare provider associated with a practice management system, wherein the healthcare data interface is established between the practice management system and a healthcare trading partner to enable electronic transmission of data between the practice management system and the healthcare trading partner. The method comprises receiving a request from the healthcare provider to establish the healthcare data interface with the healthcare trading partner and prompting, via a user interface, the healthcare provider for configuration information, wherein the prompting is performed based, at least in part, on information associated with the healthcare trading partner stored by the practice management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a template for automatic data capture are described. The method comprises determining locations of a plurality of data fields in a first document, wherein the plurality of data fields are identified based, at least in part, on structured data associated with the first document, identifying at least one second document that includes the plurality of data fields in locations similar to those determined for the first document to produce a set of documents, determining locations of a plurality of anchorboxes describing common text elements of the set of documents, and generating the template, wherein the template describes locations of the plurality of anchorboxes and locations of the plurality of data fields.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for establishing a healthcare data interface for a healthcare provider associated with a practice management system, wherein the healthcare data interface is established between the practice management system and a healthcare trading partner to enable electronic transmission of data between the practice management system and the healthcare trading partner. The method comprises receiving a request from the healthcare provider to establish the healthcare data interface with the healthcare trading partner and prompting, via a user interface, the healthcare provider for configuration information, wherein the prompting is performed based, at least in part, on information associated with the healthcare trading partner stored by the practice management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating coordination of care. A method of transmitting care coordination data to a healthcare provider associated with a patient based, at least in part, on a proximity of the patient to a healthcare facility may involve determining, with at least one processor, whether the proximity of the patient to the healthcare facility satisfies a criterion. The method may further involve transmitting the care coordination data to the healthcare provider associated with the patient after it is determined that the proximity of the patient to the healthcare facility satisfies the criterion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a template for automatic data capture are described. The method comprises determining locations of a plurality of data fields in a first document, wherein the plurality of data fields are identified based, at least in part, on structured data associated with the first document, identifying at least one second document that includes the plurality of data fields in locations similar to those determined for the first document to produce a set of documents, determining locations of a plurality of anchorboxes describing common text elements of the set of documents, and generating the template, wherein the template describes locations of the plurality of anchorboxes and locations of the plurality of data fields.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconciling clinical data received from an external source with patient data stored by a practice management system are described. Clinical data received from a source external to a healthcare information management component of the practice management system are evaluated to determine whether the received clinical data includes trusted source data. The determination is made based, at least in part, on at least one trusted source rule stored by the practice management system. The trusted source data is automatically reconciled with the patient data stored by the practice management system by performing a reconciliation action based on the at least one trusted source rule stored by the practice management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using a practice management system to track patient compliance with orders issued to a patient by a medical provider. The method comprises determining whether the patient has filled the orders and sending, in response to determining that the patient has not filled the orders, a notification to the patient, wherein the notification includes information instructing the patient to access a user interface to retrieve information about the orders. The method further comprises receiving input via the user interface, wherein the input indicates a status related to filling the orders and updating the practice management system based on the input received via the user interface, wherein the updating is performed in response to receiving the input via the user interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a template for automatic data capture are described. The method comprises determining locations of a plurality of data fields in a first document, wherein the plurality of data fields are identified based, at least in part, on structured data associated with the first document, identifying at least one second document that includes the plurality of data fields in locations similar to those determined for the first document to produce a set of documents, determining locations of a plurality of anchorboxes describing common text elements of the set of documents, and generating the template, wherein the template describes locations of the plurality of anchorboxes and locations of the plurality of data fields.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying and analyzing clusters of medical billing claims in a queue to identify a shared root cause issue for the medical billing claims in the cluster. Exemplary methods and apparatus involve grouping each of the plurality of medical billing claims into clusters based on predetermined cluster patterns that include at least one attribute, validating the clusters using predetermined criteria to determine if the clusters should be analyzed, discarded, and/or marked for further analysis, collecting information about each of the medical billing claims in clusters, and determining a root cause issue for the medical billing claims in the clusters based on the collected information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing customized health history forms for use with a practice management system. The practice management system provides a user interface that enables a user at a medical practice to configure a health history form template. The user at the medical practice provides configuration input via the user interface to produce a configured health history form template, which is stored by the practice management system. A customized health history form may be generated based on the configured health history form template in response to a patient scheduling an appointment of a particular appointment type at the medical practice. The customized health history form may be provided to the patient.

Abstract: A system for automated classification of an image of an electronic document such as a facsimile document. The image is converted to a textual representation, and at least some of the terms in the textual representation may be associated with one or more predefined classification types, thereby enabling the document to be classified, and for multi-page documents, determining boundaries used to split the document into sections. The development of associations between terms and classification types may result from providing, to the system, a training set of manually-classified documents. A training module analyzes the training set to calculate probabilities that particular terms may appear in documents of a particular classification type. Probabilities established during training are used during automated document processing to assign a classification type to the document. A confidence score associated with the assigned classification type provides a metric for assessing the accuracy of the automated process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating an automated configuration of a component of a practice management system for use by a healthcare provider associated with a medical practice. An initial configuration of the component is generated based, at least in part, on global content stored by the practice management system. A self-service implementation tool provided by the practice management system enables a user at the medical practice to refine the initial configuration via a user interface that presents the user with a plurality of tasks to perform. By allowing providers to actively participate in the configuration process by completing assigned tasks via the user interface, the process of configuring a component of the practice management system is simplified compared to conventional practice management systems, which often require an administrator of the practice management system to create a customized solution for each provider or medical practice from scratch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating a payment collection process by enabling a patient to pre-authorize payment for future medical services not covered by the patient's healthcare payer. Rather than sending a statement to a patient instructing the payment to remit an outstanding balance, a practice management system automatically applies electronic funds for the patient's outstanding balance in accordance with terms of a contract executed between the patient and the medical practice at the time of service. By including contract terms such as a predefined maximum charge amount and limited contract duration, patients may feel that their electronic account information is safe and that they will be billed only for what they owe. Additionally, medical practices may have better assurance that remittance for medical services will be paid promptly by patients under the terms of the contract.

Abstract: A method and system for generating and processing barcoded documents such that a safety net may be implemented to catch barcode errors. Barcodes may be generated for placement on the first and last page of documents. Each barcode may be associated with a document. During processing of barcoded documents, if a barcode is missing or misread, the safety net will catch the error and mark the affected pages for further review.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconciling bank transactions with stored deposit entries in a practice management system. A plurality of bank transactions received from a bank are processed to select bank deposits from the plurality of bank transactions. A plurality of matching rules are used to automatically match at least some of the selected bank deposits with the stored deposits in the practice management system. A user interface enables a user to review the results of the automatic matching process and to manually match bank deposits to stored deposit entries. The user interface also enables users to reconcile stored deposit entries in the practice management system to bank statements to facilitate the preparation of month-end financial statements.

Abstract: A healthcare information communication system is configured to facilitate scheduling of patient appointments without sending information to the medical practice indicating preferred appointment times. The system searches a current schedule for appointments at the medical practice for available timeslots to schedule an appointment. The current schedule is stored by a scheduling component of a practice management system. In response to receiving a selection of an available timeslot to schedule the appointment, the current schedule for appointments at the medical practice is updated in real-time without intervention from staff at the medical practice. An administrator at the medical practice may configure aspects of the scheduling component to customize appointment scheduling for one or more departments and/or providers at the medical practice.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating a payment collection process by enabling a patient to pre-authorize payment for future medical services not covered by the patient's healthcare payer. Rather than sending a statement to a patient instructing the payment to remit an outstanding balance, a practice management system automatically applies electronic funds for the patient's outstanding balance in accordance with terms of a contract executed between the patient and the medical practice at the time of service. By including contract terms such as a predefined maximum charge amount and limited contract duration, patients may feel that their electronic account information is safe and that they will be billed only for what they owe. Additionally, medical practices may have better assurance that remittance for medical services will be paid promptly by patients under the terms of the contract.

Abstract: A method and system for generating and processing barcoded documents such that a safety net may be implemented to catch barcode errors. Barcodes may be generated for placement on the first and last page of documents. Each barcode may be associated with a document. During processing of barcoded documents, if a barcode is missing or misread, the safety net will catch the error and mark the affected pages for further review.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing clinical decision support to a healthcare provider. Eligibility criteria and quality measure information for a plurality of performance-based programs is stored and shared quality measures across performance-based programs are identified. Provider and patient characteristics are compared to the stored eligibility criteria and quality measure information to determine which quality measures apply to which providers and patients of the providers. A healthcare provider is provided with a notification at the point of care indicating a recommended action that, when performed by the healthcare provider will satisfy a quality measure in compliance with one or more performance-based programs. Customized reports may be generated and transmitted to program sponsors of performance-based programs, based on formatting rules specified by the program sponsors.