Abstract: Unfilled prescriptions are submitted to a registry comprising pre-qualified pharmacies for a “reverse auction” in which the pharmacies bid for the opportunity to fill the prescription. The pharmacies are allowed to bid based on price and/or offering ancillary services. The auction may also be used to bid on supplying specified pharmaceutical cognitive services. The method may also include obtaining cost comparisons with generic substitutes or similar alternative pharmaceutical products. The system may further comprise automatically requesting a review by the prescriber for a list of similar substitutes or prior-authorization for third-party payers. The winner of the reverse auction is selected by the customer. A prescription benefits manager may offer options of a reverse auction, or non-auction fulfillment of the unfilled prescription in accordance with a benefit plan design.

Abstract: A system and method for gathering quality data for a plurality of healthcare providers over an extended computer network is disclosed. The system and method comprise an enhanced services server in electronic data communication with a plurality of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems via a network connection, the plurality of EHR systems being configured to capture patient data for a plurality of patients at the plurality of healthcare providers' sites during a plurality of encounters with each of the plurality of patients, and the enhanced services server being built on the same architecture as the plurality of EHR systems. Electronic quality of care forms are retrieved from one or more form managers via the network connection and a plurality of fields in each of the electronic quality of care forms are automatically populated using the patient data captured by the plurality of EHR systems.

Abstract: A system includes a healthcare server for determining a return on investment (ROI) for a healthcare program of an organization that provides healthcare services to patients. The healthcare server includes an expense determination module, a benefit determination module and a ROI module. The expense determination module determines operating expenses for the healthcare program. The benefit determination module determines benefits of the healthcare program to beneficiaries of the healthcare program. The beneficiaries include the organization, the patients, employers of the patients and a community that is served by the healthcare program. The ROI module determines the ROI for the healthcare program based on the operating expenses and the benefits.

Abstract: A system and method for gathering quality data for a plurality of healthcare providers over an extended computer network is disclosed. The system and method comprise an enhanced services server in electronic data communication with a plurality of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems via a network connection, the plurality of EHR systems being configured to capture patient data for a plurality of patients at the plurality of healthcare providers' sites during a plurality of encounters with each of the plurality of patients, and the enhanced services server being built on the same architecture as the plurality of EHR systems. Electronic quality of care forms are retrieved from one or more form managers via the network connection and a plurality of fields in each of the electronic quality of care forms are automatically populated using the patient data captured by the plurality of EHR systems.

Abstract: A system and method for the efficient administration of health care plans, particularly as to the reduction and/or elimination of avoidable medical costs for select individuals who participate in the plan, is disclosed. Existing health care data is processed to determine an indication as to the relative desirability of an intervention in a plan participant's health care regimen. The data is also processed to determine the status of one or more flags, each of which potentially indicates the relative desirability of an intervention in a plan participant's health care regimen. A predictive model is used to determine the status of a flag relating to the likelihood of an insurance plan participant making a disability claim within a certain period of time. The information relating to desirability of an intervention in a plan participant's health care regimen, as well as a plan participant's medical information and claim history, is presented to case managers and/or health care providers in a user-friendly format.

Abstract: Management of patient activities for a clinician is provided by a patient activity list the may present the clinician's role relevant activities in conjunction with multidisciplinary activities to be performed for a patient. A timeline view area is presented having role relevant scheduled activities for one or more patients assigned to the clinician. Each role relevant scheduled activity comprises an activity to be performed by the clinician and is presented in the timeline view area based on a scheduled time and in association with a corresponding patient. When a user selection of at least one of the patients is received, one or more multidisciplinary activities for the patient are presented within the timeline view area. The multidisciplinary activities include activities scheduled to be performed by other clinicians, and each multidisciplinary activity is presented in the timeline view area based on a scheduled time.

Abstract: The computer-implemented system of providing online medical consultation services by a team of medical professionals begins when a user accesses the system website. The user selects the level of consultation services desired and a case submission form is provided to the user requesting information relating to desired medical consultation. The user provides the requested information on case submission form. If additional information is required, it is obtained. When the case is ready for submission, members of the medical professional team are selected for consultation on the case and forwarded the particulars of the submitted case via the Internet. The selected team members review the submitted case particulars and each member provides their medical opinion via Internet. The submitted opinions are recorded and displayed in real time on the system website, to which the user has access. In addition, the submitted opinions to structured questions are compiled to determine if there is a consensus.

Abstract: A patient registration record and payment system creates, maintains and transfers all relevant data electronically. The system captures patient registration and payment data, such as personal, demographic and insurance coverage information, medical history, frequently accessed healthcare providers, and data specifying one or more funding sources to pay for the amount of a medical visit for which the patient is responsible at the time of entry using graphical user interfaces through the Internet or a local area network. Moreover, the system includes the capability to access reference databases regarding verification of data for accuracy, completeness and validity on a continuous, automated basis and, where such reference databases are not available, to initiate manual verification of data for accuracy, completeness and validity by system personnel prior to making patient registration data available to customers or transferring such data to customer databases.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a verification technique that facilitates administration of a health-related procedure to an intended recipient patient or group of patients. An interface template may be configured to establish verifiable matching engagement between the patient and various types of objects used to administer the health-related procedure.

Abstract: Computerized methods in a clinical computing environment for predicting mortality in critically ill patients, that is, patients admitted to Intensive Care Units, are provided. In accordance with embodiments hereof, at least two distinctly different mortality prediction models (e.g., the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE®) model and the Mortality Probability Model at Admission (MPM0) are utilized in a multi-stage fashion to determine, with better accuracy than may be provided by either mortality prediction model alone, the probability of mortality for critically ill adult patients.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a verification technique that facilitates administration of a health-related procedure to an intended recipient patient or group of patients. An interface template may be configured to establish verifiable matching engagement between the patient and various types of objects used to administer the health-related procedure. In one instance, a method includes, but is not limited to, establishing an interface template to serve as an identifier for a health-related issue involving a particular patient; adopting a primary version of the interface template that is located in proximity to the particular patient; adopting a secondary version of the interface template that is shaped for verifiable matching engagement with the primary version of the interface template; and associating the secondary version of the interface template with a selected procedure intended for the particular patient.

Abstract: A system is implemented to collect data from a plurality of different sources. The data comprises information about episodes experienced by a plurality of consumers. The system is configured to receive a cost estimate request from a user for a specified episode. The may access the data to determine a plurality of service items for the specified episode and the associated cost of each service item. An episode may be associated with one or many service items. The network-based service may generate a response to the cost estimate request. The response may include the plurality of service items determined for the specified episode and the associated cost information. The system may send the response to the user.

Abstract: A device for managing health data provides a first housing portion including a data storage system that stores health data and a second housing portion including a data communications element. The data communications element provides data communications between the data storage system and a processing device that processes the health data according to a data-management software. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are connected by a cable that communicates signals between the data communications element and other components in the first housing portion. Another device for managing health data provides a first housing portion including a health data management system and a data communications element that provides data communications between the health data management system and an external processing device. The second housing portion is removably coupled to the first housing portion, and includes at least one component used by the health data management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus enabling organizations with a need to communicate with healthcare providers regarding health-related issues affecting patient health to notify healthcare providers of a health-related issue affecting patient health are disclosed. An electronic notification of the health-related issue is transmitted by one of the organizations to a healthcare notification network, which may include a healthcare website, for transmission to a healthcare provider, where the electronic notification includes a mechanism for obtaining an acknowledgement indicating that the healthcare provider has received and opened the electronic notification. Healthcare related information, such as drug recalls and medication warnings to healthcare providers from content providers, along with other services, is provided at the healthcare website. Healthcare related information may also be provided through other websites, such as electronic prescription and electronic medical/health records websites.

Abstract: An Internet-enabled rental vehicle reservation management method and system are disclosed. Via the system and method, authorized purchasers can select a rental vehicle service provider from a among a plurality of competitive rental vehicle service providers via at least one graphical user interface (GUI) menu, and the authorized purchasers can further interact with the system and method to (1) automatically book a rental vehicle reservation with a selected competitive rental vehicle service provider without human intervention on the part of personnel of the selected competitive rental vehicle service provider operating the computer system and (2) manage the booked rental vehicle reservation. In an exemplary embodiment, the reservations created and managed through the system and method are replacement rental vehicles and the authorized purchasers are insurance company personnel.

Abstract: A decison flowchart of a triage protocol is provided for a medical condition of a patient. The flowchart includes a plurality of decision blocks. Each decision block relates to one or more patient symptoms and/or considerations. A plurality of exit points are provided in the flowchart. Each exit point is associated with a respective decision block. Each exit point is reached upon the presence or absence of a symptom or consideration in the respective decision block. Each exit point recommends an action to be taken by the patient. The exit points may be customized. More specifically, the recommended action at selected exit points may be individually selected from a plurality of selectable actions. Thus, the decision flowchart may provide different recommended courses of action for a patient having the same symptoms and/or considerations based upon individual selections. The recommended action becomes an exit message for the respective exit point.

Abstract: A system of machines, databases, user interfaces, graphical displays and data input systems produces comparisons of community health conditions, recommendations to achieve community health improvements and other tangible outputs. The creation, selection and evolution of promising health practices and best health practices is facilitated and continuously reported.

Abstract: A process, a system and a computer program product and computer readable medium are disclosed for the sequential control and execution of a medical task. In at least one embodiment, the task is processed with the aid of a plurality of different, computer-implemented, medical-technical, stateful applications. In at least one embodiment, the invention uses a 3-layer software architecture including a data layer, a business logic layer, and presentation layer. With the aid of a central server, the option is provided of a one-time loading of the extensive datasets for a task and the applications for a task, so that the datasets and the applications are subsequently preserved for a user of the medical task. As a result, multiple waiting periods for the user are avoided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for collecting, preparing, and/or analyzing a biological sample. A sample collection site may be utilized with one or more sample processing device. The sample processing device may be configured to accept a sample from a subject. The sample processing device may perform one or more sample preparation step and/or chemical reaction involving the sample. Data related to the sample may be sent from the device to a laboratory. The laboratory may be a certified laboratory that may generate a report that is transmitted to a health care professional. The health care professional may rely on the report for diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing a disease in the subject.

Abstract: A system, pharmacy management software, and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in patient care facilities are provided. The pharmacy management software, for example, can include instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the operations of providing instructions to pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts positioned at various patient care facilities according to patient specific prescription requirements, receiving dispensing data from each of the carts, and providing separate billing records including billing data indexed by reimbursement provider for each patient at the patient care facilities. The operations can also include consolidating the billing data by patient, by patient care facility, by remote pharmacy, and/or consolidating billing data by reimbursement provider, and submitting separate consolidated reimbursement claims electronically to each respective reimbursement provider.