Abstract: A patient flow management system includes a means for identifying a patient as the patient approaches an examination area. When the patient is identified, a patient encounter screen, which provides both patient data and medical procedure data, is provided in the examination area, thereby decreasing the need for paper charts and increasing the efficiency of the facility. The system can also include a timer for determining an amount of time that a patient has been left in an examination room, and kiosks for checking into an appointment and providing identifying tokens to the patient. The kiosks can identify whether a patient is in an appropriate location for check in, and guide the patient to an appropriate location.

Abstract: A method and system for helping a patient check in for a scheduled activity wherein activities occur proximate corresponding locations, respectively, the method comprising the steps of providing a check in resource at the second location for checking clients in for the second subset of activities, associating at least a first electronic kiosk with the first subset activities, positioning the first kiosk at the first location for use by clients to check in for first subset activities, via the first kiosk, receiving identifying information from a first client, identifying at least a first currently scheduled activity for the first client, determining that the first currently scheduled activity is one of the second subset activities and via the first kiosk, indicating that the first client cannot check in for the first currently scheduled activity via the first kiosk.

Abstract: A method and system for helping a client check in for a scheduled activity wherein at least first and second subsets of activities occur proximate first and second locations, respectively, the method comprising the steps of providing a check in resource at the second location for checking clients in for the second subset of activities, associating at least a first electronic kiosk with the first subset activities, positioning the first kiosk at the first location for use by clients to check in for first subset activities, via the first kiosk, receiving identifying information from a first client, identifying at least a first currently scheduled activity for the first client, determining that the first currently scheduled activity is one of the second subset activities and via the first kiosk, indicating that the first client cannot check in for the first currently scheduled activity via the first kiosk.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient including the steps of providing an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility, receiving identifying information for the patient, identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities and presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a processor, a database and an interface including a display screen, the database including schedule information associated with utilization of time for at least one medical resource that may be scheduled for use over a period including several sub-periods, the method for aiding a scheduler responsible for scheduling the resource to optimally schedule new requests for the resource's time, the method comprising the steps of identifying a utilization value for at least one schedule sub-period for the at least one resource wherein the utilization value indicates current use of time for the at least one sub-period for the at least one resource, identifying an optimization indicator at least in part as a function of the utilization value for the at least one sub-period and presenting the optimization indicator via the display.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient including the steps of providing an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility, receiving identifying information for the patient, identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities and presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient including the steps of providing an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility, receiving identifying information for the patient, identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities and presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for searching for and scheduling appointments in a health care environment. The present invention is a computerized searching and scheduling system and method for scheduling appointments. The computerized searching and scheduling system and method comprises a plurality of search definitions for defining a plurality of standard searches based on health care provider pools, date offsets and time ranges. The plurality of search definitions define a plurality of appointment visits that are available for scheduling appointments. The computerized searching and scheduling system and method further comprises a plurality of scheduling algorithms for determining a scheduling solution based on parameters and rules by visit type, procedure, providers, and/or resources. Execution of the plurality of search algorithms provides a plurality of available appointment time options for selection in scheduling an appointment.

Abstract: A method of providing a healthcare provider the ability to schedule an appointment including receiving a patient's requested appointment from an appointment scheduler; receiving an initial visit type from the appointment scheduler corresponding to the requested appointment; scheduling the requested appointment when it is determined that the requested appointment corresponds to a basic appointment; and providing the appointment scheduler with a set of decision support tools and responding to the requested appointment, when it is determined that the requested appointment corresponds to a complex appointment.

Abstract: A patient flow management system includes a means for identifying a patient as the patient approaches an examination area. When the patient is identified, a patient encounter screen, which provides both patient data and medical procedure data, is provided in the examination area, thereby decreasing the need for paper charts and increasing the efficiency of the facility. The system can also include a timer for determining an amount of time that a patient has been left in an examination room, and kiosks for checking into an appointment and providing identifying tokens to the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting and confirming payors for patient activities at a medical facility where the method includes providing a kiosk type interface at the medical facility for use by patients and presenting a series of questions to a patient to obtain information usable by a processor to identify and confirm payors for activities at the facility.

Abstract: A method and system for helping a client check in for a scheduled activity wherein at least first and second subsets of activities occur proximate first and second locations, respectively, the method comprising the steps of providing a check in resource at the second location for checking clients in for the second subset of activities, associating at least a first electronic kiosk with the first subset activities, positioning the first kiosk at the first location for use by clients to check in for first subset activities, via the first kiosk, receiving identifying information from a first client, identifying at least a first currently scheduled activity for the first client, determining that the first currently scheduled activity is one of the second subset activities and via the first kiosk, indicating that the first client cannot check in for the first currently scheduled activity via the first kiosk.

Abstract: A method of providing a healthcare provider the ability to schedule an appointment including receiving a patient's requested appointment from an appointment scheduler; receiving an initial visit type from the appointment scheduler corresponding to the requested appointment; scheduling the requested appointment when it is determined that the requested appointment corresponds to a basic appointment; and providing the appointment scheduler with a set of decision support tools and responding to the requested appointment, when it is determined that the requested appointment corresponds to a complex appointment.