Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are described. Embodiments of the present invention empower and educate patients and their advocates, while providing proximate (and in some cases, real-time) feedback to health care workers (HCWs) regarding their compliance with known protocols that reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for determining an optimum hernia repair procedure for a pre-operative patient. Responses to a health questionnaire administered to post-operative patients are scored to determine an overall score indicative of the post-operative patient's quality of life following a hernia repair procedure. Each overall score is associated with at least one patient characteristic and one procedure characteristic relating to the respective post-operative patient. Based on the overall scores and the associated characteristics, an optimum hernia repair procedure, including a type of operation and/or a type of prosthetic mesh, is determined. A terminal and/or user input device may be used to receive the responses, and the responses and associated characteristics may be stored in a memory accessible by a processor that can analyze the stored data to make the determination. Search criteria relating to the pre-operative patient may also be received to inform the analysis.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has an executable computer program stored thereon for operating a computer system. The computer program includes a code segment for receiving at the computer system medical information for an individual; a code segment for storing the medical information in a web based account hosted by the computer system; a code segment for associating the web based account with a scannable code; and a code segment for providing access to some of the medical information in the web based account to a device that is used to scan an object on which the code is printed.

Abstract: A system and methods for facilitating privacy enforcement are described. Embodiments of the present invention can deliver automated compliance and/or enforcement for certain consumer privacy laws and privacy-related policies to employees and contractors of an enterprise. When input related to the use of stored customer information is received, data subsystems can be accessed by a privacy engine, which then provides decisioning to produce an enforcement action. Examples of enforcement actions can include denying access to customer information, or granting such access but filtering the information. Enforcement actions can also include updating stored tables or other data structures to maintain an appropriate privacy enforcement posture when new information is added to systems or existing information is changed.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting at least one indication of a bioactive agent use by an individual and/or assigning an artificial sensory experience to monitor at least one desired effect of the bioactive agent on the individual.

Abstract: A method and system for automated medical records processing. The method and system includes plural electronic medical templates specifically designed such that they reduce the complexity and risk associated with collecting patient encounter information, creating a medical diagnosis and help generate the appropriate number and type medical codes for a specific type of medical practice when processed. The medical codes and other types of processed patient encounter information are displayed in real-time on electronic medical records and invoices immediately after a patient encounter.

Abstract: A medication waste and data collection system is provided for use in tracking medication containers, related medication preparation and transfer procedures, medication administration and medication waste disposal. An amount of disposed medication can be reconciled with an amount of medication administered and/or initially prepared. Related apparatus, systems, methods and articles are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for executing a task includes an authenticator to identify a user, a controller that can receive data from the user, and an authorizer to ensure that the user has access to applications used to execute the task. The controller is able to register or de-register the applications and then determine which if the registered applications should be used to execute the task. The controller then converts the data from the user so that it can be used by the application to execute the task. If the user selects a second task to be executed, the controller can determine which of the registered applications is to be used to execute the second task. Methods for executing multiple tasks are also described.

Abstract: Practitioners are certified to perform a medical procedure, such as an orthodontic procedure. Certified practitioners are maintained in a referral directory and classified within tiers based on criteria such as the number of procedures that they have performed. Inquiries are solicited from prospective patients, and referral lists are provided to those patients who request them. The referral lists are obtained from the referral directory with doctors from higher tiers who have performed more procedures receiving preferential inclusion on the referral lists.

Abstract: An endoscope inspection report creating apparatus has a file name reading section that reads file names of a plurality of endoscopic images, a file name of each of the endoscopic images including inspection result information separated with use of a predetermined symbol or character, and a report creating section that creates a predetermined report by writing the inspection result information which is included in each of the file names read by the file name reading section in each predetermined position in the predetermined report by associating the inspection result information with the endoscopic image of each of the read file names.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting information, verifying authenticity of such information, processing, maintaining, and managing such information are described. The system can be a standalone unit or can comprise a combination of various units configured to function together.

Abstract: Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.

Abstract: A system and method of for analyzing, collecting, and tracking patient data across a vast patient population is disclosed. The system and method comprise a plurality of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems provided at a plurality of healthcare provider sites, each EHR system comprising at least one means for capturing data for a plurality of patients in real time; at least one research system for generating a dataset by performing at least one of analyzing, collecting, and tracking the data captured by the plurality of EHR systems in real time as the data is captured or from a database on which the captured data is stored; and at least one workstation for setting the criteria by which the research system analyzes, collects and tracks the data captured by the plurality of EHR systems and for viewing the dataset generated by the at least one research system, wherein the dataset includes the data that corresponds to each of the criteria set at the workstation.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing personalized information services. Methods include generating an instance of personalized information including time-sensitive elements, and outputting the personalized information onto a medium that is affixable to a subject with which the personalized information is associated.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a pill to be ingested by a user in a field of view of an image acquisition camera. The method includes the steps of determining a desired location of the mouth of a user in a field of view of an image acquisition camera, determining a current position of a pill to be ingested by the user in the field of view of the image acquisition apparatus, and indicating on a display a movement to be made by the user to move the pill towards mouth of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a graphic that describes multiple dimensions of performance for a subject intensive care unit (ICU) over a predefined period of time are provided. One method involves measuring the performance of the subject ICU against various metrics and displaying the measured performance as a graphic constructed of data strips placed adjacent to a 2-dimensional plot. The lengths of the data strips visually represent a percentage of patients that did not receive active treatment in the subject ICU, a rate of readmission to an ICU, and a median of the acute physiological scores (APS's) extracted from patients admitted to the subject ICU, respectively. The 2-dimensional plot includes an X-axis that represents a ratio of a hospital predicted mortality rate value over the measured mortality rate, while a Y-axis represents a difference between a predicted mean length of stay value and the measured mean length of stay value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a warming therapy device (e.g., incubator, warmer, etc.) is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) coupled to the warming therapy device for monitoring patient medical information, and for controlling various aspects of the warming therapy device accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for collection, processing, cryogenic storage and distribution of a stem cell based biological sample material.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for tracking and managing therapy sessions using a therapy management application (TMA) is provided. The TMA is accessible by an electronic device in multiple access modes. The TMA schedules therapy sessions with multiple clients and generates one or more goals for each of the clients based on an evaluation of the clients in the therapy sessions. The TMA categorizes the generated goals for each of the clients into one or more goal categories and defines one or more goal measurements for each of the generated goals within each of the goal categories. The TMA collects and tracks data acquired from the scheduled therapy sessions of each of the clients for the defined goal measurements via a graphical user interface. The TMA generates progress reports based on performance of each of the clients for each of the generated goals using the collected and tracked data.

Abstract: Using a brokerage system, a consumer of services is matched with a service provider and a comprehensive health management plan is generated for the consumer during the consumer's interaction with the brokerage system. The brokerage system uses a rules engine to identify one or more conditions of the consumer's health and generate one or more follow-up actions based at least in part on the consumer's identified health condition. The consumer is notified of at least one of the identified conditions and the generated follow-up actions.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing statistical estimates useful for decision support, including computer networks and software configured to provide such support. The methods and apparatus herein are particularly useful for providing information to health care providers, mission commanders and decision makers as it relates to the statistical modeling of the severity, prevalence and category of prevalence of various diseases in general, and to Acute Mountain Sickness in particular.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing cost information for health care services enable, among other things, health care users to make more informed and cost-effective decisions regarding their use of health care services, and/or health care providers to compete against one another on the basis of cost. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes: receiving, via a device, a user input requesting cost information for a health care service for a user; and providing, via the device and in response to the user input, a display including one or more health care providers and cost information for each of the one or more health care providers for providing the health care service for the user.

Abstract: Based on summary extraction information in which each disease and each clinical information item extracted from a summary related information of at least one of (1) a treatment result summary, (2) a treatment review summary, (3) a history of a series of operations for generating the treatment result summary, and (4) a history of a series of operations for generating the treatment review summary are related, calculating a degree of appearance of each clinical information item, item by item, with respect to each disease as item information, determining a clinical information item whose calculated item information satisfies a predetermined condition as an important clinical information item, generating a display filter in which a disease and an important clinical information item corresponding to the disease are related, and displaying clinical information based on a display target disease and a display filter corresponding to the display target disease.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coordinating patient care among members of a patient care team including a care provider and a patient are described. One embodiment includes receiving, from a first user, via a user interface, a selection of a care transition specified in a health act grammar and binding the first user to a source actor node associated with the selected care transition in the health act grammar. The method further includes identifying, using at least one processor, at least one target actor with the selected care transition based, at least in part, on a target actor role specified in the health act grammar, and notifying the at least one target actor of a patient care responsibility associated with the selected care transition.

Abstract: A computer generated 3-D model of the human body (avatar) is created by aggregating personal health and medical data of a user. This data may include data derived from the user's electronic medical record. The user's physical characteristics are entered into the software to generate a personalized avatar that resembles him or her. Data regarding the user's medical history and physical characteristics are visualized on the avatar to map the past and present states of the user, and may be modified by a set of health variables for the purpose of projecting a future body image over established time intervals.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture may provide for improved health care compliance. Embodiments may comprise, for example, identifying an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, determining output information associated with a game, and providing the output information to the patient. Some embodiments may comprise receiving a code associated with a patient, wherein the code includes encoded information that is indicative of an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, decoding the code to determine the information, determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance, and providing, in the case that compliance with the condition is determined, one or more rewards to the patient.

Abstract: A system for preventing fraud may be provided. The system may include a processor that may receive a prescription for a patient from a physician that is registered with the system. Additionally, the processor may be configured to receive a patient identification number, a financial identification number, and a group identification number from a digital prescription provided by the patient when the patient attempts to fill the prescription. If the patient identification number, the financial identification number, and the group identification number from the digital prescription match the information in the prescription received from the physician, then the processor may transmit a signal to enable the patient to receive medicine associated with the prescription.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a method of employee activity and performance tracking. The method includes receiving data packets from a base station. The data packets include locational information pertaining to one or more employees. The method also includes calculating an event timeframe from the data packets. The event timeframe includes a start date/time of an event, an end date/time of the event, a location of the event, and an identification of one or more employees involved in the event. The method further includes refining the event timeframe and communicating the event timeframe to the one or more employees identified in the event timeframe. The method also includes receiving a designation by the one or more employees, the designation including details of the event. The method further includes storing the data packets, the event timeframe, and the designation.

Abstract: A device and method for disinfecting a needleless connector, the device including a housing comprising a hub rotationally coupled to a motor, the motor being operably connected to a power source, the hub further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a cleaning head, wherein the device is configured to detect achievement of one or more minimum thresholds which are recommended to achieve proper disinfection of the needleless connector. Various devices and methods are further provided to permit tracking and reporting of disinfection events.

Abstract: A network-based application for computing devices facilitates workflow management for healthcare professionals and can facilitate secure communications, collaboration and sharing of information regarding patient care. Notifications about messages can be sent or received, for example, by text or email to or from the healthcare professional's personal computing device, or as a notification to a message inbox accessed through a secure Internet or other secure network portal. Messages and data containing the actual patient information, however, are sent or retrieved only through the user's message inbox accessed through the secure Internet or other secure network portal.

Abstract: A system for managing patient care provider referral. The system includes a database which includes records for a plurality of patient care providers. The system also includes a processor, and a memory storing software executable by the processor. The software includes a lookup tool configured to retrieve patient care provider records from the database, and a transaction processing tool configured to enable a referring patient care provider to select a referred patient care provider for a patient based on the retrieved records. The system can further include an electronic health record (EHR) tracker configured to track updates to an EHR of the patient, as well as a survey tool configured to collect feedback from the patient regarding the referred patient care provider. Methods associated with the system and the various tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards a method implemented by a server computer for electronic ordering of medicine by a patient from a pharmacy after a valid paper or electronic prescription has been issued by a doctor, including maintaining a database of doctors that includes records for doctors, the records including a point-of-care location where a doctor provides care to patients, receiving from a mobile device a location of the mobile device at a designated time, determining that the location of the mobile device at the designated time matches a point-of-care location for a doctor included in the database of doctors, inferring that the user of the mobile device has visited the doctor, and sending an alert message to the mobile device.

Abstract: A system for managing healthcare-related communications includes a computer network and a server system that includes a portal accessible through the computer network. The server system includes a referral tracking subsystem that is operable to perform operations including tracking referrals among physicians based on communications sent through the server system, and storing information about the tracked referrals.

Abstract: A system for managing healthcare-related communications includes a computer network and a server system comprising a portal that is accessible through the computer network. The server system includes a healthcare professional profile subsystem that is operable to perform operations including the following: receive input through the portal from a first computing device, wherein the input indicates an availability status for a first healthcare professional; store the availability status as part of a profile for the first healthcare professional; and in response to receiving a request through the portal from a second healthcare professional, provide for viewing by the second healthcare professional a listing of one or more healthcare professionals, wherein the listing includes the name and availability status of the first healthcare professional.

Abstract: Systems and methods for exchanging health care credits are described. Health care credits are transferable units of value representing good health, an improvement in health, or maintenance of health by an individual. The health care credits may be bought, sold, exchanged for goods and services, gifted or otherwise conveyed from one owner to another. Also disclosed are exchanges and markets for buying, selling, and trading health care credits, as well as derivative securities. The derivative securities or products are based on either the flow of health care credits through the system, or on health care information, which may have been generated to implement health care credit awards.

Abstract: Amongst other things, the availability of service providers is tracked across one or more service provider networks. A status change of the service provider is identified on one or more of the service provider networks and the other service provider networks associated with the service provider is sent data indicating the changed status of the service provider.

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 method of managing patient care and emergency response following a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) attack and maintaining compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The method including identifying each patient with a unique patient identifier, the identifier based upon the geospatial location of the patient, the geospatial location including at least the latitude and longitude of the patient when first treated, the unique patient identifier being part of patient data. Providing a collection point of patient data to form a patient data database where in the patient location data may be used to map the location, and severity of patient injuries. The method may include using the patient database is used to assist determining the type of attack and/or assist directing the distribution of medical resources. The patient data may be updated as treatment is administered.

Abstract: A method for enhancing and supplementing the informed consent process of a patient undergoing a medical procedure is disclosed. A plurality of interactive multi-media program segments relating to a medical procedure are presented on-line to a patient who is to undergo the procedure. The patient views the multi-media program segments which may include a review of anatomy and physiology, the disease, the procedure, pre and post-operative instructions and risks and benefits. Patients may pose written questions to their doctor. The patient's experience, including which program segments are viewed as well as the patient's interactions therewith are captured, documented and preserved.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for assisting medical coders with review and identification of relevant portions of electronic documents associated with a patient's encounter with a healthcare organization, and for the inputting of codes describing said encounter.

Abstract: An electronic device for aggregating electronic medical records, in which electronic medical records are aggregated from multiple electronic repositories and displayed as a single set of records. The multiple electronic repositories may store records for a particular patient using varying identifying/access information to facilitate anonymous access to the electronic medical records. Emergency medical services providers may be able to access medical records for a patient using the electronic device after being authenticated as a valid/licensed medical services provider.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to records stored within databases, each record having associated access rules, a location identifier, and a content identifier maintained in a centralized index, comprising: receiving a request, communicated from a requestor to a security processor, the request containing a specified content identifier; querying the centralized index to find entries corresponding to the specified content identifier; for each entry, applying the access rules for the record to determine whether the record is accessible; for each accessible record, automatically communicating from the security processor to the database storing the accessible record sufficient information to determine whether it is releasable per a set of native access rules of the database; logically associating the releasable accessible records into a linked set of releasable records; and communicating the linked set of releasable records to the requestor.

Abstract: A method and business technique for reviewing medical service provider bills, recalculating and providing payment recommendation to a paying party for the bills. The method includes analyzing medical bills and determining erroneous and inappropriate charges on bills. The method provides a payment recommendation using multiple databases and sophisticated mathematical modeling that includes one or more of the following: a medical service provider's actual cost of delivering the medical services provided; the average profit-margin of that provider, an average profit margin of comparable medical providers in an area, other industry-specific profit-margin benchmarks; an average acceptable payment by medical service providers in the area for comparable services; payment rates negotiated by large health insurers and managed care organizations; and other industry benchmarks for reasonable payment for comparable services.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for convergence of multiple independent applications into a single payment vehicle. In the context of a medical procedure, the invention provides for the convergence of medical/dental insurance with at least one secondary payment source to effect payment for the entire procedure. Through the instant invention insurance benefit information can be determined and funds blocked, then secondary payment source(s) can be utilized to effect payment of the insurance co-payment amount. The use of Smart Card technology enables the convergence at the point of sale of information about multiple applications/payment sources (i.e. insurance plan and secondary payment plan) that are processed to determine the amount of payment to be received from each source.

Abstract: A graphical audio station of a nurse call system is operable to permit a user to perform one or more of the following functions: establish a two-way voice communication link with another computer device in another patient and/or with a another computer device located in another staff work area and/or with a wireless communication device carried by caregiver and/or with a telephone of the healthcare facility; broadcast a voice page to a group of other selected computer devices; compose and send a text message to a portable device that is carried by a caregiver and that has wireless communication capability; browse web pages and/or view multimedia content, such as videos, hosted on servers of the healthcare facility and/or that are accessible via the Internet; view and/or acknowledge and/or answer and/or cancel alerts or nurse calls originating in a plurality of patient rooms.

Abstract: The medical device information portal provides a user-friendly platform for presentation of data obtained from device interrogation. The device data is presented in a uniform fashion irrespective of the device manufacturer. Further, the MDI Portal provides easy interpretation of interrogation findings from noticeable differences between normal and abnormal findings.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and computer storage media are provided for utilizing a healthcare facility's antibiogram information to generate customized antibiograms. One or more user-selected filters are applied to the information in the antibiogram data store. Filters include organism type, antimicrobial type, date range, encounter type, healthcare facility unit, and end-user role. Using the selected filters, a customized antibiogram is generated and presented on a user interface.

Abstract: A method, related system and apparatus are disclosed. The method is implemented by an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by a processor. The method includes the acts of: determining if a monitoring client is connected to a base through a physical connection; establishing a first communications link between the monitoring client and the base through the physical connection; updating, if necessary, the interface program on the monitoring client and the base through the first communications link; establishing a second communications link between the monitoring client and the base using the first communications link; and communicating data from the base to the monitoring client using the second communications link.

Abstract: A service provider is prompted to provide a summary of an engagement with a consumer, an audible summary provided by the provider is recorded and, and the audible summary is associated with a record of the engagement.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for time management in a healthcare system. The method may be executable to receive data indicative of an actual time value associated with a care event and identify an expected time value associated with the care event. The method may be further executable to determine that the difference between the actual time value associated with the care event and the expected time value associated with the care event is within a threshold range. Based on the determination, the method may be executable to process the expected time value associated with the care event instead of the actual time value associated with the care event.