Abstract:
The present invention allows a physician to interact with an integrated medical software system, using a handheld device such as an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. A physician can log on using the handheld device and access the system to view and edit data.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/495,823, filed Jun. 10, 2011, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a mobile interface for an integrated medical software system. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2011/0202370 A1, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present disclosure, teaches an integrated medical software system with embedded transcription functionality, and a method of using that system. The system includes a clinical software module that is configured to be executed by a processor to create an electronic document and to capture clinical data for a patient in the electronic document during an encounter with the patient. The system also includes a transcription software application that is configured to be executed by the processor to select predefined clinical data that will appear within the electronic document in response to speech commands and to automatically transcribe dictated clinical data that will appear within the electronic document in response to dictation, wherein the predefined clinical data being previously linked to at least one of a diagnosis code and a procedure code and the dictated clinical data being automatically linked to at least one of a diagnosis code and a procedure code as it is transcribed. And the system includes an account management software module that is configured to be executed by the processor to automatically generate at least one of a bill, a claim, or a statement for the patient using the at least one of a diagnosis code and a procedure code linked to at least one of the predefined clinical data and the dictated clinical data. 
         [0004]    However, no technique for accessing that system from a mobile device is disclosed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide such mobile access. 
         [0006]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention is directed to a system and method for accessing the above-noted system through a handheld device such as smartphone or tablet computer. 
         [0007]    The preferred embodiment is contemplated for use with Apple products running iOS, such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, although the invention can be adapted for any mobile operating system, such as Android. Also, the mobile interface can communicate with the integrated medical software system in any suitable manner, such as WiFi or 3G or 4G cellular data. Therefore, references to specific hardware and software should be construed as illustrative rather than limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A preferred embodiment will be set forth in detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a screen shot showing a settings page; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a screen shot showing a trial page; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a screen shot showing a login page; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a screen shot showing an appointment list; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a screen shot showing a screen for adding a patient; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a screen shot showing a list of recent patients; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a screen shot showing a search page; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a screen shot showing a summary of a patient&#39;s chart; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart showing the use of the preferred embodiment; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing the interaction among the various hardware components. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    A preferred embodiment will be set forth with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements or steps throughout. 
         [0020]    The preferred embodiment allows remote, two-way integration of complete ambulatory and hospital-based patient data housed in Greenway&#39;s PrimeSUITE electronic health record. The paperless technology provides patient history and Problem lists, progress notes and appointment schedules encompassing a healthcare providers&#39; entire patient population. As well as providing clinical tools such as viewing lab results, PrimeMOBILE also integrates patient billing and charge capture which assures proper claims and the financial health of a practice. Accessed by a simple login, providers can view patient notes and search individual patient records. 
         [0021]    Through PrimeMOBILE, physicians in all specialties and subspecialties can practice sound medicine- and communicate with peers and patients-from any remote location. 
         [0022]    When you download PrimeMOBILE you can use the trial database by clicking the trial button on the login screen. 
         [0023]    Functionality includes:
       View Appointment list   View Recent patient list   Search for patients   Add new patient   View Patient Facesheet   Edit patient Facesheet sections   Patient info   Vitals   Past medical History   Past surgical History   Allergies   Family Medical History   Genetic Screening   Menstrual History   Social History   Problem List   View Patient Documents   View Patient Inbound charge   Add new Inbound charge   Edit existing Inbound Charge       
 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  shows the settings page  100 , which is the login page as seen for the first time. Touching a settings icon  102  brings up a settings menu  104 , which includes entries for a site ID  106 , an inactivity timeout limit  108 , and limits  110 ,  112  on the date range to search for appointments. The site ID number (same as Practice Site # which can be obtained from their Office administrator and/or Account Management Representative) must be entered to access the correct PrimeSuite system. This is a onetime application setting. The appointment search days should also be configured appropriately in order to view the desired patients. Once this is complete, select the “Done” button to return to the “Login” Page. It is important to note that currently only 100 patients will be returned based on the information entered on the settings page, although that will not necessarily be true of all conceivable embodiments. 
         [0045]    From the Trial page or the Login Page the user must select the Settings Icon at the top right corner of the page. The user will then be navigated to this page where he/she may enter the Site ID as well as the appointment search days. 
         [0046]    The trial page, shown in  FIG. 2  as  200 , offers you the option to select the Trial Mode or to contact Account Management. You may select the Trial button  202  if you wish to view a demo of the application. The trial version is associated with a demo server located at Greenway. The demo server does not contain real patient data but it is a true replica of the functionality you will see with the production application. If you wish to activate your site&#39;s PrimeMOBILE account you may call or email your account representative. This is done by calling the phone number or the Email address from the screen. 
         [0047]    Once the Settings page has been configured, the app will default to the login page as shown in  FIG. 3 . The user will enter his/her PrimeSuite username and password in the areas  302  and  304  and click the “Sign In” button  306 . 
         [0048]    The appointment list, shown in  FIG. 4  as  400 , then appears. The appointment list  400  is designed to give the user a view of his/her appointments for the specified time range. The user may customize the appointment date range from the settings tab located in the upper right hand corner of the Login page. You can also add a new patient from this screen by selecting the “+” Button  402  in the top Left corner. The screen also has an “Appointments” button  404 , a “Recents” button  406 , and a “Search” button  408  to switch among views of appointments, recently viewed patients, and a search function to search for patients. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  shows the “Add a new patient” screen  500  that then appears. The screen includes fields  502  for entry of appropriate information regarding the new patient. 
         [0050]    The recent patient list  600  of  FIG. 6  displays a list  602  of all patients that have been recently accessed in alphabetical order by their last name. The user can select a patient to view the patient summary. The user may select the individual letter listed in the area  604  on the right side of the screen that the patient&#39;s last name starts with to skip straight to the letter. The user also has the option of entering the patient&#39;s name into the Filter list to help locate a specific patient. 
         [0051]    Clicking on the “Search” button  408  calls up the patient search screen  700  of  FIG. 7 . From the patient search screen, the user may select to Add Search Criteria or subtract a filter when searching for patients. Once the user has chosen which field(s) to search by, the user must press the Search for Patients button  702 . Upon clicking the Search for Patient button the user will be navigated to the Patient Search Results page. 
         [0052]    By selecting a patient, the user may access a summary of the entire patient chart, as shown in  FIG. 8  as  800 . Some sections will have the option to edit the document. These editable sections will be accessed by the Edit button  802  in the upper right hand corner. The user can also return to the list of patients by using the “Patients” button  804 . 
         [0053]    The user can also look up and, as appropriate, edit specific details about each patient, such as: 
         [0054]    Allergy list 
         [0055]    Family Medical History 
         [0056]    Genetic Screening 
         [0057]    Past Surgical History 
         [0058]    Past Medical History 
         [0059]    Problem List 
         [0060]    Social History 
         [0061]    Medication list 
         [0062]    Vital Signs 
         [0063]    Pregnancy Details 
         [0064]    Pregnancy Summary 
         [0065]    Menstrual history 
         [0066]    Patient info (demographics) 
         [0067]    Patient Document List 
         [0068]    Charge History 
         [0069]    Add New Charge 
         [0070]    View charge details 
         [0071]    Edit Charges Submissions 
         [0072]      FIG. 9  shows a flow chart of the use of the preferred embodiment. In step  902 , the user searches the application store for the application and downloads it to the user&#39;s device. In step  904 , the user can use the application in trial mode, as explained above. In step  906 , the user contacts account management to purchase access. In step  908 , the customer states the number of users for which access is to be purchased. In step  910 , account management provides the access. In step  912 , the user can log in. 
         [0073]      FIG. 10  shows the interaction among the various hardware components. The integrated medical software system resides on a server  1002  in communication with the Internet  1004  or another suitable communication network. Communication can proceed over a cellular data network  1006  (which may be 3G WCDMA, GD EV-DO, HSPA+, LTE, WiMAX, or any other suitable network) to a handheld device  1008 . Communication can also proceed over a WiFi network to another handheld device  1012 . 
         [0074]    While a preferred embodiment has been set forth above, those skilled in the art who have reviewed the present disclosure will readily appreciate that other embodiments can be realized within the scope of the invention. For example, the appearances of the various screens are illustrative rather than limiting, as are the specifics of the information that a user is allowed to view and edit and the recitations of specific numerical values and technologies. Therefore, the present invention should be construed as limited only by the appended claims.