Abstract:
A system and method of managing time spent for healthcare which provides patients with choices that can minimize time they spend attending to healthcare needs. The method includes establishing a record of patients which have checked-in at a healthcare facility by a server, storing times at which the patients received care from a healthcare provider by the server, storing patient wait time information by the server, and providing the patient wait time information to prospective patients through a web site by the server.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Patients go to health care providers for treatment of health problems. Health care providers include physicians, technicians, and other healthcare personnel and the offices they work in, including offices, clinics, and hospitals. A patient visit to a provider is known as an encounter. 
         [0002]    Patients typically check in at a reception or front desk. Patients may become dissatisfied with long lines at the front desk, especially those who are sick or uncomfortable. 
         [0003]    Patients may also become dissatisfied with the time required to obtain healthcare. For example, the time required may include wait time to see a physician or other caregiver, starting from check-in at a healthcare facility. Time required may also include driving time to a healthcare facility. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to provide a system and method of managing time spent for healthcare. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]    A system and method of managing time spent for healthcare is provided. 
         [0006]    The method includes establishing a record of patients which have checked-in at a healthcare facility by a server, storing times at which the patients received care from a healthcare provider by the server, storing patient wait time information by the server, and providing the patient wait time information to prospective patients through a web site by the server. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a network or computers, including a patient computer, healthcare provider computers, and a server. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an example system  10  primarily includes patient computer  12 , server  14 , and healthcare provider computers  16 . 
         [0009]    Patient computer  12  connects to server  14  through a global network  20 , such as the Internet. Patient computer  12  may establish a connection to global communication network  20  through a gateway computer. The gateway computer may be operated, for example, by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), the patient&#39;s employer, a cellular communication provider, or a public ISP. 
         [0010]    The connection between patient computer  12  and gateway computer may be wired or wireless. For example, patient computer  12  may connect to global communication network  20  through a wireless Internet hotspot. 
         [0011]    Patient computer  12  may include a computer owned or used by a patient. Patient computer  12  may be located anywhere the patient is located. For example, patient computer  12  may be located at a patient&#39;s home or place of work. Patient computer  12  may be stationary or may be portable, such as a laptop computer, cellular phone, personal digital assistant, or other portable computing device capable of connecting to server  14 . 
         [0012]    Server  14  provides an estimated time to receive initial patient care based upon wait time information  22  associated with each healthcare provider to patient computer  12 . Server  14  may include a web server and display the estimated time and wait time information in web pages. Patient computer  12  may execute web browser software for displaying the web pages. 
         [0013]    Server  14  may also include web portal software  24  for establishing a web portal. As such, server  14  may store and maintain authorized user information, including user name and password information for establishing a connection between patient computer  12  and a web portal. Patients may register their information with the web portal. 
         [0014]    Patient computer  12  may securely connect to the web portal to facilitate patient appointment scheduling and other tasks for the convenience of authorized users. Server  14  may obtain and store patient schedules from healthcare provider computers  16 . In an example embodiment, server  14  may provide wait time information only to authorized web portal users. 
         [0015]    Healthcare computers  16  are located at individual healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, physician offices, physical training offices, and other places where patients obtain care. Healthcare computers  16  may store information about patients, including patient records and patient appointment information. 
         [0016]    Healthcare computers  16  provide information to server  14 , including information entered by healthcare providers. 
         [0017]    If server  14  is a web portal, healthcare computers  16  may provide patient records, including appointment schedules, to server  14 . Healthcare computers  16  are coupled to server  14  via global communication network  20 . Healthcare computers  16  may connect to global communication network  20  via gateway computers. 
         [0018]    Some or all healthcare providers may additionally include kiosks  18  for facilitating patient check-in. Kiosks  18  are coupled to healthcare computers  16 . 
         [0019]    Wait time information is intended to convey how far behind healthcare providers are in providing care to patients on the time line. In one example embodiment, wait time information may be defined as the time period from the scheduled appointment time until receipt of initial care. 
         [0020]    In another example embodiment, wait time information may be defined as the time between patient check-in and receipt of initial care. Other examples of wait time calculation are also envisioned. 
         [0021]    In healthcare facilities in which care is administered in stages, wait times between stages may be tracked and entered into healthcare computers  16 . For example, a first wait time may be the time period ending with receipt of first care from a nurse who takes vital signs. A second wait time may be the time period following the first time period and ending with receipt of care from a physician. 
         [0022]    Healthcare computers  16  may calculate patient wait time information and send the patient wait time information to server  14 . Healthcare computers  16  may process data manually entered by staff, such as receipt of initial care times, in addition to previously stored data, such as patient schedule information. 
         [0023]    Alternatively, healthcare computers  16  may send data to server  14  for server  14  to calculate wait times. 
         [0024]    Server  14  may obtain wait time information or data continuously, periodically, or upon demand. Server  14  may store most recent wait time information, for example, in a table identifying healthcare providers. The table may contain links to wait time history reports for individual healthcare providers. 
         [0025]    Server  14  may additionally include a script or other program accessible through a web page for determining an estimated time to receipt of care based upon inclusion of a determined travel time to different healthcare providers. For example, patients may enter their current address information and server  14  may then determine a travel times and maps based upon one or more routes determined by server  14  or selected by patients. Server  14  may determine an optimal route to minimize overall patient travel time and time at a healthcare provider. 
         [0026]    A patient at patient computer  12  may view the tables, execute the script, look at the map, and decide which healthcare provider to visit based upon any of the estimated time to receive initial care, the most recent wait times, the wait time history reports, and the travel time for each healthcare provider. 
         [0027]    Although particular reference has been made to certain embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims.