Patient Registry System

A portable device for storing and providing access to a user's medical and demographic information. The portable storage device allow a medical provider immediate access to the user's current medical, demographic, and insurance information without the need to ask questions or fill out written forms. A system and method of using the portable storage device includes a customer portal hosted on a remote server that is accessible to the user. The user can create and update their electronic user record on the portal as needed. The medical provider can access the electronic user record via an external device interface at the point of service. The external device interface may communicate with a local electronic medical record system and may update the electronic user record on the portable storage device following an appointment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the portability of electronic medical records. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for retaining individual medical records and electronically retrieving the medical records at a point of service. Accordingly, the present specification makes specific reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally amenable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

People who visit a medical provider's office, clinic, hospital, or other health care facility are typically required to provide their past medical history prior to treatment. They are also typically required to provide their insurance and billing information for every visit. This process must be continuously repeated, often by hand using paper forms, if a person visits several different doctors. Constantly filling out paperwork for every visit or appointment can be frustrating and time consuming for patients.

An electronic health record is an electronic version of a patient's medical history that is maintained by a provider or a health network over time. These electronic records may include administrative clinical data relevant to that persons care under a variety of medical providers. The data may include demographics, insurance information, billing information, progress notes, problems, medications, allergies, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, clinical reports, and the like. These records function essentially as a digitized version of a patient's chart. These records may be shared or accessed through existing networks or exchanges as long as the data is collected through the network.

Electronic health record systems are designed to store data accurately and capture the condition of a patient across time. These systems eliminate the need to physically find and access a patient's previous hard copy medical records and assists in ensuring that the data is current. These systems also allow for better open communication between the patient and the medical provider in a secure and protected manner. These systems further eliminate the need for data replication as they only require a single modifiable file for each patient. This keeps files current while decreasing the risk of lost paperwork and improving efficiency as long as the patient remains in that particular system.

Many larger health care organization systems have individualized versions of electronical medical record systems that allow everyone in that particular network to access the information as long as they have permissions. Unfortunately, each electronical medical record system is different and there is generally no interoperability or accessibility between different healthcare systems. If a patient attempts to receive medical service via a medical provider that is not in that network, there is no easy way for either the provider or the patient to access those electronic medical records from that network.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a way for individuals themselves to have real-time and continuous access to their own medical information. There is also a long felt need in the art for a portable information storage device that allows providers access to the medical information at any medical provider's office, clinic, hospital, or other health care facility. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a way to streamline a medical check in process and eliminate the need to fill out paperwork by hand at each visit. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a system that allows the user or provider to update information on a portable device.

In this manner, the improved system of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives, thereby providing an easy solution to allow individuals to have real- time and continuous access to their medical information. A primary feature of the present invention is a portable device that stores the medical information that is accessible at any medical provider's office, clinic, hospital, or other health care facility. The device and system help expedite medical care check in processes, thereby eliminating the need to fill out paperwork by hand each time a new doctor's visit occurs. The device is configured to interact with an input at the point of service so that the user simply swipes or uploads their card into a system that contains all necessary personal and insurance information, ensuring the new doctor can obtain the information quickly. Finally, the improved device and system of the present invention can enable patients to update information on the card should anything change regarding medical or insurance information.

SUMMARY

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an information storage device. The information storage device is configured to retain an electronic user record. The electronic user record includes a user's medical data and a user's demographic data. The information storage device is portable and updatable.

The information storage device comprises a memory, a communication module, and a processor in communication with the memory and communication module. The memory is a non-transitory computer readable memory configured to store the electronic user record. The communication module communicates the stored electronic user record at a point of service. The stored electronic user record may be accessed wirelessly, magnetically, or via a connection interface.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a system for managing an electronic user record. The system comprises a computer server, a plurality of portable information storage devices, and a plurality of external device interfaces. The system is configured to allow the user to have a portable electronic user record accessible at a point of service that can be updated as required.

The computer server comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores a set of computer readable software instructions configured as a customer portal. The customer portal is remotely accessible to the user over a network via a user access device. The user uploads the user's medical and demographic data to the customer portal to create an electronic user record. The user may update the electronic user record over the network via the user access device as needed. The electronic user record is then downloadable to one of the portable information storage devices.

Each portable information storage device comprises a memory, a communication module, and a processor in communication with the memory and communication module. The memory is a non-transitory computer readable memory configured to store the electronic user record on the portable information storage device. The communication module communicates the stored electronic user record at a point of service. The stored electronic user record may be accessed wirelessly, magnetically, or via a connection interface.

Each external device interface is configured to communicate with each portable information storage device and access the stored electronic user record. Each external device interface may then access an electronic medical record system at the point of service and communicate the stored electronic user record to the electronic medical record system. New medical or demographic data may then be transferred from the electronic medical record system to the portable information storage device via the external device interface.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a method for creating and administering a user's electronic user record. The user accesses a customer portal stored on a computer-based system over a network using a user access device and constructs an electronic user record on a customer portal. The user uploads a user's medical data and a user's demographic data to the customer portal into the electronic user record. The user's electronic user record is then further stored on a portable information storage device.

The user's electronic user record is accessible at a point of service via an external device interface. The external device interface can upload the electronic user record to an electronic medical records system of the point of service. Then the external device interface can modify the electronic user record with any new user medical or demographic data. Alternatively, the user may update the electronic user record via the customer portal on the computer-based system. Then the updated electronic user record is then updated on the portable information storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a patient registry system. The unique information system comprised of software, hardware, and a related mobile application for the purpose of expediting the medical care check in process. With this system, the patient will have a card or other portable information storage device that contains all necessary personal and insurance information, and the facility will only need to swipe the card during the check in interaction. The patient will have the ability to update the information on the card as necessary.

The card could be similar to a credit card but would have a chip or magnetic storage medium that stores the patient's medical history. A card reader would be relatively small with a slot or wireless communication for accessing the information on the card. Hospitals and doctor's offices would have software allowing the reader to identify and store the data of each individual patient.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIGS.1-5illustrate an information storage device100. The information storage device100is designed to allow a user to always have immediate access to their medical information. The user can bring the information storage device100to a doctor's office visit or any kind of medical appointment and avoid the need to manually update the records at a point of service. The information storage device100can interact with any point of service electronic medical record system to update the system without the need for manual inputs, thereby saving time and improving efficiency in maintaining an accurate up to date medical record.

As illustrated inFIGS.1-3, the information storage device100is a portable device that is easily carried by the user for access at the point of service. The point of service may include a medical facility, an imaging provider, a laboratory, a medical provider's office, a dental office, a rehabilitation facility, a pharmacy, a therapist's office, a long term care facility, or any other location that may necessitate access to the user's medical record or related demographic information. The information storage device100is configured to retain an electronic user record140of the user, their family, or their household. The information storage device100may be configured as an integrated circuit card, a magnetic strip card, a memory stick, an external hard drive, a portable solid state drive, a flash drive, or any other portable electronic storage device that is configured to retain electronic data.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the electronic user record140may include a user's medical data142and a user's demographic data144. The user's medical data142can include, but is not limited to, the user's medical history, medical providers, immunization history, medications (current and past), medical test results, medical study results, medical imaging, diagnoses, symptoms, health complaints, medical procedures, living wills, do not resuscitate orders, advanced directives, and the like. The user's demographic data144may include, but is not limited to, the user's contact information, insurance information, non-medical personal information, next of kin information, emergency contacts, legal information, a health care power of attorney, and the like. The electronic user record140is updatable as discussed infra.

As illustrated inFIG.4. the information storage device100comprises a memory130, a communication module120, and a processor110. The processor110is in communication with the memory130and communication module120. The processor110may be any data processing logic and control integrated circuit or chip. The memory130is a non-transitory computer readable memory configured to store the electronic user record140. The communication module130communicates the stored electronic user record140at the point of service. The stored electronic user record140may be accessed wirelessly, magnetically, or via a connection interface, such as a data port170as illustrated inFIG.3. The stored electronic user record140may be accessed as a PDF or Word document.

The communication module130may comprise a wireless communicator122, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna, a wireless tag, a near field communication (NFC) tag, Bluetooth®, or any other similar contactless one or two way communication device configured to communicate the stored electronic user record wirelessly. The communication module130may alternatively comprise a magnetic strip124containing magnetic tracks to store the data. The information storage device100may also utilize a bar code or quick response (QR) code embossed or printed onto the device100to provide access to data.

The information storage device100may further comprise an encryption module150. The encryption module150is configured to protect and limit access to the stored electronic user record140on the information storage device100via tokenization, encryption algorithms, personal identification numbers, and the like. The information storage device100may further comprise a biometric module160. The biometric module160may be a fingerprint identifier scanner for limiting access to the stored electronic user record140.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a system200for managing an electronic user record216. The system100comprises a computer server210, a plurality of portable information storage devices100, and a plurality of external device interfaces250. The system200is configured to allow the user to have their portable electronic user record216accessible at a point of service. The portable electronic user record216can be updated as required at the point of service or remotely on the computer server210. The system100alleviates the need for filling out paperwork at a medical facility, an imaging provider, a laboratory, a medical provider's office, a dental office, a rehabilitation facility, a pharmacy, a therapist's office, a long term care facility, or any other location that may require the user's medical record or related demographic information prior to service.

The computer server210is a remote server comprising a memory212and a processor218. The memory212stores a set of computer readable software instructions configured as a customer portal214. The customer portal214is remotely accessible to the user over a network220via a user access device230. The user access device230may be a smart phone, a laptop, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or any other remote device capable of accessing the internet.

The customer portal214is configured to receive a request from the user access device230to create the portable electronic user record216. Once the portable electronic user record216is created, the customer portal214accepts an upload of the user's medical142and demographic data144. The uploaded user's medical142and demographic data144is then updated to the electronic user record216hosted on the customer portal216. The user may further update the electronic user record216over the network220via the user access device230as needed. The electronic user record216is then downloadable to one of the portable information storage devices100.

As discussed supra, each information storage device100comprises a memory130, a communication module120, and a processor110. The processor110is in communication with the memory130and communication module120. The memory130is a non-transitory computer readable memory configured to store the electronic user record140. The communication module130communicates the stored electronic user record140at a point of service. The stored electronic user record140may be accessed wirelessly, magnetically, or via a connection interface, such as a data port170.

The communication module130may comprise a wireless communicator122, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna, a wireless tag, a near field communication (NFC) tag, Bluetooth®, or any other similar contactless one or two way communication device configured to communicate the stored electronic user record wirelessly. The communication module130may alternatively comprise a magnetic strip124containing magnetic tracks to store the data. The information storage device100may also utilize a bar code or quick response (QR) code embossed or printed onto the device to access data.

The information storage device100may further comprise an encryption module150. The an encryption module150is configured to protect and limit access to the stored electronic user record140on the information storage device100via tokenization, encryption algorithms, personal identification numbers, and the like. The information storage device100may further comprise a biometric module160. The biometric module160may be a fingerprint identifier scanner for limiting access to the stored electronic user record140.

Each external device interface250is configured to communicate with each portable information storage device100and access the stored electronic user record140stored thereon. Each external device interface250may also be configured to communicate with or access an electronic medical record system260at the point of service and to communicate the stored electronic user record140to the electronic medical record system260. The external device interface250is a reader or other scanning device, such as, but not limited to, a card reader, a RFID reader, an NFC tag reader, a magnetic code reader, a bar or QR code reader, or the like. The electronic medical record system260may be any electronic provider charting or billing system used in the medical industry. New medical or demographic data from the current visit may then be transferred from the electronic medical record system260to the portable information storage device100via the external device interface260. Alternatively, the user or provider may update the electronic user record216over the network220via the user access device230which is then used to update the electronic user record140on the portable information storage device100.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a method300for creating and administering a user's electronic user record216. The user accesses a customer portal214stored on a computer-based system200over a network220using a user access device230. The user then constructs the electronic user record216on the customer portal214. The user uploads a user's medical data142and a user's demographic data144to the customer portal214into the electronic user record216. The user's electronic user record216is then further stored on a portable information storage device100as discussed supra.

The user's electronic user record140on the portable information storage device100is then accessible at a point of service via an external device interface250. The external device interface250can upload the electronic user record140to an electronic medical records system260of the point of service. Then, the external device interface250can modify the electronic user record140with any new user medical or demographic data. Alternatively, the user may update the electronic user record216via the customer portal214on the computer-based system200. Then the updated electronic user record216is then updated on the portable information storage device100.

It is contemplated that information storage device100constructed in accordance with the present invention will be tailored and adjusted by those of ordinary skill in the art to accommodate various levels of performance demand imparted during actual use. Accordingly, while this invention has been described by reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be understood that this invention is capable of further modifications. This application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the information storage device100of the present invention and its various structural components can be of any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape and size of information storage device100and its various components and material, as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes and sizes of information storage device100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of information storage device100are important design parameters, information storage device100and its components may be of any shape or size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits user need and/or preference.