Abstract:
A method, computer program product, and system for receiving a request, from an individual, for one or more medical records concerning a person/patient. At least a first portion of the one or more medical records is requested from a first medical services provider. The at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is obtained from the first medical services provider. The availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is enabled to the individual.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/609,034, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MEDICAL RECORDS”, filed on 11 Dec. 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to medical records and, more particularly, to the management of medical records. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Patients are often treated by a multiplicity of medical professionals. For example, a patient may use a general practitioner for routine medical care. Additionally, the patient may use several specialized practitioners to treat various ailments. Examples of such specialized practitioners may include but are not limited to rheumatologists, cardiologists, and oncologists. 
         [0004]    Often, when a patient is referred to a specialized practitioner from a general practitioner, the specialized practitioner may request a copy of the various medical records concerning the patient. For example, if the general practitioner referred the patient to a cardiologist due to the patient failing a stress test, the cardiologist may request a copy of the medical records associated with the stress test so that the patient does not have to undergo duplicative testing procedures. 
         [0005]    Typically, the responsibility of obtaining copies of the patient&#39;s medical records is often placed on an administrator or assistant within the office of the specialized practitioner. Unfortunately, this task often proves difficult due to the high existing workloads of administrators/assistants and the lack of existing business relationships between the office of the specialized practitioner and the office of the general practitioner. 
         [0006]    The responsibility for obtaining copies of the patient&#39;s medical records may also fall on the patient. This can cause significant additional stress to the patient, particularly since it is during a time of ill health. Furthermore, patients typically do not have the training to validate that the records they are collecting are the correct ones, and if they show up at the specialized practitioner without their records, or the incorrect ones, they may have to cancel the appointment and reschedule, causing further stress to the patient, and unrecoverable costs to the specialist. 
       SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    In a first implementation of this disclosure, a method includes receiving a request, from an individual, for one or more medical records concerning a person/patient. At least a first portion of the one or more medical records is requested from a first medical services provider. The at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is obtained from the first medical services provider. The availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is enabled to the individual. 
         [0008]    One or more of the following features may be included. Enabling the availability may include enabling the availability of an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records to the individual. The electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may be streamed to the individual. 
         [0009]    The individual may be notified of the availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. Notifying the individual may include notifying the individual of the availability of an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. Notifying the individual may include providing the individual with a link to an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. 
         [0010]    Requesting, from a first medical services provider, at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may include sending an electronic request to the first medical services provider. Requesting, from a first medical services provider, at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may include sending a paper-based request to the first medical services provider. The one or more medical records may be chosen from the group consisting of: one or more text-based medical records; one or more image-based medical records; and one or more computer file-based medical records. 
         [0011]    At least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be requested from a second medical services provider. The at least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be obtained from the second medical services provider. The availability of the at least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be enabled to the individual. 
         [0012]    In another implementation of this disclosure, a computer program product resides on a computer readable medium and has a plurality of instructions stored on it. When executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processor to perform operations including receiving a request, from an individual, for one or more medical records concerning a person/patient. At least a first portion of the one or more medical records is requested from a first medical services provider. The at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is obtained from the first medical services provider. The availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is enabled to the individual. 
         [0013]    One or more of the following features may be included. Enabling the availability may include enabling the availability of an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records to the individual. The electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may be streamed to the individual. 
         [0014]    The individual may be notified of the availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. Notifying the individual may include notifying the individual of the availability of an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. Notifying the individual may include providing the individual with a link to an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. 
         [0015]    Requesting, from a first medical services provider, at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may include sending an electronic request to the first medical services provider. Requesting, from a first medical services provider, at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may include sending a paper-based request to the first medical services provider. The one or more medical records may be chosen from the group consisting of: one or more text-based medical records; one or more image-based medical records; and one or more computer file-based medical records. 
         [0016]    At least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be requested from a second medical services provider. The at least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be obtained from the second medical services provider. The availability of the at least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be enabled to the individual. 
         [0017]    In another implementation of this disclosure, a system is configured to perform operations including receiving a request, from an individual, for one or more medical records concerning a person/patient. At least a first portion of the one or more medical records is requested from a first medical services provider. The at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is obtained from the first medical services provider. The availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records is enabled to the individual. 
         [0018]    One or more of the following features may be included. Enabling the availability may include enabling the availability of an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records to the individual. The electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may be streamed to the individual. 
         [0019]    The individual may be notified of the availability of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. Notifying the individual may include notifying the individual of the availability of an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. Notifying the individual may include providing the individual with a link to an electronic copy of the at least a first portion of the one or more medical records obtained from the first medical services provider. 
         [0020]    Requesting, from a first medical services provider, at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may include sending an electronic request to the first medical services provider. Requesting, from a first medical services provider, at least a first portion of the one or more medical records may include sending a paper-based request to the first medical services provider. The one or more medical records may be chosen from the group consisting of: one or more text-based medical records; one or more image-based medical records; and one or more computer file-based medical records. 
         [0021]    At least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be requested from a second medical services provider. The at least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be obtained from the second medical services provider. The availability of the at least a second portion of the one or more medical records may be enabled to the individual. 
         [0022]    The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a record management process executed in whole or in part by a computer coupled to a distributed computing network; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of the record management process of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of an electronic request template as rendered by the record management process of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view a cellular telephone configured to access the record management process of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of a personal digital assistant configured to access the record management process of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     System Overview: 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a record management process  10 , which may be a server-based application resident on (in whole or in part) and executed by (in whole or in part) computer  12  (e.g., a single server computer, a plurality of server computers, or a general purpose computer, for example). As will be discussed below in greater detail, record management process  10  may allow for a request  14  to be made of a first practitioner  16 , on behalf of an individual  18 , requesting that the first practitioner  16  provide a copy of the individual&#39;s medical records  20  to a third party  22 , so that the third party  22  can make the copy of medical records  20  available to individual  18 . 
         [0029]    Computer  12  may be coupled to network  24  (e.g., the Internet). Computer  12  may be, for example, a web server running a network operating system, examples of which may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows XP Server™, or Redhat Linux™. 
         [0030]    Computer  12  may also execute a web server application, examples of which may include but are not limited to Microsoft IIS™, or Apache Webserver™, that allows for HTTP (i.e., HyperText Transfer Protocol) access to computer  12  via network  24 . Network  24  may be coupled to one or more secondary networks (e.g., network  26 ), such as: a local area network; a wide area network; or an intranet, for example. Additionally/alternatively, computer  12  may be coupled to network  24  through secondary network  26 , as illustrated with phantom link line  28 . 
         [0031]    The instruction sets and subroutines of record management process  10 , which may be stored on a storage device  30  coupled to computer  12 , may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into computer  12 . Storage device  30  may include but is not limited to a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM). 
         [0032]    Users  32 ,  38  may access record management process  10  (directly through network  24  or through secondary network  26 ) using various client electronic devices, examples of which may include but are not limited to: administrative computer  42 , data-enabled cellular telephone  44 , client computer  46 , client computer  48 , personal digital assistant  50 , laptop computers (not shown), and dedicated network appliances (not shown), for example. 
         [0033]    The various client electronic devices may be directly or indirectly coupled to network  24  (or network  26 ). For example, administrative computer  44 , and client computers  46 ,  48  are shown directly coupled to network  24  via hardwired network connections. Additionally, cellular telephone  44  is shown wirelessly coupled to cellular network/bridge  52 , which is shown directly coupled to network  26 . Further, personal digital assistant  50  is shown wirelessly coupled to network  24  via a wireless communication channel  54  established between personal digital assistant  50  and wireless access point (i.e., WAP)  56 , which is shown directly coupled to network  24 . 
         [0034]    WAP  56  may be, for example, an IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth device that is capable of establishing secure communication channel  54  between personal digital assistant  50  and WAP  56 . 
         [0035]    As is known in the art, all of the IEEE 802.11x specifications use Ethernet protocol and carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (i.e., CSMA/CA) for path sharing. The various 802.11x specifications may use phase-shift keying (i.e., PSK) modulation or complementary code keying (i.e., CCK) modulation, for example. As is known in the art, Bluetooth is a telecommunications industry specification that allows e.g., mobile phones, computers, and personal digital assistants to be interconnected using a short-range wireless connection. 
       Client Software: 
       [0036]    Administrative computer  42  may execute an administrative application  58 , examples of which may include but are not limited to a web browser application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™), an email client (Microsoft Outlook™, Lotus Notes™, and Novell Groupwise™) or a specialized interface that allows e.g., individual  18  to access and configure record management process  10  and generate and provide request  14  to first practitioner  16  via network  24  (and/or network  26 ). Administrative computer  42  may execute an operating system, examples of which may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows XP™ or Redhat Linux™. 
         [0037]    The instruction sets and subroutines of administrative application  58 , which may be stored on a storage device  60  coupled to administrative computer  42 , may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into administrative computer  42 . Storage device  60  may include but is not limited to a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM). 
         [0038]    Client computer  46  may execute a client application  62 , examples of which may include but are not limited to a web browser application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™), an email client (Microsoft Outlook™, Lotus Notes™, and Novell Groupwise™), a data viewing application (e.g., Citrix Access Gateway™) or a specialized interface that allows e.g., individual  18  to access record management process  10 , receive notification  64  (to be discussed below in greater detail) and view medical records  20  stored on e.g., computer  12  (via network  24  and/or network  26 ). Client computer  46  may execute an operating system, examples of which may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows XP™ or Redhat Linux™. 
         [0039]    The instruction sets and subroutines of client application  62 , which may be stored on a storage device  66  coupled to client computer  46 , may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into client computer  46 . Storage device  66  may include but is not limited to a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM). 
         [0040]    Client computer  48  may execute a client application  68 , examples of which may include but are not limited to a web browser application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™), an email client (Microsoft Outlook™, Lotus Notes™, and Novell Groupwise™), or a specialized interface that allows e.g., user  38  to access record management process  10 , receive request  14  from e.g., administrative computer  42 , and provide medical records  20  to computer  12  (via network  24  and/or network  26 ). Client computer  48  may execute an operating system, examples of which may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows XP™ or Redhat Linux™. 
         [0041]    The instruction sets and subroutines of client application  68 , which may be stored on a storage device  70  coupled to client computer  48 , may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into client computer  48 . Storage device  70  may include but is not limited to a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM). 
         [0042]    Cellular telephone  44  and/or personal digital assistant  50  may execute a client application  72 ,  74  (respectively), examples of which may include but are not limited to a web browser application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™), an email client (Microsoft Outlook™, Lotus Notes™, and Novell Groupwise™), a data viewing application (e.g., Citrix Access Gateway™), or a specialized interface that allows e.g., users of cellular telephone  44  and/or personal digital assistant  50  (e.g., individual  18  who requested medical records  20 ) to access record management process  10 , receive notification  64  (to be discussed below in greater detail) and view medical records  20  stored on e.g., computer  12  (via network  24  and/or network  26 ). Cellular telephone  44  and/or personal digital assistant  50  may execute an operating system, examples of which may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows Mobile™, Redhat Linux™, Palm OS™, or a device-specific (i.e., custom) operating system. 
         [0043]    The instruction sets and subroutines of client application  72 ,  74 , which may be stored on a storage device  76 ,  78  (respectively) coupled to cellular telephone  44  and/or personal digital assistant  50  (respectively), may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into cellular telephone  44  and/or personal digital assistant  50 . Storage device  76 ,  78  may include but are not limited to a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM) a Compact Flash (CF) card, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a SmartMedia card, a Memory Stick, and a MultiMedia card, for example. 
       Record Management Process: 
       [0044]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , record management process  10  may receive  100  a request  80 , from individual  18 , for one or more medical records  20  in the possession of first medical services provider  16 . Individual  18  may be representative of a person/patient who wishes to obtain copies of their medical records from the various medical services providers that have provided service to person/patient. Alternatively, individual  18  may be representative of an agent that is working on behalf of a person/patient that wishes to obtain copies of their medical records from the various medical services providers that have provided service to person/patient. Further, individual  18  may be the person/patient or may be a care provider of the person/patient. 
         [0045]    The request  80  received  100  by record management process  10  may be in the form of an electronic request (e.g., an email, or an online request), a telephone request (e.g., a voice call received by individual  18  or a data call received by an automated data entry system coupled to/included within record management process  10 ), or a paper request (e.g., a facsimile-based request or a request received via courier/mail). 
         [0046]    Once request  80  is received  100 , record management process  10  may prepare, on behalf of individual  18 , request  14  for one or more medical records  20  from first medical services provider  16 . Request  14  may be provided  102  to first medical services provider  16 . Medical records  20  may be obtained  104  from first medical services provider  16 , which may be made available  106  to individual  18 . 
         [0047]    Further, additional requests (not shown) may be made of additional medical services providers (not shown). For example, assume that three medical services providers were providing medical services to individual  18 . Accordingly, upon receiving  100  request  80 , third party  22  may: provide  102  a first request (e.g., request  14 ) to first medical services provider  16  for a first portion of medical records  20  of individual  18 ; provide  108  a second request (not shown) to a second medical services provider (not shown) for a second portion of medical records  20  of individual  18 ; and provide  110  a third request (not shown) to a third medical services provider (not shown) for a third portion of medical records  20  of individual  18 . Once these various medical record portions are obtained  108  by third party  22 , the portions may be combined to form medical records  20 , which may be made available  108  to individual  18 . 
         [0048]    For illustrative purposes, assume that individual  18  is a patient that is being treated by two separate medical services providers, namely: first practitioner  16  who is a general purpose medical practitioner treating individual  18  for adult-onset diabetes; and a second practitioner (not shown) who is an oncologist treating individual  18  for prostate cancer. During the course of treatment, first practitioner  16  may generate various medical records, such as text-based medical records, image-based medical records, and/or computer file-based medical records, examples of which may include but are not limited to medical charts, X-rays, CT scans, contact information, familial information, insurance information, ailment and treatment information, genealogy/family history information, three-dimensional rendered images assembled from individual CT scan images, and EEG/EKG waveforms, for example). Further, assume that upon detecting an elevated PSA (i.e., prostate specific antigen) score, individual  18  was referred to the second practitioner (i.e., the oncologist) for further testing and subsequent treatment of prostate cancer. 
         [0049]    Assume that individual  18  may have been previously treated by various other medical services providers (not shown) for various other ailments. Further, assume that individual  18  wishes to have a complete set of their medical records gathered and made available for future review/use by individual  18 , first practitioner  16 , the second practitioner (i.e., the oncologist; not shown), and any other past or future medical services providers (as selected by individual  18 ). Accordingly, individual  18  may provide request  80  (e.g., an online request, an email request, a facsimile request, or a telephone request) to third party  22  that requests that third party  22  obtain and consolidate some or all of the medical records of individual  18  to generate a consolidated medical record history for individual  18 . An example of third party  22  is eHealth Global Technologies, Inc. (http://www.ehealthglobaltech.com) of Rochester, N.Y. 
         [0050]    When record management process  10  receives  100  request  80  from individual  18 , record management process  100  may require individual  18  to authenticate their identity and/or be an established customer of third party  22 . For example, individual  18  may be required to provide third party  22  with one or more unique identifiers assigned to individual  18 , examples of which may include but are not limited an account number, a customer number, a password, and a PIN (i.e., personal identification number) code, for example. 
         [0051]    For example, upon submitting an electronic request  80  to record management process  10 , individual  18  may be required to enter a confidential customer number. Additionally, when submitting a telephone request  80  to record management process  10 , individual  18  may be required to enter a PIN code. Alternatively, when submitting a paper request  80  to record management process  10 , individual  18  may be required to include a confidential username and/or password on the submitted paperwork. 
         [0052]    Additionally, when contacting third party  22 , individual  18  may provide sufficient information to identify the specific medical records desired. For example, individual  18  may define the specific medical records desired from first practitioner  16  and the second practitioner (i.e., the oncologist; not shown). Continuing with the above stated example, individual  18  may request from first practitioner  16  and the second practitioner (not shown) any and all medical records rating to individual  18 . 
         [0053]    Continuing with the above-stated example, once request  80  (e.g., the online request, the telephone request, the email request and/or the facsimile request, for example) is received from individual  18 , third party  22  may prepare request  14  for submission to first practitioner  16  and/or the second practitioner (i.e., the oncologist; not shown). The format of request  14  may vary depending on the preferences/needs of first practitioner  16  and/or the second practitioner (i.e., the oncologist; not shown). 
         [0054]    Once request  80  is received  100  by third-party  22 , record management process  10  may allow the requestor (e.g., individual  18 ) to determine the status of their request (e.g., request  80 ) by e.g., accessing a web-based status portal (not shown) that would allow user  18  to enter information that definitively identifies request  80 . Once such information is entered, record management process  10  may provide e.g., individual  18  with the status of their request, examples of which may include but are not limited to: received; received and assigned; currently being processed, and completed. 
         [0055]    Examples of request  14  may include but are not limited to an electronic request (e.g., an email/online request), a paper-based request (e.g., a facsimile/mailed hardcopy), and a voice-based request (e.g., a voice call/data call). While the following discussion is directed to third party  22  communicating with first practitioner  16 , this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurations are possible. For example and as discussed above, individual  18  may be utilizing the services of other medical practitioners (e.g., the second practitioner, not shown) in addition to first practitioner  16 . 
         [0056]    If request  14  is an electronic request, request  14  may be prepared by individual  18  via administrative application  58 . As discussed above, examples of administrative application  58  may include but are not limited to a web browser application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™), an email client (Microsoft Outlook™, Lotus Notes™, and Novell Groupwise™) or a specialized interface. 
         [0057]    Referring also to  FIG. 3 , when preparing request  14 , an electronic request template  150  (that is populatable by administrative application  58 ) may be used to define the data fields required for a complete request. For example, electronic request template  150  may include patient first name field  152 , patient last name field  154 , patient address field  156 , patient social security number field  158 , and patient birth date field  160 , for example 
         [0058]    If request  14  is a paper-based request, request  14  may be mailed to first practitioner  16  via e.g., the U.S. Postal Service, an overnight courier, or a messenger service. Alternatively, request  14  may be transmitted from e.g., facsimile machine  82  accessible by third party  22  to facsimile machine  84  accessible by first practitioner  16 . When preparing  100  request  14 , a paper request template (not shown) may be used to define the data fields required for a complete request. For example, the paper request template may include a patient name field, a patient address field, the patient social security number field, a patient birth date field, and a medical records requested field, for example. 
         [0059]    While a paper-based request is described above as utilizing a paper request template (not shown) and a pair of facsimile machines  82 ,  84 , other configurations are possible and are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. For example, one or both of facsimile machines  82 ,  84  may be coupled to one or more of computers  42 ,  48  (respectively). Another example is that person  18  may use computer  46  to populate a web-based request form, which may then be propagated over e.g., network  24  to user  32  through computer  42 . Accordingly, facsimile requests may be electronic requests that are prepared  100  using computers  42 ,  48  and transmitted via analog and/or digital telephone lines (not shown). 
         [0060]    Alternatively, individual  18  may contact user  38  via a pair of telephones (not shown) accessible by individual  18 /users  38  and make request  14  verbally. When making a verbal request, the information required to properly identify the requested medical records may be provided verbally (e.g., from individual  18  to user  38 ) or may be provided from individual  18  to an automated data entry system coupled to/included within record management process  10 . 
         [0061]    Once prepared, request  14  may be provided  102  to first practitioner  16  and/or the second practitioner (i.e., the oncologist; not shown). If an electronic request, request  14  may be provided  102  to e.g., first practitioner  16  when transmitted to e.g., computer  48 . If a paper-based request, request  14  may be provided  102  to e.g., first practitioner  16  when e.g., the facsimile is transmitted from facsimile machine  82  to facsimile machine  84 . If request  14  is a verbal request, request  14  may be provided to e.g., first practitioner  16  when communication is established between e.g., individual  18  and user  38 . 
         [0062]    Once request  14  is received by first practitioner  16 , first practitioner  16  may begin the process of gathering the medical records requested by individual  18  through third party  22 . For example and as discussed above, the medical records requested may include text-based medical records, image-based medical records, and/or computer file-based medical records. Accordingly, each of these various types of records may be gathered by first practitioner  16  and prepared for transmittal to third party  22 . The manner in which the requested medical records are prepared for transmittal may vary depending on the format in which the records are provided to third party  22 . For example, if hard copies of the requested medical records are to be provided to third party  22 , the process of preparing the medical records for transmittal may require that first practitioner  16  generate copies for transmittal to third party  22 . For example, film-based copies of X-rays may be prepared, photocopies of medical charts may be prepared, and softcopies of computer files (e.g., three-dimensional rendered images assembled from individual CT scan images, and EEG/EKG waveforms) may be prepared. Once these copies are prepared, the requested medical records  20  (or a portion thereof) may be shipped (via e.g., first class mail or overnight courier) to third party  22  for processing. Alternatively, physical copies of certain medical records may be transmitted (via facsimile) to third party  22 . Alternatively/additionally, first practitioner  16  may provide soft copies of the requested medical records to third party  22 . For example, image files (e.g., DICOM files, XDS files, PDF files, JPEG files, GIF files, TIF files, EPS files, XML files, CDA files, HL7 messages) of e.g., X-rays and medical charts may be prepared and soft copies of computer-based files may be generated. Once prepared, the requested medical records  20  may be transmitted electronically (via e.g., an email attachment) to third party  22 . 
         [0063]    Once third party  22  obtains  104  the requested medical records  20  from first practitioner  16 , third party  22  may process requested medical records  20  to enable availability  108  of medical records  20  to individual  18 . For example, if the requested medical records obtained  104  are paper-based medical records, third party  22  may process requested medical records  20  to enable  108  online availability of requested medical records  20 . Therefore, paper-based medical records may be scanned and converted into one or more computer files, examples of which may include but are not limited to DICOM files, XDS files, PDF files, JPEG files, GIF files, TIF files, EPS files, XML files, CDA files, and HL7 messages. If softcopies of the requested medical records  20  are received by third party  22 , the files may be processed to convert them into an acceptable format. For example, an EPS format file may be converted into a PDF format file. 
         [0064]    Once the requested medical records  20  (or a portion thereof) obtained  104  from first practitioner  16  are in an acceptable format, the requested medical records  20  may be uploaded to e.g., computer  12  and saved in an area accessible by individual  18 . For example, third party  22  may post medical records  20  within a secure area of computer  12  so that medical records  20  may be accessed by individual  18 . Additionally/alternatively, other portions of medical records  20  may be obtained from other medical services providers (e.g., the second practitioner, not shown), and may be uploaded to e.g., computer  12  and saved in an area accessible by individual  18 . 
         [0065]    Third party  22  may notify  112  individual  18  of the availability  108  of medical records  20 . As discussed above, medical records  20  may be obtained  104  from a single medical services provider (e.g., first practitioner  16 ) or may be a compilation of various portions of medical records obtained from a plurality of medical services providers (e.g., first practitioner  16  and the second practitioner, not shown). 
         [0066]    Notification  64  may be generated and provided to individual  18  by e.g., computer  12  or computer  42 . For example, once the requested medical records  20  are received and posted by third party  22 , notification  64  may be automatically generated and provided to individual  18 . Examples of notification  64  may include, but are not limited to, an email, a facsimile transmission, a text message, and a telephone call. 
         [0067]    When notifying individual  18  of the availability of requested medical records  20 , notification  64  may define the manner in which the requested medical records may be obtained by individual  18  (and any required passwords). For example, if all requested medical records  20  for individual  18  are placed in a secure remotely-accessible common directory in computer  12 , notification  64  may simply instruct individual  18  to check their secure directory for requested medical records  20 . Alternatively, if the requested medical records  20  are placed in a unique directory, notification  64  may define the path (e.g., a uniform resource locator) to the unique directory and may provide any required passwords needed to access medical records  20 . Alternatively and to enhance security, the required password may be provided in a separate notification or (alternatively) by telephone/first class mail. 
         [0068]    As discussed above, computer  12  may execute a web server application that allows for HTTP access to computer  12  via network  24 . Accordingly, computer  12  may serve a web-based portal (not shown) for individual  18 . Therefore, notification  64  may notify individual  18  that requested medical records  20  are now available on e.g., computer  12 . When accessing the web-based portal (not shown), individual  18  may be presented with a plurality of links that point to the medical records available for individual  18 . For example, the web-based portal (not shown) may include a link that allows individual  18  to access medical records  20  via e.g., computer  12 . 
         [0069]    Once notified  112 , the manner in which individual  18  obtains the requested medical records  20  may vary depending on the preferences of third party  22  and/or individual  18 . For example, a copy of the requested medical records  20  may be downloadable from computer  12  to e.g., computer  46 . 
         [0070]    Alternatively, downloading may be prohibited and requested medical records  20  may only be streamed  114  from computer  12  to e.g., computer  46 . Typically, when requested medical records  20  are streamed  114  from e.g., computer  12  to computer  46 , a copy of requested medical records  20  may not be permanently retained on computer  46 . Examples of client application  62  that allow for such data streaming  114  may include, but are not limited to: Citrix Access Gateway™ available from Citrix Systems of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and EasyViz™ available from Medical Insight A/S of Valby, Denmark. 
         [0071]    Additionally, a hardcopy of the requested medical records  20  may be provided  116  to individual  18 . For example, a hardcopy of the requested medical records may be provided to individual  18  via: facsimile transmission (e.g., to a facsimile machine accessible by individual  18 ); via courier service (e.g., overnight courier or messenger service) to the physical address of individual  18 ; and via mail service to the physical address of individual  18 . 
         [0072]    In addition to requested medical records  20  being accessible via e.g., computer  46 , requested medical records  20  may be available via one or more mobile devices, examples of which may include but are not limited to cellular telephone  44  and personal digital assistant  50 . As discussed above, cellular telephone  44  and personal digital assistant  50  may execute client applications  72 ,  74  (respectively) to facilitate access to record management process  10 , receive notification  64  and view medical records  20  stored on e.g., computer  12 . Accordingly, individual  18  may use cellular telephone  44  to access e.g., image  150  of an X-ray included within requested medical records  20  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and/or individual  18  may use personal digital assistant  50  to access image  150  of an X-ray included within requested medical records  20  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0073]    A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.