A method of mapping patient medical objects comprising: receiving metadata of a plurality of patient medical objects from one or more data sources; generating metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) for the metadata of the plurality of patient medical objects; storing the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) and the corresponding metadata in a relational data structure; receiving one or more filter criteria; filtering the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) based on the one or more received filter criteria; generating a patient map (316, 440, 530) of the filtered metadata icons; and displaying the patient map (316, 440, 530) in a first graphical user interface; wherein the metadata of the plurality of patient medical objects is received from the one or more data sources without downloading the plurality of patient medical objects; wherein the method further comprises: receiving a selection of one or more of the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) in the patient map; determining one or more selected patient medical objects corresponding to the selected one or more metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) from the relational data base; importing the one or more selected patient medical objects from corresponding ones of the one or more data sources; and displaying the imported one or more selected patient medical objects in a second graphical user interface; characterized in that: a primary one of the selected patient medical objects is imported before secondary ones of the selected patient medical objects; and the imported primary one of the selected patient medical objects is displayed while the secondary ones of the selected patient medical objects are imported. receiving metadata of a plurality of patient medical objects from one or more data sources; generating metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) for the metadata of the plurality of patient medical objects; storing the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) and the corresponding metadata in a relational data structure; receiving one or more filter criteria; filtering the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) based on the one or more received filter criteria; generating a patient map (316, 440, 530) of the filtered metadata icons; and displaying the patient map (316, 440, 530) in a first graphical user interface; wherein the metadata of the plurality of patient medical objects is received from the one or more data sources without downloading the plurality of patient medical objects; wherein the method further comprises: receiving a selection of one or more of the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) in the patient map; determining one or more selected patient medical objects corresponding to the selected one or more metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) from the relational data base; importing the one or more selected patient medical objects from corresponding ones of the one or more data sources; and displaying the imported one or more selected patient medical objects in a second graphical user interface; receiving a selection of one or more of the metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) in the patient map; determining one or more selected patient medical objects corresponding to the selected one or more metadata icons (310-312, 420-430) from the relational data base; importing the one or more selected patient medical objects from corresponding ones of the one or more data sources; and displaying the imported one or more selected patient medical objects in a second graphical user interface; characterized in that: a primary one of the selected patient medical objects is imported before secondary ones of the selected patient medical objects; and the imported primary one of the selected patient medical objects is displayed while the secondary ones of the selected patient medical objects are imported. a primary one of the selected patient medical objects is imported before secondary ones of the selected patient medical objects; and the imported primary one of the selected patient medical objects is displayed while the secondary ones of the selected patient medical objects are imported.