Patent ID: 8799650

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing access to an individual's medical images using one or more computer processors configured to execute the steps comprising: generating a first personal identification number for a secure portable reference, the secure portable reference stored within a USB thumb drive; using the first personal identification number to encrypt secure information used to access an individual's medical digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) images stored on two or more databases; storing the secure information on the secure portable reference within the USB thumb drive; storing, in the secure portable reference within the USB thumb drive, a security module configured to decrypt at least a portion of the secure portable reference including the security information; storing, in the secure portable reference within the USB thumb drive, computer-executable instructions configured to: receive a second personal identification number from a user through a client computer connected to the USB thumb drive; use the second personal identification number and the security module to decrypt the secure information stored on the secure portable reference, the secure information being necessary to access the medical images stored on the two or more databases; request the individual's medical DICOM images from the two or more databases using the secure information stored on the secure portable reference within the USB thumb drive; receive the individual's medical DICOM images from the two or more databases associated with the secure information stored on the secure portable reference within the USB thumb drive; and provide a user interface for the client device, configured to in response to receiving the individual's medical DICOM images, process and display the individual's medical DICOM images from the two or more databases associated with the secure information stored on the secure portable reference; and expiring and rendering unusable the secure portable reference after a configurable number of uses of the secure portable reference to retrieve the individual's medical DICOM images from the two or more databases.