Patent ID: 8452609

Claim:
A computer system for rule-driven emergency department coding, comprising: a) at least one computer configured to present at least one graphical user interface to an Emergency Department Coder via at least one computer display; b) said at least one graphical user interface including at least one Coding Template screen having a plurality of user-selectable items in non-code format whereby a Coder can identify appropriate codes upon selection of one or more user-selectable items in non-code format; c) at least one database containing image data files of scanned emergency department physical paper forms from emergency department physicians containing scanned medical record information regarding patients and treatment of said patients; d) said at least one computer being configured to perform character recognition of said image data files of scanned emergency department forms and to automatically populate and display at least some of said scanned information that is included within said image data files within said at least one Coding Template screen; e) said at least one computer being configured to pull other information from said at least one database based on said character recognition of said image data files and to automatically populate and display said other information within said at least one Coding Template screen along with said at least some of said scanned information; f) said at least one computer being configured to create an electronic Charge Report based on i) said Coder's identifying of appropriate codes upon selection of said user-selectable items in non-code format, ii) said scanned information, and iii) said other information; g) wherein a plurality of said image data files of scanned emergency department physical paper forms have similar document section format and said at least one computer is configured to focus upon particular sub-sections of said image data files of scanned emergency department physical paper forms so as to automatically populate and display certain identified information from within said particular sub-sections; h) wherein said at least one computer includes a central server and at least one remote computer connected to said central server, said at least one remote computer having a display upon which said graphical user interface is displayed to said Coder; i) wherein said at least one computer is configured to include a search diagnosis tool within said at least one Coding Template screen to assist said Coder in locating diagnosis codes; j) wherein said search diagnosis tool is configured to look up diagnosis codes by numeric entries of partial code information by said Coder and/or to look up diagnosis codes by alpha-character description entries by said Coder; k) wherein said system is configured to enable transmission of data entered into said Coding Template by said Coder for review by another individual; and l) further including said at least one computer causing said at least one Coding Template to include the name of the Coder auto-filled based on log-in information.