Methods and systems for managing patient authorizations relating to digital medical data
A network for mediating the peer-to-peer transfer of digital patient medical data includes a plurality of distributed agents each associated with a health care provider and connected to a central system. Periodically the agents collect local information relating to patient medical files and/or data streams, for example diagnostic images and associated reports, and process that information into metadata files acting as pointers to the original files. The metadata files are transmitted to the central system where they are parsed and the attributes are stored on the central system in patient records with records from the same patient grouped together whenever possible. Registered users can search the central system, even in the absence of a unique identifier, to identify patient records pointing to the remote patient medical files. Upon finding a patient medical file, the invention provides a streamlined process for communicating access authorization from the patient to the hospital or facility storing the medical files. Once patient authorization is received, secure processes are provided for transferring the data in its entirety to or for viewing by the user in a peer-to-peer fashion.
1. A method operable on a computer for managing patient authorizations granting access to remotely stored medical data files, comprising the steps of:
receiving from a user at least one patient authorization request including a user identifier, a patient identifier identifying a patient, a medical data file identifier and a file source identifier identifying a file source, the medical data file identifier identifying a medical data file, the identified medical data file containing medical data relating to the patient and stored at the file source;
identifying the patient associated with the patient identifier;
identifying the file source associated with the file source identifier;
identifying a patient authorization form required by the file source to authorize the release of the medical data file;
providing to the patient the patient authorization form;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature associated with an indicator authorizing access of the user to the medical data file; and
transmitting to the user an authorization to access the medical data file from the file source.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further including the step of notifying the file source of receipt of the authorization.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further including the step of receiving from the patient an indicator that the patient has read and understands the patient authorization form.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of providing to the patient the patient authorization form is performed on a computer; and
the step of receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature includes the step of receiving the digitized signature from a transduction device operated by the patient.
5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the transduction device is a portable transduction device.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further including the step of storing a plurality of patient authorization forms each of the plurality of patient authorization forms for use with a different file source.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving from the patient the patient authorization form includes the steps of:
receiving a facsimile transmission of the patient authorization form including a written patient signature; and
digitizing the written patient signature.
8. A system for managing patient authorizations granting access to remotely stored medical data files, comprising
a processor;
a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions for controlling the operation of the processor;
the processor operative with the instructions in the memory to perform the steps of:
receiving from a user at least one patient authorization request including a user identifier, a patient identifier identifying a patient, a medical data file identifier and a file source identifier identifying a file source, the medical data file identifier identifying a medical data file, the identified medical data file containing medical data relating to the patient and stored at the file source;
identifying the patient associated with the patient identifier;
identifying the file source associated with the file source identifier;
identifying a patient authorization form required by the file source to authorize the release of the medical data file;
providing to the patient the patient authorization form;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature associated with an indicator authorizing access of the user to the medical data file; and
transmitting to the user an authorization to access the medical data file from the file source.
9. A system in accordance with claim 8 and further including the step of notifying the file source of receipt of the authorization.
10. A system in accordance with claim 8 and further including the step of receiving from the patient an indicator that the patient has read and understands the patient authorization form.
11. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of providing to the patient the patient authorization form is performed on a computer; and
the step of receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature includes the step of receiving the digitized signature from a transduction device operated by the patient.
12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the transduction device is a portable transduction device.
13. A system in accordance with claim 8 and further including the step of storing a plurality of patient authorization forms each of the plurality of patient authorization forms for use with a different file source.
14. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of receiving electronically from the patient a patient authorization form includes the steps of:
receiving a facsimile transmission of the patient authorization form including a written patient signature; and
digitizing the written patient signature.
15. A method for managing patient authorizations granting access to remotely stored medical data files, comprising:
receiving from a user at least one patient authorization request including a user identifier, a patient identifier identifying a patient, a medical data file identifier and a file source identifier identifying a file source, the medical data file identifier identifying a medical data file, the identified medical data file containing medical data relating to the patient and stored at the file source;
identifying the patient ,associated with the patient identifier;
identifying the file source associated with the file source identifier;
identifying a patient authorization form required by the file source to authorize the release of the medical data file;
providing to the patient the patient authorization form;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature associated with an indicator authorizing access of the user to the medical data file; and
transmitting to the user an authorization to access the medical data file from the file source.
16. A system for managing patient authorizations granting access to remotely stored medical data files, comprising:
means for receiving from a user at least one patient authorization request including a user identifier, a patient identifier identifying a patient, a medical data file identifier and a file source identifier identifying a file source, the medical data file identifier identifying a medical data file, the identified medical data file containing medical data relating to the patient and stored at the file source;
identifying the patient associated with the patient identifier;
means for identifying the file source associated with the file source identifier;
means for identifying a patient authorization form required by the file source to authorize the release of the medical data file;
means for providing to the patient the patient authorization form;
means for receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature associated with an indicator authorizing access of the user to the medical data file; and
means for transmitting to the user an authorization to access the medical data file from the file source.
17. An article of manufacture comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to manage patient authorizations granting access to remotely stored medical data files, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising:
receiving from a user at least one patient authorization request including a user identifier, a patient identifier identifying a patient, a medical data file identifier and a file source identifier identifying a file source, the medical data file identifier identifying a medical data file, the identified medical data file containing medical data relating to the patient and stored at the file source;
identifying the patient associated with the patient identifier;
identifying the file source associated with the file source identifier;
identifying a patient authorization form required by the file source to authorize the release of the medical data file;
providing to the patient the authorization form;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a digitized signature associated with an indicator authorizing access of the user to the medical data file; and
transmitting to the user an authorization to access the medical data file from the file source.
18. A method operable on a computer on a computer for obtaining a patient authorization authorizing release of a remotely stored medical data file to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying, to a central computer, a remotely stored medical data file and a source for the remotely stored medical data file;
requesting, from the central computer, an authorization form accepted by the source for authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file;
receiving the authorization form;
providing the authorization form to a patient for execution;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a patient signature associated with an indicator authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file; and
transmitting an authorization to the central computer for the user to access the medical data file from the source.
19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein:
the step of providing the authorization form to a patient for execution is performed on a computer; and
the step of receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form includes receiving the patient signature and associated indicator in digitized format from a transduction device.
20. A method in accordance with claim 18 and further comprising the step of receiving, from the central computer, a notification that the source has been notified of the receipt of the authorization.
21. A method in accordance with claim 20 and further comprising the step of, after the transmitting step, requesting access to the remotely stored medical data file from the source.
22. A method in accordance with claim 18 and further including the steps of:
printing a copy of the authorization form; and
providing the printed copy of the authorization form to the patient.
23. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein:
the step of receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form includes receiving the patient signature in writing; and
the step of transmitting includes digitizing the patient signature and transmitting the digitized patient signature to the central computer.
24. A system for obtaining a patient authorization authorizing release of a remotely stored medical data file to a user, comprising:
a processor;
a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions for controlling the operation of the processor;
the processor operative with the instructions in the memory to perform the steps of:
identifying, to a central computer, a remotely stored medical data file and a source for the remotely stored medical data file;
requesting, from the central computer, an authorization form accepted by the source for authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file;
receiving the authorization form;
providing the authorization form to a patient for execution;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a patient signature associated with an indicator authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file; and
transmitting an authorization to the central computer for the user to access the medical data file from the source.
25. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein:
the step of providing the authorization form to a patent for execution is performed on a computer; and
the step of receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form includes receiving the patient signature and associated indicator in digitized format from a transduction device.
26. A system in accordance with claim 24 and further comprising the step of receiving, from the central computer, a notification that the source has been notified of the receipt of the authorization.
27. A system in accordance with claim 26 and further comprising the step of, after the transmitting step, requesting access to the remotely stored medical data file from the source.
28. A system in accordance with claim 24 and further including the steps of:
printing a copy of the authorization form; and
providing the printed copy of the authorization form to the patient.
29. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein:
the step of receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form includes receiving the patient signature in writing; and
the step of transmitting includes digitizing the patient signature and transmitting the digitized patient signature to the central computer.
30. A method for obtaining a patient authorization authorizing release of a remotely stored medical data file to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying, to a central service, a remotely stored medical data file and a source for the remotely stored medical data file;
requesting, from the central service, an authorization form accepted by the source for authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file;
receiving the authorization form;
providing the authorization form to a patient for execution;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a patient signature associated with an indicator authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file; and
transmitting an authorization to the central service for the user to access the medical data file from the source.
31. A system for obtaining a patient authorization authorizing release of a remotely stored medical data file to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
means for identifying, to a central computer, a remotely stored medical data file and a source for the remotely stored medical data file;
means for requesting, from the central computer, an authorization form accepted by the source for authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file;
means for receiving the authorization form;
means for providing the authorization form to a patient for execution;
means for receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a patient signature associated with an indicator authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file; and
means for transmitting an authorization to the central computer for the user to access the medical data file from the source.
32. An article of manufacture comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to obtain a patient authorization authorizing release of a remotely stored medical data file to a user, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising:
identifying, to a central computer, a remotely stored medical data file and a source for the remotely stored medical data file;
requesting, from the central computer, an authorization form accepted by the source for authorizing access by a user to the remotely stored medical data file;
receiving the authorization form;
providing the authorization form to a patient for execution;
receiving electronically from the patient the patient authorization form including a patient signature associated with an indicator authorizing access to the remotely stored medical data file; and
transmitting an authorization to the central computer for the user to access the medical data file from the source.
33. A method operable on a computer for managing user access to medical data files, comprising the steps of:
transmitting to a remote central computer authorization forms acceptable upon completion by a patient for authorizing user access to a medical data file;
receiving from the remote central computer a notice of a completed authorization form, the completed authorization form submitted electronically from a patient, the completed authorization form identifying the medical data file and a user authorized access by the patient to the medical data file;
receiving, after receiving the notice, a request to provide the user access to the medical data file; and
providing the user access to the medical data file.
34. A method in accordance with claim 33 wherein the step of providing the user access includes making the medical data file available for transmission to a specified device.
35. A system for managing user access to medical data files, comprising:
a processor;
a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions for controlling the operation of the processor;
the processor operative with the instructions in the memory to perform the steps of:
transmitting to a remote central computer authorization forms acceptable upon completion by a patient for authorizing user access to a medical data file;
receiving from the remote central computer a notice of a completed authorization form, the completed authorization form submitted electronically from a patient, the completed authorization form identifying the medical data file and a user authorized access by the patient to the medical data file;
receiving, after receiving the notice, a request to provide the user access to the medical data file; and
providing the user access to the medical data file.
36. A system in accordance with claim 35 wherein the step of providing the user access includes making the medical data file available for transmission to a specified device.
37. A method for managing user access to medical data files, comprising the steps of:
transmitting to a remote central computer authorization forms acceptable upon completion by a patient for authorizing user access to a medical data file;
receiving from the remote central computer a notice of a completed authorization form, the completed authorization form submitted electronically from a patient, the completed authorization form identifying the medical data file and a user authorized access by the patient to the medical data file;
receiving, after receiving the notice, a request to provide the user access to the medical data file; and
providing the user access to the medical data file.
38. A system for managing user access to medical data files, comprising:
means for transmitting to a remote central computer authorization forms acceptable upon completion by a patient for authorizing user access to a medical data file;
means for receiving from the remote central computer a notice of a completed authorization form, the completed authorization form submitted electronically from a patient, the completed authorization form identifying the medical data file and a user authorized access by the patient to the medical data file;
means for receiving, after receiving the notice, a request to provide the user access to the medical data file; and
means for providing the user access to the medical data file.
39. A system in accordance with claim 38 wherein the means for providing the user access includes making the medical data file available for transmission to a specified device.
40. An article of manufacture comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to manage user access to medical data files, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising:
transmitting to a remote central computer authorization forms acceptable upon completion by a patient for authorizing user access to a medical data file;
receiving from the remote central computer a notice of a completed authorization form, the completed authorization form submitted electronically from a patient, the completed authorization form identifying the medical data file and a user authorized access by the patient to the medical data file;
receiving, after receiving the notice, a request to provide the user access to the medical data file; and
providing the user access to the medical data file.