Granted Patent B2

US 8,862,484 · App. 12/717,310 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A method of accumulating evidence relating to medical procedures, comprising the steps of:

performing a first step of a medical procedure for a patient to obtain medical data relating to the patient;

obtaining biometric data of the patient using a biometric data recorder;

linking the biometric data of the patient to medical data of the patient obtained by the first step of the medical procedure;

removing patient information from the medical data of the patient of the first step including removing any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information from the medical data to provide anonymous medical data of the first step;

transmitting the anonymous medical data of the first step with the biometric data of the patient to an information center as encrypted data via a communication device, the step of transmitting including transmitting the medical data and the biometric data without transmitting any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information to the information center;

storing the anonymous medical data of the first step linked to the biometric data of the patient on a data storage device;

performing a second step of the medical procedure for the patient to obtain medical data of the patient of the second step;

linking the biometric data of the patient to the medical data obtained by the second step of the medical procedure;

removing patient information from the medical data of the second step including removing any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information from the medical data to provide anonymous medical data;

transmitting the anonymous medical data of the second step with the biometric data of the patient to the information center as encrypted data via a communication device; said step of transmitting the medical data of the second step including transmitting the medical data of the second step with the biometric data of the patient and without transmitting any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information;

storing the anonymous medical data of the second step linked to the biometric data of the patient on a data storage device;

performing a medical procedure for a further patient to obtain medical data of the further patient;

obtaining biometric data of the further patient using a biometric data recorder;

linking the biometric data of the further patient to the medical data of the medical procedure performed for the further patient;

removing patient information from the medical data of the further patient including removing any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information from the medical data to provide anonymous medical data of the further patient;

transmitting the anonymous medical data of the further patient with the biometric data of the further patient to the information center via a communication device, said step of transmitting the medical data of the further patient including transmitting the medical data of the further patient and the biometric data of the further patient without transmitting any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information;

storing the anonymous medical data of the further patient linked to the biometric data of the further patient on a data storage device; and

generating a report that is anonymous as to patient identity, the report being generated from data stored in the information center, the report being one of a first report or a second report, the generating of the first report including the substep of

combining the anonymous medical data of the first step with the anonymous medical data of the second step of the medical procedure performed on the patient by using the biometric data of the patient to match the data of the first step and the second step,

the generating of the second report including the substep of

combining the anonymous medical data of the patient with the anonymous medical data of the further patient for a predetermined medical without having access to any patient name, patient address, patient social security number, and patient medical records number information of the patient and the further patient;

wherein said first step of the medical procedure and said second step of the medical procedure are performed by mutually different medical service providers; and further comprising:

providing an incentive to at least one of the medical services provider and the patient for transmitting the medical data to the information center.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the medical data of at least one of the first step and the second step and the further patient is forwarded by a medical payment provider.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the medical procedure is magnetically guided capsule endoscopy.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said steps of transmitting the medical data to the information center transmits an anonymous medical report of the patient along with biometric data of the patient.

Assignments (9)