Systems and methods for providing virtual health services
A virtual health system is provided that creates a digital platform to connect patients to healthcare providers. Healthcare providers create profiles that describe their healthcare specialty and provide scheduling information that indicates their availability along with preferences such as appointment or meeting length, minimum break between appointment, and price. Patients create profiles that includes demographic information as well as medical records. The patients may use the system to search for available healthcare providers using a variety of criteria, and to schedule virtual health services such as video chats. The system facilitates payment for the healthcare services, and records any notes, assignments, or prescriptions generated by the healthcare provider during the services. In the event that a patient would like to engage a different healthcare provider associated with the system, the system only allows access to the patient records after receiving permission from the patient.
1. A method for providing virtual healthcare services comprising:
receiving, at a graphical user interface, a schedule associated with a healthcare provider, wherein the schedule comprises an availability of the healthcare provider over a first duration of time;
receiving, through the graphical user interface, an appointment length, a break length, and an alignment for the healthcare provider;
receiving, through the graphical user interface, a request for a virtual healthcare service with the healthcare provider from a patient, wherein the request comprises a second duration of time;
based on the schedule, the appointment length, the break length, and the alignment, determining a least one time period during the second duration of time when the healthcare provider is available to conduct the virtual healthcare service;
presenting, through the graphical user interface, the at least one time period to the patient;
receiving, through the graphical user interface, a selection of the at least one time period;
in response to the selection, modifying the schedule associated with the healthcare provider;
detecting that medical records of the patient are attached into a communication application;
in response to detecting that the medical records are attached into the communication application, automatically generating and sending an electronic message through the communication application to the patient requesting permission to allow the healthcare provider access to the medical records, wherein the electronic message includes a user interface element that the patient may use to approve or deny the request;
receiving permission from the patient through the user interface element to allow the healthcare provider access to the medical records; and
in response to receiving the permission, providing the healthcare provider access to the medical records by generating and providing a link to the medical records in the communication application.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second duration of time is within the first duration of time.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to the selection, modifying the schedule associated with the healthcare provider.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that a current time is the selected time period; and
in response to the determination that the current time is the selected time period, initiating the virtual healthcare service between the patient and the healthcare provider.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein initiating the virtual healthcare service comprises establishing a video conference or an audio conference between the patient and the healthcare provider.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining that the virtual healthcare service has started; and
in response to the determination that the virtual healthcare service has started:
debiting a first amount from the patient for the virtual healthcare service; and
crediting a second amount to the healthcare provider.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second amount is based on the first amount and a service fee.
8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining that the patient has canceled the virtual healthcare service; and
in response to the determination that the patient has canceled the virtual healthcare service:
debiting a first cancelation fee from the patient for the virtual healthcare service; and
crediting a second cancelation fee to the healthcare provider, wherein the second cancelation fee is based on the first cancelation fee and a service fee.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the healthcare provider is a mental healthcare provider.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the break length comprises a minimum amount of time that the healthcare provider requires between virtual health services.
11. A system for providing virtual healthcare services comprising:
at least one computing device; and
a memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one computing device cause the at least one computing device to:
receive, at a graphical user interface, a schedule associated with a healthcare provider, wherein the schedule comprises an availability of the healthcare provider over a first duration of time;
receive, through the graphical user interface, an appointment length, a break length, and an alignment for the healthcare provider;
receive, through the graphical user interface, a request for a virtual healthcare service with the healthcare provider from a patient, wherein the request comprises a second duration of time;
based on the schedule, the appointment length, the break length, and the alignment, determine at least one time period during the second duration of time when the healthcare provider is available to conduct the virtual healthcare service;
present, through the graphical user interface, the at least one time period to the patient;
receive, through the graphical user interface, a selection of the at least one time period;
in response to the selection, modify the schedule associated with the healthcare provider;
detect that medical records of the patient are attached into a communication application;
in response to detecting that the medical records are attached into the communication application, automatically generate and send an electronic message through the communication application to the patient requesting permission to allow the healthcare provider access to the medical records, wherein the electronic message includes a user interface element that the patient may use to approve or deny the request;
receive permission from the patient through the user interface element to allow the healthcare provider access to the medical records; and
in response to receiving the permission, provide the healthcare provider access to the medical records by generating and providing a link to the medical records to the healthcare provider.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one computing device cause the at least one computing device to:
in response to the selection, modify the schedule associated with the healthcare provider.
13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one computing device cause the at least one computing device to:
determine that a current time is the selected time period; and
in response to the determination that the current time is the selected time period, initiate the virtual healthcare service between the patient and the healthcare provider, wherein initiating the virtual healthcare service comprises establishing a video conference or an audio conference between the patient and the healthcare provider.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one computing device cause the at least one computing device to:
determine that the virtual healthcare service has started, and in response to the determination that the virtual healthcare service has started:
debit a first amount from the patient for the virtual healthcare service, and
credit a second amount to the healthcare provider; and
determine that the patient has canceled the virtual healthcare service, and in response to the determination that the patient has canceled the virtual healthcare service:
debit a first cancelation fee from the patient for the virtual healthcare service, and
credit a second cancelation fee to the healthcare provider.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to:
receive, at a graphical user interface, a schedule associated with a healthcare provider, wherein the schedule comprises an availability of the healthcare provider over a first duration of time;
receive, through the graphical user interface, an appointment length, a break length, and an alignment for the healthcare provider;
receive, through the graphical user interface, a request for a virtual healthcare service with the healthcare provider from a patient, wherein the request comprises a second duration of time;
based on the schedule, the appointment length, the break length, and the alignment, determine at least one time period during the second duration of time when the healthcare provider is available to conduct the virtual healthcare service;
present, through the graphical user interface, the at least one time period to the patient;
receive, through the graphical user interface, a selection of the at least one time period;
in response to the selection, modify the schedule associated with the healthcare provider;
detect that medical records of the patient are attached into a communication application;
in response to detecting that the medical records are attached into the communication application, automatically generate and send an electronic message through the communication application to the patient requesting permission to allow the healthcare provider access to the medical records, wherein the electronic message includes a user interface element that the patient may use to approve or deny the request;
receive permission from the patient through the user interface element to allow the healthcare provider access to the medical records; and
in response to receiving the permission, provide the healthcare provider access to the medical records by generating and providing a link to the medical records to the healthcare provider.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the computing device cause the computing device to:
in response to the selection, modify the schedule associated with the healthcare provider.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the computing device cause the computing device to:
determine that a current time is the selected time period; and
in response to the determination that the current time is the selected time period, initiate the virtual healthcare service between the patient and the healthcare provider, wherein initiating the virtual healthcare service comprises establishing a video conference or an audio conference between the patient and the healthcare provider.