Multi-level authentication for medical data access

1. A handheld apparatus comprising:

a user interface comprising a display and capable of receiving user input;

a wireless network interface capable of coupling to a central medical information management system;

a memory maintaining a medical information management application;

a processor operable, when executing the medical information management application:

to communicate a practice key identifying a selected one of a plurality of medical practices to the medical information management system;

to receive a list of authorized users for the selected medical practice from the medical information management system;

to display the list using the display;

to receive a selection of one of the authorized users using the user interface;

to receive a password associated with the selected authorized user using the user interface;

to communicate an identification of the selected authorized user and the password to the medical information management system;

to receive a quick access code associated with the selected authorized user from the medical information management system;

to receive electronic medical case information corresponding to the selected medical practice from the medical information management system;

to provide a use mode and a standby mode, wherein the use mode permits access to the electronic medical case information and the standby mode restricts access to the electronic medical case information; and

to permit transition from the standby mode to the use mode based on entry of the quick access code using the user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the standby mode is a selected one of an exiting of the medical information management application or a state entered after a period of inactivity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable, when executing the medical information management application, to:

receive a list of practice locations;

communicate a selected one of the practice locations to the medical information management system; and

receive electronic medical case information corresponding to the selected medical practice and practice location from the medical information management system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable, when executing the medical information management application, to:

receive a selection of one of the cases in the received electronic medical case board information;

receive a selection of one of a plurality of case roles for the selected case;

communicate an identification of the selected authorized user and the selected case role to the medical information management system;

receive an update to the electronic medical case information, the update including, an association of the selected user to the selected case role.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the password has a minimum length of at least six characters, and the quick access code has a minimum length less than that for the password and uses a reduced character set.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further operable, when executing the medical information management application, to display the electronic medical case information using the display, wherein displaying comprises visually emphasizing and sorting the electronic medical case information based on an affiliation with the selected authorized user.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further operable, when executing the medical information management application, to:

display the electronic medical case information using the display;

receive a selection of one of the cases in the electronic medical case information using the user interface; and

provide a patient treatment interface for the selected case based on whether the selected authorized user has an affiliation with the selected case.

8. A method comprising:

communicating a practice key identifying a selected one of a plurality of medical practices to a medical information management system;

receiving a list of authorized users for the selected medical practice from the medical information management system;

displaying the list using a display;

receiving a selection of one of the authorized users using a user interface;

receiving a password associated with the selected authorized user using the user interface;

communicating an identification of the selected authorized user and the password to the medical information management system;

receiving a quick access code associated with the selected authorized user from the medical information management system;

receiving electronic medical case information corresponding to the selected medical practice from the medical information management system;

providing a use mode and a standby mode, wherein the use mode permits access to the electronic medical case information and the standby mode restricts access to the electronic medical case information; and

permitting transition from the standby mode to the use mode based on entry of the quick access code using the user interface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the standby mode is a selected one of an exiting of the medical information management application or as state entered after a period of inactivity.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a list of practice locations;

communicating a selected one of the practice locations to the medical information management system; and

receiving electronic medical case information corresponding to the selected medical practice and practice location from the medical information management system.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of the cases in the received electronic medical case board information;

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of case roles for the selected case;

communicating an identification of the selected authorized user and the selected case role to the medical information management system;

receiving an update to the electronic medical case information, the update including an association of the selected user to the selected case role.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the password has a minimum length of at least six characters, and the quick access code has a minimum length less than that for the password and uses a reduced character set.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying the electronic medical case information using the display, wherein displaying comprises visually emphasizing and sorting the electronic medical case information based on an affiliation with the selected authorized user.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

displaying the electronic medical case information using the display;

receiving a selection of one of the cases in the electronic medical case information using the user interface; and

providing a patient treatment interface for the selected case based on whether the selected authorized user has an affiliation with the selected case.

15. A system, comprising;

a central medical information management system;

one or more medical information management applications each residing on a wireless handheld device and operable, when executed, to:

communicate a practice key identifying a selected one of a plurality of medical practices to the medical information management system;

receive a list of authorized users for the selected medical practice from the medical information management system;

display the list using a display;

receive a selection of one of the authorized users using a user interface;

receive a password associated with the selected authorize user using the user interface;

communicate an identification of the selected authorized user and the password to the medical information management system;

receive a quick access code associated with the selected authorized user from the medical information management system;

receive electronic medical case information corresponding to the selected medical practice from the medical information management system;

provide a use mode and a standby mode, wherein the use mode permits access to the electronic medical case information and the standby mode restricts access to the electronic medical case information; and

permit transition from the standby mode to the use mode based on entry of the quick access code using the user interface.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the standby mode is a selected one of an exiting of the medical information management application or a state entered after a period of inactivity.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more medical information management applications are further operable, when executed, to:

receive a list of practice locations;

communicate a selected one of the practice locations to the medical information management system; and

receive electronic medical case information corresponding to the selected medical practice and practice location from the medical information management system.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more medical information management applications are further operable, when executed, to;

receive a selection of one of the cases in the received electronic medical case board information;

receive a selection of one of a plurality of case roles for the selected case;

communicate an identification of the selected authorized user and the selected case role to the medical information management system;

receive an update to the electronic medical case information, the update including an association of the selected user to the selected case role.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the password has a minimum length of at least six characters, and the quick access code has a minimum length less than that for the password and uses a reduced character set.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more medical information management applications are further operable, when executed, to display the electronic medical case information using the display, wherein displaying comprises visually emphasizing and sorting the electronic medical case information based on an affiliation with the selected authorized user.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more medical information management applications are further operable, when executed, to:

display the electronic medical case information using the display;

receive a selection of one of the cases in the electronic medical case information using the user interface; and

provide a patient treatment interface for the selected case based on whether the selected authorized user has an affiliation with the selected case.