System, method and apparatus for real-time access to networked radiology data

1. A method for generating DICOM images as part of a real-time virtual medical consultation, comprising:

receiving, by a handheld patient device associated with a patient, a DICOM image associated with the patient generated by a diagnostic device;

encrypting, by the handheld patient device, the DICOM image and linking the encrypted DICOM image to a unique patient identifier associated with the patient, wherein the handheld patient device is one of a tablet computer and a smartphone; and

transmitting, by the handheld patient device, the encrypted DICOM image to a server configured to provide a DICOM viewer option within a secure telemedicine platform accessible by a medical professional and executed by the server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handheld patient device includes a memory and a processor configured to execute the steps of encrypting, linking, and transmitting the DICOM image.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic device is configured to transmit the DICOM image to the processor of the handheld patient device via one of a wireless connection and a wired connection.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the diagnostic device includes a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the DICOM image to the processor of the handheld patient device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DICOM image is encrypted using a hypertext transfer protocol secure method.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device is one of an electrocardiograph (ECG), a pulse oximeter, a blood pressure cuff, a spirometer, a sphygmomanometer, a weight scale, a stethoscope, a blood chemistry analyzer, a microscope, an ultrasounds probe, a glucometer, a horoscope, a prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (PT/INR) machine, a medication station, an abdominal probe, a vascular access probe, an endocavity probe, an ophthalmology probe, a proscope, a thermometer, and a remotely-controlled 360 degree high definition camera.

7. A system comprising:

a handheld patient device associated with a patient, the handheld patient device being one of a tablet computer and a smartphone, and the handheld patient device comprising:

data processing hardware, and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:

receiving a DICOM image associated with the patient generated by a diagnostic device,

encrypting the DICOM image and linking the encrypted DICOM image to a unique patient identifier associated with the patient, and

transmitting the encrypted DICOM image to a server configured to provide a DICOM viewer option within a secure telemedicine platform accessible by a medical professional and executed by the server.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the DICOM image is encrypted using a hypertext transfer protocol secure method.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the diagnostic device is configured to transmit the DICOM image to the processor of the handheld patient device via one of a wireless connection and a wired connection.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the diagnostic device includes a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the DICOM image to the processor of the handheld patient device.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the diagnostic device is one of an electrocardiograph (ECG), a pulse oximeter, a blood pressure cuff, a spirometer, a sphygmomanometer, a weight scale, a stethoscope, a blood chemistry analyzer, a microscope, an ultrasounds probe, a glucometer, a horoscope, a prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (PT/INR) machine, a medication station, an abdominal probe, a vascular access probe, an endocavity probe, an ophthalmology probe, a proscope, a thermometer, and a remotely-controlled 360 degree high definition camera.

12. A method for viewing DICOM images as part of a real-time virtual medical consultation using at least one DICOM viewer, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a DICOM image associated with a patient generated by a diagnostic device and transmitted to a handheld patient device associated with the patient, the handheld patient device being one of a tablet computer and a smartphone, and the handheld patient device (i) encrypting the DICOM image, (ii) linking the encrypted DICOM image to a unique patient identifier associated with the patient, and (ill) transmit in the encrypted DICOM image to the server,

providing, by the server, a DICOM viewer option within a secure telemedicine platform accessible by a medical professional and executed, by the server;

supplying, via the secure telemedicine platform, a remote DICOM Image database linked to a patient record based on the patient identifier;

providing, via the DICOM viewer option, choices so that the medical professional has the ability to choose which type of DICOM image they desire or need, wherein the choices are selected from a list consisting of a synchronous review, an asynchronous review, an image review, a video review, and a stacked series review; and

transferring, by the server, the encrypted DICOM image from the remote DICOM image database to the secure telemedicine platform to be viewable by the medical professional based on the selected image choice.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of providing concurrent videoconferencing capability between a caller and a callee using WebRTC functionality.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing, by the server, a second opinion platform accessible by a second medical professional and executed by the server.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing, via the second opinion platform, choices so that the second medical professional has the ability to choose which type of DICOM image they desire or need, wherein the choices are selected from a list consisting of a synchronous review, an asynchronous review, an image review, a video review, and a stacked series review.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second medical professional is remote from the medical professional.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising displaying, by a medical professional device associated with the medical professional, the secure telemedicine platform on a display of the medical professional device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the medical professional device is one of a tablet computer and a smartphone.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising decrypting, by a medical professional device associated with the medical professional, the encrypted DICOM image.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the diagnostic device is one of an electrocardiograph (ECG), a pulse oximeter, a blood pressure cuff, a spirometer, a sphygmomanometer, a weight scale, a stethoscope, a blood chemistry analyzer, a microscope, an ultrasounds probe, a glucometer, a horoscope, a prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (PT/INR) machine, a medication station, an abdominal probe, a vascular access probe, an endocavity probe, an ophthalmology probe, a proscope, a thermometer, and a remotely-controlled 360 degree high definition camera.