Peer to Patent, Community Patent Review

DISCUSSION

Matt Grady (13 days ago)

I think the discussion is missing the point of the 'peer to patent' system. The point of this system is not to debate whether an idea is 'good' or not, but rather to help provide information as to whether the invention/claims are new, non obvious, etc. given the prior art and what is already in the public domain. This is what a patent examiner is looking for, and what we as peer reviewers are being asked to help with. In the case of this specific application, a kiosk (computer, basically) is integrated with a database ('healthcare information system'). Now, this is outside my area of expertise, but I would be pretty surprised to hear that things like this have <not> already been described in the public domain. Things like a computer at your desk that can look at the salary database for a company, or a computer on a manufacturing floor integrated that can look at data from the information system that is monitoring production, and so forth. The fact that the computer is called a 'kiosk', and the database is related to health care really is not germane; the terminology used is that such an application would be 'obvious to one skilled in the art'. SO - If there are any computer database experts out there subscribed to this application, and if they know of prior art like this, it would be great if they could post it...or else tell us, "no, nothing similar to this has every been thought of to my knowledge", etc.

Gautam Gupta (9 days ago)

Patrick, Triston, Brant, Karla,Gautam The patent awaiting approval suggests a structure that would support complete integration of the kiosk and healthcare system information system making all the above mentioned traits achievable in any healthcare environment or situation a patient or physician finds himself in, as well as leading to the implementation of many other time saving, cost-effective, comprehensive, and consumer satisfaction products. One must look at the potential shortcomings of the proposed patent in order to make an informed business decision. The first main issue with the proposed patent is that it fails to consider that data integrity is already a huge issue that the hospitals face in today’s world. Hospitals have multiple systems and programs that cannot currently communicate at all with each other. The current communicator is usually an outsourced organization. Although the patent proposes solutions to this problem, it is a task that will require a great deal of money and that is better only in theory. The second major problem that exists with the patent in question is that it proposes to implement a translation layer into the software which is a task that is nearly impossible to accomplish accurately and sufficiently. The main reason being that there is no generic way to do this, and in order for this to occur, the programmers must possess intimate information about all of the existing systems that need to be translated. This is usually accomplished on a case by case basis which would take an extremely long time to accomplish. Finally, the last major issue that exists in implementing such a system is the additional cost incurred by adding another layer of security as a result of using the internet. It is the collective belief of our team that the patent should be assigned by the USPTO. The industry is already moving in this direction and eventually a system like the one described in the patent under review will be implemented. Identified shortcomings can be addressed and overcome over time and the end result will be a more customer service oriented, and highly efficient health care industry.

sam blough (13 days ago)

sam, quan, vanja, jacob Some prospects of the patent include that it helps to solve the problems with the prior interface engines. As stated in the article, the interface party’s record definitions limit the information passed between the kiosk and the information system. And there is a time lag as the interface engine processing the kiosk request, as well as a threat of the breakdown of it. With the new integration system, a Web service facilitates the information interaction between a kiosk and a healthcare information system via a network and based on a direct-access query. In this way, the information can be transferred without any limitations; neither will there be a time lag since the information will be communicated directly within an integrated network instead of being processed by a third party engine. It is more stable, because the kiosk system and the healthcare information system are integrated rather than simply interfaced. Additionally, the system may provide automated task management, electronic work lists and built-in intelligence to help eliminate unnecessary manual tasks. It helps enable organizations to establish a combined business office to tie together multiple hospitals or clinics and/or link physician and hospital settings to help improve efficiency, enhance patient satisfaction and increase cash flow enterprise-wide. The patent idea shortcomings include the possible shortcomings with the integrated system. First, if the network is attacked or down, then the whole system will collapse. Furthermore, “HL7” provides international standard for the exchange, management and integration of electronic healthcare information. Getting rid of it may cause misunderstanding or mismanagement of healthcare data transferred. Lastly, to implement the new integrated system may cause additional cost to the hospitals. Advantages of the patent to hospitals and other clinics is that it allows the healthcare information system user to retrieve patient information such as medical history, prescriptions, clinic visitations, treatments, allergies, and other clinical information. Making this information readily available to doctors, and billing/financial readily available to clerks would streamline any procedure or appointment. The reason this patent will provide strategic business advantages. Through eliminating third party interface systems, the kiosk and healthcare info system will drastically cut down lag-time between input and storage, as well as dependence on a third party, by using a TCP/IP based network as well as SOAP. Patient check-in, symptoms/complaints, as well as payment, billing statements, and obtaining medical history will be extremely streamlined. The clear business advantages for implementing this patent are numerous, but focus on information and care efficiency, automatic payment/billing review, and reducing the cost and amount of employees needed to run a healthcare information system.

PEER TO PATENT ACTIVITY

All

Discuss Patent Applications
13 comments posted

Size of Community: 15

Research Prior Art
0 research notes

Upload + Explain Prior Art
0 submitted

Annotate and Evaluate Prior Art
0 prior art ratings
0 citations