Pre-Grant Publication Number: 20080040421
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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.
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.
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.
The new kiosk system seems to be a creative innovation which now has to be commercialized and marketed in order to become successful. The system provides the most important advantage of effectively integrating not only doctors and patients but other healthcare providers. In our opinion, there are two ways in which a firm could legitimize and bring to market the kiosk structure. The first is to target specific hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics. The second approach would have to be focused on the users (patients) of the system and what it offers them.
The first approach could be marketed via surveys and interviews at profitable hospitals and clinics where the importance of such an integrated system would be inevitable. Furthermore, the firm would need to convince the CEO, CIO, directors etc.., of these institutions that a system would be cost effective. [The possible drawback of the system, however, may be its expensive implementation costs]. In the long run, however, the costs will be fully paid off due to the opportunities offered by the system: accurate and systematic recording of patient information, effective communication between healthcare providers and patient, etc. which will finally result in an increased effectiveness of the healthcare system.
The second half of the battle in a successful marketing of a health care kiosk system is to gain the support of the patients. This can be easily achieved only if the system proves to be user-friendly, secure and reliable. Therefore, additional costs may be incurred in order to provide maintenance and assure excellent quality of the service. Only in this case, the patient would be able to rely on the system in terms of better accessibility to his/her medical information and better control over the whole appointment/treatment process.
The patent for a health care kiosk has a very important prospect of integrating various tasks within the health care industry into an electronic form. The health kiosk is expected to reduce staff hours, increase organization and increase information coordination. The time saving activities of the kiosk include patient check in and self-service payment, automatic electronic filing system and the ability to update information as a procedure or examination is in progress. One of the more notable shortcomings is the assumption that there would be a universal acception of the kiosk. It is implied that the kiosk is the solution to every problem.
Despite the obvious concerns with this new system I do believe that this makes good business sense. In order for a company to differentiate themselves from other companies, in an industry that is known for providing slow service in most cases, a system that allows for faster and more complete information can only help to push the company ahead of its competition. If the system is integrated properly and there are little problems with its use, then the care center becomes not only more attractive to patients looking for a place to get treated at, but also to doctors who are choosing a facility to work at.
After examining the idea and the pros and cons that go along with it, I do recommend that the idea should receive a patent. The medical service provider industry relies on the information that they have to help them make the proper decisions when treating a patient. This technology seems to provide for not only the ability of the doctors to do their jobs better, but also for the patient to have better access to information and more control over the process.
Marketing a healthcare kiosk should illustrate the connection between patients, physicians, and hospitals through mutual relationships. First, it is important to market the health kiosks to the health care administrators and the doctors. Once there is acceptance by them, marketing the product to patients will be more effective with the support and trust of the health care professionals. Marketing to patients should come from media such as television commercials. Marketing can be light, quick and fun to display the benefits the patients will receive from this health care kiosk. Marketing should also relieve patients of their fears surrounding a medical kiosk.
A patient kiosk combined with a successful marketing plan will help healthcare organizations enhance the patients experience at home, in the hospital, and the doctor’s office by having a user-friendly central information kiosk accessible at anytime.
The patent for a health care kiosk has a very important prospect of integrating various tasks within the health care industry into an electronic form. The health kiosk is expected to reduce staff hours, increase organization and increase information coordination. The time saving activities of the kiosk include patient check in and self-service payment, automatic electronic filing system and the ability to update information as a procedure or examination is in progress. One of the more notable shortcomings is the assumption that there would be a universal acception of the kiosk. It is implied that the kiosk is the solution to every problem.
Despite the obvious concerns with this new system I do believe that this makes good business sense. In order for a company to differentiate themselves from other companies, in an industry that is known for providing slow service in most cases, a system that allows for faster and more complete information can only help to push the company ahead of its competition. If the system is integrated properly and there are little problems with its use, then the care center becomes not only more attractive to patients looking for a place to get treated at, but also to doctors who are choosing a facility to work at.
After examining the idea and the pros and cons that go along with it, I do recommend that the idea should receive a patent. The medical service provider industry relies on the information that they have to help them make the proper decisions when treating a patient. This technology seems to provide for not only the ability of the doctors to do their jobs better, but also for the patient to have better access to information and more control over the process.
Marketing a healthcare kiosk should illustrate the connection between patients, physicians, and hospitals through mutual relationships. First, it is important to market the health kiosks to the health care administrators and the doctors. Once there is acceptance by them, marketing the product to patients will be more effective with the support and trust of the health care professionals. Marketing to patients should come from media such as television commercials. Marketing can be light, quick and fun to display the benefits the patients will receive from this health care kiosk. Marketing should also relieve patients of their fears surrounding a medical kiosk.
A patient kiosk combined with a successful marketing plan will help healthcare organizations enhance the patients experience at home, in the hospital, and the doctor’s office by having a user-friendly central information kiosk accessible at anytime.
potential to change how our current healthcare system interacts with
not only its patients, but other healthcare providers. This invention
has the possiblity to streamline patient information, speed up
provider payments and allow patient histories to be more accurate,
making it possible to provide better overall healthcare treatment.
The possible shortcomings of this invention are the need for increased
information system security and how to direct access so as not to
incur any HIPAA violations. If the shortcomings can be worked out and
the system reaches farther than just the kiosk to individual provider
system, this invention could revolutionize the healthcare system.
QUAN
JACOB
SAM
VANJA