Systems and methods for clinical element extraction, holding, and transmission in a widget-based application

A method for clinical data element communication, said method comprising:

• accepting user input to select clinical content retrieved from a plurality of clinical information sources and graphically displayed to a user, the displayed clinical content including clinical applications and patient data;
• and
• temporarily storing clinical content selected by the user and deposited in a holding area displayed as part of the user interface;
• generating an electronic data message including the clinical content temporarily stored from the holding area;
• and
• transmitting the electronic data message to one or more recipients.

A computer readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer which, when executed, implement a data element communicator system, said system comprising:

• a user interface including electronic data elements retrieved from a plurality of information sources for graphical display to a user, the user interface facilitating user interaction with the displayed electronic data elements;
• a holding area displayed as part of the user interface, the holding area holding one or more electronic data elements selected by the user and deposited in the holding area;
• and
• a data element transmission unit receiving the one or more electronic data elements deposited in the holding area, packaging the one or more electronic data elements, and transmitting the one or more electronic data elements in an electronic data message to one or more recipients.