Attachment integrated claims system and operating method therefor

A combination comprising:

• a first storage medium storing computer readable instructions for permitting a first computer system to receive textual data as field data, to assemble said field data and a corresponding digitized attachment into a first file and to transmit the first file to a second computer system via a communications channel;
• a second storage medium storing computer readable instructions for permitting the second computer system to receive said first file via the communications channel, to display the corresponding digitized attachment on a second screen of the second computer system, and to transfer said field data to a third computer operatively connected to the second computer;
• and
• a third storage medium storing computer readable instructions for permitting the third computer system to receive said field data from said second computer, to display said field data on a third screen of the third computer system and to generate a second file including portions of said field data extracted from said first file,
• wherein:
• said first file follows a predetermined graphic image interchange file format;
• and
• said field data is incorporated into comment blocks associated with said predetermined graphic image interchange file format.

A method for operating a computer system including first, second and third computers, each of said first, second and third computers including a memory, an input device, and a display, respectively, said first and said second computers being connected to one another by modems and a common communication line, and said first computer including a digitizing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) retrieving a first form from storage in the first computer's memory and displaying said first form on the first computer's display;
• (b) writing first field data to said first form using the first computer's input device;
• (c) digitizing a patient's x-ray to thereby generate a digitized x-ray;
• (d) combining said digitized x-ray and said first form so as to generate an attachment integrated file by inserting said first field data into a comment block within said digitized x-ray so as to generate an attachment integrated file;
• (e) transmitting said attachment integrated file to the second computer;
• (f) transmitting said first field data from said second computer to said third computer;
• (g) generating a second form upon receipt of said attachment integrated file, said first and second forms containing at least a portion of said first field data;
• (h) displaying said first form, said second form and an image corresponding to said digitized x-ray on respective displays of said third computer and said second computer;
• (i) writing second field data to said second form using said third computer's input device;
• (j) transmitting said first and second field data corresponding to second form back to the first computer.