Medical support system

#The present invention is related to a method and system for service provider support in providing services involving complex interplay of factors, recommendations and guidelines and requirements from a range of sources, including judgment decisions, and in particular for information, decisions and reporting support in the providing of medical services.

#Many professions require that practitioners and para-practitioners make judgments and decisions based upon or influenced by a complex interplay of information, factors and requirements from a range of sources and as the result of executing complex procedures which in themselves may involve complex and even conflicting requirements. A typical example is the medical profession, wherein a doctor or paramedical, such as a nurse practitioner, is required to acquire and consider a large volume of present and historical patient information and to decide, based on that information, whether to acquire further information and what procedures or methods to use in acquiring the additional information. The practitioner is then required to evaluate the patients present and probable future conditions and trends or developments, and to decide whether changes in treatment are necessary and what those changes should be. These processes are further complicated in that the practitioner is presented with a continuous flow or even flood of new and continuously changing information, recommendations and requirements.

#For example, there are one or more professional associations or groups associated with virtually every significant medical condition or disease. Each of these groups or organizations is engaged in the study of the disease of interest and in the generation of recommendations and guidelines for the treatment of the disease, which change frequently as more is learned about the disease. The medical treatment industry, including pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment companies, hospitals and other medical treatment related enterprises are in turn engaged in the continuous development of new medications and methods for treatment of diseases or medical conditions, and recommendations for the use of the new medications or methods. Yet other organizations, such as the medical insurance organizations of various types, issue medical treatment guidelines based upon the guidelines developed by the professional organizations and medical industry and upon their own requirements and goals. These goals and requirements not only change continuously, but may conflict with the guidelines and recommendations of, for example, the professional organizations or those of other insurance organizations.

#Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts after reading the following descriptions of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, and after examination of the drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system in which the present invention may be implemented;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a medical support system of the present invention;

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown illustrative block diagrams of an exemplary Medical Support System (MSS) 10 implementing the present invention.

#As indicated in FIG. 1, an MSS 10 will typically be implemented in a general purpose Computer System that will typically include a Processor Unit 10PU, a Memory 10MM with one or more associated Mass Storage Device 10MS for storing Programs 10PG and Data 10DT, one or more Input Devices 10ID for user inputs, such as a keyboard, mouse or touch screen, and a Display 10DS for display of information to a user. A MSS 10 may be implemented in, for example, a desktop, laptop or notebook computer, as terminals or computers networked with data and program Servers 10SS through local or wide area Networks 10NN, including wireless networks, or in wireless networked palmtop devices of appropriate memory, processing and display capacity.

#As will be well understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, a MSS 10 will perform or execute Processes controlling, performing or supporting the functions and operations of the MSS 10, including, for example, the medical support system processes. The Processes of a MSS 10 will typically include, for example, Administrative Processes 10APR pertaining to the administrative and management functions of the MSS 10, such as operating system functions, and Medical Processes 10MED comprising the medical support system functions of the present invention. Processes are defined and controlled by Programs 10PG and, for example, user data input provided through Input Devices 10ID and data read from databases or other data sources, may reside in one or more Mass Storage Devices 10MS.