Rules Based Ticketing For Self-Scheduling of Appointments

Abstract

A method of allowing patients to schedule their own appointments on a computerized scheduling system. The method includes operating the computerized scheduling system to provide a first set of rules associated with a first entity, the first entity being a collection of healthcare providers. The first set of rules regulates self-scheduling by patients applicable to all appointments. The computerized scheduling system further provides at least one additional set of rules, each additional set of rules associated with an entity, the additional sets of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients, and defines a relationship between the first set of rules and the at least one additional set of rules wherein the relationship dictates applicability of one or more of the rules in the rule sets based on a detected conflict between at least one rule in the first set of rules and at least one rule in one or more of the additional sets of rules. The computerized scheduling system further communicates directly with the patient over the Internet to receive a request to schedule a medical appointment of a requested type with a particular healthcare provider within the collection of healthcare providers and approves or denies the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient based on application of the first set of rules and the at least one additional set of rules in view of the relationship.

1 . A method of allowing patients to schedule their own appointments on a computerized scheduling system comprising the steps of operating the computerized scheduling system to: 
 (a) provide a first set of rules associated with a first entity, the first entity being a collection of healthcare providers, the first set of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients applicable to all appointments;    (b) provide at least one additional set of rules, each additional set of rules associated with an entity, the additional sets of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients;    (c) define a relationship between the first set of rules and the at least one additional set of rules wherein the relationship dictates applicability of one or more of the rules in the rule sets based on a detected conflict between at least one rule in the first set of rules and at least one rule in one or more of the additional sets of rules;    (d) communicate directly with the patient over the Internet to receive a request to schedule a medical appointment of a requested type with a particular healthcare provider within the collection of healthcare providers; and    (e) approve or deny the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient based on application of the first set of rules and the at least one additional set of rules in view of the relationship.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional set of rules includes a set of rules associated with a specific healthcare provider entity, the specific healthcare provider entity being a subset of the collection of healthcare providers entity and 
 wherein the relationship dictates that the set of rules associated with the specific healthcare provider entity supersedes the first set of rules where there is a detected conflict.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one additional set of rules include a set of rules associated with a healthcare facility entity, the healthcare facility entity being associated the collection of healthcare providers entity and 
 wherein the relationship dictates that the set of rules associated with the collection of healthcare providers entity supersedes the set of rules associated with the healthcare facility entity.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing at least one additional set of rules includes associating each additional set of rules with an entity and requiring that each entity is either a subset or a superset of at least one other entity.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein defining a relationship includes requiring that sets of rules associated with a first entity that is a subset of a second entity supersede the set of rules associated with the second entity where there is a conflict between sets of rules.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one additional set of rules is associated with a master entity, the master entity being required to be a superset of all other entities.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one additional set of rules is associated with a patient in a healthcare system entity, the patient entity being required to be a subset at least a healthcare provider entity.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each rule within each set of rules is associated with a rule type and 
 wherein the relationship further dictates applicability of one or more of the rules having a first rule type based on a detected conflict between at least one rule having a first rule type and at least a second rule having a second rule type.    
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented system for allowing patients to schedule their own appointments, comprising: 
 a rule set database, including 
 a first set of rules associated with a first entity, the first entity being a collection of healthcare providers, the first set of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients applicable to all appointments, and  
 at least one additional set of rules, each additional set of rules associated with an entity, the additional sets of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients;  
   a relationship processing engine configured to receive and implement a relationship between the first set of rules and the at least one additional set of rules wherein the relationship dictates applicability of one or more of the rules in the rule sets based on a detected conflict between at least one rule in the first set of rules and at least one rule in one or more of the additional set of rules;    a patient scheduling interface configured to receive a request to schedule a medical appointment of a requested type with a particular healthcare provider within the collection of healthcare providers; and    an appointment scheduling engine configured to approve or deny the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient based on application of the first set of rules and the at least one additional set of rules in view of the relationship.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one additional set of rules includes a set of rules associated with a specific healthcare provider entity, the specific healthcare provider entity being included in the collection of healthcare providers entity and 
 wherein the relationship dictates that the set of rules associated with the specific healthcare provider entity supersedes the first set of rules where there is a detected conflict.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one additional set of rules include a set of rules associated with a healthcare facility entity, the healthcare facility entity being associated the collection of healthcare providers entity, wherein the relationship dictates that the set of rules associated with the collection of healthcare providers entity supersedes the set of rules associated with the healthcare facility entity.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein providing at least one additional set of rules includes associating each additional set of rules with an entity and requiring that each entity is either a subset or a superset of at least one other entity.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein defining a relationship includes requiring that sets of rules associated with a first entity that is a subset of a second entity supersede the set of rules associated with the second entity where there is a conflict between sets of rules.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one additional set of rules is associated with a master entity, the master entity being required to be a superset of all other entities.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one additional set of rules is associated with a patient in a healthcare system entity, the patient entity being required to be a subset to at least a healthcare provider entity.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each rule within each set of rules is associated with a rule type and wherein the relationship further dictates applicability of one or more of the rules based on a detected conflict between at least one rule having a first rule type and at least a second rule having a second rule type.  
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented system for allowing patients to schedule their own appointments, comprising: 
 a patient accessible medical record database, the medical record database including a plurality of longitudinal patient records, each longitudinal patient record being associated with a single patient and including 
 a medical history data structure including a patient record generated by a healthcare entity including clinical information sufficient for the delivery of medical services to those patients;  
   a patient scheduling interface configured to receive a request to schedule a medical appointment of a requested type with a particular healthcare provider within a collection of healthcare providers; and    an appointment scheduling engine configured to approve or deny the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient based on the longitudinal patient record associated with the patient submitting the request to schedule the medical appointment.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the medical history data structure further includes at least one of lab results, physician order entry with decision support, and nursing workflow and documentation.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal patient record further includes a patient information data structure containing patient-created data.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the medical history data structure includes a preauthorized scheduling ticket configured to facilitate approval of the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the appointment scheduling engine is configured to approve or deny the request to schedule the medical appointment based on a medical protocol indicated in the medical history data structure.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the appointment scheduling engine is configured to approve a plurality of requests to schedule a medical appointment based on the medical protocol indicated in the medical history data structure.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the appointment scheduling engine is configured to grant or deny requests to schedule medical appointments based on one or more sets of rules associated with the healthcare entity, the set of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients applicable to all appointments, the set of rules regulating self-scheduling based on data contained in the medical history data structure.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the data contained in the medical history data structure upon which the set of rules regulate self-scheduling includes at least a clinical diagnosis made by a healthcare provider.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the healthcare entity is at least one of a healthcare provider, an association of healthcare providers, and a healthcare facility.  
     
     
         26 . A computer-implemented method for allowing patients to schedule their own appointments, comprising: 
 receiving a request to schedule a medical appointment of a requested type with a particular healthcare provider within a collection of healthcare providers; and    accessing a patient accessible medical record database, the medical record database including a plurality of longitudinal patient records, each longitudinal patient record being associated with a single patient and including 
 a medical history data structure including a patient record generated by a healthcare entity including clinical information sufficient for the delivery of medical services to those patients; and  
   generating an approval or denial of the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient based on the longitudinal patient record associated with the patient submitting the request to schedule the medical appointment.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the medical history data structure further includes at least one of lab results, physician order entry with decision support, and nursing workflow and documentation.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the longitudinal patient record further includes a patient information data structure containing patient-created data.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the medical history data includes a preauthorized scheduling ticket configured to facilitate approval of the request to schedule the medical appointment received from the patient.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the approval or denial is generated based on a medical protocol indicated in the medical history data structure.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , generating an approval or denial includes generating the approval or denial for a plurality of requests to schedule a medical appointment based on the medical protocol indicated in the medical history data structure.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the approval or denial is generated based on one or more sets of rules associated with the healthcare entity, the set of rules regulating self-scheduling by patients applicable to all appointments, the set of rules regulating self-scheduling based on data contained in the medical history data structure.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the data contained in the medical history data structure upon which the set of rules regulate self-scheduling includes at least a clinical diagnosis made by a healthcare provider.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the healthcare entity is at least one of a healthcare provider, an association of healthcare providers, and a healthcare facility.