Internet system for connecting healthcare providers and patients

Abstract

An Internet-based system involves a database and search capabilities for connecting patients with healthcare providers, e.g., physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, treatment facilities, etc., and further enables such providers to reach patients with whom they may not otherwise come into contact. A patient may access the healthcare provider information through a search conducted using a search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, etc. Alternatively, a patient may access the company Web site's predetermined Web page that provides search capabilities on its database. A patient may research a healthcare provider based on criteria specified by the patient. Information provided to the patient may be in the form of a report, profile, ratings, etc., including patient-provided information, physician-verified information, and information verified by an independent third party. The verified information and ratings provided by the Web site enable patients to differentiate among healthcare providers and thereby select the provider that best meets their individual needs.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method of providing healthcare facility information to potential patients, said method comprising:
 receiving an indication to research a first healthcare facility;   receiving a selection of a geographic location of the first healthcare facility;   providing, by at least one computer processor, one or more search criteria choices for ratings for the first healthcare facility, wherein the one or more search criteria choices comprises one or more from the group consisting of: procedure, diagnosis, and award recipient;   providing results ratings for the first healthcare facility;   receiving an indication to access a report on the first healthcare facility;   receiving a selection of one or more types of information for the report on the first healthcare facility, wherein the one or more types of information comprises one or more criteria from the group consisting of: procedure and medical condition; and   providing the report on the first healthcare facility.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining to charge a fee to provide the report on the first healthcare facility.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication, by a first potential patient, to link to a report on a physician from the report on the first healthcare facility.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the healthcare facility ratings relate to at least one of: high volume healthcare facilities, low volume healthcare facilities, or healthcare facilities not rated. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the first healthcare facility is one or more from the group consisting of: hospital, clinic, and nursing home. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the healthcare facility ratings comprise one or more from the group consisting of: current facility ratings, previous facility ratings, and patient safety ratings. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein results for the one or more award recipient criteria comprise one or more from the group consisting of: clinical excellence Distinguished Hospital Award (DHA) information, specialty excellence, and safety awards. 
     
     
         28 . One or more computer storage media storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method of providing healthcare facility information to potential patients, said method comprising:
 receiving an indication to research a first healthcare facility;   receiving a selection of a geographic location of the first healthcare facility;   providing, by at least one computer processor, one or more search criteria choices for ratings for the first healthcare facility, wherein the one or more search criteria choices comprises one or more from the group consisting of: procedure, diagnosis, and award recipient;   providing results ratings for the first healthcare facility;   receiving an indication to access a report on the first healthcare facility;   receiving a selection of one or more types of information for the report on the first healthcare facility, wherein the one or more types of information comprises one or more criteria from the group consisting of: procedure and medical condition; and   providing the report on the first healthcare facility.   
     
     
         29 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining to charge a fee to provide the report on the first healthcare facility.   
     
     
         30 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication, by a first potential patient, to link to a report on a physician from the report on the first healthcare facility.   
     
     
         31 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 28 , wherein the healthcare facility ratings relate to at least one of: high volume healthcare facilities, low volume healthcare facilities, or healthcare facilities not rated. 
     
     
         32 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 28 , wherein the first healthcare facility is one or more from the group consisting of: hospital, clinic, and nursing home. 
     
     
         33 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 28 , wherein the healthcare facility ratings comprise one or more from the group consisting of: current facility ratings, previous facility ratings, and patient safety ratings. 
     
     
         34 . A computer-implemented method of researching healthcare provider information from a Web page to receive a report on a selected healthcare provider, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication to research information regarding a first healthcare provider;   transmitting, by at least one computer processor, the Web page, wherein the Web page displays one or more types of healthcare providers to research, wherein the one or more types of healthcare providers comprises one or more from the group consisting of: physician, hospital, and nursing home;   in response to receiving a selection to research a physician, providing research selection choices for the physician selection, wherein the research selection choices comprise one or more from the group consisting of: name, geographic location, and specialty;   in response to receiving a selection to research ratings of a hospital, providing research selection choices for the hospital ratings selection, wherein the research selection choices comprise one or more from the group consisting of: procedure, diagnosis, and award recipient;   in response to receiving a selection to research a first physician and receiving one or more research selection choices for the first physician, providing a report on the first physician, wherein the report comprises two or more from the group consisting of: physician-verified information, patient-provided information, information verified by an independent third-party source, and contact information for the first physician; and   in response to receiving a selection to research the ratings of a first hospital and receiving one or more research selection choices for the first hospital, providing a report on the first hospital, wherein the report comprises one or more from the group consisting of: service ratings for the first hospital, patient safety ratings for the first hospital, awards, and safe practices.   
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , wherein the report on the first physician comprises an appointment module for allowing a user to make an appointment with the first physician. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , wherein two or more of the types of healthcare providers are displayed on the Web page. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 determining a payment amount for transmitting the report on the first physician to a first user, wherein the determining comprises obtaining information about the number of other reports previously accessed by the first user; and   when the first user has previously accessed one or more other reports, providing a reduced price for the report on the first physician.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 determining to deliver the report on the first hospital free of charge to a first user, wherein the report on the first hospital is delivered free of charge when the first hospital has paid an upfront member fee.   
     
     
         39 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving a selection to research a nursing home, providing research selection choices for conducting a nursing home search for a first nursing home.   
     
     
         40 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication, by a first user, to link to a report on a second physician from the report on the first hospital.