System and method of conducting telemedicine sessions across different geopolitical zones

Abstract

A system and method designed to overcome or work with the geopolitical restraints on medical practice that presently hampers the process of conducting physician patient telemedicine sessions across different geopolitical zones such as different states or different countries. The method uses at least one Internet server and database, which may optionally reside or have an IP address within in the one or more geopolitical zones where the physician is licensed to practice medicine. The database will often contain lists of physician authorizations to conduct telemedicine in various other geopolitical zones, lists of patient telemedicine waivers, as well as information pertaining to the physician's specialty, rating, fee structure, and availability. The database may additionally contain other features such as lists of translator availability and patient electronic health records. The server may additionally facilitate video conferencing by presenting a unified user interface and/or relaying video teleconferencing data packets between participants.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method of conducting telemedicine across two or more geopolitical zones comprising:
 transmitting, to a server, one or more healthcare practitioner's identifying information and one or more requests for authorization to practice telemedicine in a geopolitical zone, wherein the one or more healthcare practitioner are not licensed to practice medicine in the geopolitical zone;   receiving, at the server, one or more authorizations for the one or more healthcare practitioners to practice telemedicine in the geopolitical zone for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the predetermined amount of time is the length of the telemedicine session.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting an IP address of the server to conform to an IP address associated with one or more of the geopolitical zones. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, to the server, a patient request for legal waiver for consent to a telemedicine session with the one or more authorized healthcare practitioners;
 receiving, at the server, a legal waiver authorizing the patient to participate in a telemedicine session with the one or more authorized healthcare practitioners.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, to the server, a patient's current medical condition and a request for one or more authorized, available healthcare practitioners. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the server matches the patient's current medical condition with the one or more healthcare practitioners' identifying information, wherein, the healthcare practitioners' identifying information comprises one or more specialties and a schedule of available appointments of the one or more healthcare practitioners; and
 the matches are available for appointment selection based on the schedule of available appointments.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the server receives the patient's electronic health records or a link to the patient's electronic health records and the patient's electronic health record or the link to the patient's electronic health record is transmitted to the selected healthcare practitioners. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein audio-video link information required to establish audio and video communication between the patient and the selected healthcare practitioner is transmitted from the server to the patient and the selected healthcare practitioner on or before the time of said scheduled telemedicine session. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the server additionally accepts payment from the patient or one or more third-party payors; and the server disperses at least some of the payment to the selected healthcare practitioners. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the server stores a list of authorized interpreters and upon request by the patient or the selected healthcare practitioner the server additionally schedules a session with an interpreter at the same time as the scheduled telemedicine session;
 the server transmitting audio-video link information between the interpreter, the selected healthcare professionals, and the patient, so that the patient, the selected healthcare professionals, and the interpreter may establish a simultaneous three-way audio video link during the scheduled telemedicine session.   
     
     
         25 . A system of conducting telemedicine across two or more geopolitical zones comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to:   transmitting, to a server, one or more healthcare practitioner's identifying information and one or more requests for authorization to practice telemedicine in a geopolitical zone, wherein the one or more healthcare practitioner are not licensed to practice medicine in the geopolitical zone;   receiving, at the server, an authorization for the one or more healthcare practitioner to practice telemedicine in the geopolitical zone for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the predetermined amount of time is the length of the telemedicine session.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising adjusting an IP address of the server to conform to an IP address associated with one or more of the geopolitical zones. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising transmitting, to the server, a patient request for legal waiver for consent to a telemedicine session with the one or more authorized healthcare practitioners;
 receiving, at the server, a legal waiver authorizing the patient to participate in a telemedicine session with the one or more authorized healthcare practitioners.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising transmitting, to the server, a patient's current medical condition and a request for one or more authorized, available healthcare practitioners. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the server matches the patient's current medical condition with the one or more healthcare practitioners' identifying information, wherein, the healthcare practitioners' identifying information comprises one or more specialties and a schedule of available appointments of the one or more healthcare practitioners; and
 the matches are available for appointment selection based on the schedule of available appointments.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein a server receives the patient's electronic health records or a link to the patient's electronic health records and the patient's electronic health record or the link to the patient's electronic health record is transmitted to the selected healthcare practitioners. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein audio-video link information required to establish audio and video communication between the patient and the selected healthcare practitioner is transmitted from the server to the patient and the selected healthcare practitioner on or before the time of said scheduled telemedicine session. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the server additionally accepts payment from the patient or one or more third-party payors; and the server disperses at least some of the payment to the selected healthcare practitioners. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the server stores a list of authorized interpreters and upon request by the patient or the selected healthcare practitioner the server additionally schedules a session with an interpreter at the same time as the scheduled telemedicine session;
 the server transmitting audio-video link information between the interpreter, the selected healthcare professionals, and the patient, so that the patient, the selected healthcare professionals, and the interpreter may establish a simultaneous three-way audio video link during the scheduled telemedicine session.   
     
     
         34 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable code stored thereon for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:
 transmitting, to a server, one or more healthcare practitioner's identifying information and one or more requests for authorization to practice telemedicine in a geopolitical zone, wherein the one or more healthcare practitioner are not licensed to practice medicine in the geopolitical zone;   receiving, at the server, an authorization for the one or more healthcare practitioner to practice telemedicine in the geopolitical zone for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the predetermined amount of time is the length of the telemedicine session.   
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , further comprising adjusting an IP address of the server to conform to an IP address associated with one or more of the geopolitical zones.