Physician-Centric Health Care Delivery Platform

Abstract

A system for diagnosing and/or treating a patient comprising a patient information database for storing and retrieving patient health data related to the patient. The data includes one or more of real-time patient health information, at least one clinical practice guideline, at least one patient questionnaire and a patient medical history. At least one server is operative to access the patient information database. A computing device remotely located from the server, including a microprocessor, configured to store a computer application and is configured for communication with the server for retrieving of the patient health data. The computer application generates at least one of a patient diagnosis or a patient treatment recommendation using the retrieved patient health data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for diagnosing and treating a patient, the system comprising:
 a patient information database for storing and retrieving patient health data related to the patient, the patient health data including:
 one or more of real-time patient health information; 
 at least one clinical practice guideline; 
 patient questionnaire answers; and 
 a patient medical history; 
   at least one server operative to access the patient information database;   a computing device remotely located from the server for communication using a network;   wherein the computing device includes a microprocessor and memory configured to execute and store a diagnostic computer application;   wherein the computing device is configured for communication with the server for retrieving the patient health data;   wherein the diagnostic computer application generates at least one of a patient diagnosis and a patient treatment recommendation using the patient health data retrieved; and   a drug delivery device in communication with the diagnostic computer application comprising:
 at least one reservoir in fluid communication with a needle; 
 at least one actuator to drive a fluid within a respective at least one reservoir to the needle; 
 a microcontroller to control operation of the at least one actuator; and 
 a power source to power the microcontroller. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery device further comprises a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         3 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery device further comprises at least one sensor to monitor a health condition of the patient and transmit a status of the health condition. 
     
     
         4 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the needle is one of an array of needles; and   the drug delivery device further includes a conduit and drive electronics controlled by the microcontroller to position the conduit at the needle of the array of needles.   
     
     
         5 . A system for remotely treating a patient, the system comprising:
 at least one reservoir in fluid communication with a needle;   at least one actuator to drive a fluid within the at least one reservoir to the needle;   a microcontroller to control operation of the at least one actuator;   a communication interface configured to download and upload information from and to at least one remote server over a network; and   a power source.   
     
     
         6 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising a communication interface configured to download and upload information from and to at least one server. 
     
     
         7 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein further comprising at least one sensor to monitor a health condition of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the needle is one of an array of needles. 
     
     
         9 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising a conduit and drive electronics controlled by the microcontroller to position the conduit at the needle of the array of needles. 
     
     
         10 . A method for remotely administering a drug, the method comprising:
 providing a drug delivery device comprising:
 at least one reservoir in fluid communication with a needle; 
 at least one actuator to drive a fluid from the at least one reservoir to the needle; 
 a microcontroller to control operation of the actuator; and 
 a power source to power the microcontroller and the at least one actuator; 
   programming the microcontroller of the drug delivery device to administer a medication according to an instruction; and   administering the medication according to the instruction.   
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the drug delivery device is in wireless communication with a computing device. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the microcontroller is programmable responsive to a patient diagnosis for a patient treatment recommendation associated with the instruction. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein:
 the needle is one of an array of needles; and   the drug delivery device further includes a conduit and drive electronics controlled by the microcontroller to position the conduit at the needle of the array of needles.   
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a patient information database for retrieving and storing patient data associated for use of the drug delivery device; and   providing at least one server operative to access the patient information database.   
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is remotely located from the server for communication therebetween over a network. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the computing device includes a microprocessor and memory configured to execute and store a diagnostic computer application. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the computing device is configured for communication with the server using the Internet. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the computing device and the drug delivery device in combination provide a telehealth/telemedicine system for generation of health data for use with the patient data. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising storing the health data in the patient information database as part of the patient data. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising generating the patient diagnosis and the patient treatment recommendation in real time using the diagnostic computer application using the health data and the patient data.