Remotely-executed medical diagnosis and therapy including emergency automation

Abstract

Devices, systems, methods, and software for providing remote medical diagnosis and therapy to a subject comprising: a module for conducting telecommunications with a telemedicalist; a module for applying a diagnostic or a therapeutic analysis; an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items, the inventory of medical items risk profiled to a subject, a population, a venue, or a situation; and optionally, a biosensor apparatus.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of International Application Serial No. PCT / US12 / 34292, filed Apr. 19, 2012, U.S. Application Ser. No. 61 / 641,685, filed May 2, 2012, and U.S. Application Ser. No. 61 / 563,472, filed Nov. 23, 2011, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A wide variety of circumstances result in inadequate access to healthcare for many individuals and families. Some lack adequate access because they live in isolated, rural, or other governmentally designated underserved areas. Some lack adequate access because they are uninsured or underinsured. Others live in developing countries where medical training and infrastructure is yet to be developed. Circumstances render some individuals without adequate access to healthcare in natural and manmade disaster areas and battlefields.[0003]Moreover, the cost of providing adequate healthcare is rising. While more money is s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]In one aspect, disclosed herein are computer-based devices (e.g., medical devices) for providing remote medical diagnosis and therapy to a subject, the device comprising a processor and a memory device, the device further comprising: a software module for conducting telecommunications with a telemedical care provider; a software module for applying a diagnostic or a therapeutic analysis; an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items, the inventory of medical items risk profiled to a subject, a population, a venue, or a situation; and optionally, a sensor apparatus, such as a biosensor. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a software module for verifying credentials of a telemedical care provider. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a software module for remote monitoring or operation of the device by the telemedical care provider. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a software module for identifying the subject. In further embodiments, the device further comprises a software module for securely accessing one or more electronic health records for the subject. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items is determined by profiling health or economic risk for a subject or a population in advance of need for said medical items. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items is risk profiled by determining a statistical level of likelihood that the items will be needed within 2 years, within 1 year, within 6 months, within 1 month, within 2 weeks, within 1 week, or within 1 day. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items comprises items that require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. In further embodiments, the inventory of medical items comprises: one or more medications, one or more therapeutic devices, one or more diagnostic devices, or one or more diagnostic kits. In some embodiments, the sensor apparatus is a biosensor adapted to collect medical information from a subject. In some embodiments, the diagnostic or therapeutic analysis comprises performing statistical analysis, performing probability calculations, making recommendations, and making outcome predictions to predict a health or economic outcome of a patient or therapy, wherein said prediction is real-time, individualized, and probabilistic-based and uses historic, peer-reviewed health or economic data and emerging health or economic data. In some embodiments, the diagnostic or therapeutic analysis comprises: accessing one or more information sources selected from the group consisting of: electronic health records, medical databases, medical literature, economic databases, economic literature, insurance databases, and insurance literature; performing natural language processing to identify information determined to be of value in determining health and economic risks of an adverse outcome related to a health encounter; and transforming said data into numerical format useful for application in statistical modeling to determine health and economic risks of an adverse outcome related to a health encounter. In some embodiments, the diagnostic or therapeutic analysis comprises predicting acute risks, with and without one or more potential therapies, based on the severity of a condition and risks associated with each potential therapy to determine the intensity of therapy recommended. In further embodiments, the prediction of acute risks is updated in time intervals selected from the group consisting of: at least every 24 hours, at least every 12 hours, at least every 6 hours, at least every 1 hour, at least every 45 minutes, at least every 30 minutes, at least every 15 minutes, at least every 1 minute, at least every 45 seconds, at least every 30 seconds, at least every 15 seconds, and at least every 1 second. In further embodiments, the prediction of acute risks is made for a time period selected from the group consisting of: less than 72 hours, less than 48 hours, less than 24 hours, less than 12 hours, less than 8 hours, less than 4 hours, less than 2 hours, and less than 1 hour. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a software module for providing instantaneous encounter-specific financial insurance coverage, wherein said insurance includes a level of guarantee and an associated premium. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a software module for processing payment.

[0005]In another aspect, disclosed herein are systems for providing remote medical diagnosis and therapy to a subject comprising: a first networked device comprising a processor configured to perform executable instructions, the first device comprising: an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items, the inventory risk profiled to a subject, a population, a venue, or a situation; a second networked device comprising a processor configured to perform executable instructions, the second device comprising: at least one biosensor; wherein the first and second networked devices further comprise: a module for remote monitoring or operation by a telemedical care provider; a module for telecommunications with a telemedical care provider; and a module for applying a diagnostic or a therapeutic analysis; a networked computer comprising a processor configured to perform executable instructions, the computer accessible to a telemedical care provider, the computer provided a computer program including executable instructions operable to create an application comprising: a module for telecommunications between the first or second device, or a user thereof, and the telemedical care provider; a module for applying a diagnostic or a therapeutic analysis; and a module for remotely monitoring or operating the first or second device. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items is determined by profiling health or economic risk for a subject or a population in advance of need for said medical items. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items is risk profiled by determining a statistical level of likelihood that the items will be needed within 2 years, within 1 year, within 6 months, within 1 month, within 2 weeks, within 1 week, or within 1 day. In some embodiments, the first device, the second device, or the computer program comprises a module for providing instantaneous encounter-specific financial insurance coverage, wherein said insurance includes a level of guarantee and an associated premium.

[0006]In another aspect, disclosed herein are non-transitory computer readable media encoded with a computer program including instructions executable by a processor to create a remote healthcare application, wherein the application comprises: a software module for conducting telecommunications; a software module for applying a diagnostic or a therapeutic analysis; a software module for monitoring or operating a biosensor; a software module for monitoring or operating an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items to a subject, the inventory risk profiled to a subject, a population, a venue, or a situation; and optionally, a software module for providing instantaneous encounter-specific financial insurance coverage, wherein said insurance includes a level of guarantee and an associated premium; provided that said software modules are supervised or operated by a telemedical care provider. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items is determined by profiling health or economic risk for a subject or a population in advance of need for said medical items. In some embodiments, the inventory of medical items is risk profiled by determining a statistical level of likelihood that the items will be needed within 2 years, within 1 year, within 6 months, within 1 month, within 2 weeks, within 1 week, or within 1 day. In some embodiments, the diagnostic or therapeutic analysis comprises performing statistical analysis, performing probability calculations, making recommendations, and making outcome predictions to predict a health or economic outcome of a patient or therapy, wherein said prediction is real-time, individualized, and probabilistic-based and uses historic, peer-reviewed health or economic data and emerging health or economic data. In some embodiments, the diagnostic or therapeutic analysis comprises: accessing one or more information sources selected from the group consisting of: electronic health records, medical databases, medical literature, economic databases, economic literature, insurance databases, and insurance literature; performing natural language processing to identify information determined to be of value in determining health and economic risks of an adverse outcome related to a health encounter; and transforming said data into numerical format useful for application in statistical modeling to determine health and economic risks of an adverse outcome related to a health encounter. In some embodiments, the diagnostic or therapeutic analysis comprises predicting acute risks, with and without one or more potential therapies, based on the severity of a condition and risks associated with each potential therapy to determine the intensity of therapy recommended. In further embodiments, the prediction of acute risks is updated in time intervals selected from the group consisting of: at least every 24 hours, at least every 12 hours, at least every 6 hours, at least every 1 hour, at least every 45 minutes, at least every 30 minutes, at least every 15 minutes, at least every 1 minute, at least every 45 seconds, at least every 30 seconds, at least every 15 seconds, and at least every 1 second. In further embodiments, the prediction of acute risks is made for a time period selected from the group consisting of: less than 72 hours, less than 48 hours, less than 24 hours, less than 12 hours, less than 8 hours, less than 4 hours, less than 2 hours, and less than 1 hour.

Problems solved by technology

A wide variety of circumstances result in inadequate access to healthcare for many individuals and families.

Some lack adequate access because they live in isolated, rural, or other governmentally designated underserved areas.

Some lack adequate access because they are uninsured or underinsured.

Circumstances render some individuals without adequate access to healthcare in natural and manmade disaster areas and battlefields.

Moreover, the cost of providing adequate healthcare is rising.

High healthcare costs also affect individuals.

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