Medical information network system, method for supporting the selection of medical institutions, and program for supporting the selection of medical institutions.

Abstract

This aims to mitigate information asymmetry in healthcare information and reduce mismatches between patient needs and the healthcare systems of medical institutions. [Solution] In the medical information network system 1, the AI ​​server presents multiple potential doctors at several hospitals based on the patient's medical information, current symptoms, and desired conditions. The patient selects a doctor from among the multiple candidates using a patient client terminal. The application server sets up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the selected doctor candidate. The medical institution client terminal and the application server then communicate with the medical institution client terminal and the application server, where the doctor candidate provides the preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient. The patient then makes a final selection of a doctor from among the presented candidates based on the preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment, and the application server makes an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the selected doctor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medical information network system, a medical institution selection support method, and a medical institution selection support program. For example, the present disclosure relates to a medical information network system using medical information processing technology, information network technology, and artificial intelligence technology, and particularly relates to a medical institution selection support system, a medical institution selection support method, and a medical institution selection support program that support a patient in selecting an optimal medical institution.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an information processing apparatus is known that searches for and identifies a medical institution based on a patient's symptoms. This information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires patient information of each of the plurality of patients from a patient information storage device that stores patient information including symptoms of each of the plurality of patients and medical histories of each of the plurality of patients, a storage unit that stores the patient information of each of the plurality of patients, a patient information extraction unit that extracts patient information including the symptoms of the target patient from the patient information of each of the plurality of patients, and estimates a disease corresponding to the symptoms of the target patient based on the medical history included in the extracted patient information, and a search unit that searches medical institution information including identification information indicating each of the plurality of medical institutions and diseases with treatment track records at each of the plurality of medical institutions for medical institution information including the disease estimated by the estimation unit, and outputs the identification information included in the medical institution information including the disease estimated by the estimation unit (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The information processing device described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in terms of enabling patients to appropriately and efficiently select a medical institution.

[0005] This disclosure provides a medical information network system, a method for supporting the selection of medical institutions, and a program for supporting the selection of medical institutions, enabling patients to choose medical institutions more appropriately and efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The medical information network system disclosed herein is a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network, A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including patient health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, A medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions. A recommendation means that uses artificial intelligence to present potential doctors at multiple hospitals based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their desired conditions. A first selection means by which the patient selects at least one candidate physician from among multiple candidate physicians presented by the recommendation means, A setting means for setting up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the patient for the candidate physician selected by the first selection means, A providing means that, via the setting means, the physician who is a candidate for the assigned physician provides a provisional diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient, A second selection means, in which the final physician is selected from among the physician candidates presented by the recommendation means, based on the provisional diagnosis or opinion comments provided by the aforementioned provision means, A reservation means for making a reservation for a hospital consultation with the doctor selected by the second selection means, An incentive issuing means for issuing an incentive to the physician or hospital based on the information of the medical examination received based on the date and time specified by the reservation means, It is equipped with.

[0007] The method for supporting the selection of medical institutions described herein is a method for supporting the selection of medical institutions using a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network, The aforementioned medical information network system is A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, It comprises a medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, Using artificial intelligence, based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their preferences, the system presents potential doctors from multiple hospitals. From among the multiple physician candidates presented, the patient selects at least one physician candidate. The selected candidate physician will be set up for an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the patient. The physician who is a candidate for the attending physician provides a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient. Based on the provided preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments, the patient will ultimately select a physician from the aforementioned list of potential physicians. Make an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the doctor of your choice. Based on the information regarding the medical consultation received at the scheduled date and time, an incentive will be issued to the physician or hospital.

[0008] The medical institution selection support program described herein is a medical institution selection support program that uses a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network to support the selection of a medical institution, The aforementioned medical information network system is A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, It comprises a medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, Using artificial intelligence, the system presents potential attending physicians at multiple hospitals based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their preferences. The patient selects at least one candidate physician from among the multiple candidates presented, To set up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment session with the patient for the selected candidate physician, The physician who is a candidate for the attending physician provides a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient. Based on the provided preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments, the patient will ultimately select a physician from the aforementioned list of potential physicians. This involves making an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the doctor of your choice, Based on the information of the medical consultation received at the scheduled date and time, an incentive will be issued to the aforementioned physician or hospital. Have the computer execute it. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, patients will be able to choose healthcare providers more appropriately and efficiently.

[0010] For example, it can eliminate information asymmetry in healthcare, such as patients choosing medical institutions based on biased information, and the difficulties in making choices that arise from this asymmetry. It can also alleviate the lack of information regarding the specialization and areas of expertise of medical institutions. Furthermore, it can reduce the mismatch between patient needs and the medical care systems of medical institutions.

[0011] Further, for example, the lack of information related to physicians can be resolved. In addition, fairness in medical care opportunities can be brought about, and the prolonged waiting time for medical consultations can also be eliminated. It is also possible to disperse medical information and break down its closed nature. Furthermore, patients can easily grasp their own medical information.

[0012] Further, for example, by linking medical information network systems, unforeseen issues in cooperation between medical institutions can be resolved, and the occurrence of duplicate examinations can also be suppressed. In addition, patients' independent selection of medical institutions can also be supported. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] [Figure 1] System configuration diagram of the medical information network system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 2] Block diagram of the patient client terminal [Figure 3] Block diagram of the medical institution client terminal [Figure 4] Block diagram of the patient medical information database [Figure 5] Block diagram of the medical institution information database [Figure 6] Flowchart illustrating the operation of the medical information network system according to Embodiments 1 and 2 [Figure 7] Flowchart illustrating the operation of the medical information network system according to Embodiment 3 [Figure 8] Sequence diagram (Part 1) showing information exchange in the medical information network system [Figure 9] Sequence diagram (Part 2) showing information exchange in the medical information network system [Figure 10] Sequence diagram (Part 3) showing information exchange in the medical information network system [Figure 11] Sequence diagram (Part 4) showing information exchange in the medical information network system [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The following describes in detail the embodiments of the medical information network system, medical institution selection support method, and medical institution selection support program disclosed herein, with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. The attached drawings and the following explanation are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0015] (The circumstances leading to the acquisition of the embodiments of this disclosure) In modern society, the importance of patients proactively choosing the most suitable medical institution that matches their health condition and needs is increasing. However, the traditional process of selecting a medical institution has various challenges, including biased information gathering, insufficient information on medical institutions and doctors, and limitations of existing medical information systems, resulting in patients not always being able to choose the most suitable medical institution.

[0016] Traditionally, patients have relied primarily on online reviews and the websites of medical institutions when choosing a healthcare provider. However, these sources of information often lack objectivity and comprehensiveness, making it difficult for patients to adequately assess their suitability for their symptoms and needs. Specifically, the following issues have been pointed out:

[0017] Firstly, there are challenges related to the uneven distribution and subjectivity of information sources. Online word-of-mouth information is often based on individual subjective evaluations and fragmented experiences, and cannot be said to accurately reflect objective evaluations of medical institutions. Furthermore, medical institution websites generally tend to emphasize the advantages of their own institutions, making it difficult for patients to obtain neutral and objective information. As a result, patients often choose medical institutions based on biased information, leading to a problem of mismatches in medical institution selection, where patients travel long distances for treatment only to receive the medical services they expected.

[0018] Secondly, there is the issue of insufficient information regarding the expertise and specialties of medical institutions. Information regarding the expertise, disease areas of specialization, and medical technologies that medical institutions can provide has not been adequately disclosed to patients. Patients were unable to easily identify the appropriate department or specialist for their illness, and as a result, they may end up choosing a medical institution with low specialization or being forced to visit multiple medical institutions in search of the appropriate one.

[0019] Thirdly, there is the challenge of mismatch between the individual needs of patients and the medical care systems of healthcare institutions. Patients' symptoms, medical history, lifestyles, and values ​​are diverse, and the needs they seek from healthcare institutions differ from patient to patient. However, in the traditional process of choosing a healthcare institution, it has been difficult to adequately consider the compatibility between the individual needs of patients and the medical care systems of healthcare institutions (doctors' specialties, consultation hours, available tests and treatments, patient care, etc.). As a result, patients have chosen healthcare institutions that do not match their needs, which has led to situations where it is difficult to choose an appropriate healthcare institution or where patients have to move between multiple healthcare institutions.

[0020] Fourthly, there is the issue of insufficient information about doctors and the challenge of compatibility with doctors. A doctor's personality, expertise, clinical experience, and communication skills with patients are all important factors that greatly influence the quality of medical services. However, this information about doctors is unclear to patients, and it has been difficult to obtain specific information about a doctor until actually receiving a consultation. In particular, although the compatibility between doctor and patient greatly affects treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction, there was no means to evaluate compatibility with a doctor in advance when choosing a medical institution in the past. As a result, when patients actually received a consultation, problems arose such as difficulty in communicating with the doctor or dissatisfaction with the doctor's explanation or attitude, sometimes requiring them to choose a different medical institution.

[0021] Fifth, there is the challenge of failing to address the need for anonymous diagnosis. Some patients have a need to seek a doctor's diagnosis or opinion anonymously without disclosing their personal information. For example, they may want to hear the opinion of a specialist at the initial stage of symptoms, or they may want to seek a second opinion anonymously. However, conventional medical information systems and medical institution selection support services do not address this need for anonymous diagnosis, and patients have had limited opportunities to obtain opinions from medical professionals anonymously.

[0022] Sixth, there are the issues of inequality in access to medical care and long waiting times for appointments. Patients tend to concentrate at popular medical institutions and renowned doctors, and it is particularly difficult to make appointments or wait for appointments at highly specialized medical institutions or those providing advanced medical technology. Furthermore, there have been allegations that some medical institutions are operating unfairly, such as prioritizing VIP patients or restricting access to medical care for general patients, raising concerns about fairness in the access to medical services among patients.

[0023] On the other hand, existing medical information systems have historically been built primarily to improve operational efficiency and support medical treatment within healthcare institutions, and as mentioned above, they cannot necessarily be said to be designed from a patient-centered perspective. Therefore, existing medical information systems face the following limitations and challenges in supporting patients in choosing healthcare institutions.

[0024] Firstly, there is the challenge of the decentralization and isolation of medical information. Although many medical institutions have introduced electronic medical record systems, these systems are operated independently within each institution, and mechanisms for sharing patient medical information between institutions are not sufficiently established. As a result, when a patient visits multiple medical institutions, their medical information is managed individually at each institution, leading to the dispersion of the patient's own medical information. Furthermore, electronic medical record systems are generally intended for use within medical institutions, and their functions for patients to access or view their own medical information in an integrated manner are limited.

[0025] Secondly, there is the challenge of the lack of means for patients to access their medical information. Patients have a need to comprehensively understand their medical information, such as their past medical history, test results, prescribed medications, and allergy information, and to use this information to select medical institutions and manage their own health. However, existing medical information systems and services do not adequately provide patients with the means to easily collect, organize, and access their own medical information. As a result, patients are unable to effectively utilize their medical information, and are unable to fully leverage their past medical experiences when selecting medical institutions.

[0026] Thirdly, there are challenges related to insufficient coordination between medical institutions and the occurrence of duplicate tests. Due to inadequate information sharing between medical institutions, when patients transfer to another hospital or visit multiple medical institutions, past medical information is not smoothly transferred. As a result, patients may be forced to undergo the same tests at multiple medical institutions, or appropriate medical care may be delayed due to the lack of information about their past medical history. Furthermore, for medical institutions, duplicate tests lead to the wasteful use of medical resources and contribute to increased medical costs.

[0027] Fourthly, there is the issue of a lack of functions to support patients in making informed choices about medical institutions. Existing medical information systems and medical institution search services primarily provide basic information about medical institutions (location, departments, consultation hours, etc.), and do not adequately support patients in proactively choosing the most suitable medical institution based on their symptoms and needs. For example, functions to narrow down medical institutions by considering the patient's medical history, allergy information, and desired treatment, or to compare objective data such as medical institutions' treatment performance and patient satisfaction, are generally not provided.

[0028] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that connects patient medical data and medical institution data via a network, and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to recommend medical institutions that are suitable for the patient's symptoms. While this prior art has some usefulness in that it presents appropriate medical institutions based on the patient's medical information and symptoms, it still leaves the following technical challenges unresolved.

[0029] Firstly, there are concerns regarding the protection of patients' personal information. The system described in Patent Document 1 is based on the premise of handling patients' medical data over a network, and therefore there is a potential risk of leakage of patients' personal information. In particular, medical information is extremely sensitive personal information, and its leakage could cause serious harm to patients. Furthermore, for patients who wish to consult anonymously, the very act of registering their medical data in the system and disclosing it to medical institutions could undermine their anonymity.

[0030] Secondly, there is a lack of evaluation regarding compatibility with doctors and other human aspects. While the system in Patent Document 1 uses AI to recommend medical institutions based on objective medical data, it is difficult to evaluate human aspects that affect the quality of medical services, such as the doctor's personality, communication skills with patients, and compatibility with patients. When choosing a medical institution, not only the doctor's expertise and clinical record are important factors, but also the human compatibility with the doctor, and mechanical recommendations by AI alone have limitations in supporting patients in choosing the best medical institution. It may not be possible to feel a good connection with a doctor until you actually visit a medical institution and meet them in person, in which case you may be forced to choose a different medical institution.

[0031] The following embodiments describe a medical information network system, a method for supporting the selection of a medical institution, and a program for supporting the selection of a medical institution, all of which enable patients to select a medical institution more appropriately and efficiently.

[0032] (Embodiment) (System Configuration) Figure 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a medical information network system 1 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The medical information network system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network. The medical information network system 1 is a client-server type system comprising a patient client terminal 10, a medical institution client terminal 20, a patient medical information database 30 installed on an application server 60, a medical institution information database 40 installed on a medical institution information management server 90, an AI server 50, and a third-party organization server 80. The patient client terminal 10, the medical institution client terminal 20, the application server 60, the medical institution information management server 90, the AI ​​server 50, and the third-party organization server 80 are connected to each other via a network 70 such as the Internet.

[0033] Next, the patient client terminal 10 will be described. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the patient client terminal 10. From a hardware perspective, the patient client terminal 10 is an information terminal operated by the patient, and includes personal computers (PCs), smartphones, and tablet devices. The OS supports common operating systems such as Windows, macOS (registered trademark), iOS, and Android. From a software perspective, the patient client terminal 10 is equipped with a web browser application (e.g., Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge) and runs patient web applications developed using web technologies. The patient client terminal 10 can also be implemented as a dedicated native application (smartphone app, tablet app, etc.).

[0034] The patient client terminal 10 includes an input unit 101, a display unit 102, and a communication unit 103. Furthermore, from the perspective of application functionality, the patient client terminal 10 includes a patient registration / login function unit 104, a medical information registration function unit 105, a medical institution search function unit 106, an online preliminary diagnosis function unit 107, a hospital / doctor selection function unit 108, a medical appointment reservation function unit 109, a patient evaluation function unit 110, and a medical information display / management function unit 111.

[0035] The input unit 101 consists of input devices such as a touch panel, keyboard, and mouse. The display unit 102 consists of output devices such as a liquid crystal display. The input unit 101 and the display unit 102 provide a user interface (UI) for the patient to operate the system, such as a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be operated visually. The communication unit 103 also serves as the communication function for the application server 60 and has the function of communicating with external devices via the network 70 using protocols such as HTTP / HTTPS.

[0036] The patient registration / login function unit 104 has the function of registering the patient's personal information and performing user authentication (ID, password authentication, biometric authentication, etc.). The medical information registration function unit 105 has the function of inputting and registering medical information such as the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data. Data input is possible by manual input using the input unit 101, file upload (image files, PDF files, etc.), and external system linkage (PHR linkage, etc.).

[0037] The medical institution search function unit 106 has the function of searching for medical institutions and doctors based on the patient's symptoms and desired conditions, and displaying AI recommendation results. The medical institution search function unit 106 provides a search condition input screen, a search results list screen, a doctor details screen, etc., through the display unit 102.

[0038] The online preliminary diagnosis function unit 107 has the function of requesting an online preliminary diagnosis from recommended physician candidates and conducting online interviews (video calls, voice calls, text chats, etc.) with physicians. The functions of the online preliminary diagnosis function unit 107 include an online interview reservation function, an online interview execution function, and an interview content recording function.

[0039] The hospital / doctor selection function unit 108 has the function of comparing and reviewing the results of online preliminary diagnoses and ultimately selecting the hospital and doctor to visit. The medical appointment reservation function unit 109 has the function of making appointments with the selected hospital and doctor, and this function includes a function to link with the medical institution's medical appointment reservation system.

[0040] The patient evaluation function unit 110 has the function of evaluating the hospital and doctor the patient visited. The patient evaluation function unit 110 provides an evaluation item input screen, an evaluation history display function, etc., through the display unit 102. The medical information display and management function unit 111 has the function of viewing, editing, and deleting registered medical information.

[0041] In particular, the patient client terminal 10 functions as a primary means of selection, allowing the patient to choose at least one potential attending physician from among several candidates presented by the AI ​​server 50, as will be described later. When the display unit 102 of the patient client terminal 10 displays a list of potential attending physicians, the patient can review the detailed information and select at least one physician candidate who interests them. While the patient must select at least one physician candidate, multiple selections are possible.

[0042] Furthermore, as will be described later, the patient client terminal 10 also functions as a second means of selection, allowing the patient to ultimately choose a doctor from among the candidate doctors presented by the patient client terminal 10 itself, based on the preliminary diagnoses or opinion comments provided by the medical institution client terminal 20 and the application server 60. The display unit 102 of the patient client terminal 10 displays a list of preliminary diagnoses and opinion comments provided by multiple doctors, supporting the patient in comparing and considering them. The patient client terminal 10 provides information for comparing and considering the doctors' expertise, personality, comment content, patient evaluations, etc., and the patient can ultimately select one doctor to consult, taking into account the results of the comparison and consideration, their own preferences, and compatibility with the doctor.

[0043] Next, we will describe the client terminal 20 for medical institutions. Figure 3 is a block diagram of the client terminal 20 for medical institutions. From a hardware perspective, the client terminal 20 for medical institutions is an information terminal operated by doctors and medical staff in medical institutions, and mainly includes personal computers (PCs) and tablet terminals. For security reasons, it is desirable that the client terminal 20 for medical institutions be a dedicated terminal connected to the medical institution's internal network. From a software perspective, the client terminal 20 for medical institutions is equipped with a web browser application and runs medical institution web applications developed using web technology. The client terminal 20 for medical institutions can also be implemented as a dedicated client application.

[0044] The medical institution client terminal 20 comprises an input unit 201, a display unit 202, and a communication unit 203. Furthermore, from the perspective of application functionality, the medical institution client terminal 20 also comprises a medical professional authentication function unit 204, a patient information reference function unit 205, an online preliminary diagnosis support function unit 206, a medical information registration function unit 207, a patient evaluation viewing function unit 208, a medical institution information management function unit 209, and an incentive information confirmation function unit 210.

[0045] The input unit 201 consists of input devices such as a touch panel, keyboard, and mouse. The display unit 202 consists of output devices such as a liquid crystal display. The input unit 201 and the display unit 202 provide a user interface (UI) optimized for healthcare professionals, such as a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be operated visually. The communication unit 203 also serves as the communication function for the healthcare information management server 90 and has the function of communicating with external devices via the network 70 using protocols such as HTTP / HTTPS.

[0046] The medical professional authentication unit 204 has the function of performing user authentication (ID, password authentication, IC card authentication, biometric authentication, etc.) according to the profession of doctors, nurses, medical office staff, etc., and this function includes an access rights management function. The patient information reference unit 205 has the function of referencing patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database 30 to the extent necessary. This function also includes a function to restrict the scope of reference based on the patient's consent. In the case of anonymous online interviews, the patient information reference unit 205 references anonymized patient medical information.

[0047] The online preliminary diagnosis support unit 206 has the function to respond to online preliminary diagnoses requested by patients and to conduct online interviews with patients. This function includes online interview schedule management, online interview execution, interview content recording, and support functions for issuing test orders, prescriptions, and referral letters.

[0048] The medical information registration function unit 207 has the function of acquiring patient medical information from an electronic medical record system, etc., and registering it in the system. The medical information registration function unit 207 may also have the function of directly inputting medical information from a medical institution client terminal 20. The patient evaluation viewing function unit 208 has the function of viewing evaluation information from patients to hospitals and doctors, and provides functions such as summarizing evaluations by evaluation item and displaying a list of evaluation comments through the display unit 202.

[0049] The medical institution information management unit 209 has the function of managing and updating the information of the hospital registered in the medical institution information database 40, and also has the function of registering and editing information such as medical department information, specialist information, equipment information, physician information, consultation hours, and whether online consultations are available. The incentive information confirmation unit 210 has the function of confirming incentive information notified from the third-party organization server 80, and displays evaluation scores, incentive amounts, incentive issuance history, etc., through the display unit 202.

[0050] Next, the application server 60 will be described. The application server 60 not only stores the patient medical information database 30, but also functions as a setting means to automatically set up online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment interviews with the patient for the candidate doctor selected on the patient client terminal 10, as will be described later. For scheduling, the system can automatically adjust the optimal interview date and time, taking into account the schedules of the doctor and patient, the available time slots for online interviews, etc. It is also possible to present candidate interview dates and times to both the patient and the doctor and obtain their final confirmation. The application server 60 may also have a notification function to notify both the patient and the doctor when the interview date and time are confirmed, and it will send a reminder notification as the interview date approaches. Furthermore, the application server 60 can also generate an anonymous ID for patients who wish to receive a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment anonymously and notify the doctor. The doctor can then refer to the patient's medical information based on the anonymous ID and conduct an anonymous online interview.

[0051] Furthermore, the application server 60, in cooperation with the medical institution client terminal 20, functions as a means of providing a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network 70 through referencing patient medical information and conducting interviews with patients via the application server 60. That is, when the online interview system is activated at the interview date and time set by the application server 60, it connects the patient client terminal 10 and the medical institution client terminal 20 via the network 70 and provides an online interview environment. The communication means for the online interview may be a variety of means such as text chat, voice calls, and video calls. This allows online interviews to be conducted using generally available technologies.

[0052] Physicians can access patient medical information from the patient medical information database 30 via the medical institution's client terminal 20. In the case of anonymous consultations, access is possible within the anonymized scope. Furthermore, based on patient medical information and interviews conducted online, physicians can create preliminary diagnoses, treatment plans, and opinion comments such as second opinions, and provide them to patients through the online consultation system. Functions such as ordering tests, issuing prescriptions, and creating referral letters can also be provided as needed.

[0053] Furthermore, the application server 60 also functions as a means for patients to make appointments for hospital consultations with doctors selected on the patient client terminal 10. The application server 60 connects via API to the medical appointment system of the medical institution to which the selected doctor belongs, enabling direct appointment booking from the patient client terminal 10. For selecting the appointment date and time, the patient client terminal 10 displays available appointment dates and times obtained from the medical institution's appointment system, and the patient can select their preferred date and time. For appointment confirmation, a confirmation notice can be sent to both the patient and the medical institution when the appointment date and time are confirmed, and the appointment details may be included in the notice.

[0054] Next, the patient medical information database 30 will be described. Figure 4 is a block diagram of the patient medical information database 30. From a hardware perspective, the patient medical information database 30 can utilize portable recording media owned by the individual patient, such as IC cards (My Number cards, etc.), USB memory, SD cards, or the built-in memory of smartphones, tablet devices, or cloud storage. The patient medical information database 30 selects the optimal recording media considering factors such as security strength, data capacity, and convenience. From a software perspective, the patient medical information database 30 may use a lightweight database engine for its database management system. The patient medical information database 30 provides functions such as data access control, data encryption, and data backup.

[0055] The patient medical information database 30 stores data relating to an individual patient's medical information, i.e., patient medical information. The stored data items include basic patient information 31, health checkup data 32, treatment data 33, medical history data 34, and prescription drug data 35. Patient medical information may be medical information throughout the patient's life and may include periodic health checkup data, past treatment data, medical history data, prescription drug data, vaccination history, lifestyle data, vital data, genetic information, etc. The data format may be structured data, unstructured data (images, free-text descriptions, etc.), and may conform to standard medical information exchange protocols. For security, the patient themselves has access control rights, and measures such as access authentication to the recording medium, data encryption, and tamper detection can be implemented.

[0056] Furthermore, the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database 30 can be anonymized by applying anonymization technology to items that identify the patient, thereby ensuring anonymity. The anonymization process may be automatically executed on the system according to the patient's instructions. The use of anonymized patient medical information is restricted to the purposes of provisional diagnosis and providing opinion comments only. In the steps after the final physician selection, the system will be operated based on the real name information registered in the patient medical information database 30.

[0057] Patient basic information 31 includes name, name (in katakana), date of birth, gender, address, telephone number, email address, insurance card information (insurer number, insured person symbol / number), user ID, password, etc.

[0058] Health checkup data 32 includes the date of the checkup, height, weight, BMI, vision, hearing, blood pressure, blood test results (white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, AST (GOT), ALT (GPT), γ-GTP, blood glucose level, HbA1c, creatinine, eGFR, uric acid, etc.), urine test results (urinary protein, urinary glucose, urinary occult blood, etc.), electrocardiogram findings, chest X-ray findings, fundus examination findings, other health checkup items, health checkup image data, etc.

[0059] Treatment data 33 includes disease name, onset date, treatment start date, treatment end date, treatment details (surgery, drug therapy, radiation therapy, rehabilitation, etc.), surgery date, surgical procedure, length of hospital stay, name of hospital, complications, prognosis, free-text descriptions regarding treatment progress, and medical fee statement information.

[0060] Medical history data 34 includes past medical history (name of disease suffered, onset date, treatment status, etc.), family history (family disease history, genetic disease information, etc.), allergy information (name of allergen, type of allergic reaction, onset date, etc.), vaccination history (name of vaccine, date of vaccination, name of vaccination medical institution, etc.), smoking history, alcohol consumption history, and lifestyle information (diet, exercise habits, sleep duration, stress levels, etc.).

[0061] Prescription drug data 35 includes the date of prescription, the name of the prescribing medical institution, the prescribing physician, etc.

[0062] Next, the medical institution information database 40 will be described. Figure 4 is a block diagram of the medical institution information database 40. From a hardware perspective, the medical institution information database 40 can use portable recording media such as IC cards (My Number cards, etc.), USB memory, SD cards, or the built-in memory of smartphones, tablet devices, or cloud storage as recording media for medical institutions. The medical institution information database 40 will select the optimal recording media considering factors such as security strength, data capacity, and convenience. From a software perspective, the medical institution information database 40 may use a lightweight database engine for its database management system. The medical institution information database 40 will provide functions such as data access control, data encryption, and data backup.

[0063] The medical institution information database 40 stores data related to medical institutions. The data items to be stored include clinical department information 41, specialist information 42, equipment information 43, treatable disease information 44, and physician information 45. The medical institution information database 40 may also store detailed information about participating medical institutions, including basic medical institution information, medical fee information, medical safety information, hospital function evaluation information, etc. Data updates can be made by the medical institutions themselves using a web interface, etc., and may include reminder functions, information update status monitoring functions, etc. Data quality can be ensured by performing data input validation checks, data cleaning processes, data standardization processes, etc.

[0064] Department information 41 includes information on the departments that have been established. Specialist information 42 includes information on the specialists on staff. Equipment information 43 includes information on the medical equipment and other facilities that are owned. Diseases that can be treated 44 includes information on diseases that can be treated, including diagnosis and treatment. Physician information 45 includes information on the physicians on staff.

[0065] The AI ​​server 50 functions as a recommendation system that uses artificial intelligence to present potential doctors at multiple hospitals based on patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database 30, the patient's current symptoms, and their desired conditions. The AI ​​server 50 is equipped with an AI engine that utilizes artificial intelligence technologies such as machine learning and deep learning, and the AI ​​engine is constructed by combining technologies such as natural language processing, image recognition, time series data analysis, and statistical analysis.

[0066] The recommendation logic used by the AI ​​server 50 to present potential attending physicians inputs patient medical information from the patient medical information database 30, the patient's current symptoms, and desired conditions into the AI ​​engine. Based on logic such as similar case search, disease-specific recommendation, patient attribute-considering recommendation, physician expertise and performance evaluation, and medical system-considering recommendation, the AI ​​server 50 recommends potential attending physicians. The AI ​​server 50 may also present potential attending physicians based on the patient's past medical history, test results, prescribed medications, allergy information, current symptoms, desired medical department, consultation time, location, and other desired conditions. This allows the AI ​​server 50 to present potential attending physicians based on the patient's specific medical information, thus enabling it to recommend physicians who are a good match for the patient. The AI ​​server 50 can present the recommended potential attending physicians to the patient client terminal 10 in a ranking format, list format, map display format, etc. The AI ​​server 50 may also present additional information such as the physician candidate's specialty, affiliated medical institution, facial photograph, patient evaluation, and whether online preliminary diagnosis is available.

[0067] The third-party server 80 is a server operated by a third-party organization responsible for evaluating, for example, doctors, hospitals, etc. As described later, it receives information on medical consultations received based on the date and time recorded by the patient client terminal 10, and functions as an incentive issuing means to issue incentives to doctors or hospitals based on the consultation information. The incentives may be issued to doctors or medical institutions based on evaluation scores, for example. The types of incentives may include subsidies, grants, awards, etc. The third party issuing the incentives may be a local government, a medical insurance association, the national government, etc.

[0068] The evaluation score is an evaluation metric. For example, by analyzing medical information notified to a third-party server 80, patient evaluation database, and medical performance information from the medical institution information database 40, evaluation scores for doctors and medical institutions can be calculated. Patient satisfaction, number of consultations, quality of medical care, efforts toward medical safety, and contribution to regional healthcare may also be used as evaluation metrics.

[0069] (System operation) The operation of the medical information network system 1 according to this embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to flowcharts, including specific examples such as anonymous online consultations and AI re-recommendations.

[0070] (Embodiment 1: Typical medical institution selection - Case of Mr. A, a man in his 40s) Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the medical information network system 1 according to the first embodiment. Mr. A, a man in his 40s, has recently started to experience chest pain and has been diagnosed with high blood pressure in previous health checkups. He is also concerned about lifestyle-related diseases and wants to choose the best hospital and doctor based on objective medical information.

[0071] (Step S101: Patient registration) For example, Patient A launches a web browser from their home PC, which is the patient client terminal 10, and accesses the medical information network system website. As this is their first time using the system, Patient A clicks the "New Registration" button and is redirected to the patient registration screen displayed by the display unit 102. On the patient registration screen, Patient A enters personal information such as their name, date of birth, gender, address, telephone number, email address, and insurance information (insurer number, insured person symbol / number) using the keyboard or mouse on the input unit 101. The patient client terminal 10 securely transmits the entered personal information to the application server 60 via SSL encrypted communication from the communication unit 103. The application server 60 generates user authentication information (user ID, password), and the patient is registered in the patient medical information database 30. After registration is complete, the application server 60 automatically sends a registration completion email to Patient A's email address. The above operations on the patient client terminal 10 are realized by the functions of the patient registration / login function unit 104.

[0072] (Step S102: Registration of medical information) When person A clicks the URL provided in the registration completion email on the patient client terminal 10, or navigates to the login screen from the website's top page and logs in by entering their registered user ID and password, person A selects the "Medical Information Registration" menu from the My Page screen, and the patient client terminal 10 transitions to the medical information registration screen. When the medical information registration screen is displayed, person A inserts a recording medium containing patient medical information (for example, a My Number Card, health insurance card IC chip, or a dedicated medical information recording IC card) into the card reader connected to the patient client terminal 10. The patient client terminal 10 automatically reads the medical information from the recording medium via the card reader. The patient client terminal 10 may also automatically read the medical information from the recording medium using the NFC (Near Field Communication) function installed in the patient client terminal 10. The medical information read includes past health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, prescription drug data, etc. Once reading is complete, the read medical information is displayed on the screen of the patient client terminal 10, and the contents can be confirmed. Patient (Patient A) can edit and modify the read medical information as needed. The patient client terminal 10 transmits the read medical information to the application server 60, and the medical information is stored and registered in the patient medical information database 30 as structured or unstructured data. If automatic reading from the recording medium is difficult, or if there is medical information not recorded on the recording medium, it is also possible to register medical information by manual input or file upload, as before. The above operations on the patient client terminal 10 are realized by the functions of the medical information registration function unit 105.

[0073] (Step S103: Anonymization Selection) If anonymization is required, it will be performed. However, in this case, since Person A does not require anonymization by the medical institution, step S103 is skipped.

[0074] (Step S104: Searching for medical institutions) Next, Patient A selects the "Medical Institution Search" menu from the My Page screen on the patient client terminal 10 and moves to the medical institution search screen. On the medical institution search screen, Patient A enters their current symptoms, desired medical department, and desired conditions. For current symptoms, they enter in free text: "I've been experiencing chest pain recently. It tends to occur especially during exercise or when stressed. It lasts for a few minutes." For desired medical department, they select "Cardiology" from the pull-down menu. For desired conditions, they check the checkbox for "Hospital close to home." They also check the checkbox for "Online preliminary diagnosis available." After completing the input, Patient A clicks the "Search" button, and the patient client terminal 10 sends the search conditions to the application server 60, and further requests medical institution recommendation processing from the AI ​​server 50. As a recommendation method, the AI ​​server 50 executes recommendation logic based on Patient A's medical information in the patient medical information database 30, the entered symptoms and desired conditions, and the medical institution information in the medical institution information database 40, and generates a list of potential doctors. The generated list of potential attending physicians is sent to the patient client terminal 10 via the application server 60 and displayed on the medical institution search results screen. The above operation on the patient client terminal 10 is realized by the functions of the medical institution search function unit 106.

[0075] (Step S105: Request for preliminary diagnosis (first choice)) As the first option, the medical institution search results screen on the patient client terminal 10 displays a list of three potential doctors: Doctor B, Doctor C, and Doctor D. The list displays information such as each doctor candidate's name, affiliated medical institution, specialty, photo, patient evaluation, and whether they offer online preliminary diagnosis. To check the details of Doctor B and Doctor C, Patient A clicks the "View Details" button for each doctor candidate, transitioning to the doctor details screen. The doctor details screen displays detailed information such as the doctor's career history, specialty, clinical achievements, research achievements, message to the patient, precautions for online preliminary diagnosis, and available appointment times. Patient A compares the information of Doctor B and Doctor C and decides to request an online preliminary diagnosis. From the medical institution search results screen or the doctor details screen, Patient A checks the checkboxes next to the names of Doctor B and Doctor C and clicks the "Request Preliminary Diagnosis" button. The patient client terminal 10 then sends the information that Doctor B and Doctor C have been selected as the first option to the application server 60. The application server 60 retrieves the online consultation schedules for Doctor B and Doctor C from the medical institution information database 40 and sends them to the patient client terminal 10. The patient client terminal 10 displays a list of possible online consultation dates and times on Patient A's My Page screen. Patient A selects a preferred date and time and confirms the online consultation reservation. The above operations on the patient client terminal 10 are realized by the functions of the online preliminary diagnosis function unit 107.

[0076] (Step S106: Preliminary diagnosis by a doctor) When the scheduled online consultation time arrives, patient A's client terminal 10 and physician B's medical institution client terminal 20 are connected via network 70 under the control of application server 60, which acts as both a setting and service provider, and the online consultation system is activated. The online consultation system is equipped with a video call function, allowing A and physician B to converse while seeing each other's faces. Physician B accesses the patient medical information database 30 from the medical institution client terminal 20, which acts as a service provider, and refers to A's medical information. Based on A's medical information and the information gathered during the online consultation, physician B provides a professional explanation regarding the cause of chest pain, possible diseases, necessary tests, and future treatment plans. The online consultation usually lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. Similarly, A also has an online consultation with physician C and receives a preliminary diagnosis and opinion comments. The content of the online consultations (conversation content, physician comments, test orders, prescription issuance, etc.) is recorded as text or audio data and stored in the patient medical information database 30. The above operations on the medical institution client terminal 20 are realized by the functions of the medical professional authentication function unit 204, the patient information reference function unit 205, and the online preliminary diagnosis support function unit 206.

[0077] (Step S107: Choosing a Hospital / Doctor (Second Choice)) After online consultations with doctors B and C, patient A compares and considers the preliminary diagnoses and opinion comments received from each doctor, their personalities, the clarity of their explanations, and their overall impression of the online consultations. As a second option, the patient client terminal 10 displays a list of opinion comments provided by doctors B and C on its My Page screen, allowing patient A to easily compare and consider them. Ultimately, patient A is attracted to doctor B's expertise and personality and decides to see doctor B. Patient A selects doctor B from the My Page screen and clicks the "Select this doctor" button (Yes in step S107). The patient client terminal 10 sends the information that doctor B has been selected as the second option to the application server 60. The above operation on the patient client terminal 10 is realized by the functions of the hospital / doctor selection function unit 108. On the other hand, if patient A does not wish to see a doctor (No in step S107), the process proceeds to step S110.

[0078] (Step S108: Appointment for medical consultation) Once the second selection is complete, the application server 60, acting as the reservation method, connects via API to the medical appointment system of XX University Hospital, where Doctor B works, and obtains real-time appointment availability. When the application server 60 sends the appointment availability to the patient client terminal 10, the patient client terminal 10 displays Doctor B's outpatient appointment screen, showing available dates and times in a calendar format. Patient A clicks on their desired date and time and proceeds to the appointment confirmation screen. On the appointment confirmation screen, Patient A checks the appointment date and time, department, doctor in charge, notes, etc., and clicks the "Confirm Reservation" button. Once the reservation is confirmed, the patient client terminal 10 registers the reservation confirmation information with the medical appointment system of XX University Hospital via the application server 60, and a reservation completion screen is displayed on Patient A's patient client terminal 10, and a notification is also sent via email. The above operations on the patient client terminal 10 are realized by the functions of the medical appointment function unit 109.

[0079] (Step S109: Registration of medical information) On the day of the appointment, Ms. A visits XX University Hospital and is examined by Dr. B. After the examination, Dr. B or a staff member of the medical institution operates the medical institution client terminal 20 to register Ms. A's medical information in the system. The medical information includes the date of the examination, the department, the attending physician, the diagnosis, the test results (test report files or test data such as electrocardiogram, blood test, chest X-ray), prescribed medications (drug name, usage, dosage, number of days, etc.), the treatment details (procedure details, surgical details, instructions, etc.), medical fee information (medical procedure code, points, out-of-pocket expenses, etc.), findings regarding the patient's condition, future treatment plan, and other special notes. The medical institution client terminal 20 transmits the registered medical information to the application server 60, where it is stored linked to Ms. A's medical information in the patient medical information database 30. Medical information registration can also be performed automatically by linking with the medical institution's existing electronic medical record system. The above operations on the medical institution client terminal 20 are realized by the functions of the medical information registration function unit 207.

[0080] (Step S110: Patient assessment) Patient A is satisfied that their treatment is progressing smoothly after their consultation with Doctor B. Therefore, they decided to evaluate their consultation experience for the benefit of other patients. Patient A logs into the system from patient client terminal 10 and selects the "Consultation History" menu from the My Page screen. From the consultation history list, Patient A selects the consultation history of Doctor B at XX University Hospital, where they received their consultation this time, and clicks the "Evaluate" button. The following evaluation items are displayed on the patient evaluation screen.

[0081] • Evaluation of doctors: • Clarity of explanation (5-point scale) • Doctor's personality and attitude (5-point scale) • Trust in expertise (5-point scale) • Consideration for patients (5-point scale) • Consultation time (appropriate, short, long) • Evaluation of hospitals and medical institutions: • Receptionist / Staff Service (Rated on a 5-point scale) • Waiting time (short, normal, long) • Cleanliness and comfort within the hospital (5-point scale) • Level of facilities and equipment (5-point scale) • Ease of making a reservation (5-point scale) • Convenience of the online preliminary diagnosis (rated on a 5-point scale, displayed only if the online preliminary diagnosis was used) • Free Comments: A field to enter any thoughts, opinions, requests, etc. regarding this visit in free text format.

[0082] Patient A selects a 5-point rating or multiple-choice options for each evaluation item and enters the following in the free comment field: "The doctor's explanation was very thorough and easy to understand, and I felt at ease during the examination. The hospital was also clean and comfortable." When Patient A clicks the "Submit Evaluation" button, the patient client terminal 10 sends the evaluation data to the application server 60, where it is registered in the patient evaluation database (built within the medical institution information database 40). The patient evaluation is displayed anonymously on the medical institution search results screen and the doctor details screen as reference information for other patients selecting medical institutions. In addition, the patient evaluation information is used as one of the evaluation indicators for doctors and medical institutions by the third-party server 80 as a means of issuing incentives. The above operations on the patient client terminal 10 are realized by the functions of the patient evaluation function unit 110.

[0083] (Step S111: Incentive evaluation and issuance) The medical information network system 1 periodically (for example, once a month) aggregates and analyzes patient evaluation information, medical treatment information, and medical institution information stored in the medical institution information database 40, and calculates evaluation scores for each physician and medical institution. The evaluation score is calculated by comprehensively considering the following indicators.

[0084] • Patient evaluation: Includes the average score of patient evaluations registered in the patient evaluation database, the distribution of evaluations by item, and the results of text mining of free-form comments. Higher patient satisfaction is reflected in a higher evaluation. • Clinical Performance: This includes the number of medical consultations registered in the medical information database, the number of new patients, the number of online consultations conducted, the treatment record for patients with specific diseases, the degree of contribution to emergency medical care, the degree of contribution to regional medical care, etc. A higher evaluation is given to hospitals with a wealth of clinical experience and that provide high-quality medical care. • Quality of medical care: Analysis of medical information registered in the medical information database, compliance rate with medical guidelines, clinical pathway utilization rate, status of medical safety initiatives, status of infection control measures, etc. Higher quality of medical care and attention to medical safety will result in a higher rating. • Medical Institution Information: This includes information on the expertise, facilities, treatment system, role in the community, level of information disclosure, patient services, and international accreditation status of medical institutions registered in the Medical Institution Information Database 40. Medical institutions with high functionality, characteristics, and social contribution receive higher ratings.

[0085] The calculated evaluation score is sent to the third-party server 80. Based on the received evaluation score, the third-party server 80 issues an incentive to the doctor or medical institution according to predetermined incentive awarding criteria. The types of incentives are as follows:

[0086] • Financial incentives: subsidies, grants, medical fee surcharges (surcharges for specific medical procedures, surcharges for contributing to regional healthcare, surcharges linked to patient satisfaction, etc.), research grants, equipment investment subsidies, etc. Non-monetary incentives: Recognition (e.g., awards for outstanding medical institutions, Best Doctor awards), public relations support (featuring in local government newsletters, websites, etc.), support for academic presentations and paper submissions, provision of training opportunities, priority access to medical equipment and facilities, etc.

[0087] Incentive issuers can include administrative agencies such as local governments, prefectures, and the national government, as well as third-party organizations such as medical insurance associations, medical associations, regional medical collaboration promotion corporations, and NPOs. The third-party organization server 80 notifies medical institution client terminals 20 of information regarding issued incentives via the application server 60, allowing medical institutions to check the incentive information. The incentive system aims to promote improvements in the quality of medical care, increased patient satisfaction, and contributions to regional healthcare by medical institutions.

[0088] According to the medical information network system 1 of this embodiment, patients can obtain a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments through consultations with doctors. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the asymmetry of medical information and the difficulty in making choices caused by such asymmetry, which can lead patients to select medical institutions based on biased information. In addition, since information about medical institutions can be obtained from the medical institution information database 40, it is possible to mitigate the lack of information regarding the expertise and areas of specialization of medical institutions. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress mismatches between patient needs and the medical treatment systems of medical institutions.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the medical information network system 1 of this embodiment, the lack of information about doctors can be resolved through consultations with doctors. In addition, by utilizing the medical information network system 1, fairness in access to medical care can be achieved, and the long waiting times for medical consultations can be resolved. Moreover, the information held by the medical information network system 1 makes it possible to distribute medical information and overcome the insularity of the system. In addition, patients can easily access their own medical information.

[0090] Furthermore, according to the medical information network system 1 of this embodiment, by linking the systems, it becomes possible to resolve miscommunication between medical institutions and suppress the occurrence of duplicate examinations. In addition, since patients themselves can ultimately select a doctor from the presented list of doctors, it is possible to support patients in making their own choices about medical institutions.

[0091] (Embodiment 2: Anonymous online interview - Case of Ms. B, a woman in her 30s) Ms. B, a woman in her 30s, is experiencing a delicate gynecological issue and wishes to have an online consultation with a female doctor, anonymously, without disclosing any personal information.

[0092] (Step S101: Patient registration (anonymous ID issuance)) Patient B launches a dedicated smartphone app from their home smartphone (patient client terminal 10) and accesses the system. Since Patient B wishes to consult anonymously, they tap the "Anonymous Consultation Here" or "Start Anonymous Consultation" button on the app launch screen or the website's top page. Patient client terminal 10 transitions to a patient registration screen specifically for anonymous consultations. The anonymous patient registration screen does not display input fields for personal information such as name, date of birth, address, phone number, or email address. Instead, the anonymous patient registration screen displays a format in which the user answers simple questions for issuing an anonymous ID (e.g., medical department to consult, age group, gender, etc.), or a format in which personal information input is completely omitted. Patient B either answers the questions or taps the "Issue Anonymous ID" button without entering anything. The application server 60 generates an anonymous ID specifically for Patient B (e.g., anonymous_user_12345) based on the anonymous ID generation logic and registers it in the patient medical information database 30. At this point, no personal information of Patient B is registered. The application server 60 issues an anonymous ID and an initial password and sends them to the patient client terminal 10, which is then displayed on the smartphone app screen of B's ​​patient client terminal 10. B needs to either write down the anonymous ID and password or save a screenshot of it. No registration completion email is sent.

[0093] (Step S102: Medical information registration (anonymous)) After B notes down or saves the anonymous ID and initial password, B navigates to the anonymous patient login screen on the patient client terminal 10 and logs in by entering the issued anonymous ID and initial password. After logging in, B selects the "Medical Information Registration" menu from the anonymous consultation My Page screen, and the patient client terminal 10 transitions to the medical information registration screen. On the medical information registration screen, B anonymously registers medical information related to the matter they wish to consult about. The automatic reading function from the recording medium is not available in anonymous mode. The following information is entered on the medical information registration screen.

[0094] • Symptoms: Enter a free-text description such as, "I have gynecological problems. Specifically, I have had irregular periods and lower abdominal pain for several months." • Medical history: Select "None" from the drop-down menu. • Allergy information: Select "None" from the dropdown menu. • Medications you are currently taking: Select "None" from the dropdown menu. • Other things you would like to discuss: Please enter the following in free text: "I would like to consult with a female doctor. I would like an environment where I can consult anonymously and with peace of mind."

[0095] The patient client terminal 10 transmits the entered medical information to the application server 60, where it is anonymously stored in the patient medical information database 30, linked to the issued anonymous ID. The anonymously registered medical information does not contain any information that can identify an individual.

[0096] (Step S103: Anonymization process) Since this embodiment is executed in anonymous consultation mode, the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database 30 is automatically anonymized by the system for items that identify the patient. From the medical information registered in step S102, the system automatically checks whether it contains any personally identifiable information (name, address, date of birth, contact information, etc.), and if it contains any personal information, it is automatically deleted or masked. The anonymized medical information maintains its anonymity even when it is referenced by a doctor in subsequent steps. Although manual input is given as an example in anonymous mode, in anonymization processing, detailed medical information of past patients may be necessary for a doctor candidate's preliminary examination. Therefore, the medical information may be extracted automatically from the recording medium where the patient's medical information is stored, and when a doctor candidate views the patient's medical data for a preliminary diagnosis, the parts of the data that can identify the individual may be anonymized. In that case, the doctor candidate can view the patient's medical data in an anonymized or masked state without being particularly aware of whether it is anonymous or not.

[0097] (Step S104: Search for medical institutions (anonymous)) Patient B selects the "Medical Institution Search" menu from the anonymous consultation-dedicated My Page screen on patient client terminal 10 and is redirected to the medical institution search screen. The medical institution search screen can use either the same interface as the regular medical institution search screen or a simpler interface specifically designed for anonymous consultations. On the medical institution search screen, Patient B enters their symptoms, desired medical department, and desired conditions.

[0098] • Symptoms: Select "Gynecological problems" from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, enter "Gynecological problems" in the free text field. • Desired medical department: Select "Gynecology" from the pull-down menu. • Preferred conditions: Check the box for "Anonymous consultation possible." Also check the box for "Female doctor preferred."

[0099] After completing the input, when person B clicks the "Search" button, the patient client terminal 10 sends the search conditions to the application server 60, and a request for anonymous medical institution recommendation processing is sent to the AI ​​server 50. Based on person B's anonymous medical information in the patient medical information database 30, the entered symptoms, desired conditions, and medical institution information in the medical institution information database 40, the AI ​​server 50 executes a logic to recommend medical institutions and doctor candidates that can handle anonymous consultations, and generates a list of candidate doctors. The AI ​​server 50 prioritizes recommending doctors who can handle anonymous consultations. The AI ​​server 50 sends the generated list of candidate doctors to the patient client terminal 10 via the application server 60, and it is displayed on the medical institution search results screen of the patient client terminal 10. The medical institution search results screen displays information such as the doctor's name, medical institution name, specialty, whether online anonymous consultations are available, and whether the doctor is female. Patient evaluation information can be set not to be displayed in the case of anonymous consultations.

[0100] (Step S105: Request for preliminary diagnosis (First choice - anonymous)) The medical institution search results screen displays a list of two potential doctors, Doctor E and Doctor F. To view Doctor E's details, B clicks the "View Details" button, and the patient client terminal 10 transitions to the doctor details screen. The doctor details screen displays information such as the doctor's specialty, career history, affiliated medical institutions, a message regarding anonymous online consultations, and whether the doctor is female. B feels reassured that Doctor E is a female doctor and offers anonymous consultations, and decides to request an anonymous preliminary diagnosis from Doctor E. From the medical institution search results screen or the doctor details screen on the patient client terminal 10, B clicks the "Request an Anonymous Preliminary Diagnosis" button next to Doctor E's name. The patient client terminal 10 sends the information that Doctor E has been selected as the first choice to the application server 60. The application server 60 retrieves Doctor E's anonymous online consultation schedule from the medical institution information database 40 and displays a list of possible online consultation dates and times on B's anonymous consultation dedicated My Page screen. B selects a desired date and time from the patient client terminal 10 and confirms the anonymous online consultation reservation.

[0101] (Step S106: Preliminary diagnosis by a doctor (anonymous online consultation)) When the scheduled online consultation time arrives, patient client terminal 10 and medical institution client terminal 20 of physician B are connected via network 70 under the control of application server 60, which acts as both a setting and service provider, and an anonymous online consultation is conducted between B and physician E. The video call is set so that the face is not displayed, or voice call or text chat can be selected. Physician E refers to B's anonymous medical information and provides expert advice regarding gynecological concerns.

[0102] (Step S107: Hospital / Doctor Selection (Second Option - Anonymous)) Patient B is satisfied with the doctor's response and advice during the anonymous online consultation with Doctor E, and has developed trust in Doctor E. Assuming that B's concerns have been resolved through this consultation, it is assumed that B will not make a final decision on a hospital or doctor at this time. On the anonymous consultation dedicated My Page screen of the patient client terminal 10, options such as "End consultation" or "Continue consultation" are displayed. If B selects "End consultation," the anonymous consultation ends here (No in step S107).

[0103] (Step S110: Patient evaluation (in the case of anonymous consultation)) Since Ms. B was satisfied and reassured by the doctor's response during the anonymous online consultation, she selected "End Consultation," and the patient client terminal 10 transitioned to the patient evaluation screen. On the patient evaluation screen, evaluation items specifically for anonymous consultations are displayed (e.g., ease of consultation, clarity of doctor's explanation, sense of security, consideration for anonymity, etc.). Ms. B selects a 5-point scale or multiple-choice option for each evaluation item and enters "I was able to consult anonymously with peace of mind. The doctor's advice was also helpful." in the free comment field. When she clicks the "Submit Evaluation" button, the patient client terminal 10 sends the evaluation data to the application server 60, and it is registered in the patient evaluation database. Patient evaluations of anonymous consultations are used as reference information to improve the quality of anonymous consultation responses and services by doctors and medical institutions, but as in Embodiment 1, they may also be linked to incentives for doctors and hospitals.

[0104] (Step S108: Appointment for medical consultation) On the other hand, the procedure for Ms. B deciding to seek medical attention and treatment from Doctor E and proceeding to make an appointment is explained (Yes in step S107). The procedure for making an appointment is the same as in Embodiment 1, but in this embodiment, since the patient is anonymous in step S107, at this point in making the appointment, the patient may choose to de-anonymize and proceed with their real name. Alternatively, the patient may continue to use the anonymous information "Anonymous ID" to make an appointment. In this case, the anonymous and real names are linked at the time of registration. In other words, the reservation name on the hospital system is anonymous, but at the time of registration at the hospital, the patient can also request to link it with their real name (information such as the patient card, insurance card, and My Number card is linked to the anonymous information). The subsequent steps are the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0105] According to the medical information network system 1 of this embodiment, patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database 30 is anonymized in terms of items that identify the patient, enabling the provision of anonymous preliminary diagnoses or opinion comments. This addresses the need for anonymous diagnosis and reduces the risk of leakage of personal information.

[0106] (Embodiment 3: AI Re-recommendation Function - Case of a patient who desires AI re-recommendation) This embodiment implements an AI re-recommendation function in the medical information network system 1. If a patient is not satisfied with the initial AI recommendation results, they can request a re-recommendation, and the AI ​​will present hospital and doctor candidates that better match their preferences.

[0107] Mr. C, a man in his 50s, was found to have abnormal liver function during a health checkup and required further examination. However, he was dissatisfied with the initial AI recommendation results in terms of expertise and evaluation, and requested a revised recommendation. Mr. C's patient registration, medical information registration, and anonymization process (skip) will be performed in the same manner as in Embodiments 1 and 2 (steps S101 to S103).

[0108] (Step S104-1: Searching for medical institutions (Dissatisfaction with initial recommendation results)) Ms. C searches for a medical institution to consult about her abnormal liver function. After Ms. C enters her symptoms, desired medical department, and desired conditions on the patient client terminal 10 and clicks the "Search" button, the patient client terminal 10 presents three potential doctors as initial AI recommendations: Doctor G, Doctor H, and Doctor I (the initial AI recommendation example is the same as the one previously presented). Ms. C checks the specialty fields and patient ratings of the presented doctor candidates, but feels that there are few doctors that match her desired conditions, such as "liver specialist" and "university hospital / specialized hospital," and is dissatisfied with the initial recommendation results. Therefore, Ms. C clicks the "Request Re-recommendation" button displayed on the medical institution search results screen.

[0109] (Step S104-2: Re-search - AI Re-recommendation (re-setting conditions and executing re-recommendation)) When Ms. C clicks the "Request Re-recommendations" button, the screen transitions to the re-recommendation conditions setting screen. On the re-recommendation conditions setting screen, the previous search conditions are displayed as initial values, and the patient can change or add conditions. Ms. C resets the following conditions:

[0110] • Doctor's specialty: Add "Liver Specialist" as an option from the pull-down menu. Hospital type: Check the checkboxes for "University Hospital" and "Specialty Hospital" to exclude clinics. • Patient Rating: Operate the slider to raise the minimum patient rating from ★★★ (3 stars) to ★★★★ (4 stars) or higher. After resetting these conditions, click the "Run Re-Recommendation" button.

[0111] When patient C resets the conditions, the patient client terminal 10 sends the reset conditions to the application server 60, and a re-recommendation process is requested from the AI ​​server 50. Based on the reset conditions, patient medical information of patient C in the patient medical information database 30, and medical institution information in the medical institution information database 40, the AI ​​server 50 executes the re-recommendation logic and generates a list of candidate doctors to re-recommend. The re-recommendation logic is designed to present a wider variety of recommendations or more refined recommendations by using a different algorithm or parameter setting than the initial recommendation logic. The AI ​​server 50 sends the generated list of candidate doctors to re-recommend to the patient client terminal 10 via the application server 60, and it is displayed as a re-recommendation result on the medical institution search results screen of the patient client terminal 10. Subsequent processing is carried out in the same manner as in Embodiments 1 and 2.

[0112] In other words, according to the medical information network system 1 of this embodiment, the AI ​​server 50 has a function to reset recommendation conditions in response to a re-recommendation request from the patient, and a function to present a new list of potential doctors based on the reset recommendation conditions. This makes it possible to present a list of doctors that are a better match for the patient's preferences.

[0113] Figures 8 to 11 are sequence diagrams showing the exchange of information in the medical information network system 1. When patient medical information is input to the patient client terminal 10 through patient operation (step S201), the patient client terminal 10 sends the patient medical information to the application server 60 to request registration (step S202). The application server 60 registers the patient medical information in the patient medical information database 30 (step S203), and once registration is complete, sends registration completion information to the patient client terminal 10 (step S204). Upon receiving the registration completion information, the patient client terminal 10 displays that the registration of the patient medical information is complete (step S205). The patient medical information database 30 may also include a reading means that automatically reads patient medical information from, for example, a recording medium possessed by the patient themselves. This makes it easier to obtain patient medical information.

[0114] Next, when medical information is entered into the patient client terminal 10 through the patient's operation (step S206), the patient client terminal 10 sends the medical information to the application server 60 to request registration (step S207). The application server 60 registers the medical information in the patient medical information database 30 (step S208).

[0115] Upon the patient's action, anonymization is selected on the patient client terminal 10 (step S209), and upon the patient's action, the patient client terminal 10 starts searching for a medical institution (step S210). The patient client terminal 10 sends a request to the application server 60 to search for a medical institution (step S211). The application server 60 sends the patient medical information and the medical institution search request to the AI ​​server 50 (step S212).

[0116] The AI ​​server 50 sends a request to acquire medical institution information to the medical institution information management server 90 (step S213), and the medical institution information management server 90 refers to the medical institution information database 40 and acquires the medical institution information (step S214). The medical institution information management server 90 sends the acquired medical institution information to the AI ​​server 50 (step S215), and the AI ​​server 50 searches for the medical institution (step S216) and sends the search results to the application server 60 (step S217). The application server 60 sends the search results to the patient client terminal 10 (step S218), and the patient client terminal 10 displays the search results (step S219).

[0117] Next, when a request for a preliminary diagnosis is entered into the patient client terminal 10 by the patient's operation (step S220), the patient client terminal 10 sends the request for a preliminary diagnosis to the application server 60 (step S221). The application server 60 sends a request to acquire physician information to the medical institution information management server 90 (step S222), and the medical institution information management server 90 refers to the medical institution information database 40 and acquires the physician information (step S223).

[0118] The medical institution information management server 90 transmits the acquired physician information to the application server 60 (step S224). The application server 60 creates candidate dates for diagnosis (step S225) and transmits the candidate dates for provisional diagnosis to the patient client terminal 10 (step S226). When the patient inputs the determined provisional diagnosis date into the patient client terminal 10 (step S227), the patient client terminal 10 transmits the provisional diagnosis date to the application server 60 (step S228). The application server 60 registers the provisional diagnosis date in the patient medical information database 30 (step S229).

[0119] The application server 60 sends a request for a preliminary diagnosis to the medical institution client terminal 20 (step S230), the medical institution client terminal 20 creates a notification of the preliminary diagnosis (step S231), and sends a request to the application server 60 to acquire patient medical information (step S232). The application server 60 obtains patient medical information by referring to the patient medical information database 30 (step S233), and sends the acquired patient medical information to the medical institution client terminal 20 (step S234). When the medical institution client terminal 20 displays the patient medical information, doctors and other medical professionals view the patient medical information (step S235).

[0120] After step S227, the patient inputs an operation to start a preliminary diagnosis into the patient client terminal 10 (step S236), and when the preliminary diagnosis is completed, an operation to end the preliminary diagnosis is input (step S237). The patient client terminal 10 sends the preliminary diagnosis data to the application server 60 (step S238), and the application server 60 registers the diagnosis data in the patient medical information database 30 (step S239).

[0121] The patient's actions input a hospital / doctor selection operation into the patient client terminal 10 (step S240). The patient client terminal 10 then sends the selected doctor's information to the application server 60 (step S241). The application server 60 then sends a schedule acquisition request to an external server (not shown), such as a medical appointment server (step S242). The medical appointment server acquires the doctor's schedule and sends it to the application server 60 (step S243). The application server 60 then sends the availability status to the patient client terminal 10 (step S244).

[0122] The patient client terminal 10 displays the availability status (step S245), and the patient inputs the determined diagnosis date into the patient client terminal 10 (step S246). The patient client terminal 10 then transmits the information of the determined diagnosis date to the application server 60 (step S247). The application server 60 transmits the information of the diagnosis date to the medical appointment server (step S248). The medical appointment server confirms and registers the diagnosis date (step S249) and transmits the information of the confirmed diagnosis date to the application server 60 (step S250).

[0123] The application server 60 registers the diagnosis date in the patient medical information database 30 (step S251) and sends the diagnosis date information to the patient client terminal 10 (step S252). The patient client terminal 10 displays that the reservation is complete (step S253).

[0124] After step S235, when the medical treatment is completed (step S254), the medical institution client terminal 20 sends the medical treatment information to the application server 60 (step S255). The application server 60 registers the medical treatment information in the patient medical information database 30 (step S256) and sends a request for evaluation by the patient to the patient client terminal 10 (step S257).

[0125] When an evaluation is entered into the patient client terminal 10 by the patient's operation (step S258), the patient client terminal 10 sends the evaluation information to the application server 60 (step S259). The application server 60 registers the evaluation information in the patient medical information database 30 (step S260) and sends the evaluation information to the medical institution information management server 90 (step S261). The medical institution information management server 90 registers the evaluation information in the medical institution information database 40 (step S262).

[0126] Furthermore, the application server 60 also transmits the evaluation information to the medical institution client terminal 20, and the medical institution client terminal 20 displays the evaluation information (step S263).

[0127] Next, when the third-party server 80 sends a request for medical institution information to the medical institution information management server 90 (step S264), the medical institution information management server 90 refers to the medical institution information database 40 and searches for evaluation information (step S265). The medical institution information management server 90 then sends the medical institution information, including the evaluation information, to the third-party server 80 (step S266).

[0128] The third-party server 80 performs an incentive evaluation and issues it (step S267), and sends the incentive evaluation to the medical institution information management server 90 (step S268). The medical institution information management server 90 registers the incentive evaluation in the medical institution information database 40 (step S269) and notifies the medical institution client terminal 20 of the incentive evaluation (step S270). The medical institution client terminal 20 displays the incentive evaluation (step S271).

[0129] While the embodiment describes an example where the patient selects a medical department, the AI ​​could also present appropriate departments based on the symptoms entered by the patient. For example, a patient might not know whether their symptoms warrant orthopedics, neurosurgery, or neurology. In such cases, the AI ​​could suggest the department most likely to treat those symptoms, or, in more complex cases, suggest a general medicine department.

[0130] While the medical information network system 1 is exemplified as comprising a patient client terminal 10, a medical institution client terminal 20, an application server 60, a medical institution information management server 90, an AI server 50, and a third-party organization server 80, it is not limited to this configuration. The medical information network system 1 may be configured as a device combining at least some of the terminals and servers, or one terminal or server may be composed of multiple terminals or servers. Furthermore, in the medical information network system 1, the functions of at least some of the terminals and servers may be performed by other terminals or servers. Therefore, the entities responsible for each process described in this embodiment are merely examples, and each process can be performed by other entities.

[0131] Furthermore, the above embodiment may also apply to a program that provides a medical institution selection support program, which realizes the functions of a medical institution selection support method, to a computer via a network or various storage media, and which is read and executed by the computer's processor, as well as a recording medium on which this program is stored.

[0132] Based on the above, this disclosure contains at least the following information. Note that the components etc. in parentheses indicate those corresponding to the embodiments described above, but are not limited thereto.

[0133] (Item 1) A medical information network system (medical information network system 1) that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network, A patient medical information database (patient medical information database 30) stores patient medical information including patient health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, A medical institution information database (medical institution information database 40) that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, A recommendation means (AI server 50) that uses artificial intelligence to present potential doctors at multiple hospitals based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and desired conditions, A first selection means (patient client terminal 10) in which the patient selects at least one candidate physician from among multiple candidate physicians presented by the recommendation means, A setting means (application server 60) for setting up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the patient for the candidate physician selected by the first selection means, The setting means allows a physician who is a candidate for the attending physician to provide a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through the referencing of the patient's medical information and interviews with the patient, and the providing means (client terminal 20 for medical institutions, application server 60) A second selection means (patient client terminal 10) allows the patient to ultimately select a doctor from among the doctor candidates presented by the recommendation means, based on the provisional diagnosis or opinion comments provided by the aforementioned provision means. A reservation means (application server 60) for making a reservation for a hospital consultation with the doctor selected by the second selection means, An incentive issuing means (third-party server 80) that issues an incentive to the doctor or hospital based on the information of the medical examination received based on the date and time specified by the reservation means, A medical information network system equipped with the following features.

[0134] This allows the medical information network system to eliminate information asymmetry in healthcare, which can lead patients to choose healthcare providers based on biased information, and the resulting difficulties in making choices. Furthermore, the medical information network system can mitigate the lack of information regarding the expertise and specialties of healthcare providers. It can also reduce mismatches between patient needs and the healthcare systems of healthcare providers.

[0135] Furthermore, a medical information network system can resolve the lack of information about physicians. It can also ensure fairness in access to medical care and reduce long waiting times. Additionally, it can overcome the insularity of medical information by distributing it. Finally, it allows patients to easily access their own medical information.

[0136] Furthermore, by linking systems, the medical information network system can resolve communication gaps between medical institutions and reduce the occurrence of duplicate tests. It can also support patients in making proactive choices about medical institutions.

[0137] (Item 2) The patient medical information database stores the patient medical information that has been automatically read from the recording medium possessed by the patient. The medical information network system described in item 1.

[0138] This allows the medical information network system to easily acquire patient medical information.

[0139] (Item 3) The patient medical information stored in the aforementioned patient medical information database is anonymized in terms of items that identify the patient, enabling the provision of anonymous preliminary diagnoses or opinion comments. The medical information network system described in item 1.

[0140] This allows the medical information network system to address the need for anonymous diagnosis and reduce the risk of personal information leaks.

[0141] (Item 4) The setting means sets up an online consultation with the candidate physician selected by the patient, using at least one of the following methods: text chat, voice call, or video call. The medical information network system described in item 1.

[0142] This allows medical information network systems to conduct online consultations using commonly available technologies.

[0143] (Item 5) The recommendation means presents potential doctors based on the patient's past medical history, test results, prescribed medications, allergy information, current symptoms, preferred medical department, consultation time, location, and other desired conditions. The medical information network system described in item 1.

[0144] This allows the medical information network system to suggest potential doctors based on the patient's specific medical information, thus enabling it to recommend a doctor who is a good match for the patient.

[0145] (Item 6) The incentive issuance means issues incentives based on the patient's evaluation of the hospital and doctor, the treatment performance, and indicators related to the quality of treatment. The medical information network system described in item 1.

[0146] This allows the medical information network system to issue incentives to highly-rated medical institutions.

[0147] (Item 7) The recommendation means includes a function to reset the recommendation conditions in response to a request for further recommendation from the patient, and a function to present the candidate physician again based on the reset recommendation conditions. The medical information network system described in item 1.

[0148] This allows the medical information network system to present a more suitable doctor candidate to the patient's preferences.

[0149] (Item 8) A method for supporting the selection of a medical institution using a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network, The aforementioned medical information network system is A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, It comprises a medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, Using artificial intelligence, based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their preferences, the system presents potential doctors from multiple hospitals. From among the multiple physician candidates presented, the patient selects at least one physician candidate. The selected candidate physician will be set up for an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the patient. A physician who is a candidate for the attending physician provides a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient. Based on the provided preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments, you will ultimately select a doctor from the presented list of potential doctors. Make an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the doctor of your choice. Based on the information of the medical consultation received at the scheduled date and time, an incentive will be issued to the physician or the hospital. Methods for supporting the selection of medical institutions.

[0150] This approach to supporting patients in choosing a healthcare institution can eliminate information asymmetry in healthcare, which can lead to patients selecting institutions based on biased information, and the resulting difficulties in making choices. It can also mitigate the lack of information regarding the expertise and strengths of healthcare institutions. Furthermore, it can reduce mismatches between patient needs and the healthcare systems of healthcare institutions.

[0151] Furthermore, methods to support the selection of medical institutions can alleviate the lack of information about doctors. They can also ensure fairness in access to medical care and reduce long waiting times. Additionally, these methods can break down the isolation of medical institutions by distributing medical information. Moreover, they allow patients to easily access their own medical information.

[0152] Furthermore, by linking systems, the medical institution selection support method can resolve coordination issues between medical institutions and reduce the occurrence of duplicate tests. Additionally, the medical institution selection support method can support patients in making their own choices about medical institutions.

[0153] (Item 9) A medical institution selection support program that uses a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network to support the selection of a medical institution, The aforementioned medical information network system is A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, It comprises a medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, Using artificial intelligence, the system presents potential attending physicians at multiple hospitals based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their preferences. The patient selects at least one candidate physician from among the multiple candidates presented, To set up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment session with the patient for the selected candidate physician, The physician who is a candidate for the attending physician will provide a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through the referencing of the patient's medical information and interviews with the patient. Based on the provided preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments, you will ultimately select a doctor from the presented list of potential doctors. This involves making an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the doctor of your choice, Based on the information of the medical consultation received at the scheduled date and time, an incentive will be issued to the aforementioned physician or hospital. A medical institution selection support program that uses a computer to perform the following actions.

[0154] This program can eliminate information asymmetry in healthcare, which can lead patients to choose healthcare providers based on biased information, and the resulting difficulties in making choices. Furthermore, the program can mitigate the lack of information regarding the specialization and areas of expertise of healthcare providers. It can also reduce mismatches between patient needs and the healthcare systems of healthcare providers.

[0155] Furthermore, the program can address the lack of information about doctors. It can also ensure fairness in access to medical care and reduce long waiting times. Additionally, it can break down the isolation of medical information by distributing it. Finally, the program allows patients to easily access their own medical information.

[0156] Furthermore, by linking systems, the program can resolve coordination issues between medical institutions and reduce the occurrence of duplicate tests. The program can also support patients in making informed choices about medical institutions.

[0157] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that this disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments may be combined in any way without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0158] This disclosure is useful for medical information network systems, methods for supporting medical institution selection, and programs for supporting medical institution selection, enabling patients to choose medical institutions more appropriately and efficiently. For example, it is useful for medical information network systems that can eliminate information asymmetry in medical care, the difficulty in making choices caused by such asymmetry, mitigate the lack of information regarding the expertise and strengths of medical institutions, and suppress mismatches between patient needs and the medical care systems of medical institutions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0159] 1. Medical Information Network System 10. Patient client terminals (first selection means, second selection means) 20. Client terminals for medical institutions (means of provision) 30. Patient Medical Information Database 31 Basic patient information 32 Health checkup data 33 Treatment Data 34 Medical history data 35 Prescription drug data 40. Medical Institution Information Database 50 AI Servers (Recommendation Methods) 60 Application Server (Setting means, provision means, reservation means) 70 Networks 80. Third-party server (means of issuing incentives) 90. Medical Institution Information Management Server 101 Input Section 102 Display section 103 Communications Department 104 Patient Registration / Login Function Section 105 Medical Information Registration Function Department 106 Medical Institution Search Function Department 107 Online Preliminary Diagnosis Function Unit 108 Hospital / Physician Selection Function Department 109 Medical Appointment Reservation Function Department 110 Patient Evaluation Function Department 111 Medical Information Display and Management Function Department 201 Input section 202 Display section 203 Communications Department 204 Healthcare Professional Authentication Function Department 205 Patient information reference function section 206 Online Preliminary Diagnosis Support Function Unit 207 Medical Information Registration Function Department 208 Patient Evaluation Viewing Function Unit 209 Medical Institution Information Management Department 210 Incentive Information Verification Function Unit

Claims

1. A medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network, A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, A medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions. A recommendation means that uses artificial intelligence to present potential attending physicians at multiple hospitals based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and desired conditions, A first selection means by which the patient selects at least one candidate physician from among multiple candidate physicians presented by the recommendation means, A setting means for setting up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the patient for the candidate physician selected by the first selection means, A providing means that, via the setting means, the physician who is a candidate for the assigned physician provides a provisional diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient, A second selection means, in which the final physician is selected from among the physician candidates presented by the recommendation means, based on the provisional diagnosis or opinion comments provided by the aforementioned provision means, A reservation means for making a reservation for a hospital consultation with the doctor selected by the second selection means, An incentive issuing means for issuing an incentive to the physician or hospital based on the information of the medical examination received based on the date and time specified by the reservation means, A medical information network system equipped with the following features.

2. The patient medical information database stores the patient medical information that has been automatically read from the recording medium possessed by the patient. The medical information network system according to claim 1.

3. The patient medical information stored in the aforementioned patient medical information database is anonymized in terms of items that identify the patient, enabling the provision of anonymous preliminary diagnoses or opinion comments. The medical information network system according to claim 1.

4. The setting means sets up an online consultation with the candidate physician selected by the patient, using at least one of the following methods: text chat, voice call, or video call. The medical information network system according to claim 1.

5. The recommendation means presents potential doctors based on the patient's past medical history, test results, prescribed medications, allergy information, current symptoms, preferred medical department, consultation time, location, and other desired conditions. The medical information network system according to claim 1.

6. The incentive issuance means issues incentives based on the patient's evaluation of the hospital and the physician, the clinical performance, and indicators related to the quality of medical care. The medical information network system according to claim 1.

7. The recommendation means includes a function to reset the recommendation conditions in response to a request for further recommendation from the patient, and a function to present the candidate physician again based on the reset recommendation conditions. The medical information network system according to claim 1.

8. A method for supporting the selection of a medical institution using a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network, The aforementioned medical information network system is A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, It comprises a medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, Using artificial intelligence, based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their preferences, the system presents potential doctors from multiple hospitals. From among the multiple candidates for attending physician presented, the patient selects at least one candidate for attending physician. The selected candidate physician will be set up for an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment with the patient. The physician who is a candidate for the attending physician provides a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient. Based on the provided preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments, the patient will ultimately select a physician from the aforementioned list of potential physicians. Make an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the doctor of your choice. Based on the information of the medical consultation received at the scheduled date and time, an incentive will be issued to the physician or the hospital. Methods for supporting the selection of medical institutions.

9. A medical institution selection support program that uses a medical information network system that connects multiple medical institutions and patients via a network to support the selection of a medical institution, The aforementioned medical information network system is A patient medical information database that stores patient medical information including the patient's health checkup data, treatment data, medical history data, and prescription drug data, It comprises a medical institution information database that stores information on medical departments, specialists, facilities, treatable diseases, and physicians of medical institutions, Using artificial intelligence, the system presents potential attending physicians at multiple hospitals based on the patient medical information stored in the patient medical information database, the patient's current symptoms, and their preferences. The patient selects at least one candidate physician from among the multiple candidates presented, To set up an online preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment session with the patient for the selected candidate physician, The physician who is a candidate for the attending physician provides a preliminary diagnosis or opinion comment via the network through referencing the patient's medical information and interviewing the patient. Based on the provided preliminary diagnosis or opinion comments, the patient will ultimately select a physician from the aforementioned list of potential physicians. This involves making an appointment for a consultation at the hospital with the doctor of your choice, Based on the information of the medical consultation received at the scheduled date and time, an incentive will be issued to the aforementioned physician or hospital. A medical institution selection support program that uses a computer to perform the following actions.

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