Cloud Medical Data Repository for Controlled DICOM Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hospital access systems face challenges in providing seamless access to medical information due to privacy concerns and compliance with health information laws, leading to delays and inefficiencies in sharing patient data between medical facilities.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based system is implemented to securely transfer and store medical information, allowing hospitals to share DICOM images and reports through a third-party medical information repository, enabling controlled access and compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hospitals grant electronic access to patient information databases for outside doctors, then access efficiency and diagnostic capability are improved, but patient privacy security and compliance with health information laws deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cloud-based medical information repository that acts as an intermediary between hospitals and outside doctors. The repository receives medical information from hospitals via secure upload, stores it in the cloud, and provides controlled access to authorized outside doctors through web browsers or mobile devices. This intermediary system enables efficient access while maintaining security through centralized control, authentication mechanisms, and compliance with HIPAA regulations, resolving the contradiction between access efficiency and privacy security.
2Reliability
If MDRs restrict access to patient medical records to a small set of users, then patient privacy is protected, but access availability and diagnostic collaboration deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic access control where the repository can adaptively grant or restrict access based on authentication results, user roles, and specific medical information. The system dynamically adjusts access levels without requiring physical media or complex approval workflows, enabling versatile access for authorized outside doctors while maintaining privacy protection through automated security controls.
3Reliability
If HIPAA authentication procedures are implemented for accessing medical data, then compliance and security are improved, but access time and operational complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication where outside doctors complete HIPAA-compliant authentication procedures in advance through the cloud repository's web interface or mobile application. Once authenticated, access is granted immediately without requiring physical media transfer or additional approval steps during actual medical information retrieval. This preliminary action approach maintains compliance while minimizing access time for subsequent operations.
4Reliability
If physical media are used to transfer medical information between facilities, then data security is maintained, but transfer efficiency and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical media transfer (CDs, DVDs, USB drives) with an electronic cloud-based system. Medical information is uploaded once to the cloud repository by hospitals and then accessed electronically by outside doctors through web browsers or mobile devices. This substitution maintains data security through centralized control and authentication while dramatically improving transfer efficiency by eliminating physical media handling, shipping, and loading steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Features are disclosed for remote storage of medical information in a cloud service, and the systems and methods for sending, receiving, and accessing the data into and from the cloud server. A user may identify DICOM studies stored in a database at a medical data repository to be exported. The cloud service or an on-site unit at the medical data repository may search databases at the medical data repository for related medical information to identified DICOM studies. The identified DICOM studies and the related medical information may be burned into portable storage or combined into a virtual package to be uploaded to the cloud service. The cloud service may receive one or more recipients to grant access to the uploaded virtual package and may send an email to the one or more recipients indicating that virtual package may now be accessed.