Electronic Health Record System with Data Authority Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic medical records stored and controlled by patients may be ignored or given little weight by physicians due to potential inaccuracies or lack of authority, undermining their value in clinical decision-making.

Innovation Solution

A system that integrates clinical records from multiple institutions, distinguishing between physician-generated, patient-collected, and patient-generated data, and providing authentication and authorization mechanisms to preserve data authority, allowing physicians to assess and utilize data from various sources effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If patient-controlled medical data is stored and transported by patients, then record portability and patient access are improved, but data authority and physician trust deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecord portabilityVSAvoiddata authority
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication system that mediates between patient-controlled records and physician trust. The system uses digital certificates and authentication protocols to verify the origin and integrity of patient-generated data, allowing physicians to trust patient-collected information without requiring direct control over the records. This intermediary layer resolves the contradiction by enabling portability while maintaining authority through cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of data verification from physical control (physician control of records) to digital authentication (verification of digital signatures and certificates). By transforming how data authority is established—from possession-based to cryptography-based—the system enables patients to control their records while physicians can verify authenticity, thus improving portability without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If patient-generated data is accepted without verification, then ease of data collection is improved, but data accuracy and clinical reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collectionVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by implementing authentication and verification mechanisms before data is entered into the medical record system. Patient-generated data is pre-validated through digital certificates and authentication protocols, ensuring accuracy is established before the data reaches the physician. This preliminary verification maintains ease of collection while guaranteeing data accuracy through pre-entry validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If multiple data sources are integrated, then completeness of patient picture is improved, but data verification complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompletenessVSAvoidverification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal authentication framework that works across multiple data sources and institutions. The same digital certificate and verification protocol can authenticate patient-generated data, physician-recorded data, and third-party data sources. This multi-functional authentication system enables integration of diverse data sources while maintaining consistent verification complexity through a standardized approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8521565B2Electronic health record system utilizing disparate record sources
Publication Date: 2013.08.27 EPIC SYST CORP (US)
  • US8521565B2 patent drawing
  • US8521565B2 patent drawing
  • US8521565B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for facilitating patient ownership of his or her medical data through the use of third-party health repositories that preserves the maximum information content of the medical records by displaying information relevant to the authority of the medical data as reflected by its source and types of modification as it has moved between institutions, as well as the data itself. In this way, improved use of this data is made possible.