Electronic Health Record System for Patient-Controlled Data Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The medical community faces challenges in sharing and integrating patient medical records electronically, leading to inaccurate, incomplete, and delayed information, which contributes to duplicate tests, unnecessary hospitalizations, and skyrocketing healthcare costs due to the lack of a comprehensive, patient-centric electronic health record system.

Innovation Solution

An electronic health record system that allows patients to control access and sharing of their records, enabling secure online access for healthcare providers and third parties, with features like permission grants, revocations, and auditing trails, and integration with third-party databases for comprehensive patient information management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If patient medical records are stored and transferred physically among physicians, then patient information can be accessed by individual providers, but the transfer process causes delays, incomplete records, and increased healthcare costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of patient medical recordsVSAvoidtime for record transfer between physicians

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate paper-based medical records from different physicians into a single integrated electronic health record system. This consolidation allows all patient information to be stored centrally and accessed by any authorized provider simultaneously, eliminating the need for physical transfers and ensuring complete patient history is available immediately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical paper-based record transfer system with an electronic digital system. Instead of physically moving paper files between physicians, the system uses electronic storage and networked access to provide instant retrieval of complete patient records, eliminating transfer delays and physical handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If electronic medical records are implemented at individual institutions, then information can be stored and accessed within that system, but access is limited to providers within the same office or institution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to patient records within institutionVSAvoidaccess to patient records across different institutions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal electronic health record system that functions across multiple independent institutions. The system is designed to be accessed by any authorized healthcare provider regardless of which institution employs them, making the record system universally accessible while maintaining security controls. This allows a single electronic record to serve multiple providers and institutions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If paper-based registration forms are used to collect patient information, then data can be gathered at the point of care, but the information is often inaccurate and incomplete due to patient distraction and lack of access to their medical history

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection of patient information at point of careVSAvoidaccuracy of patient medical history

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by providing patients with online access to their complete medical records before their appointment. Patients can review their history, medications, and test results in advance, ensuring they have accurate information when filling out registration forms or discussing their health with providers. This pre-access eliminates distractions and ensures patients can accurately report their medical history.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8090590B2Electronic personal health record system

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 INTUIT INC

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for providing access to information associated with a patient are disclosed. Information associated with a patient may be stored electronically, enabling the information from an electronic health record (e.g., electronic personal health record controlled by a patient) or a portion thereof to be provided to an entity such as a healthcare provider. Patient records may be maintained and controlled by multiple entities, such as the healthcare providers, patients, payors, or other third parties. Information from these records may be transferred among these entities, thereby enabling updates to such records to be performed. These updates may occur automatically or upon acceptance by the receiving entity (e.g., patient or healthcare provider).