Medical Care Locator App With Wait-Time and Capability Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patients seeking medical care outside scheduled appointments lack a convenient way to identify nearby medical centers that can provide the needed care and have accurate information about wait times.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system and mobile application that uses GPS and patient information to locate nearby medical centers, providing estimated wait times and directions, and recommends centers based on patient needs and history.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If patients use web browsers or mapping databases to search for medical care centers, then they can identify nearby locations, but they cannot obtain information about whether the centers can provide needed medical care or estimated wait times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about medical care capability and wait timeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments information gathering into two parts: location data from mapping databases and operational data (medical care capability, wait times) from facility databases. This segmentation allows each data source to be optimized independently while combining to provide comprehensive information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A remote server acts as an intermediary between patients and medical care centers. The server collects, processes, and integrates data from multiple facilities, then delivers consolidated information including medical care capabilities and wait times to patients through mobile devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If patients manually search for medical care centers using traditional methods, then they can find locations, but they spend excessive time determining appropriateness and availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to locate appropriate medical careVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-collecting and organizing medical care capability information and wait time data for multiple facilities before patients need it. When patients search, the system has already prepared filtered, relevant information ready for immediate delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of information delivery by providing dynamic, real-time data (wait times, current availability) rather than static information. This allows patients to make informed decisions quickly based on current facility conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the system provides comprehensive information about multiple medical care centers including wait times and directions, then patients can make informed decisions, but the data processing and transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of medical care matchingVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where patient responses and outcomes are tracked and used to refine future recommendations. This feedback loop improves the accuracy of matching patients with appropriate facilities while optimizing data processing efficiency over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual information processing and analysis with automated computational methods. Algorithms automatically match patient needs with facility capabilities, calculate optimal routes, and process wait time data, eliminating the need for manual analysis and reducing processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables patients to efficiently navigate to medical centers that best meet their needs by offering location, wait time, and personalized recommendations.

Implementation Method 1

The patient software application is configured to obtain patient location information from a GPS receiver on the patient's portable electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal reception:

Data Source

PatentUS20250342945A1System, method, and mobile application for locating medical care centers

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 CARECOMPASS

AI summary

Systems, computer-implemented methods, and software applications for locating nearby medical care centers that provide medical care needed by a patient and for providing estimated wait times and directions to the medical care centers so the patient can select and easily navigate to a medical care center that best accommodates the patient's needs and schedule.