U.S. patent application number 12/407652 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-24 for community based managed health kiosk and research database system.
This patent application is currently assigned to COMPUTERIZED SCREENING, INC.. Invention is credited to Charles P. Bluth.
Application Number | 20090240702 12/407652 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41089593 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090240702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bluth; Charles P. |
September 24, 2009 |
COMMUNITY BASED MANAGED HEALTH KIOSK AND RESEARCH DATABASE
SYSTEM
Abstract
The present invention is directed to community based health
managed health kiosk and research database systems, and more
particularly to facilitating large-scale health screening of
individuals and aggregation of the resulting data for medical
research purposes. The disclosed research database can be combined
with community based managed health kiosk systems to allow medical
researchers to access searchable, sortable, and non-personally
identifiable health information obtained from on-going health
screening of kiosk users distributed throughout the world.
Inventors: |
Bluth; Charles P.;
(Glenbrook, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SILVERSKY GROUP LLC
5422 LONGLEY LANE, SUITE B
RENO
NV
89511
US
|
Assignee: |
COMPUTERIZED SCREENING,
INC.
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
41089593 |
Appl. No.: |
12/407652 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61070309 |
Mar 21, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 707/999.01;
707/999.104; 707/E17.044 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/1172 20130101;
G16H 10/20 20180101; A61B 5/14532 20130101; G06Q 10/10 20130101;
A61B 5/14546 20130101; G16H 20/13 20180101; G16H 10/60 20180101;
A61B 5/022 20130101; A61B 5/0013 20130101; A61B 5/702 20130101;
A61B 5/145 20130101; A61B 5/02055 20130101; A61B 5/743 20130101;
G16H 40/67 20180101; G16H 50/20 20180101; A61B 5/6888 20130101;
G06Q 40/00 20130101; G16H 10/65 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/10 ;
707/104.1; 707/E17.044 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A research database system for a managed health system,
comprising: a plurality of kiosk systems, each kiosk system among
the plurality of kiosk systems including two or more input devices
receiving one or more pieces of health information from each user
among a plurality of users and one or more corresponding pieces of
personal identification information from each user, and a network
connection transmitting the one or more pieces of health
information and the one or more corresponding pieces of personal
identification information; and a storage system securely receiving
the one or more pieces of health information and the one or more
corresponding pieces of personal identification information from
the network connection of each kiosk system, storing the one or
more pieces of health information and the one or more corresponding
pieces of personal identification information in a personal health
record corresponding to each user, storing the one or more pieces
of health information in an aggregated database without the one or
more corresponding pieces of personal identification information,
and making available the aggregated database to a researcher.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more pieces
of health information and the one or more corresponding pieces of
personal identification information are encrypted utilizing an
encryption process prior to being transmitted by the network
connection of each kiosk system.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
includes one or more hubs, with the network connection of each
kiosk system connected to the one or more hubs and a copy of the
personal health record and a copy of the aggregated database stored
at each hub of the one or more hubs.
4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an
aggregated health information database website communicatively
coupled to the storage system and making the aggregated database
available to the researcher.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each user is assigned
a corresponding identification number by the storage system,
wherein the one or more pieces of health information associated
with each user is associated with the corresponding identification
number, and wherein the aggregated database includes the
corresponding identification number in association with the one or
more corresponding pieces of personal identification information
for each user.
6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
disassociates the one or more pieces of health information from the
one or more corresponding pieces of personal identification
information when storing the one or more pieces of health
information in the aggregated database.
7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
sorts the one or more pieces of health information by a
disease.
8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
sorts the one or more pieces of health information by a
treatment.
9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
sorts the one or more pieces of health information by a geographic
region where one or more of the plurality of kiosk systems are
physically located.
10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
sorts the one or more pieces of health information by a user
demographic.
11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage system
sorts the one or more pieces of health information by a user
classification.
12. A research database system for a managed health system,
comprising: a plurality of kiosk systems, each kiosk system among
the plurality of kiosk systems including a first health information
input device receiving a first piece of health information from
each user among a plurality of users, a second health information
input device receiving a second piece of health information from
each user among the plurality of users, a personal identification
input device receiving personally identifying information from each
user among the plurality of users, and a network connection
transmitting the first piece of health information, the second
piece of health information, and the personally identifying
information; and a storage system securely receiving the first
piece of health information, the second piece of health
information, and the personally identifying information from the
network connection of each kiosk system, storing the first piece of
health information, the second piece of health information, and the
personally identifying information for each user in a personal
health record corresponding to each user, and storing the first
piece of health information and the second piece of health
information for each user in an aggregated database.
13. The system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a network
communicatively coupling the storage system to the network
connection of each kiosk system and to a researcher, and wherein
the storage system provides the aggregated database over the
network for review by the researcher.
14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the storage system
extracts one or more pieces of demographical information from the
personally identifying information and associates the one or more
pieces of demographical information with the first piece of health
information and the second piece of health information.
15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the storage system
sorts the first piece of health information and the second piece of
health information by the one or more pieces of demographical
information.
16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first piece of
health information, the second piece of health information, and the
personally identifying information are encrypted utilizing an
encryption process prior to being transmitted by the network
connection.
17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the encryption
process uses a secure socket layer format.
18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the storage system
includes one or more hubs, with the network connection of each
kiosk system connected to the one or more hubs and a copy of the
personal health record and a copy of the aggregated database stored
at each hub of the one or more hubs.
19. The system as recited in claim 12, further comprising an
aggregated health information database website communicatively
coupled to the storage system and making the aggregated database
available to a researcher.
20. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first piece of
health information and the second piece of health information in
the aggregated database corresponding to a user cannot be linked to
the user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a utility patent application, taking priority from
provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/070,309, filed Mar. 21,
2008.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to community based managed
health kiosk and research database systems, and more particularly
to facilitating large-scale health screening of individuals and
aggregation of the resulting data for medical research
purposes.
STATEMENTS AS TO THE RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY
SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
[0004] REFERENCE TO A "SEQUENCE LISTING," A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER
PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK.
[0005] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Publicly available self-directed health care stations have
been available at varying levels of complexity and sophistication
for many years. Do-it-yourself blood pressure monitoring stations
are often available in or near retail pharmacies, doctors' offices,
corporate facilities, and retail centers such as shopping malls and
strip malls.
[0007] The field of medicine has long employed health care
screening to diagnose and track patients' health. An annual
physical examination is a well-known part of patient medical
care.
[0008] Hospitals, health clinics, and pharmacies, in addition to
having an active role in supplying medical supplies and
pharmaceuticals, have actively promoted various health care
screenings and wellness programs. Screening programs are sometimes
offered with the help of other health care providers or coordinated
on a national basis with groups such as the American Lung
Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the American
Podiatric Medical Association.
[0009] Health care screening devices in hospitals, physician's
offices, businesses, and the like, in combination with the growing
number of home diagnostic kits that are available have increased
the efficiencies in health care delivery. Large drug store
operators have increasingly encouraged individual testing by making
available in-store diagnostic testing devices. For example,
customers waiting to fill a prescription are often encouraged to
check their blood pressure while they wait with a blood pressure
measurement/screening device, and pharmacists who fill high-blood
pressure prescriptions to customers often encourage their customers
to regularly check their blood pressure. Such customers often use
blood pressure measurement/screening devices that are provided in
the drug store.
[0010] To increase attention to the importance of health care
screening, many medical and health product retailers offer medical
tests and screening for consumers visiting their stores. Most
commonly, the retailers check cholesterol levels and blood
pressure, although other tests are available. In addition to
supplying a valuable customer service, in-store testing effectively
educates consumers about various health problems that can be better
managed by a regimen that includes monitoring. Typically consumers
are unaware of the technological advances that have made health
care screenings feasible in the clinical, retail, and home
settings. Pharmacies and drug retailers have generally found that
the availability of screening test devices in the stores increase
traffic and cultivate customer loyalty.
[0011] The offer of in-store testing commonly is highly popular
among customers and greatly boosts the number of people visiting
the store. In-store testing is valuable for positioning stores as
health and wellness centers as well as retailers of health care
products. In-store testing increases sales since a consumer who
learns of a health problem through screening in the store has some
likelihood of purchasing a home test kit to monitor the problem.
For example, a customer who discovers a problem with high blood
pressure through an in-store test is a likely candidate to purchase
a home blood pressure testing kit.
[0012] In-store health care screening expands the pharmacist's role
in patient care through education. Test device manufacturers have
advanced the design and functionality of products to simplify usage
and improve accuracy. The challenge for further improvements in
health care screening is to educate consumers about the need for
medical tests, and demonstrate that many tests are effectively
performed by publicly available devices or at home.
[0013] A present concern is that health screening is performed on
an insufficient segment of the population to efficiently prevent or
treat ailments. Other concerns are that health screening is too
costly, limited in scope, and time-consuming both for individual
patients and health care providers. Despite these deficiencies, a
strong awareness exists of a need and desire for improved health
screening procedures and equipment. Health care providers,
insurance companies, and employers that ultimately pay for health
care have encouraged development and usage of improved, accurate,
yet economic health screening facilities both for treatment and
prevention of health care problems.
[0014] Generally, individual doctors and small groups of doctors
have insufficient capital to maintain complete health screening
facilities. Even if more health care providers were suitably
equipped, typically only a small portion of the population utilizes
health screening facilities due to time constraints, cost
considerations, and/or general apathy.
[0015] Health care costs are a major concern in this day and age in
the United States. Some commentators point out that our current
national health care policy does little to incentivize preventative
medicine and instead incentivizes treating major problems, at a
high cost, somewhere down the line. More and better screening of
patients, early and often, increases the likelihood of finding a
problem early and treating it inexpensively, as opposed to finding
it later and spending significantly more to correct a major health
problem.
[0016] As health care costs go up, a doctor's time is also more
valuable. It would be advantageous, and would save money, to allow
doctors to see more patients each day.
[0017] What are needed are health screening devices, facilities,
and methods that can be placed in locations that are convenient to
health care customers. Suitable locations include retail outlets
such as pharmacies or drug stores where customers already make
health care purchases, but also may include medical offices,
clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals, convalescence and elderly care
facilities, work places (such as offices or factory sites), college
dormitories, and the like. Health screening devices, facilities,
and methods that are convenient, efficient, low in cost, and
professionally accurate in screening health care data would greatly
improve the general population's health.
[0018] Health screening facilities do exist. Bluth et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 6,692,436 describes a health care information system
including blood pressure monitoring and body weight monitoring.
Such systems, however, do not take advantage of more modern
technologies. More and more medical testing devices have become
cheaper and easier to manufacture, making their absence from such
screening facilities inefficient.
[0019] Local health screening facilities that take advantage of
various medical testing device efficiencies and improved
twenty-first century interconnectivity through the use of broadband
Internet would be advantageous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates the high level architecture of a managed
health system or community-based health information and screening
kiosk system in accordance with the research database embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a user-data screen from the perspective
of a remotely located health care professional in accordance with
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a community-based health
information and screening kiosk system in accordance with the
triage embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the user desk portion of a
community based health information and screening kiosk system in
accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front area of a
community-based health information and screening kiosk system in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The following description is directed to a community based
managed health system that includes a managed health kiosk system,
a security system for the kiosk system, a research database system
associated with the kiosk system, a prescription dispensement
system for the kiosk system, a kiosk system for solicitation of
patients for medical testing and health studies, and a triage based
kiosk system.
[0026] The systems, and related methods, facilitate measurement,
recordation, analysis, and communication of various health-related
data belonging to a patient, many individual patients, or a
specific group of patients. The system and/or apparatuses are able
to measure, record, analyze, and communicate data from non-invasive
and invasive testing from a variety of input devices. The herein
disclosed invention can be a system, a method, or an apparatus, and
involves a combination of computer and medical device hardware,
computer and input device software, and physical kiosk hardware.
The embodiments, however, will mostly be referred to as managed
health systems or kiosk systems throughout this application for
ease of reading.
[0027] The disclosed systems combine two or more input devices with
one or more personal computers plus Internet connectivity to create
a kiosk that a patient is able to use to further the patient's
understanding and knowledge of his or her own health and to obtain
professional health services. The system is able to utilize up to
24 external devices interacting with one or more personal computers
and necessary software to measure, record, and/or analyze a
patient's blood pressure, weight, heart rate, pulse oximetry,
spirometry, resting metabolic rate, glucose, cholesterol,
urinalysis, and other conditions. In other embodiments it may even
be possible to utilize more than 24 external input devices. Each of
these input devices receive pieces of health information from a
user and facilitate recordation of the pieces of health
information. Each will be explained below.
[0028] The herein disclosed managed health system or community
based health information and screening kiosk systems can be
equipped with a health risk appraisal platform. Such a platform can
be utilized in many related ways. For example, a health risk
appraisal platform can be used in a hospital emergency room for
triage analysis. In such an application, a triage nurse will
interact with the community based managed health system kiosk
system and with the patient to determine the relative urgency of
the patient's situation and what exactly may be afflicting the
patient. In another example application, a community based health
information and screening kiosk system can be located at an
employer's offices or plant. In such a situation, employees are
able to easily keep abreast of many of their own health risks and
needs without having to take time off work to see an off-site
doctor directly. Employers too may take advantage of the on-site
kiosk to monitor and analyze aggregate (non-patient identifiable)
health status data. In yet another example application, a community
based health information and screening kiosk system can be located
in remote or under-serviced geographic locations to allow patients
to receive medical testing, information, and advice without having
to travel long distances to see competent health care providers.
Finally, aggregate data from one or more networks of community
based health information and screening kiosk systems can be
analyzed and then utilized to establish or monitor populations or
geographic areas with greater disease risks.
[0029] The community based health information and screening kiosk
system may be set up in different ways depending on the desired
application. For example, at a minimum, different prompts will be
displayed to an emergency room triage patient, compared to an
employee using a company on-site kiosk to obtain a monthly health
evaluation. It may also be that entirely different combinations of
medical testing and input devices are appropriate for each of the
different community based health information and screening kiosk
system applications. All such input devices and software variations
will be explained below. As will be apparent to those skilled in
the art, all such permutations are possible and are intended to be
covered by this disclosure. If certain embodiments describe certain
permutations, it is because such permutations appear to be either a
minimum for the desired application, or it is because such
permutations appear to be ideal for the desired application. But in
every instance, all such permutations are intended to be within the
scope of this disclosure.
[0030] One embodiment of the herein disclosed community based
health information and screening kiosk system includes a health
risk appraisal platform. This platform is able to display to a user
a series of computer screens which present a set of health data,
including health information and health assessment questions
designed to obtain health and lifestyle information from the user
to enable the platform to assess health risks.
[0031] The health risk appraisal system can be either a platform or
a specific software program. It is possible to design the overall
community based health information and screening kiosk system so
that an individual user can pick and choose how the appraisal
system elicits health, biographical, and lifestyle information from
a user. In such a situation, the owner of the overall system (the
kiosk) would be able to select questions from a predetermined list
or may be able to write his or her own questions. Such an owner may
also be able to choose the order in which such questions are
presented. Such a platform is fully adjustable, editable, and
customizable by a sophisticated owner, allowing unlimited options
for the owner to elicit patient/user information. It is also
possible to design the disclosed health risk appraisal system as a
pre-packaged software program, or as several fully thought-out,
pre-packaged software programs.
[0032] The appraisal system is able to utilize either a touch
screen or a keyboard and mouse/trackball setup, or even a
combination of a touch screen and a keyboard. These devices can be
referred to as control devices. With a touch screen built into the
system, a user is able to select answers to multiple-choice type
questions directly onscreen. With a keyboard and mouse as
user-input devices for the system, a user is able to more easily
personalize a response. Detailed answers could be typed out as
phrases, full sentences, full paragraphs, or even multiple
paragraphs. As information will be stored digitally and/or
electronically, there is no inherit need to limit space for a user
or patient's explanation of health related information. To reduce
the need to sterilize the user touched components of a kiosk
system, voice recording or recognition software could be utilized
so a user is able to speak answers to questions.
[0033] As discussed above, the system can be built pre-programmed
with packaged health risk assessment question sets. There are many
such health risk assessment tests available in the medical and
health community. One such example is the PHQ-9 (Patient Health
Questionnaire) assessment test. This is a nine question, relatively
detailed test. The PHQ-9 is a powerful tool for assisting primary
care providers in diagnosing depression as well as selecting and
monitoring treatment and is based directly on the diagnostic
criteria for major depressive disorders in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). There are two
components of the PHQ-9: assessing symptoms and functional
impairment to make a tentative depression diagnosis; and deriving a
severity score to help select and monitor treatment. Many other
such pre-packaged health assessment tests are available and can
easily be formatted for use in the disclosed health risk assessment
system.
[0034] Aside from highly interactive embodiments of the disclosed
health information and assessment system, the disclosed invention
may also be utilized by a user, or optimized by the owner for
specific or known users, as a type of health information
encyclopedia. In this sense, the system may be utilized like a
personal computer accessing a specific website. A user is able to
navigate a complex combination of health information screens and
menus that allow the user to find information on any health-related
topic that may be of interest.
[0035] Such an encyclopedic embodiment may be able to display all
sorts of health related data. For example, the system may be able
to provide information on various vitamins, minerals, drug active
ingredient listings, drug use directions, drug interaction
warnings. The system may be able to provide videos on preventative
and/or healthy living practices like exercise, ideal sleep
patterns, and health-sustaining diets. The system may also provide
local directories of community health care providers and services
in the user's hometown. All such health information can be locally
stored at the kiosk system on a hard drive or on a standard media
format such as a flashdrive, a CD, a DVD, etc, or remotely at a
personal health record storage system or a remotely located
website.
[0036] The disclosed health information and assessment system may
be able to display information, health questionnaires, health
assessments, and other important information in practically any
language. Such an ability to display in multiple languages is
obviously of value, even if such systems are only used in the
United States. According to a 2006 American Community Survey
conducted by the United States Census Bureau, Spanish is the
primary language spoken at home by over 34 million people aged 5 or
older. Obviously, it is desirable to obtain, and dispense, accurate
health and fitness information with the disclosed system. Providing
health information and presenting health questions in a user's
native language will help to increase a user's understanding and
ensure that more accurate information is provided to the user. This
is easily done with the disclosed system.
[0037] The number of available display languages is only limited by
the software components which are used to build the system, and by
the investment that an owner is willing to make having health
information and questions for the system owner translated.
[0038] Aside from display considerations, how the system stores
information is of great importance. The health information and
assessment system may be able to provide a rough instantaneous
translation of information input by a non-English speaking user (or
a user who speaks English, but for convenience has chosen to
interact with the system in his or her own native language). In
this way, user-supplied non-English answers to open-ended questions
(as opposed to multiple-choice questions) can be processed and
automatically translated into English before being sent to medical
professionals such as nurses and doctors. Such processing of
multiple-choice type assessment questions is obviously much more
easily handled--both questions and each available answer can be
pre-translated so that a user is essentially answering each
question in all available languages at once.
[0039] Instantaneous automatic translation, which is referred to as
machine translation in the field, is not today as accurate as human
translation. Nevertheless, machine translation is available that
does a passable job that may be good enough for emergency-type
situations. Such machine translation can be assisted by producing
the original text to be translated in what are referred to as
controlled natural languages. Controlled natural languages are
subsets of natural languages, obtained by restricting grammar and
vocabulary in order to reduce or eliminate ambiguity and
complexity. The health information pages and the assessment
questions can be originally drafted in controlled, or simplified,
English so that it can later be automatically machine translated by
the system. Non-English users can be advised to use simple and
straightforward sentences, while avoiding slang, when inputting
their answers.
[0040] Information obtained by the health information and
assessment system about a user is stored for the user's
convenience, for use by health care providers, and for research
purposes. The health information is securely stored so that there
is no fear of unauthorized dissemination of user health
information. The stored information is a combination of user-input
answers to health assessment questionnaires and results from
various intrusive and non-intrusive health analysis procedures,
which will be described in detail below (cholesterol testing, for
example). These may be referred to as pieces of health information
and pieces of personal identification information (or personally
identifying information). This combination of user health
information is referred to as a PHR, which stands for Personal
Health Record.
[0041] The PHRs can be stored in a number of ways. An exemplary
embodiment of such a health information storage system is where the
PHR, gathered at a health information and assessment kiosk system,
is transmitted to a storage and processing server located off-site,
meaning at a geographic location different than where the kiosk
itself is located. The transmission of PHRs may be accomplished
through use of a private network, or a public network, such as the
Internet. When a public network is utilized, the PHRs are encrypted
or otherwise secured so the privacy of the user's health
information is maintained, such as through the use of secure socket
layer (SSL) formatting, as is known in the art. When a public
network, such as the Internet, is utilized the PHRs may be stored
at a nation-wide hub, or multiple regional hubs, to reduce storage
and transport costs, to facilitate access to the information from
authorized sources, and to provide a level of redundancy to avoid a
catastrophic loss of the information. It is also possible for the
user to dictate where his or her PHR should be stored. For example,
third parties may setup PHR deposit websites configured to receive,
store, and make available a user's PHR created by the herein
disclosed kiosk system. Or, it may be possible for the user to
dictate that such information be sent, via email or ftp or another
appropriate electronic information transmission system, to user's
website or personal computer for storage as the user sees fit.
[0042] Regardless of where a PHR is stored, the PHR is ideally
always available for review by the user at a later date. For
example, once a user has input his information at a kiosk system,
that user can later access the information at the same kiosk or at
another kiosk at another geographic location. The security measures
of the present invention ensure that a user attempting to access a
PHR is in fact the correct user, but such information is always
available once input.
[0043] When stored for research purposes, health information is
aggregated and not stored like PHRs. With aggregated information,
unlike a PHR, health information is not grouped together by user.
Instead, data from each distinct test or question is grouped with
other user's data in an aggregated database to allow for study of
trends throughout populations. Aggregated data from multiple users,
or groups of users, may be researched, but a specific individual's
PHR is not accessible by the researcher(s). One exemplary way of
doing this is to assign each user an identification number, and
then assign that number, instead of the user's name, to each piece
of health data or health information obtained from that user.
Authorized entities (researchers) studying the aggregated data
would be unable to connect an identification number back to the
user's name, thus preserving a user's confidentiality and privacy.
Authorized entities would, however, be able to sort the aggregated
database by various appropriate parameters, such as: disease,
treatment, geographic regions, user demographic (user age, gender,
ethnicity, etc.) or classification (employee type, etc.). The
research database may be capable of extracting such parameters,
including demographical and/or classification information, from the
personally indentifying information so that the various pieces of
health information can be organized or sorted by the parameters
without linking the pieces of information to individual users'
names or identities.
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a layout of the herein disclosed
community based health information and screening kiosk and research
database system. Kiosk and research database system 100 includes a
kiosk system 102 that is connected to both the user's PHR 104 and
research database 106 over a network, such as the Internet, 108.
When a user uploads his or her health data, it is recorded and
analyzed at kiosk system 102, simultaneously incorporated into the
user's PHR 104 and incorporated (in a non-personally identifiable
way) into research database 106. Remotely located health care
professionals 110 would have the ability to access the user's PHR
104 if the user allows such access (dotted line at 112 represents
user's ability to control when and how health care professionals
can access the user's information). Dotted line 114 represents that
research database 106 can be accessed by remote health care
professionals, including researchers world-wide, and can be
manipulated in various ways. For example, aggregate user data can
be filtered by disease, by treatment, by user
statistics/demographics (such as user age, gender, etc), etc.
[0045] A user's PHR, and the individual data points being stored
for research in the aggregated form, are maintained with the user's
confidentiality and security in mind. All record storage meets or
exceeds privacy standards, including HIPAA (Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act), a federal statute governing
maintenance of electronic health records.
[0046] In addition to security means for securing transmission of
data, many physical security means can be used at the kiosk site to
provide security. Up to five levels of security can be implemented
in the disclosed health information and assessment system. The
security measures can include the following identity verification
devices a thumbprint scanner, a signature pad, use of photo
identification cards, an access card with a 16-digit magnetic
stripe, and a 4 digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) set by
the user. These identity verification security devices will be
discussed below. The five levels of security can be combined in
various ways. For example, a kiosk system could require at least
two forms of identification (a matching thumbprint and a PIN
number, for example) from a user before the user is able to access
a PHR through the kiosk. The five levels of security can of course
be combined in other ways and this specification intends to include
all such permutations.
[0047] As described above, the herein disclosed health information
and assessment system has the ability to store aggregated user
health information and data for analysis. Such analysis can be
contracted out to a third party, or such analysis can be part of
the entire system. For example, a company that chooses to locate a
health information and assessment kiosk system on its premises can
mandate, or suggest, that its employees regularly complete a health
assessment questionnaire. Results from all company employees can be
analyzed in aggregate form to evaluate the company's employee's
overall health and fitness levels, and can be used to spot trends,
both positive and negative.
[0048] Such an analysis can be done on aggregate data for many
purposes. For example, such an analysis may assist a company in
comparing the health of its employees from office to office or from
one production facility to another production facility. Other
exemplary analyses that can be done include assessing health status
data according to employee classification and determining
frequently occurring diseases or ailments.
[0049] The disclosed health information and assessment system is
able to perform more generalized employee surveys, beyond health
assessments. For example, employers who place a health information
and assessment kiosk system at their workplace can ask employees to
answer questions regarding their job satisfaction and/or to provide
suggestions for company improvement. The kiosk system can be useful
in this regard for companies whose employees are not regularly
interacting with computers and so can not otherwise easily take
automated surveys. As with health assessment questionnaires,
employee surveys can be designed by the company itself or can be
chosen from many pre-packaged employees surveys available in the
field.
[0050] If a company's employees do not have regular access to a
computer, the health information and assessment kiosk system can
also provide Internet access to employees. Essentially, because the
kiosk system incorporates at least the major components of a
personal computer, the kiosk system can easily accomplish many
common personal computing tasks, such as word processing, email,
and Internet browsing. A company may find it useful to provide the
kiosk system for these personal computing uses if their employees
do not otherwise have regular access to a personal computer. It
also is possible for the company to limit the available webpages
that a user can navigate to while using the kiosk system for
Internet-browser activity. A company could, for example, limit
Internet browsing to only the company's own website. Or, the
company could set up its own custom firewall, or chose a
pre-packaged firewall, to limit employees to only browsing those
sites pre-approved by the company.
[0051] Due to the large amount of data collected, especially when
video is utilized, many of the applications herein disclosed
require some form of network connectivity, but this can be both
internal to and external to the kiosk system. The kiosk system
itself may be connected to a network through a network connection,
which may be a standard 10/100 Mb Ethernet jack (RJ45) through a
local LAN network or a direct connection to a storage system that
is resident within the kiosk system, physically located nearby, or
remotely located. Alternatively, kiosk systems may be equipped with
802.11a/b/g devices for wireless connectivity, with storage being
nearby or remote. Other methods or devices for connecting with a
network are known in the art and may also be appropriate.
[0052] As described above, the health information and assessment
system is able to accurately obtain a user's vital signs through a
combination of invasive and non-invasive testing. The data from the
various invasive and non-invasive testing procedures can be stored
as part of the user's PHR, and it can be transmitted to health care
professionals at other geographic locations. In many situations,
such as prior to or following a major medical procedure, a doctor
would like to closely and accurately monitor a patient's vital
signs, such as body temperature, pulse or heart rate, blood
pressure, and respiratory rate, without requiring the patient to go
to a doctor's office or a medical facility. All of these vital
signs, and many more health metrics, can be monitored remotely
using the health information and assessment system, which may be
located at a community clinic, at a drug store, at a grocery store,
or many other convenient locations close to a patient's home. A
doctor or nurse is then able to receive an electronic transmission
of the desired vital sign data, and other data, so that the doctor
or nurse can monitor the patient's vital signs remotely, and even
communicate directly with the patient while the kiosk system is in
use, as further described below.
[0053] Such a remote monitoring setup is desirable for many
reasons. The doctor or nurse is able to remotely monitor several
patients, possibly at the same time, from one centralized location
without having to travel. Conversely, the patient is able to avoid
the need to travel, what may be a long distance, to see the doctor
or nurse, and can instead travel, what may be a short distance, to
a local health information and assessment kiosk system.
[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates a user-data screen 200 as displayed to a
remotely located health care professional in accordance with the
present invention. When a user is interacting with a remotely
located health care professional, the user's video image 202 and
the user's health data can be simultaneously displayed to the
professional. User-data screen 200 may include live video 202 of
the user on one portion of the user-data screen 200, include
waveform user data 204 (blood pressure readings, for example) on
another portion, textual user information 206 (personal information
such as name, age, etc, for example) on another portion, and
possibly further user data 208 on another portion. In this way, a
remotely located health care professional can fully interact with
the user seated at a kiosk system. The remotely located health care
professional may be able to select which pieces of health
information are displayed by user-data screen 200. Additionally,
the user-data screen 200 may be combined with a health care
professional video camera to capture a video image of the health
care professional, which then may be displayed to the kiosk user.
This user interaction with a remotely located health care
professional is sometimes referred to as telehealth in the medical
community. The herein described kiosk system enables greatly
enhanced telehealth because live patient/user video, real time
vital sign readings, and additional detailed user health
information can be combined with traditional voice interaction (a
user communication and a health care professional communication can
be sent back and forth between the kiosk system and the remotely
located user-data screen system) to allow health care professionals
to conduct appointments, screenings, and diagnoses over long
distances easily and efficiently.
[0055] The herein disclosed community-based health and screening
kiosk system can also act as a community, or even a larger
geographic area (such as a nation-wide), health analysis tool over
a long term time frame. For example, the data collected from users
and patients can all be stored either locally or remotely at a
centralized location as described in FIG. 1 above. This information
is aggregated so that it is no longer identified with the
individual who provided the data. This information can be
accumulated over long periods of time from a vast number of users
or patients. All this aggregated health data can be very valuable
to the greater medical community. The data can be analyzed and
trends can be identified over time.
[0056] An additional application of the herein disclosed kiosk
systems is to provide live video for verbal discussions between
users and remotely located doctors. This application creates the
opportunity for automated prescription drug dispensement from the
kiosk system. A remotely located doctor can view the patient, talk
to them about their issues and needs, and obtain all the health
data he or she needs to legally and ethically write a drug
prescription for the patient. The kiosk system may be equipped with
several of the most widely prescribed drugs in an automated
dispensing device. Such auto-dispensement devices are known in the
art, but have never previously been combined with a real-time
remote health assessment and analysis system. Existing dispensement
devices made by companies such as QUIQMED, PHARMACY AUTOMATION
SYSTEMS, and INSTYMEDS can be advantageously combined with the
herein disclosed kiosk systems to produce a community based managed
health kiosk and prescription dispensement system. Such commercial
drug dispensers, and their equivalent, may be capable of measuring
a prescribed amount of the prescription drug and then bottling this
prescribed amount in a consumer container, such as an industry
standard cylindrical plastic container. Alternatively, such
prescription dispensement devices may dispense blister packs,
containing pre-dosed amounts of the prescription drugs, as is known
in the art. It may be additionally possible to attach a payment
system to the managed health kiosk and prescription dispensement
system. Such a payment system may be capable of receiving payment
by cash or by credit or debit card, as is well known in the art.
Alternatively, the kiosk system can be combined with a prescription
printing device, which may be a standard computer printer, for
printing industry recognized drug prescriptions. Or, the kiosk
system can be located in a commercial or public pharmacy facility,
in which case the kiosk system may be capable of receiving the drug
prescription from the remotely located health care professional and
transmitting it to the pharmacy facility, where the prescription
can be filled.
[0057] A further application of the herein disclosed kiosk system
is in the solicitation of medical testing and studies volunteers.
As described, the kiosk system is able to measure and record all
sorts of health information of users. Once a health assessment has
been performed on a user, the kiosk systems can go one step further
and compare the user's individual health to databases of on-going
or upcoming medical tests and studies. The medical community has a
difficult time finding testing subjects for very specific tests
because there is a disconnect between the medical professionals
looking for test subjects and the people with the diseases and
conditions they are looking for. Once a user completes a health
screening at the kiosk system, however, he or she can be
immediately made aware of upcoming tests and/or trials that might
be appropriate for that user. The user can be shown these tests and
trials on user-display screen 406. Going further, the user can then
direct the kiosk system to send, over the kiosk system network 108,
an application for the test and/or trial.
[0058] As described above, kiosk systems may also be used in triage
situations. In such situations, a kiosk system may be located in an
emergency room or the waiting room of a clinic, where patients can
sit down (if they are able to do so) and communicate with the kiosk
system to provide information regarding their condition. An on-site
nurse or other health care professional may then work with the
kiosk system to determine the user's relative health situation;
i.e. whether and when the user needs professional care. As further
described below, FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a portion of a
kiosk system designed for triage use. In addition to the user's
monitor and input devices (user-display screen 406 is not visible
in FIG. 3, but keyboard 403 and signature pad 402 can be seen and
indicate where the user would sit), triage kiosk 300 may have an
additional health care professional keyboard 303 and health care
professional signature pad 302. Additionally, the health care
professional may have his or her own health care professional
monitor 306, separate from user-display screen 406. Those skilled
in the art will recognize that a laptop PC, or standard stand-alone
PC, could be used in place of health care professional keyboard
303, health care professional monitor 306, and/or health care
professional signature pad 302, in what may be referred to as a
health care professional input and display system. These health
care professional input devices allow an on-site health care
professional, such as a triage nurse, to monitor the user's
progress through a kiosk health assessment questionnaire, and so
sign-off on (or deny) the results of such an assessment or
completed questionnaire. In other words, the health care
professional can assess the completed questionnaire and provide his
or her health care professional authorization for a final triage
assessment.
[0059] In such triage situations, the kiosk systems can be combined
with a printer to print out situation-specific user-identifying
labels. The labels may include a triage assessment and can be worn
by the user to convey the user's triage assessment to other health
care professionals working in the emergency room or clinic.
[0060] FIGS. 2 through 5 illustrate many of the various embodiments
of the disclosed community-based health information and screening
kiosk system. The kiosk system has many different components that
can be used in many of the different embodiments, but may not be
needed in others. Hence, a great variety of different permutations
of the kiosk system, each including different combinations of those
components, could be developed. For example, the kiosk system can
include headphones, a microphone, a keyboard, a card reader, a
signature card, a thumbprint pad, a scanner, a privacy curtain, a
release button, a camera, glucose meter hook-up, a pulse oximeter,
weight-scale, blood pressure monitor, invasive-testing inputs, a
temperature sensor, and other testing devices. These devices may
then be combined with various other devices, such as a printer, an
audio speaker, a video display screen, and/or Internet
connectivity. Each of these devices can then be integrated into the
software platforms so that data received by the input device can be
incorporated into a user's PHR and/or delivered in useful format to
a health care professional.
[0061] A preferred embodiment of a kiosk system is described with
reference to FIG. 4. The kiosk system of FIG. 4 has a user desk
portion 400 that includes a number of different items, include
headset 401, which may be a physical combination of headphones and
a microphone, or the functional combination of a pair of headphones
and a microphone separately mounted within the kiosk system.
Headset 401 allows a user to communicate with a health care
profession and hear audio information dispensed either from a
remotely-located health care professional or from available
pharmaceutical encyclopedias and/or health information videos and
the like. Headset 401 could be comprised of a flexible band and
wiring that feeds audio content directly into a user's ears through
one or two speakers held against the user's head by the band, while
also being capable of receiving audio input by the user via a
microphone. It could also be a standard telephone-type input/output
device--having a u-shaped hand-held plastic or metal piece that a
user holds up to the side of his head, while placing the speaker at
the user's ear and the microphone near the user's mouth. Headset
401 allows the user to interact with remote health care
professionals by speaking a user voice communication into the
microphone and by listening to a health care professional
communication through the headphones. Obviously, speakers mounted
within the kiosk could be used in place of the headphones. The
advantage to using a headset is that it leaves a user's hands free
to simultaneously use other input devices, such as the keyboard or
the pulse oximeter.
[0062] Signature pad 402 may be located on the user desk portion
400 in front of, or slightly beneath, keyboard 403. Keyboard 403 is
a standard alphanumeric keyboard that a user may use to input
words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or even multiple paragraphs
into the system. Keyboard 403 can additionally be utilized by deaf
and/or hard-of-hearing users to communicate in real time with
health care professionals. Such user inputs, or responses, may be
integrated into the user's PHR, may be used as part of an automated
health assessment, and/or may be transmitted to a remote health
care professional to be used as the health care professional sees
fit. Keyboard 403 is generally a standard United States layout
keyboard (QWERTY setup), but a foreign-language keyboard or
keyboard setup may be substituted as needed in foreign
locations.
[0063] Signature pad 402 may be a standard signature pad for
electronically recording a user's signature. A user may be prompted
to enter his or her signature into signature pad 402. A user's
signature may be used as a security measure, to compare with a
previous signature in a user's PHR, or may be used in a legally
binding way to create a contract or to acknowledge a doctor's
warning, etc. Many commercial signature pads are available on the
market, and most can be utilized in the disclosed kiosk system.
Such signature pads have a relatively small LCD, or equivalent,
display screen, and a pen-like device that the user uses to write
his or her signature on the small display screen. The movements of
the pen-like device are recorded by the signature pad and then can
be transmitted into the kiosk system. An image of the user's
signature can be stored at the kiosk, or can be transmitted to
remote health care professionals or to the user's remotely-stored
PHR.
[0064] Thumbprint reader 410 may be located on the right side of
the user-desk portion 400 of the kiosk system. Thumbprint reader
410 is a commercially available device for capturing the likeness
of a user's thumbprint. If the kiosk system is Set up to utilize
thumbprint reader 410 as an additional security measure, a user may
be prompted to insert his or her thumb into the reader, or to swipe
his or her thumb through, or past, thumbprint reader 410. As is
known in the art, the thumbprint reader 410 may compare the user's
thumbprint to stored thumbprints, or may compare portions of the
user's thumbprint, such as specific swirls, whorls, or patterns
within a thumbprint, to previously recorded thumbprint portions.
Alternatively, if a user is utilizing the kiosk system for the
first time, thumbprint reader 410 may record the user's thumbprint,
or portions thereof, for future security-related comparisons.
Alternatively, an electronic finger-print identification system may
be substituted in a community-based health information and
screening kiosk system in place of thumbprint reader 410.
[0065] Card reader 405 may be located on the left side of the
user-desk portion 400 of the kiosk system. Card reader 405 may be
one or several types of commercially available card readers. Card
reader 405 may be able to read magnetic stripe cards that store
information/data on a band of magnetic material on the back of the
card, such as a credit card or some identification cards, or may be
able to read cards carrying information/data in the form of bar
coding.
[0066] The overall system may be capable of creating user-specific
health kiosk cards. The system may be able to print out a health
kiosk card for a user that stores (magnetically, by bar code, or by
an alternative data storage system known in the art) identifying
information and the user's PHR. Card reader 405 may be capable of
reading the user's data off one of these health kiosk cards, so
that a specific user may easily transport his or her PHR from one
kiosk to another. Such a card can also act as an additional form of
identification for security purposes.
[0067] Camera 407 may be located above user display screen 406.
Camera 407 may be a commercially available digital or analog video
recording device capable of capturing static images as well as full
motion video. In certain embodiments, camera 407 may be mounted on
the end of a flexible and adjustable cable and be capable of being
pulled out by a user. Fiber optic cables can allow for this sort of
flexibility and adjustability and may be appropriate. For example,
if a remote health care professional wishes to see a closeup image
of a user's ailment, the user may be able to pull out camera 407 to
give the health care professional a better image of the
patient.
[0068] The main purpose of camera 407 is to capture still and
motion images of a user, which are then transmitted to remotely
located health care professionals. Still and/or motion images of
the user may also be stored and incorporated into the user's PHR or
for any other suitable purpose. User image 202 in FIG. 2
illustrates the view that a remotely located health care
professional could see of the kiosk user.
[0069] User display screen 406 is located at the approximate center
of vertical panel 412 of the user desk portion 400 of the kiosk
system. User display screen 406 may be a standard video monitor
capable of displaying full color still images and/or full motion
video. In a preferred embodiment, user display screen 406 is a 15
to 17 inch color monitor with a touch screen. Touch screen
capability allows a user to input selections and manipulate data by
directly touching the screen, as opposed to having to use a mouse
or keyboard to make on-screen selections, as is known in the art. A
standard personal computer mouse (not shown) may be incorporated
into systems not utilizing a touch screen.
[0070] Speaker 415 may be located anywhere on the kiosk system, so
long as a user seated in user seat 502 of FIG. 5 is able to hear
the audio emanating from speaker 415. As will be further shown in
FIG. 5, use of the speaker 415 may be limited, however, in order to
prevent someone from overhearing the questions being asked of the
user and/or the user's answers when being provided or providing
personal information. A privacy button is provided on the vertical
panel 412, on the touch screen 406, or elsewhere within the kiosk
system, to enable a user to switch from verbal communication via
the speaker 415 and a microphone to the headset 401 or a
traditional telephone headset (not shown). In a preferred
embodiment, speaker 415 may be located on the left side of vertical
panel 412 of the user desk portion 400 of the kiosk system.
Alternatively, more than one speaker may be used. For example, two
speakers, one on each side of user display screen 406, may be used
to provide stereo sound to a user. Speaker 415 may be any sort of
commercially available audio speaker capable of playing audio
sounds produced by the kiosk system. Speaker 415 may be configured
so that when a user plugs headphones or a headset 401 into the
kiosk system, speaker 415 automatically mutes so audio only is
played through the headphones or headset 401. Alternatively, the
software platform may provide a user with various audio options,
including allowing audio to play both through headphones/headset
and through speaker 415. Those skilled in the art will recognize
the various audio arrangements that are possible when a kiosk
system is configured with both headphones/headset 401 capability
and speaker 415 capabilities.
[0071] The following devices, and other similar devices, may be
referred to as medical diagnostic devices, as they are used to
record, measure, and/or analyze the user's health. Pulse oximeter
409 may be located near the bottom of vertical panel 412, to the
right of keyboard 403. Pulse oximeter 409 should be located so that
a user can easily insert his or her finger into the pulse oximeter
while seated normally at the kiosk system. A pulse oximeter is a
device used to indirectly measure the oxygen saturation of a user's
blood (as opposed to measuring oxygen saturation directly through a
blood sample) and changes in blood volume in the skin. Pulse
oximeter 409 may be used to produce a photoplethysmograph (a
possible output format of a pulse oximeter), which may be
incorporated into the user's PHR, transmitted to remotely located
health care professional, or otherwise stored and used as
appropriate. Most commercial pulse oximeter devices clip onto a
user's finger and send data through wires running back towards the
user and along the user's arm. Pulse oximeter 409 may be designed
so that its wiring runs back into and is communicatively coupled
with the kiosk system, away from the user.
[0072] A temperature sensor 414 is provided in the upper right
portion of the vertical panel 412, but could be located elsewhere.
Any one or more of a number of different temperature sensors 414
could be used, such as a contact sensor that infers the temperature
of a user that contacts the sensor, or a noncontact sensor that
might use an infrared sensor, or some other form of sensor, to
detect the temperature of a user in proximity of the sensor.
[0073] Blood glucose meter port 416 may be located anywhere on the
kiosk system. In a preferred embodiment, blood glucose meter port
416 may be located below the temperature sensor 414 on the right
side of vertical panel 412 of the user desk portion 400 of the
kiosk system. Blood glucose meter port 416 is capable of linking to
standard commercial blood glucose meters through interface hardware
in the port, which may be situated on a cable to make it easier to
connect to a meter. When a user hooks his or her blood glucose
meter into blood glucose meter port 416, the data stored on the
blood glucose meter is transferred into the kiosk system, where it
can be incorporated into the user's PHR, transmitted to remotely
located health care professionals, or stored and analyzed as
appropriate. It is also possible to include a non-invasive blood
glucose meter in the kiosk system, so that a user does not have to
provide his or her own blood glucose meter.
[0074] Blood pressure cuff test interface 504 is not clearly seen
in FIG. 4, but is illustrated in FIG. 5. Blood pressure cuff test
interface 504 is positioned on the left side of the kiosk system,
so that a user can easily slip his or her arm through the cuff
while seated on the seat 502 of the kiosk system. Blood pressure
cuff test interface 504 is capable of measuring and analyzing a
user's blood pressure and heart rate. The blood pressure cuff test
interface 504, in combination with the overall kiosk system,
utilizes a measurement algorithm based on a plurality of
measurements, providing a unique ability to increase diagnostic and
analytical success in detection.
[0075] In an illustrative implementation, three measurement
techniques are used in combination to improve overall measurement
accuracy. A first of the three techniques is an ascultatory
technique. A sound measurement acquired from a microphone located
in the measurement cuff detects start and end Korotkoff sounds
using a combination of filters. The auscultatory technique is a
conventional method that is recommended by the American Heart
Association and is similar to manual techniques used by a health
care professional. The auscultatory technique and associated
filtering techniques are well known by those having ordinary skill
in the art. A second technique is an oscillometric technique that
is commonly found in many low-cost blood pressure measurement
devices. A pressure cuff is used to measure pressure oscillations,
which are detected and monitored using mean pressure, and systolic
and diastolic pressure ratios to identify systolic and diastolic
blood pressure. A third technique, called a pattern recognition
technique, measures a sound envelope and incorporates pattern
recognition to identify systolic and diastolic pressures. The
pattern recognition technique uses 1,000 sound impressions per
second, or between 40,000 and 60,000 sound impressions per test. A
signal from the pressure sensor is used in addition to the three
techniques to quantify the regions of sound under analysis. The
precise blood pressure cuff test interface apparatus and methods of
use are described in Bluth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,435, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
[0076] The blood pressure and heart rate data obtained by use of
blood pressure cuff test interface 504 may be utilized in much the
same way as other data collected from a user by the kiosk system.
Such data can be utilized to perform a health risk assessment for
the user, can be incorporated into the user's PHR, can be
transmitted to remotely located health care professionals, can be
transmitted to various medical research databases in a
non-personally-identifiable format, and/or can be stored locally
and analyzed as appropriate.
[0077] User seat 502 is shown in FIG. 5. In a preferred embodiment
of the kiosk system, user seat 502 is slideably-mounted to the left
side of the kiosk system. User seat 502 is capable of sliding
underneath the user-desk portion of the kiosk system so that a user
in a wheelchair is able to put his or her wheelchair into position
so as to use the kiosk system. As user seat 502 is slideable, it
may be adjustable to several different positions at varying
distances from the user desk portion 400 of the kiosk system.
Alternatively, user seat 502 may be capable of continuous movement
and placement at any practical distance from user desk portion 400.
User seat 502 may additionally be equipped with a scale to
accurately measure a user's weight, as described in Bluth et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,897, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In this situation, the scale of user seat 502 is communicatively
coupled to the kiosk system so that either digital or analog weight
data can be utilized to perform a health risk assessment for the
user, can be incorporated into the user's PHR, can be transmitted
to remotely located health care professionals, can be transmitted
to various medical research databases in a
non-personally-identifiable format, and/or can be stored locally
and analyzed as appropriate. The precise weight-scale user seat
apparatus and methods of use are described in Bluth et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 6,403,897, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0078] In addition to the various non-invasive health diagnostic
input devices described above (question-and-answer input, visual
input, verbal input, pulse oximeter input, blood glucose input,
blood pressure and heart rate input, weight input, etc.), the kiosk
system can also include invasive testing. For example, cholesterol
testing, urine testing, and blood testing can be administered to a
user by the kiosk system, with the help of licensed health care
professionals (nurses, technicians, etc.). Such tests require a
licensed professional to assist the user and to carrier out the
test. Tools and supplies needed for these invasive tests can be
stored on shelving units which may be built into the back side (not
shown) of the kiosk system. A nurse or other licensed health care
professional can administer the invasive test and then can input
results, which may be referred to as invasive testing information,
manually (via keyboard 403, via keyboard 303, or via touch-screen
options). An invasive testing system used to analyze the invasively
collected fluids can be connected to an additional port at the back
of the kiosk system, or send its results over the network 108 to
the kiosk system.
[0079] As previously noted, the kiosk system may also include
several devices that can be described as output devices, such as a
printer, as opposed to the various health diagnostic input devices.
FIG. 5 includes a paper slot 506 in which paper output by a printer
incorporated into the kiosk system is accessible by a user. The
output paper may include printed answers to health assessment
questions, results of various tests, a summary of information
provided by the user, and many other types of data. FIG. 3 also
illustrates a plan view of a triage version of the kiosk system
that includes various output devices.
[0080] In FIG. 3, flatbed scanner 305 is located on the top of the
kiosk system. Flatbed scanner 305 is communicatively coupled to the
kiosk system, so that documents and information scanned in by a
user is input into the system. Flatbed scanner 305 can be any type
of commercially available scanner capable of receiving hard copy
documents and converting them into electronically transferrable
images or electronic documents. For example, a user may be able to
scan in his or her health insurance card, identification or other
documentation. The kiosk system software platform may be able to
recognize certain information contained within the scanned-in
documents--such as the user's social security number, for example
and fill in various forms automatically. For example, scanned-in
medical records could be automatically incorporated into the user's
PHR and/or be transmitted to a remotely located health care
professional. Flatbed scanner 305 may be located on top of the
kiosk, or may be embedded within a top portion of the kiosk system
on a slideable tray, somewhat above where a seated user's head
would normally be located, so that a user can slide flatbed scanner
305 out for use and then slide it in, and out of the way, after
use. Alternatively, the scanner could be located on the front of
the kiosk system, such as scanner 507 of FIG. 5. In such a
situation, the scanner 507 might be placed on a tray that can slide
out from the front of the kiosk system and be more readily
accessible by users.
[0081] Printer 304 may also be located on top of the kiosk system,
as is illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, as previously noted,
printer 304 may be embedded within an upper portion of the kiosk
system, in such a way as to eject printed sheets of paper through a
printer-eject slot 506 somewhat above where a seated user's head
would normally be located. Printer 304 may be a standard commercial
printer (laser, ink-jet, or other presently available technology)
capable of printing either black-and-white documents, or full color
documents. Alternatively in certain situations such as in triage,
printer 304 may be a label-maker specifically designed to print-out
situation-specific labels for use as user (patient)
identifiers.
[0082] The kiosk system is designed to provide a user with a secure
and private experience despite the fact that the kiosk system may
be located in a very public space, such as a store, waiting room,
office complex, etc. Privacy for the user is very important because
a user may use the herein disclosed kiosk system to engage in
personal medical discussions with a remotely located health care
professional. Providing the user with a private setting will enable
the user to feel completely comfortable discussing and listening to
personal health care information. To further enhance the privacy of
the setting, the kiosk system may include a privacy curtain 508,
illustrated in FIG. 5, which can fully enclose the user during use
of the kiosk system. Privacy curtain 508 slides along privacy track
510 to form a barrier between a user seated within the kiosk system
and the surrounding room in which the kiosk system is located.
Privacy curtain 508 may be designed to automatically move along
privacy track 510 after a user sits down on the seat 502 at the
kiosk system and engages the kiosk software platform.
Alternatively, privacy curtain 508 may be designed to close after a
user presses an appropriate button (not shown) on the user desk
portion 400, or makes an appropriate selection within the software
platform by touching an on-screen button or clicking of a computer
mouse. Privacy curtain 508 would likewise open when the user has
finished using the kiosk system, which may be indicated by
selecting an appropriate physical button within the kiosk,
selecting a software button, finishing a test or procedure, or
getting up from the seat 502. The material of the privacy curtain
508 should be formed of any material that would help to reduce
sound emanating from within the kiosk system during use so as to
provide a user with a greater degree of privacy.
[0083] The kiosk system may also include a safety feature for
disengaging in an emergency situation. For example, a hardware
button may be included on the user desk portion 400 of the kiosk
system that when pressed automatically releases a user's arm from
blood pressure cuff test interface 504, and automatically opens
privacy curtain 508, so that the user can quickly leave the kiosk
system. FIG. 4 illustrates such a hardware release button 417
positioned on the right side of vertical panel 412 of the user desk
portion 400 of the kiosk system. Alternatively, a software platform
button or on-screen option may be available to the user that will
quickly and automatically release the user's arm from blood
pressure cuff test interface 504 and/or open privacy curtain 508. A
similar hardware release button can be located on the back side of
the kiosk system to allow a health care professional to quickly and
automatically disengage blood pressure cuff test interface 504
and/or privacy curtain 508.
[0084] An additional privacy-enhancing feature of the herein
disclosed kiosk system is the third-party display screen 512
illustrated in FIG. 5. Third-party display screen 512 is located on
the side of the kiosk system, preferably near the top of the kiosk
system so as to be easily viewable from some distance away.
Third-party display screen 512 is a video monitor capable of
displaying still images and full-motion video. Third-party display
screen 512 may be a standard 15 to 17 inch monitor much like user
display screen 406, or it may be different--smaller or bigger. The
purpose of third-party display screen 512 is two-fold. First, to
provide marketing and/or educational health-related information to
persons in the vicinity of the kiosk system other than the
immediate user seated within the kiosk system. For example,
third-party display screen 512 may be connected to a DVD player and
may play repeated loops of various health-related advertisements.
Alternatively, third-party display screen 512 may display
information on how to use the kiosk, or how to find a doctor in
that particular geographic location. Third-party screen 512 may
also be linked to the network 108 and therefore may be capable of
streaming advertisements and/or informational feeds from any
available Internet sources. A kiosk system may be equipped with
several of these third-party display monitors, on various sides of
the kiosk system, so that multiple messages may be displayed.
[0085] Third-party display screen 512 may include one or more
speakers for emitting audio related to the video images displayed
on screen. Audio related to the health information/advertisements
establishes the second purpose of the third-party display screens,
to provide a counter-point visual and audio stimulus that distracts
anyone outside of the kiosk system from being able to hear or pay
attention to any sound emanating from a user's use of the kiosk
system. If someone other than the user is in close proximity to the
kiosk, they would likely be distracted by images and sounds being
generated, and therefore less likely to overhear a user consulting
with a remotely located doctor.
[0086] While the present inventions have been illustrated and
described herein in terms of a preferred embodiment and several
alternatives associated with community-based health information and
screening kiosk systems, it is to be understood that the various
components of the combination and the combination itself can have a
multitude of additional uses and applications. For example, the
kiosk systems herein disclosed can easily be adapted to other
settings or uses. Accordingly, the inventions should not be limited
to just the particular descriptions and various drawing figures
contained in this specification that merely illustrate one or more
preferred embodiments and applications of the principles of the
invention.
[0087] It should be apparent that the examples discussed above are
only presented as examples. The various user-accessible menus,
buttons, and interfaces are only one way to accomplish the more
generally described systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer
programs. For example, where certain features or user options are
described as buttons, it may be apparent to those skilled in the
art that the same function can be accomplished by using radio
buttons, drop-down menus, or check-box-type options instead. All
such available possibilities are intended to be covered by this
specification.
[0088] Finally, it should be noted that where this specification
describes a system for obtaining health information and screening,
it is intended to cover related methods of utilizing the kiosk
systems.
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