U.S. patent application number 14/171875 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-05 for method for providing medical test results.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC.. Invention is credited to Elize Dekker, T Ashok Shenoy, Niall Sweeney.
Application Number | 20140156311 14/171875 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50001773 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140156311 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shenoy; T Ashok ; et
al. |
June 5, 2014 |
METHOD FOR PROVIDING MEDICAL TEST RESULTS
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, this invention provides a method of
providing medical test results. The method includes a step of
selecting formulary information that corresponds to a result of a
medical test. The method also includes a step of generating a
medical report. The medical report includes a laboratory report
that corresponds to the medical test. The medical report also
includes the selected formulary information.
Inventors: |
Shenoy; T Ashok; (Macungie,
PA) ; Sweeney; Niall; (Rutherford, NJ) ;
Dekker; Elize; (Ringwood, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC. |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC.
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
50001773 |
Appl. No.: |
14/171875 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10044568 |
Jan 11, 2002 |
8645152 |
|
|
14171875 |
|
|
|
|
60261315 |
Jan 12, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 15/00 20180101;
G06Q 10/10 20130101; G06F 19/00 20130101; G16H 10/40 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/3 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00 |
Claims
1. A method of providing a result of a laboratory test performed on
a patient who participates with a prescription care provider, the
method being performed by a computer system that comprises one or
more processors and one or more interfaces operatively coupled to
at least one of the processors, the method comprising: receiving
the result through one of the interfaces; automatically in response
to receiving the result, determining that the result results in a
trigger; automatically in response to the trigger, receiving
formulary information that is specific to the trigger and specific
to the prescription care provider; automatically in response to
receiving the formulary information, generating a single medical
report that includes (1) the formulary information and (2) a
laboratory report that includes the result; and transmitting the
medical report through one of the interfaces.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical report consists of a
representation of a single printed or electronic page.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is an abnormal test
result.
4. A computer system for providing a result of a laboratory test
performed on a patient who participates with a prescription care
provider, the computer system comprising: one or more processors;
one or more interfaces operatively coupled to at least one of the
processors; and one or more computer-readable storage media
operatively coupled to at least one of the processors and encoded
with instructions that, when executed by one or more of the
processors, causes the computer system at least to: receive the
result through one of the interfaces; automatically in response to
receiving the result, determine that the result results in a
trigger; automatically in response to the trigger, receive
formulary information that is specific to the trigger and specific
to the prescription care provider; automatically in response to
receiving the formulary information, generate a single medical
report that includes (1) the formulary information and (2) a
laboratory report that includes the result; and transmit the
medical report through one of the interfaces.
5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the medical report
consists of a representation of a single printed or electronic
page.
6. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the trigger is an
abnormal test result.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with
instructions that, when executed by one or more processors within a
computer system that comprises one or more interfaces operatively
coupled to at least one of the processors, cause the computer
system at least to: receive through one of the interfaces a result
of a laboratory test performed on a patient who participates with a
prescription care provider; automatically in response to receiving
the result, determine that the result results in a trigger;
automatically in response to the trigger, receive formulary
information that is specific to the trigger and specific to the
prescription care provider; automatically in response to receiving
the formulary information, generate a single medical report that
includes (1) the formulary information and (2) a laboratory report
that includes the result; and transmit the medical report through
one of the interfaces.
8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the
medical report consists of a representation of a single printed or
electronic page.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the
trigger is an abnormal test result.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/044,568, which was filed on 11 Jan. 2002
and titled "Method for Providing Medical Test Results", which
issued on 4 Feb. 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,645,152, and which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a method for providing medical
test results. More particularly, this invention relates to a method
for providing formulary information relating to medical tests.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to the healthcare industry,
specifically the relationship between physicians (MDs), managed
care organizations (MCOs), pharmacy benefit management companies
(PBMs), pharmaceutical companies, and patients. MDs treat patients
using prescription drugs that are manufactured by pharmaceutical
companies. MCOs seek to evaluate and select prescription drugs for
particular treatments based upon both healthcare and commercial
perspectives, and the MCOs recommend and approve selected
prescription drugs for coverage under a managed care contract using
what can be referred to as a formulary.
[0004] Medical doctors today deal with an average of 5 to 6 MCO (or
PBM) plans to which their patients subscribe. When the number of
benefits plans is multiplied by the number of possible disease
conditions of their patients, the number of formularies that the
MDs have to deal with becomes overwhelming. For example, if an MD
works with six MCO plans and there are ten disease conditions that
they treat, then there may be sixty (60) formularies that they have
to remember or be able to refer to prior to selecting a drug for a
particular treatment. Accordingly, for each patient that visits a
particular MD for treatment for the first time, the MD is likely to
identify the patient's MCO and/or PBM plan. Then, for the
particular disease state or condition being treated, the MD may
have to recollect or research the formulary for the particular MCO
and/or PBM before selecting a treatment.
[0005] Consequently, medical doctors may prescribe drugs that they
remember as being approved, drugs they are most comfortable with,
or drugs they consider as standard therapy for the particular
disease state. Oftentimes this results in the doctor selecting a
drug that is inconsistent with the formulary of the MCO and/or PBM
(i.e., the drug that they have prescribed is not the most preferred
or, in the worst case, the drug is not even approved by the MCO
and/or PBM).
[0006] This lack of what is called "formulary compliance" creates
many problems in the industry. MCOs and PBMs lose revenue and the
patients may also incur an increase in out of pocket expense. The
health benefits to the patient may also be reduced. Additionally,
the MCOs and PBMs have increased costs in trying to correct the
problem immediately at the pharmacy, or in the future with the
errant medical doctor through letters and phone calls. The medical
doctors also have increased expenses because their staff has to
handle the subsequent communications from the providers (MCOs and
PBMs) and the pharmacies.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for improved
formulary compliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, this invention provides a method
of providing medical test results. The method includes a step of
selecting formulary information that corresponds to a result of a
medical test. The method also includes a step of generating a
medical report. The medical report corresponds to the medical test
and includes the laboratory report results of the medical test. The
medical report also includes the selected formulary
information.
[0009] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of
providing formulary information that corresponds to the results of
a medical test. The method includes a step of identifying a
prescription care provider associated with a patient. Further, the
method includes the step of selecting formulary information
corresponding to a result of the medical test of the patient, and
also corresponding to the prescription care provider.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method
of treating a patient. The method includes a step of obtaining a
medical report including a laboratory report corresponding to a
medical test of a patient. The medical report additionally includes
formulary information that corresponds to the results of the
medical test. The method also includes the step of selecting a
treatment for the patient using the formulary information included
in the medical report.
[0011] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a medical
report for a medical test. The medical report includes a laboratory
report corresponding to a medical test of a patient. The medical
report also includes formulary information corresponding to the
result of the medical test.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method
of providing a medical report including formulary information. The
formulary information corresponds to one or more selected
prescription care providers. The method includes a step of
identifying a prescription care provider for a patient. The method
also includes the step of verifying that the prescription care
provider for the patient is one of the selected prescription care
providers. Further, the method also includes the step of generating
a medical report including the formulary information corresponding
to the prescription care provider for the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will be described with reference to the
exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram which illustrates an exemplary
embodiment of a method of delivering a medical report in accordance
with aspects of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a medical
report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of a medical
report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an illustration of yet another embodiment of a
medical report in accordance with aspects of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 5 is an illustration of still another embodiment of a
medical report in accordance with aspects of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 is an illustration of another embodiment of a medical
report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Preferred features of selected, exemplary embodiments of
this invention will now be described with reference to the figures.
It will be appreciated that the spirit and scope of the invention
is not limited to the embodiments selected for illustration. It is
contemplated that any of the configurations described hereafter can
be modified within the scope of the invention.
[0021] In one exemplary embodiment, the medical test results are
laboratory test results. Throughout this document the term medical
test results is intended to identify a broad class of test results,
which includes laboratory test results as well as any other results
relating to a medical evaluation. For example, a medical test
result could be a laboratory test result, such as the result
obtained for a blood specimen or other type of biological specimen
is examined. Alternatively, a medical test result may be a blood
pressure test result, a stress test result, a cardiogram, or a
result of any medical evaluation.
[0022] Generally, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6, one aspect
of this invention provides a method of providing medical test
results. Formulary information 220 corresponding to a result of a
medical test is selected at a formulary message generation process
step 108. The formulary information is optionally provided in the
form of formularies, which can be formatted as lists of approved
drugs for a certain disease or condition. Each formulary list can
be broken down by those approved drugs that are preferred ("tier
1"), less preferred ("tier 2"), and non-preferred ("tier 3"). These
formularies are usually disease state and MCO plan specific. A
medical report 200 is generated at a medical report compilation
step 112. The medical report includes a laboratory report 210
corresponding to the medical test. The medical report also includes
the selected formulary information 220.
[0023] In another aspect this invention provides a method for
providing formulary information 220 corresponding to results of a
medical test. This method includes confirming that a patient is
associated with either a health care insurer or prescription
benefit management company for their prescription benefits (i.e., a
prescription care provider) and qualifies for the formulary to be
listed. Further, formulary information 220 corresponding to a
result of a medical test of the patient, and also corresponding to
the prescription care provider, is selected at a formulary message
generation process step 108. Additionally, the formulary
information 220 is provided to a medical professional in a report
delivery step 114.
[0024] In another aspect, this invention provides a method of
treating a patient. This method includes the step of obtaining a
medical report 200 at report delivery step 114. The medical report
200 includes a laboratory report 210 that corresponds to a medical
test of a patient. The medical report 200 also includes formulary
information 220 that corresponds to a result of the medical test.
The method also includes the step of selecting the treatment for
the patient at step 116 using the formulary information 220 in the
medical report 200.
[0025] In yet another aspect, this invention provides a medical
report 200 for a medical test. The medical report 200 comprises a
laboratory report 210 that includes a result of a medical test of
the patient. The medical report 200 also includes formulary
information 220 that corresponds to the result of the medical
test.
[0026] In yet another aspect, this invention provides a method of
providing a medical report 200 including formulary information 220.
The formulary information 220 corresponds to one or more selected
prescription care providers. A prescription care provider for a
patient is identified and captured at a capture patient data step
103. At step 105 it is verified that the prescription care provider
for the patient is one of the selected prescription care providers.
A medical report including the formulary information corresponding
to the prescription care provider for the patient is generated at
steps 108 and 112.
[0027] "Formulary information" as used herein refers to any
information, sometimes in the form of one or more lists, regarding
an approved drug or drugs for a certain disease or condition or
indication. The formulary information is usually provider specific.
In an exemplary embodiment, the provider may be a managed care
organization (MCO). In another exemplary embodiment, the provider
may be a pharmacy benefit management company (PBM). According to
one embodiment, the formulary list separates the approved drugs
into numerous tiers, such as tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3. Tier 1
drugs are those that are most preferred by the provider, tier 2
drugs are less preferred by the provider, and tier 3 drugs are
non-preferred by the provider. A medical professional (e.g., a
doctor) can use the formulary information in order to make a
prescription or treatment decision related to a patient.
[0028] When a patient undergoes a medical procedure or test or
other evaluation that involves a laboratory analysis, a clinical
laboratory report is typically generated. The clinical laboratory
report, hereafter referred to as the laboratory report or the lab
report, includes all of the results of the medical test
performed.
[0029] This means that the laboratory report not only includes
abnormal medical test results (i.e., results outside a "normal"
range), but also includes normal medical test results (i.e.,
results within a "normal" range).
[0030] If abnormal medical test results are reported separately
from normal medical test results (i.e., in a partial, preliminary
report as opposed to a complete laboratory report), formulary
information can be provided at a later time together with a
supplemental, second report that includes the normal medical test
results. Alternatively, it may be preferred to make the formulary
information available with the complete laboratory report at the
time that the laboratory report is first issued. By providing the
formulary information together with the laboratory report (e.g., in
a first report from a laboratory testing company to the medical
professional as opposed to in a second report), the formulary
information will be made available to the medical professional at
the time when he or she makes a treatment or prescription decision.
In other words, by providing the formulary information together
with the complete laboratory report in a first (and perhaps only)
medical report from the laboratory testing company, the medical
professional can use the formulary information at the same time he
or she evaluates the laboratory report and makes a treatment
decision.
[0031] It has been discovered that the provision of the formulary
information together with the complete laboratory report is
beneficial because it avoids the need for a second report. Such a
second report may be received by the medical professional after a
treatment decision has already been made, based on a first report
of abnormal test results, without the benefit of having the
formulary information. Also, the use of a second report may add to
the administrative burden of the medical professional because it
must be reported to the patient, filed with the patient's medical
history, or otherwise handled or considered by the medical
professional.
[0032] Therefore, it has been discovered that it may be preferred
to include the formulary information along with the complete
laboratory report in a medical report that is delivered to the
medical professional. That medical report, according to an
exemplary embodiment of this invention, is the first and only
report sent to the medical professional by the laboratory testing
company.
[0033] It is therefore understood that a single medical report
(including a clinical laboratory report) may be generated and
delivered to a medical professional with appropriate formulary
information. Alternatively, multiple medical reports may be
generated and delivered, with each of the reports including the
appropriate formulary information. In another aspect, multiple
medical reports may be generated and delivered, with the first
(original) report including the appropriate formulary information.
In each of these exemplary aspects, the medical professional may
have a medical report (including the formulary information) before
making a treatment decision (e.g., a prescription). Therefore, the
medical professional can have the benefit of the formulary
information at the time that a treatment decision is made.
[0034] According to one exemplary embodiment, the medical report
200 includes a laboratory report 210 and formulary information 220.
The laboratory report 210 is the first results that a medical
professional receives related to the medical test performed.
Therefore, because the formulary information 220 is included in the
medical report 200 along with the laboratory report 210, the
medical professional receives the formulary information 220 at the
earliest possible opportunity. Therefore, the medical professional
can use the formulary information 220 in order to make an
appropriate treatment or prescription decision. As a result,
formulary compliance is increased.
[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method of
providing medical test results to a medical professional. A lab
request 102 is typically made by a physician or other medical
professional regarding a condition or potential condition of a
patient. Lab request 102 is sent to one of a number of laboratories
that may belong to a lab information systems network. The
laboratory that receives lab request 102 performs the lab analysis
at a step 104. The results of lab analysis step 104 may include
abnormal medical test results, along with normal medical test
results. Alternatively, the results of lab analysis step 104 may be
entirely normal or entirely abnormal.
[0036] At least one element of the results of lab analysis step 104
results in a trigger 106. Trigger 106 may be an abnormal test
result from lab analysis 104, or trigger 106 may be a normal test
result from lab analysis 104. Regardless of the test result that
caused trigger 106, trigger 106 results in the initialization of a
formulary message generation process step 108.
[0037] In parallel to the steps described above, lab request 102
additionally initializes a data capture step 103. At step 103
patient data is captured in preparation for the potential
compilation of a medical report. For example, the patient data
captured may include patient identification information, patient
insurance information (e.g., a policy number), and other relevant
information that can be retrieved in advance of (or concurrently
with) the lab analysis being conducted. The patient insurance
information captured preferably includes the identity of the
patient's prescription care provider (e.g., MCO, PBM).
[0038] After the patient data is captured at step 103, the
eligibility of a formulary message is verified at step 105. For
example, certain providers may subscribe to a formulary messaging
service according to exemplary embodiments of this invention. As
such, medical reports issued relating to patients associated with
these subscribing providers may be selected to include relevant
formulary information. Inclusion of relevant formulary information
may further be conditioned upon the specific policy (or type of
policy) that the patient has with the provider.
[0039] Other providers may not subscribe to the formulary messaging
service. As such, medical reports issued relating to patients
associated with these non-subscribing providers may not include
relevant formulary information. Therefore, at step 105, the
eligibility of a formulary message to be included in a medical
report is verified.
[0040] For example, one or more benefits providers (such as a
medical insurance company) may subscribe to a formulary messaging
service that is provided by a reporting entity that generates
medical reports (such as a laboratory testing company). As a
subscriber, the benefits provider makes formulary guidelines
available to the reporting entity. When a test is performed for
patient that subscribes to the benefits provider and a medical
report is to be generated for that patient, the formulary
guidelines of the subscribing benefits provider are incorporated
into the medical report. In that way, formulary guidelines of
subscribing benefits providers are made available to the medical
professional acting on behalf of the patient.
[0041] After the eligibility of the inclusion of formulary
information is verified at step 105, the data captured at step 103
is transmitted to the formulary message generation process step
108.
[0042] The formulary message generation process step 108 may be
conducted by the laboratory that received lab request 102, for
example, by using a computer server internal to the laboratory.
Alternatively, formulary message generation process step 108 may be
conducted by a central server that compiles formulary message
generation processes 108 for a number of laboratories. In order to
10 conduct the formulary message generation process step 108,
formulary information specific to the trigger 106 (e.g., a disease
state, an abnormal test result, a normal test result, etc.), and
formulary information specific to a provider (e.g., an insurance
provider) of the patient may be used.
[0043] The insurance provider of the patient may be a medical
insurance provider, such as a managed care organization (MCO).
Alternatively, the provider of the patient may be a pharmacy
benefit management company (PBM). In some situations, the MCO of
the patient and the PBM of the patient may be the same company.
[0044] The server used to conduct formulary message generation
process step 108 requests information from the provider at provider
formulary process step 110.
[0045] For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the
requested information will include an indication of whether the MCO
of the patient and the PBM of the patient are the same company. The
requested information may also include eligibility information,
co-pay information, pricing information, or additional medical or
treatment guidelines. However, the primary request at step 110 is
for the relevant formulary information.
[0046] If the MCO is also the prescription care provider for the
patient, the formulary information provided by the provider
formulary process step 110 to the formulary message generation
process step 108 will be MCO specific. However, if the MCO is not
the prescription care provider of the patient, and indeed a
distinct PBM is the prescription care provider of the patient, the
formulary information provided by provider formulary process step
110 to formulary message generation process step 108 will be PBM
specific.
[0047] The storage and/or provision of formulary information, in
provider formulary process step 110, can be performed by a
prescription drug provider such as an MCO or a PBM, by a third
party managing the process on behalf of the prescription drug
provider, or by some other entity capable of manipulating or
otherwise handling formulary information.
[0048] Upon receiving the requested information from provider
formulary process step 110, formulary message generation process
step 108 will provide the appropriate formulary message to the
laboratory (or whichever entity compiles the medical report) so
that the medical report may be compiled in a medical report
compilation step 112. At medical report compilation step 112, a
medical report 200 is generated that includes the lab report 210
and the formulary message (formulary information) 220. Because the
formulary information 220 is available at the same time that the
laboratory report is available, a timely medical report 200 may be
compiled. The 25 medical report is then delivered to the
appropriate medical professional at report delivery step 114.
[0049] The medical report 200 may be delivered to a physician, or
any other appropriate medical professional. The medical report 200
may be delivered by any appropriate means such as courier, mail,
printer, e-mail, fax, or other electronic or wireless devices such
as a personal digital assistant (PDA). In an exemplary embodiment,
the medical report 200 is delivered by the same means by which the
laboratory test was ordered by the medical professional. For
example, if the laboratory test was ordered electronically, then
the medical report is advantageously delivered electronically to
the same address from which the test was ordered. Alternatively, if
the laboratory test was ordered via hard copy requisition and
picked up by a laboratory courier, then the medical report is
advantageously delivered to the same address by a laboratory
courier.
[0050] Upon reviewing the medical report 200, the medical
professional will have access to accurate formulary information
that is specific to the medical test result, insurance provider,
and the patient. The medical professional may then select
appropriate treatment for the patient at treatment selection step
116. As a result of this process, treatment (e.g., a prescription)
is selected for the patient that is in compliance with the
formulary.
[0051] In the event that the medical report is delivered
electronically via the Internet, the medical professional may be
provided with the option to access available online prescribing
systems 118 directly from the medical report using hyperlinks. For
example, if the medical report is provided by electronic mail, a
link such as a hyperlink can be provided within the medical report
for immediate electronic access to one or more electronic
prescription services. In that way, the medical professional can
easily prescribe a particular drug or other treatment based on the
test results and formulary information found in the medical
report.
[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates a medical report 200 in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The medical
report 200 includes a lab report 210. The medical report 200 also
includes formulary information 220. The lab report 210 included in
the medical report 200 is the complete laboratory report. The lab
report 210 includes any normal medical test results produced by the
test along with any abnormal medical test results. The lab report
210 is the initial or first or only medical test result that a
medical professional will receive relating to the requested medical
test. Therefore, since the formulary information 220 is included in
the medical report 200 along with the initial lab report 210, the
medical professional reviewing the medical report 200 can make a
compliant treatment decision based on the relevant formulary
information.
[0053] The medical report 200 may include any other relevant or
helpful information. For example, the medical report 200 may
optionally include patient specific information. The patient
specific information may include the patient's name, the patient's
date of "birth, any allergies the patient may have, and any other
relevant information regarding the patient. The medical report 200
may also include the date that the respective medical test was
performed. For example, if a laboratory specimen was taken from a
patient and sent to a lab to be tested, the date that the specimen
was taken may be included in the medical report 200. In addition to
the date of the specimen or laboratory test, the time of the
laboratory test may also be included in the medical report 200. As
such, any relevant information may be included in medical report
200, and such relevant information can be selected depending on the
preferences of the medical professional, the laboratory testing
company, and/or some other entity.
[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a medical report 200A in accordance with
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The medical
report 200A includes the lab report 210 and the formulary
information 220, as in FIG. 2. However, the medical report 200A
illustrated in FIG. 3 additionally includes a provider identity
300.
[0055] If the patient's MCO is the same as the patient's
prescription care provider, then the provider identity would be the
identity of the MCO. However, if the patient's MCO is different
from the patient's prescription care provider (e.g., PBM), then the
provider identity 300 would be the identity of the prescription
care provider of the patient. The provider identity 300 may be
useful to the medical professional in making a treatment decision,
and it may therefore be preferred that the provider identity 300 is
included in the medical report 200A.
[0056] Although the identity of the provider 300 is shown in an
area of the medical report 200A that is different from the lab
report 210 or the formulary information 220, this is not required.
Therefore, the identity of the provider 300 may be included in the
formulary information section 220 of the medical report 200A, or it
may be included in the lab report 210 section of the medical report
200A or elsewhere depending upon preferences of the entity creating
the report.
[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates another medical report 200B in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As with the
previously described embodiments, the medical report 200B
illustrated in FIG. 4 includes the lab report 210 and the formulary
information 220. However, the medical report 200B illustrated in
FIG. 4 additionally includes the pharmaceutical company identity
400 or the identity of another supplier. For example, a
pharmaceutical company may be a manufacturer of a drug or treatment
option included in the formulary information 220.
[0058] The pharmaceutical company 400 may be a subscriber to a
formulary messaging service provided by the lab (or whichever
entity generates the medical report). As a subscriber, the
pharmaceutical company 400 may desire to have its logo included in
the medical report 200B. Additionally, during preparation of the
medical report 200B, the laboratory (or an alternative medical
report compiler) may provide a subscribing pharmaceutical company
400 with additional benefits with regard to the medical report
200B. For example, if the pharmaceutical company 400 has a tier 1
preferred drug included in the formulary list in formulary
information 220, the pharmaceutical company listing may be
distinguished from other pharmaceutical companies listings in the
formulary listing. For example, the pharmaceutical company listing
may be enlarged with respect to the other pharmaceutical companies
listings, or the pharmaceutical company listings may be included in
a bold typeface. By distinguishing the pharmaceutical company
listing, the pharmaceutical company hopes that the medical
professional reviewing the medical report may be inclined to select
the pharmaceutical company's drug or treatment option.
[0059] Although the identity of the pharmaceutical company 400 is
shown in area of the medical report 200B that is different from the
lab report 210 or the formulary information 220, this is not
required. Therefore, the identity of the pharmaceutical company 400
may be included in the formulary information section 220 of the
medical report 200B, or it may be included in the lab report 210
section of the medical report 200B or elsewhere.
[0060] FIG. 5 provides an additional illustration of a medical
report 200C in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. As with the previously described embodiments,
the medical report 200C illustrated in FIG. 5 includes lab report
210 and formulary information 220. However, the medical report 200C
illustrated in FIG. 5 includes optional pricing information 500.
Pricing information 500 may represent the price of each treatment
option on the formulary listing in formulary information 220.
Pricing information 500 may be an average wholesale price of each
treatment option. Alternatively, pricing information 500 may
represent an average retail price of each treatment option. Pricing
information 500 will assist the medical professional in selecting a
cost-effective, yet compliant treatment option from formulary
information 220.
[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another medical report 200D in
accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. As with the previously described embodiments, medical
report 200D includes lab report 210 and formulary information 220.
However, medical report 200D illustrated in FIG. 6 includes
optional current prescriptions information 600. The patient's
current prescription information may assist the medical
professional in selecting a treatment option from the formulary
information listing 220. For example, the patient's current
prescription information may reveal that a certain drug included in
the formulary information listing 220 may not be used by the
patient. Conversely, the patient's current prescription information
600 may make a treatment option included in the formulary
information listing 220 more desirable than the alternative
treatment included in formulary listing.
[0062] Although the patient's current prescription information 600
is illustrated in an area of the medical report 200D that is
distinct from the lab report 210 and the formulary information 220,
this is not required. Therefore, the patient's current prescription
information 600 may be included in the formulary information
section 220, or may be included in the lab report section 210 or
elsewhere.
[0063] As indicated above, medical report 200 may optionally
include additional information not shown in any of the figures of
the present application. For example, medical report 200 may
include additional medical guidelines or medical interactions. The
medical guidelines or medical interactions may be specific to the
trigger medical test result 106. For example, if the trigger 106
medical test result was an abnormal hemoglobin test result, than
the medical guidelines or medical interactions included in medical
report 200 may include medical guidelines related to abnormal
hemoglobin results. The guidelines may include treatment, dietary,
technical, or any other information relevant to the hemoglobin
result trigger 106.
[0064] As provided above, medical report 200 is delivered to a
medical professional at report delivery step 114. The medical
report 200 may be delivered to the medical professional through any
of a number of communication means. For example, medical report 200
may be printed and couriered to the medical professional.
Alternatively, medical report 200 may be printed and mailed to the
medical professional, may be faxed to the medical professional, may
be emailed or otherwise electronically transmitted to the medical
professional, or may be delivered to the medical professional using
any other electronic method such as by the use of a personal
digital assistant (PDA). Because the medical report 200 may be
delivered electronically to the medical professional, the medical
report 200 may exist in electronic form only.
[0065] The medical report disclosed herein may typically be used in
making treatment decisions by a medical professional. The medical
report may include information, such as a web address, that may be
used by the medical professional to prescribe the treatment
online.
[0066] In addition to this information, the medical report may
include instructions to assist the medical professional in
prescribing the treatment online. Further, if the medical report is
provided electronically, the report may include a link to an online
prescription service.
[0067] It will be appreciated that other modifications can be made
to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of
the invention. The scope of the invention separately defined in the
appended claims.
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