“System And Method For Using A Blockchain To Manage Medical Transactions Between Entities In A Healthcare Ecosystem” in Patent Application Approval Process (USPTO 20220245637): Healthpointe Solutions Inc.

2022 AUG 18 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent application by the inventors ANDERSON, Mark Henry (Newport Coast, CA, US); GNANASAMBANDAM, Nathan (Irvine, CA, US), filed on May 15, 2020, was made available online on August 4, 2022, according to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx correspondents.

This patent application is assigned to Healthpointe Solutions Inc. (Austin, Texas, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Population health management entails aggregating patient data across multiple health information technology resources, analyzing the data with reference to a single patient, and generating actionable items through which care providers can improve both clinical and financial outcomes. In some instances, coordinating health services to perform the actionable items among multiple entities in a healthcare ecosystem can be a daunting, inefficient, and/or cumbersome task.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent application, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “A system and method for using a blockchain to manage medical transactions between entities in a healthcare ecosystem are disclosed herein. The medical transactions may be performed using the hyperledger to provide a population health management service. The steps of any of the following methods may be implemented as computer instructions stored on tangible, non-transitory media that are executable by one or more processors. Further, the methods may be implemented by a computing device and/or a system including one or more processors.

“In one embodiment, a method for maintaining a hyperledger for healthcare transactions at one or more nodes includes receiving, a from a client device, a request to perform a transaction using the hyperledger wherein the transaction pertains to registering a medical personnel entity associated with the client device as a node of the one or more nodes, and the request includes an authorizing credential pertaining to the medical personnel entity. The method also includes determining, based on one or more rules, whether to allow the transaction to be performed in view of the request. Responsive to determining to tallow the transaction to be performed, the method also includes registering the node for the medical personnel entity by creating the node for the medical personnel entity, updating the hyperledger by adding a block to the hyperledger, where the block stores the transaction including the authorizing the credential pertaining to the medical personnel entity, and storing the hyperledger at the node for the medical personnel entity.

“In one embodiment, a method for performing a medical transaction using a hyperledger includes receiving, from a computing device associated with a medical personnel entity, a request to perform the medical transaction between the medical personnel entity and a patient entity, where the medical personnel entity is associated with a medical personnel node and the patient entity is associated with a patient node, and a respective copy of the hyperledger is maintained at both the medical personnel node and the patient node. The method also includes identifying a transaction in the hyperledger that stores an authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity, determining whether to allow the medical transaction to be performed based on at least the authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity, and responsive to determining to allow the medical transaction to be performed, updating the respective copy of the hyperledger with the medical transaction at the medical personnel node and the patient node.

“In one embodiment, a method for performing a medical transaction using a hyperledger includes identifying a medical facility computing device that is within a threshold distance of a geolocation of a patient computing device, where the medical facility computing device is associated with a medical facility entity and the patient computing device is associated with a patient entity. The method also includes transmitting, from the patient computing device, a request to perform a medical transaction to the medical facility computing device, where the request includes an authenticating credential associated with the patient entity, and a determination is made whether to allow performance of the medical transaction based on one or more rules that specify allowing the medical transaction to be added to a hyperledger when at least the authenticating credential in the hyperledger is verified. The method also includes receiving a notification from the medical facility computing device that indicates the medical transaction has been performed.

“In one embodiment, a method may include recommending items in conversational streams by receiving conversation stream segments, defining a user action outcome objective based on the conversation stream segments and a user profile that may be stored on a hyperledger, selecting an action likely to advance the user action outcome objective, and presenting a conversation stream segment to motivate an action likely to advance the user action outcome objective.

“In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for providing therapeutic medical action recommendations in response to a medical information natural language conversation stream is disclosed. The method includes receiving segments of a medical information natural language conversation stream at an artificial intelligence-based health information conversation agent from a medical information conversation user interface. Based on the medical information content of a user medical information profile (e.g., stored in a hyperledger) associated with the medical information natural language conversation stream, the method further defines a desired clinical management outcome objective relevant to health management criteria and related health management data attributes of the user medical information profile. The method further involves identifying a set of potential therapeutic interventions correlated to advancement of the clinical management outcome objective. The method further involves selecting from among the set of potential therapeutic interventions correlated to advancement of the clinical management outcome objective a medical intervention likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective. The method further involves presenting in the medical information natural language conversation stream a therapeutic advice conversation stream segment designed to stimulate execution of the medical intervention likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective. The method further involves presenting to the user in the medical information natural language conversation stream a therapeutic advice conversation stream segment explaining a correlation between the medical intervention likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective and achievement of the clinical management outcome objective.

“In one embodiment, a computer program product in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing therapeutic medical action recommendations in response to a medical information natural language conversation stream is disclosed. The product contains instructions that cause a computer to receive segments of a medical information natural language conversation stream at an artificial intelligence-based health information conversation agent from a medical information conversation user interface. The product contains further instructions that cause the computer to define a clinical management outcome objective relevant to health management criteria and related health management data attributes of the profile in response to the medical information content of a user medical information profile (e.g., stored in a hyperledger) associated with the medical information natural language conversation stream. The product contains further instructions that cause the computer to select a medical intervention likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective. The product contains further instructions that cause the computer to present to the user in the medical information natural language conversation stream a therapeutic advice conversation stream segment designed to stimulate execution of the action likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective.

“In one embodiment, a system for providing therapeutic medical action recommendations in response to a medical information natural language conversation stream is disclosed, the system includes a knowledge cloud configured for receiving segments of a medical information natural language conversation stream at an artificial intelligence-based health information from a medical information conversation user interface of a cognitive agent. The system further includes a critical thinking engine. The critical thinking engine is configured to define a clinical management outcome objective relevant to health management criteria and related health management data attributes of the profile in response to medical information content of a user medical information profile (e.g., stored in a hyperledger) associated with the medical information natural language conversation stream in the knowledge cloud. The critical thinking engine is further configured to select a medical intervention likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective. The cognitive agent is configure for presenting to the user in the medical information natural language conversation stream a therapeutic advice conversation stream segment designed to stimulate execution of the action likely to advance the clinical management outcome objective.

“In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for providing action recommendations in response to a user-generated natural language conversation stream is disclosed. The method includes receiving segments of a user-generated natural language conversation stream at an artificial intelligence-based conversation agent from a user interface. The method further includes defining a user action outcome objective relevant to attributes of the profile in response to content of a user profile (e.g., stored in a hyperledger) associated with the user-generated natural language conversation stream. The method further includes selecting an action likely to advance the user action outcome objective. The method further includes presenting to the user in the user-generated natural language conversation stream a conversation stream segment designed to motivate performance of the action likely to advance the user action outcome objective.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method for maintaining a hyperledger for medical transactions at one or more nodes, comprising: receiving, from a computing device, a request to perform a transaction using the hyperledger, wherein the transaction pertains to registering a medical personnel entity associated with the computing device as a node of the one or more nodes, and the request comprises an authorizing credential pertaining to the medical personnel entity; determining, based one or more rules, whether to allow the transaction to be performed in view of the request; responsive to determining to allow the transaction to be performed, registering the node for the medical personnel entity by: associating the medical personnel entity with the node; updating the hyperledger by adding a block to the hyperledger, wherein the block stores the transaction including the authorizing credential pertaining to the medical personnel entity; and storing the hyperledger at the node for the medical personnel entity.

“2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from a second computing device, a second request to perform a second transaction using the hyperledger, wherein the second transaction pertains to registering a patient entity associated with the second computing device as a second node of the one or more nodes, and the request comprises personal information pertaining to the patient entity; determining, based on the one or more rules, whether to allow the second transaction to be performed in view of the second request; responsive to determining to allow the second transaction to be performed, registering the second node for the patient entity by: associating the patient entity with the second node; updating the hyperledger by adding a second block to the hyperledger, wherein the second block stores the second transaction including the personal information pertaining to the patient entity; and storing the hyperledger at the second node for the patient entity.

“3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the one or more rules, whether to allow the transaction to be performed in view of the request further comprises: transmitting a request to a computing device of a professional association or a government agency associated with the authorizing credential to validate the authorizing credential.

“4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorizing credential is a National Provider Identifier (NPI).

“5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more nodes represent a plurality of entities in a healthcare ecosystem, wherein the plurality of entities comprise one or more medical personnel, patients, medical facilities, insurance providers, professional associations, and government agencies.

“6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from the computing device associated with the medical personnel entity, a request to perform a medical transaction between the medical personnel entity and a patient entity, wherein the patient entity is associated with a patient node, and a copy of the hyperledger is stored at the patient node; identifying the block in the hyperledger storing the transaction that includes the authorizing credential pertaining to the medical personnel entity; determining whether to allow the medical transaction to be performed based on at least the authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity; and responsive to determining to allow the medical transaction to be performed, updating the hyperledger with the medical transaction.

“7. The method of claim 6, wherein the medical transaction comprises: the medical personnel entity creating or updating a prescription for the patient entity; or the medical personnel entity filling or refilling the prescription for the patient entity.

“8. A method for performing a medical transaction using a hyperledger, the method comprising: receiving, from a computing device associated with a medical personnel entity, a request to perform the medical transaction between the medical personnel entity and a patient entity, wherein the medical personnel entity is associated with a medical personnel node and the patient entity is associated with a patient node, and a respective copy of the hyperledger is maintained at both the medical personnel node and the patient node; identifying a transaction in the hyperledger that stores an authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity; determining whether to allow the medical transaction to be performed based on at least the authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity; and responsive to determining to allow the medical transaction to be performed, updating the respective copy of the hyperledger with the medical transaction at the medical personnel node and the patient node.

“9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether to allow the medical transaction to be performed based on at least the authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity further comprises determining whether the authorizing credential is valid.

“10. The method of claim 8, wherein the medical transaction comprises the medical personnel entity creating or updating a prescription for the patient entity.

“11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining that the authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity is expired or is about to expire; transmitting, based on one or more rules, a notification to the computing device associated with the medical personnel entity that instructs the medical personnel entity to renew the authorizing credential.

“12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: identifying another transaction in the hyperledger that stores information pertaining to the patient entity; determining whether to allow the medical transaction to be performed based on at least the authorizing credential of the medical personnel entity and the information pertaining to the patient entity; and responsive to determining to allow the medical transaction to be performed, updating the respective copy of the hyperledger with the medical transaction at the medical personnel node and the patient node.

“13. A method for performing a medical transaction using a hyperledger, the method comprising: identifying, by a patient computing device, a medical facility computing device that is within a threshold distance of a geolocation of the patient computing device, wherein the medical facility computing device is associated with a medical facility entity and the patient computing device is associated with a patient entity; transmitting, from the patient computing device, a request to perform a medical transaction to the medical facility computing device, wherein the request comprises an authenticating credential associated with the patient entity, and a determination is made whether to allow performance of the medical transaction based on one or more rules that specify allowing the medical transaction to be added to a hyperledger when at least the authenticating credential in the hyperledger is verified; and receiving a notification from the medical facility computing device that indicates the medical transaction has been performed.

“14. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical transaction comprises filling or refilling a prescription for the patient entity.

“15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more rules further specify allowing the medical transaction to be added to the hyperledger when at least an authorizing credential of a medical personnel entity in the hyperledger is verified, wherein the medical personnel entity comprises a pharmacist or a physician that wrote the prescription.

“16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more rules further specify notifying the medical personnel entity to update the authorizing credential in the hyperledger at set intervals of time.

“17. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more rules further specify allowing the medical transaction to be added to the hyperledger when at least an authorizing credential of the medical facility entity in the hyperledger is verified, wherein the medical facility entity comprises a pharmacy.

“18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more rules further specify allowing the medical transaction to be added to the hyperledger when the prescription for the patient entity is identified at another medical transaction in the hyperledger.

“19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more rules further specify allowing the medical transaction to be added to the hyperledger when there is at least one remaining refill for the prescription identified at the another medical transaction in the hyperledger.

“20. The method of claim 13, wherein the hyperledger comprises a plurality of blocks storing transactions between any combination of a plurality of entities in a healthcare ecosystem, wherein the plurality of entities comprise one or more medical personnel, patients, medical facilities, insurance providers, professional associations, and government agencies.”

URL and more information on this patent application, see: ANDERSON, Mark Henry; GNANASAMBANDAM, Nathan. System And Method For Using A Blockchain To Manage Medical Transactions Between Entities In A Healthcare Ecosystem. Filed May 15, 2020 and posted August 4, 2022. Patent URL: https://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220220245637%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20220245637&RS=DN/20220245637

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