AU2012202156A1 - Method of acquiring data - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract The invention relates to a method of acquiring data, the method allowing the patient and relevant medical care givers and practitioners to use a medically vetted website to access and engage in the diagnostic engine and treatment and online realtime disease and case management of a patient via a central server and medical database. The method of acquiring data in accordance with the invention requires a person, such as a medical doctor, to make a hypothesis as to a possible medical diagnosis regarding a patient. The doctor is required to answer a select group of questions relating to that diagnosis. In order to answer the questions, the doctor may have to conduct simple tests on the patient. 12 14 16 18 20 22 | / 0923411 2375670000003245603 I1 iii309oi 204356 1 7 18 26 18.1 18.2 28 204356 ICD10-h24.3 204368 205122 15 _ ICDIO-h24.3 "is the patients back aching?" www.medinfo.com/h2 14 38 40 42 2375670000003245603 BIOOOI BV321 AF123

Description

METHOD OF ACQUIRING DATA FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of acquiring data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of acquiring data by 5 means of numerical conversions. BACKGROUND TO INVENTION When medical doctors / and or medical care givers examine patients they normally do so by fiollowing a routine which has been developed over centuries through experience. The routines of various doctors care givers vary depending on which area of medicine they have specialized in; what experience they have gained; and in which country they have been trained. After each clinical examination of a patient the care givers utilize the SOAP1ER method, ie; Subjective symptoms on taking history, Objective clinical signs on examination, Assessment of all clinical information in order to reach an Plan of care or care plan which will need confirmation by Investigations, e.g. X-rays, blood tests, sonar to confirm the diagnosis as a working diagnosis. Then the care giver implements Execution of treatment or care plan Results are assessed to assure recovery or repeat the diagnostic process in order to generate a new diagnosis. If the patient's condition does not improve according to the goalposts and timelines of the disease specific care plan, the case manager can refer the patient for a second opinion or to the next most qualified care giver for that specific condition, e.g. specialist eye surgeon for a painful red eye. The doctor records this SOAPIER process for each specific disease and writes report(s) on his findings / treatments. This enables the doctor / nurse to record a history of the medical problems of a patient in a standardized way.

2 If the patient should change to a second doctor; or if the patient is referred to a second doctor for specialist treatment; then it is preferable that the second doctor knows the history and tests done to date on the patient. Currently there is no mechanism by which a patient's medical history and tests done can be reliably stored or securely transferred to a second doctor at a remote location. Thus every doctor expends a certain amount of time taking a history and re-diagnosing the patient, before treating the patient. A general practitioner (GP) spends 30% of his time writing long hand notes, whilst an ICU nurse spends 56% of her time filling in forms instead of "hands-on" nursing. Often there is redundancy in that blood tests. X-rays, MRI scans are repeated i-e. duplicated. 80% of all blood tests are repeated by the medical doctors if more than 4 doctors are visited. This is time wasting and may even result in an incorrect diagnosis and or incorrect medical prescriptions being written because of illegible hand written notes. In the USA approximately 15 000 people die annually, because of incorrect medicines or else drug reactions due to lack of consistency i.t.o dispensing drugs. Furthermore there are according to the International Code of Diseases Version 10 (lCD-10) a total of 6800 different medical conditions / diseases codified for which are treated by specific treatment plans, i.e. codified Patient Treatment plans Version 4 (CPT-4). In order to make an intuitively correct diagnosis based upon the patient's age, sex, lifestyle, family history, symptoms, signs and associated conditions the top clinical doctors have to store approximately 4.5 million facts in their brains. The art of diagnosing the correct specific disease (ICD-10) is reliant upon excellent training; experience of more than 10 years in a field (3) and the ability to recall these stored medical facts and recall similar clinical presentations from past experience by associations and through recall of previous cases. Even odor of a wound has diagnostic importance, something that computers will never be able to assimilate and record. It is an object of the invention to suggest a method of acquiring data, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

3 SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the invention, a method of acquiring data includes the steps of a) providing a first record set including a first unique number associated -with a first person; a second unique number associated with a second 5 person; a third unique number associated with a specific question, contained in a list of questions; and a fourth number being an answer to the specific question; b) providing a second record set associated with the first record set, the second record set including a question code associated with the third 10 unique number; and a statistical weight to be given to the fourth number; c) providing a third record set associated with the second record set, the third record set including a description reference of the question code; and d) saving the first record set, the second record set, and the third- record set is in a database. A method of acquiring data includes the steps of a) providing a first record set including a first unique number associated with a first person; a second unique number associated with a second person; a third unique number associated with a specific question, 20 contained in a list of questions; and a fourth number being an answer to the specific question; b) providing a second record set associated with the first record set, the second record set including a question code associated with the third unique number; and a statistical weight to be given to the fourth number; 41 c) providing a third record set associated with the second record set, the third record set including a description reference of the question code; d) saving the first record set, the second record set, and the third record set in a database; and 5 e) providing a fourth record set identifying financial data. Any of the first record set, the second record set, the third record set, the fourth record set or the entire database may be able to be jointly or separately transmitted to wherever required. The first person may be a medical practitioner. 10 The first number may be associated with the medical practitioner's national registration number. The first number may be associated with the medical practitioner's specialist qualifications and experience. The second number may include a check digit calculated by means of the Lunz 15 method. The second person may be a medical patient. The fourth number may be adapted to indicate a true or false answer to a question associated with the third number. The first record set may include a fifth number associated with a date and time 20 that the first person examined the second person. The first record set may include a sixth number adapted to be a check digit for verifying the validity of any other number contained in the first record set 5 The second record set may include a list of third unique numbers associated with all possible questions that can be asked. Each third unique number may be associated with at least one further third unique number associated with a question which should be asked or answered. 5 Each third unique number may be associated with at least one further third unique number associated with a question which need not be asked or answered. The third record set may include a reference to a publication containing a description of the question code. 10 The fourth record set may include three unique numbers. The three unique numbers may be associated with a budgeted item, a budgeted value, and availability of funds. The budgeted item may be a type of treatment or medication required by the second person. 15 The budgeted value may be a cost associated with the type of treatment or medication. The availability of funds may be retrieved from the second person's medical aid or bank account to cover the costs indicated by the budgeted value. Among the objectives of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a centralized medical electronic health record (ElHfR), which is owned by the individual patient. The patient registers on the system and creates his/her electronic health record and enters his/her biometric and biographical data, eg; age, sex. drug allergies, drug reactions and past family history as well as his patient activated risk analysis and lifestyles (PARAL). (See Fig 3) During registration be/she opts "in" for allowing certain medical professionals to gain access to listed records; whilst opting "out" fbr certain very sensitive clinical records, eg; sexually transmitted diseases or AIDS. 1-e/she can choose to allow only a dedicated professional health carer by pin and practice numbers to see these sensitive files. The patient can also elect to allow certain generic information, eg; the sensitivity of an organism, eg; bacteria staphylococcus; to a given antibiotic: to be used by a research tearn/drug company for a predetermined cost per visit on-line or per medical project. The patient can also opt "in" or opt "out" for the National Health Institute / his private insurance Company / Hospital Groups / Research Academics to access information from his EHR for a specific disease or condition for which the patient ie; he / she will be paid for her visit provided anonymity maintained, i.e. confidentiality at H-LLP.P.A and 1-L7 levels. The patient may elect to join a preventative or planned lifestyle program in order to obtain health credits from his / her private insurance company or national insurance company. Again the patient can opt "in" or "out". Once the patient has exercised the options (0005 - 0011) above he / she can choose to make a patient-generated provisional diagnosis utilizing the diagnostic process of acquiring medical data in a structured process according to the invention which involves this patent. Therefore briefly; the present invention, allows the patient and all relevant medical care givers (from nurse to doctor to specialist and hospital groups / clinics) to use a medically vetted website to access and engage in the diagnostic engine and treatment and on-line realtime disease (case) management of a patient via a central server and medical database. This has only been made possible by the use of a copyrighted website Graphical User Interface (GUi) * which has been designed according to medical business network rules to accommodate a customized medical desktop for each and every medical professional care giver as well as a desktop for the patient. (See Fig 2) Each customized professional medical desk top on the website is governed by a security system from the back-end to the web application. (See Fig. I) I The patient or care-giver can then communicate or interactively on-line consult, via Skype, with the patient and / or with other care givers involved in the patient's specific disease care plan in a coordinated and structured way by following his / her "best practice" care plan which has been written for the patient's specific disease (condition) by a professional medical association and managed by DDM (the patent) in the III ultilayered medical platform as a service (PAAS). By utilizing the medical website and the power of "cloud computing" networks all role-players treating the patient's case are linked in real time via a customized multilayered medical desktop to the central server recording the clinical inputs of each care giver on his desktop against the goalposts / time lines linked to outcomes of all involved. lence multiple "care givers" from remote geographical areas are being co-coordinated (Case Managed) to deliver a "best practice" care plan according to the SOAPIER medical business rules: with time lines: goal posts and proposed outcomes to ensure a desired outcome within a stipulated tmnic The central server documents the specific activity on each medical providers desktop and makes this clinical data available to the digitalized diagnostic medical management application(the patent) where the specific medical providers' diagnosis and clinical activities are compared and contrasted with the "best practice" care plan and tirrelines. The professional skills and efficacy of each designated medical care giver or provider can than be evaluated for this specific disease; e.g. treatment of triple bypass surgery the national average for treating the exact same specific condition. Since each "best practice" care plan specifies which tests., X-rays, investigations, procedures, drugs and other medical equipment is to be used and by whom on a time line; the financial inputs for services rendered on each care giver's desktop can be calculated to arrive at a global fee for treating the specific disease by adding up the expenses generated on each of the participating "care giver's" desktop for that disease specific condition. Care givers who work in specialized clinics or hospitals as dedicated centers of excellence can now compete in a "positive sum" competition to treat the patient pool with specific diseases; in which they have focused their centre of excellence or specialty; eg; bypass surgery. This structured competition based on a universal care plan will increase efficiencies.

a The consolidated global fee for treating, eg; bypass surgery will be monitored/case managed by an independent third party who can assure that the correct payments are made to the care givers according to the health insurance plan for that specific disease, ie; for that disease specific care plan. Providers or health partners that deviate more thui 10% from the prescribed care plan with its global fee for all services rendered on each participating care giver's desktop can then be flagged to be reprimanded, retrained or investigated if they persistently over service, ie; are > 10% outside the national global fee for, e.g. a triple bypass operation in a cardiothoracic centre of excellence. For the patient, the benefits include: I Readily available access to medically vetted information and other medical websites that are hyper linked to the medical. website (see ICU document). 2. The patient can interact with his existing general practitioner on line via any handheld (smartphone, i-pad) or home personal computer (PC) and / or Skype via a smartphone. 3. The patient can diagnose a provisional medical condition (diagnostic engine) and forward it to a doctor or care giver of his choice and make an appointment with the abovementioned selected care giver. 4. He/she can request a repeat script to be issued to his pharmacist flor an existing chronic medical condition. 5. Le/she can join a forum of patients/care givers with or discussing the same medical condition. 6 He can request a "sick note" to be forwarded to his employer directly from the health professional or else obtain a repeat script for chronic medication. NB! In the UK alone 5 million workdays were lost due to illegal / lorged sick certificate in 2009.

9 This invention has been designed and developed by a medical doctor and a computer scientist with a combined 60 years of experience in medicine. Hence the system utilizes existing medical diagnostic "business" rules,. methodology and uses a numerical method for acquiring data from different medical professional desktops and interprets the data. Tis will overcome the present problems experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of patients by a team of care givers in remote locations with independent (silo's) medical records. The patient can access the "website" on the internet and by opening the [patient] desktop or the website he / she can generate his / her own medical records after passing the security level; do an online risk analysis and lifestyle assessment (PARAL): and generate a patient activated provisional diagnosis using the existing prior art (see figures 2-7). The Digital Diagnostic Management (DDM) sofivare receives the information entered by the patient by completing the figures 2 - 7 and by answering disease specific questions. The diagnostic software will then provide the patient with a list of the most likely (probable) diagnoses for his complaint. The patient can now submit his diagnosed condition into the centralized server and gain access to the medical care givers (in rising order of expertise) for his specific medical condition in his geographical area, eg; nurses. physical therapist, general practitioners, specialists or centers of excellence in eg; bypass heart surgery in his area if he has a heart problem. He can then exercise a choice to see the listed and disease specific, accredited doctor and make an appointment on-line. This will also allow the selected doctor access to the patient's medical profile. On arrival at the remotely located doctor the patient-generated risk analysis and provisional diagnosis is available on the particular doctors designated desktop. He then follows the internationally recognized medical diagnostic process. ie; SOAPTER on his desktop to confirm and refine the patient's initial provisional diagnosis at his level of medical expertise as a professionally trained and certified doctor acknowledged by the medical pilatlorn. Once the ICD-10 diagnostic code for that disease is entered into the relevant care giver's computer at the digitalized diagnostic "care plan" (lCD-10 specific) developed for that country's relevant medical association, eg; USA Cardiothorasic Association will appear on the care giver's desktop the care plans for cardiac diseases.

'LO All care givers associated with the case will get their specific professional care plans. eg; doctor, physical therapist, ward nurse, theatre nurse, pharmacist on their desktops so that the patient is now treated in an integrated real-time manner by multiple care givers who are all on the same "clinical" page in the same moment of time during the treatment process from initial diagnosis to final cardiac rehabilitation and return to work. All existing automated medical electronic health records (EHR) and / or diagnostic systems; like their paper based record counterparts; are typically only available to health care professionals affiliated with the hospital, clinic, or practice that uses and owns the medical record software and separate (silo's) computers, without an interface to exchange data / information between these separate and remotely situated computers using different types of software. This invention uses the "cloud computing" abilities of the internet via a specifically designed medical (copyrighted) website where each and every possible medical care giver has a customized desktop (workbench) which links different and associated care givers to one patient's disease specific (ICD-10) care plan, over multiple treatment locations in an integrated way to a central patient electronic health record (EHR). .Hence all the care givers are clinically on the "same page" in real time and as they treat and offer services so their treatment activities (process) are recorded against the "best practice" care plan for that specific disease.

:1'L BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 20 The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings there is shown in: Figure 1 a first record set provided by the method of acquiring data in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 a second record set provided by the method in accordance with the invention; 5 Figure 3 a third record set provided by the method in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 a fourth record set provided by the method in accordance with the invention. Fig 5 is a block diagram of a computer system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6The copyrighted GUI (Graphical User Interface) utilized by the medical website as a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 illustrates exemplary diagnostic patient activated risk analysis and lifestyles document (PARAL - document) from which certain biometric and biographical information is obtained for analysis by the digitalized diagnostic method of the invention (DDM). Fig.& is a disease specific pain pattern and site/system or organ of involvement for the patient's condition, eg; headache. Fig. 5 the digitalized diagnostic method of the invention will from the above medical information present a probable type of headache, eg; tension headache, with the 3 next most possible types of headaches. The patient is now presented with diagnostic specific questions (sensitive and specific) relating to the most probable diagnosis. ie; tension headache.

Fig.I0 fhe standard medical (business) diagnostic process of SOAPIE R is now used to refine the accuracy of the diagnosis, ie; Fig. 11 is the diagnostic and data collection process of the preferred embodiment; Fig 'l2.is a disease specific, eg; tension headaches, care plan and global fee For treating the care plan by all the designated medical care givers / clinic(s) involved. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 1o The method of acquiring data in accordance with the invention requires a person, such as a medical doctor, to make a hypothesis as to a possible medical diagnosis regarding a patient. The doctor is required to answer a select group of questions relating to that diagnosis. In order to answer the questions, the doctor may have to conduct simple tests on the patient. 15 The questions are asked in a structured format, each question requiring a true or false answer. The number and type of questions which are asked may be increased or reduced depending on the answers given by the doctor to a specific question. The questions may even lead to the doctor making a new or second hypothesis as to the possible medical diagnosis. 20 As each new hypothesis is made, they are placed in a queue for processing after the current hypothesis has been fully processed. The information obtained from by the method is stored in a database in a specific format (as will be described hereafter) and any other doctor, such as a specialist doctor, will be able to follow the first doctor's medical analysis by studying this information. The medical history of the patient will be contained in the information and will thus be known to a specialist doctor. The information relating to a hypothesis is stored in the database as various 5 record sets as is shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the'drawings. Referring to Figure 1, a first record set, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The first record set 10 includes a first or doctor identification number 12, a second or patient identification number 14, a date and time 16, a third or question number 18 and a fourth or answer number 20 given to the 10 question number 18. The first record set 10 can also include a check digit 22, which determines whether all the other numbers 12,14,16,18,20 contained in the record set 10 are correctly represented or if a problem has developed due to loss of characters or human error in copying the numbers 12,14,16,18,20. 15 The doctor identification number 12 is used to identify which doctor used the method in testing a hypothesis. Each doctor registered to practice in a country, in which the method is to be used, is allocated an individual identification number 12 which is identical to or can be derived from their national registration number. The doctor identification number 12 is further used to 20 indicate whether or not the doctor has any specialist qualifications. This allows control of the quality and responsibility of the doctor and also which referrals should be made to other doctors. The patient identification number 14 is a unique number given to each patient who is analysed by the method. The last digit in the patient identification number 14 is a check digit, which is calculated by the Lunz method, and enables the patient identification number 14 to be verified. The date and time 16 is entered automatically, the time 16.1 being entered in twenty-four hour time format and the date 16.2 being entered in short date 5 format. The question number 18 is a unique number given to each possible question asked in the method. The question number 18 is never re-used, even if a question is deleted or redefined. The question number 18 is related to a second record set 24, which stores all the questions together with rule base information 10 associated with the questions, as shown in Figure 2. The second record set 24 relates the question identification number 18 with a code description 26 of the question, with any further question associated with a question identification number 18.1 that should- also be asked of the doctor, with any question associated with a question identification number 18.2 that 15 need not be asked of the doctor, as well as with a statistical weight 28, which should be applied to the answer of the question associated with the question identification number 18. If necessary, the code description 26 can be related to a third record set 30, as shown in Figure 3, which either provides a description 32 of the question asked, 20 or can be linked to publication details of a publication giving a description of the question asked. The publication can be a printed publication or it can be a publication provided on the internet. The publication will preferably contain details of the origin and reason for asking the question associated with a question identification number 18.

15 The answer number 20 can be associated with a true (1) or false (0) answer, or it can be a number indicating a level of severity, e.g. of damage sustained during burn wounds. The use of the first record set 10 enables a hypothesis to be made and stored in 5 a secure manner, which contains detailed information in a structured format that can be easily researched. As the information is defined by numerical characters, it is also easily transferable to other medical practitioners. This method is thus also applicable for simultaneous real-time analysis of the information by many medical practitioners. As such the method is extremely ia viable for use in highly specialised operations, which require practitioners that are situated in different countries. The method also incorporates the use of a fourth record set 36, as shown in Figure 4, for financial data. The patient identification number 14 is-associated with a budgeted item number 38, with a budget value number 40 and with an is availability of funds number 42. Thus should the patient require cost incurring treatment or medication, the doctor will be able to enter the type of treatment or medication in the budgeted item number 38 and the applicable cost will then be entered in the budgeted value number 40. The budgeted value number 40 can either be manually entered by the doctor or it can be automatically entered 20 from the database. The database then electronically queries the medical aid service or the bank account of the patient to determine if the patient has sufficient funds to cover the relevant costs. From a security aspect, the use of the information returned by the fourth record set 36 can be restricted to prevent fraudulent activity. Thus the patient may be 25 required to enter a secret pin code or to provide certain biometric data with a 16 biometric data identification card to verify his identity. The biometric data can be a finger print. The database and/or any of the various record sets can be jointly or separately sent to wherever they are requiredto be used, for example the database can be 5 sent from a general practitioner to a specialist doctor for further use. Also, the second record set 24 and the third record set 30 can be updated from time to time as additional information or products are made available and as further research is conducted in the relevant medical field. The method described above can also be used as a learning tool or as a grading 10 tool whereby experienced doctors can judge the knowledge of inexperienced doctors. This is done by determining how many hypothesis were made and comparing these to the final diagnosis made of the patient. As the inexperienced doctor gains experience, the number of hypothesis made will or should decrease before a correct final decision is made. 15 Referring now to the drawing Figg is an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which relates to an automated medical and biographical and diagnostic system hosted as a cloud computing internet medical network. According to the invention, a method of acquiring data includes steps of: 17 a) Providing a first record set including a first unique number associated with a first person - in this instance the patient c.g 32456798765. A second unique number associated with a second person - the doctor e.g. PR234567. A third unique number associated with a specific question - 204345 - > "Do you experience a tight band around the head?" and a fiburth unique number containing the answer - I - > "Yes"; b) Providing a second record set associated with the first record set where the second record set includes a question code associated with the third unique number - 204345 - > "LCD 10 h24.3" and a statistical weight to be given to the fourth urdque number - "0" for sensitivity in or' 10' for sensitivity out; c) Providing a third record set associated. with the second record set where the third record set includes a description reference of the question code - http://wvw.niedinfo.coil/24.3: d) Saving the first, second and third record set in a database. A method ofacquiring data includes steps of: a) Providing a first record set including a first unique number associated with a first person - in this instance the patient e.c. 32456798765. A second unique number associated with a second person - the doctor e.g. PR234567. A third unique number associated with a specific question - 204345 - > "Do you experience a tight band around the head?" and a fourth unique number containing the answer - 1 - > "Yes"; b) Providing a second record set associated with the first record set where the second record set includes a question code associated with the third unique number - 204345 -> "lCD 10 h24.3" and a statistical weight to be given to the fourth unique number -"0" (or sensitivity in or '10' for sensitivity out; c) Providing a third record set associated with the second record set where the third record set includes a description reference of the question code - htp://vv,medinfo.coi/h4.3; d) Saving the first, second and third record set in a database. e) Providing a fourth record set identifying financial data 32456798765(patient) - HT2345(care plan) BR345(procedure) - AF235(availability of finds) The invention relates to a voluntary system, shown on the copyrighted GUI website as [patient] icon at the top of the website layout. By clicking on the [patient] icon; color-coded purple; the patient opens his / her customized medical desktop with a number of medical software applications. The patient can now choose to join the interactive on-line diagnostic and treatment program by logging in at the top right [log in] icon.

18s Once the patient / person has "logged in" the patient must complete tie Patient Activated Risk Analysis and Lifestyle (PARAL) questionnaire to provide critical biometric, biographical, allergies, drug reactions, chronic disease and relevant medical information. (see Fig.6). This critical clinical and lifestyle information is submitted to a centralized server which stores it in a dedicated patient folio with a secure pin number. The patient then enters his main complaint/symptom into the medical problem search engine provided in his patient desktop, eg; he/she may enter [headaches] as a clinical symptom/condition. This entry, i.e. condition, is sent to a central server where it is presented to the digitized diagnostic Method (DDM) software of the invention i.e. the patented diagnostic engine. The DDM invention software will now select and post the ethical SOAPIER care plan outline to the patient's desktop on his personal computer/smart phone. The DDM invention software will now provide the patient with the disease specific pain pattern for jhcadachesj. (see Fig.8) The patient will now firstly follow directions and select the region on the illustrated front and back views of the upright body, eg; the patient will click on pain region I + 2 from the front and 19 and 20 from behind for his symptoms of headaches for the region 000, ic; head and face. This will enter the pain region as 000 with pain specific areas 1 + 2 (front) and. 19 + 20 (back) to the DDM. diagnostic software. The next instruction is for the patient to select the correct bodily system affected, ie; brain, ie; tick box 00 1.]. This will be transmitted to the DDM diagnostic software. The patient is then presented with a disease specific pain radiation / location pattern (see images I - 8 Fig. ) from which the patient chooses the most appropriate pain radiation / location pattern. This is then transmitted via the internet to the central computer and the DDM software. The DDM software then posts onto the patient's desktop the region/ the subsection affected 1 /2 19120 as well as the selected pain radiation / location. The patient can now verify his decisions by clicking [correct or I agree] thus far; where after the provisional diagnosis of [Tension headaches will pop up on the SOAPIER Careplan.

19 The patient now has to answer certain statistical relevant questions according to the SOAPIER care plan workiflow on his desktop. Subjective: - Clinical symptoms Question 1: Sensitivity i.to getting correct diagnosis Yes u No n Question 2: Sensitivity ........................ Yes o No o Question 3: Specificity iLo getting the correct diagnosis Yes o No o Question 4: Specificity i.to getting the correct diagnosis for tension headache Yes o No o Objective: -Clinical signs - [Exam 1] most sensitive exam to confirm tension headaches Yes o No n - [Exam 21 most sensitive exam to confirm tension headaches Yes o No n - Exam 31 most specific exam to confirm tension headaches Yes Ei No o - jExam 41 most specific exam to confirm tension headaches Yes n No n Clearly in the manner described by the [0043] Subjective clinical symptoms related questions will be asked about tension headaches to the patient in line with S, i.e SQ1 (1) answers o o o SQ2 (2) oo SQ3 (3) on SQ4 (4) Eo U The DDM diagnostic software will now interpret the answers 1 - 4 of the S (symptoms) and return with the most likely diagnosis after this round of questioning. If the provisional diagnosis still remains [Tension headaches] then the O symbol on the patient desktop will post the next objective sign. ic; o OQi - Do you have double vision when the headaches occur? Yes o No n The patient now completes the objective questions on clinical signs OQ 1 - OQ4 which will be posted to the central computer and DDM diagnostic software.

20 The patient desktop will now reveal the following: |Complaints] [Provisional Diagnosis 1.11eadaches] [Tension Headaches] S (Subjective) SQ1 - Q1 answer Yes No ? SQ2-Q2 o n C SQ3-Q3 l 0 0 SQ4-Q4 0 0 0 O (Objective) OQ I - Ql I El 0 1 OQ2 - Q2 Ec 0 0 OQ3-Q3 0 o a OQ4 - Q4 0 L o Plan - Provisional Care Plan subject to investigations is: [Tension Headaches] To see further clinical care plan details click on I.lnvestigatel Execution: Your tension headaches can be treated conservatively by following the [Tension Headaches] Care Plan for patients or you may wish to engage a: [Nurse] [Doctor] [Specialist] [Headache Center of Excellencel In your geographic area to diagnose treat and consult with You. When the patient selects, e.g. |Doctor] treating tension headaches in his area he opts "in" to be seen, diagnosed and treated by this care giver- Hence the data recorded thus far is forwarded to the selected I Doctors database with the request for an appointment. If the patient chooses to treat the condition himself the patient can select a hyperlink to a: [Tension Headache Forum] [Tension Headache Blog] [Tension Headache Wikepedia for more information concerning the medical condition. When the patient arrives at the care givers practice the care giver, e.g Doctor, will in his/her office go on-line onto the website and open the icon [.Doctor/GPI in blue color to log in to his/her desktop application.

21 The Doctor now opens the icon [My Patients] and types in the patient's surname, name, age, sex and IRS number The centralized computer will now display the answers provided to date by the patient concerning the ICD-I 0 M Tension Headache disease on the [Dloctor] desktop. The [Doctor / GPI can either run through the patients answers or open his own higher level diagnostic SOAPIER desktop, If the Doctor elects to open the more detailed and hence more accurate [Doctor] SOAPIER desktop the process of [0044] and [0045] of the invention for acquiring medical data will be repeated on the Doctor's desktop in the same sequence but with more specific and more sensitive questions in medical terminology which will help to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis, After completing the S (subjective) 4 questions, ie; QI - Q4 and the 0 (Objective) examination of the patient ie; OQI - OQ4 the DDM diagnostic software will confirm the relevant diagnosis, ie; [Tension Headaches]. However, in the case of the Doctor the desktop will now post the Investigations to be done in order to confirm this provisional diagnosis. The investigations are arranged in order from bottom up, to important, relevant. basic investigations to more advanced; more costly. relevant investigations, eg; brain scans. The doctor now starts to Execute the treatment plan for iTension Headaches] again from a cost-effective basic level of: [Preventative] IMedicall Ilnterventionall [Surgical treatment once the designated time line for each modality of treatment has expired, eg: [Medical treatment] JTylenol T tds po @ meals x 6 weeks] After 6 weeks either more advanced medication is prescribed or else [interventional] treatment is given ic; occipital nerve blocks, je; injections in the rooms. The Doctor continues with his doctor specific care plan until either the condition is chronic, io: 6 weeks in duration or else if he has exhausted his medical expertise available to him at his / her level of treatment. If either the time frame - 6 weeks or else skill set ito treatment of the Doctor has lapsed the central server will inform the doctor to select a accredited specialist treating [Tension Headaches] in the patient's geographical area.

2.2 The patient will go on-line on his IPatient desktop and confirm the appointment online to see the specialist. The specialist will utilize his specialist specific desktop to open a patient Folio for the patient. The specialist will type in the new patient with ITension Headaches]'s surname, age, sex, and IRS number and the process described above but clearly now the relevant disease specific questions are pitched at a higher level of sensitivity and specificity in the "jargon" or language of a specialist neurologist and the care plan for the neurologist has been drawn up and verified by the USA Neurology Society or Association. If the neurosurgeon or neurologist wants to do a surgical procedure in a clinic or center ofexcellence the same SOAPIER medical management rules are followed and all expenses ito blood transfusions, equipment, disposables. eg: swabs, sutures, dressings and drugs are recorded on the interactive virtual desktops of each and every medical care giver involved in the treatment process. Hence the total treatment plan and process for each participating member of the medical team: be it the [Nurse]. [Physiotherapist], IDoctor], [Neurologist], fNeurosurgeon], [Headache Clinic] or {Headache Rehab Center] can be assessed, audited and added to arrive at a global fee for treating ITension Headachesl over time. This unique method of acquiring and authenticating data by a dedicated knowledge domain reduction into long-code subsets (x4) is central to the purpose of linking millions of incoming data subsets (from smartphones) and seamlessly sending them via a middleware encryption core to the correct indexed subset of files (disease specific) in the backend data server; locally or in. the cloud by means of numerical conversions, ie; long-code. (See Illustration Fig 5 At present no secure customized lonilkSet coding subsetss) exist hence short-set codes, eg; SMS (Short Message Systems) are being hacked almost daily because of ease of hacking short-code in the ether, ic; internet, eg; Sun Newspaper in London .

23 ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF THE INVENTION In order to securely and seamlessly link the web portal (Website) to the data server and ensure that the customized medical workflow, ic; SOAPIER (S = Subjective history; 0 = Observation, ie; signs; A = Assessment; P = Care Plan for that disease assessed as likely; 1= Investigate and implement plan; E = Evaluate progress; R = Revue Outcomes) a unique subset of 4 long codes have been developed and patented for identifying the patient and his doctor and specific as well as statistically specific questions pertaining to the disease. (First subset, see Fig5). The second subset (see Fig 6) identities the patient but now the question / lab result / x-ray is entered by the doctor linked to code description 26 so that this subset is identified and authenticated as data (26) originating from a doctor / care giver / nurse / specialist / lab / x-ray or hospital for a specific ICD-10 Disease code (26). The third subset contains either a question or explanation For the activity in subsets 2 or gives the details of the publication verifying the clinical activity in subset 3. (See Fig.-7) Subset no. 4 is for linking the clinical activity in subset 2 to a treatment code (CPT-4) with a specific price (unit code) which is budgeted in number 28. (See Fig.) If the financial institution verifies that the correct patient was seen by his authenticated doctor and the correct clinical activity (subset no. 2) was completed according to the "best practice" care plan, then entered price (CPT-4 code) is entered by the doctor / care giver, ie; value no. 40. If the unit value in dollars for the budgeted item, ie; clinical treatment in value no. 38 agrees with the required unit value requested by the doctor, ie; value no. 40 and the patient debit card has available funds, ie; value no. 42 payment is authorized by the patent, ie; the method of acquiring, authenticating and authorizing Financial payment to the doctor either on his debt card or to his smartphone within 7 days. Hence, this code was developed and integrated into the web portal (front-end) the diagnostic middleware (encryption / decryption / authorization / verification of funds) to seamlessly link with the local and cloud based server. ALTERNATIVE APPLICATIONS OF THE INVENTION Presently individual companies are independently developing inultisided web portals for customers whilst the software for customized business / workflow is being developed by a second vendor and the data server in the cloud (DAAS) is being provided by a third vendor. ie; Amazon is the Cloud Server Provider (CSP). The unique long-code of 4 subsets could act as an encrypted way of identifying. acquiring and authorizing business transactions in the cloud. The fourth subset can be used to pay by debit card or smartphone for the service rendered.

Hence this unique long-code of 4 subsets as explained in the patent documents could become a universal code like HTML for smartphone or hand-held devices on the cloud in the future. To date no such universal unique method of acquiring and authorizing activities has been developed for the cloud. Alternatively, since our application of this patent has been built and tested and financial transactions have been done for services rendered this patent can becomethe universal long-code (ie; 4 x subsets) for all cloud transactions).

This unique long code (4 subsets of data groups) has been developed, designed, built and tested, ie; prototyped on an web portal (see GUI trademark) and can be decoded / decrypted so that the correct data (result / x-ray image / report) is seamlessly posted to the correct indexed patient electronic health record in a local or distant cloud server. Presently 1000 patients have had their correct results for a specific (ICD-10) disease posted to thcir personal patient electronic health records and the medical activities paid for on a debit card system. This patent is hence invented, prototyped and tested and we present it as a first to file long-code encryption method for cloud computing internationally. ie; for other similar detailed business workfloww) activities. Like HTML tested language it can solve the way of encrypting / transferring data / images and decrypting them for correct placement (indexed filing) for that activity. If verified as a service completed against the correct budgeted value for that service payment by the banks by smartphone or credit card takes place in the cloud. The Invention with all its ramifications proves that it is an unique long code (subset) of numbers which allow an accurate method of identifying, authenticating and verifying services, whilst the fourth subset is designed to confirm that services were rendered as per budgeted price (quoted price) before payment is initiated by debit card or smartphone. From this detailed evaluation it will become obvious that our patent for acquiring data and the interpretation / authentication and verification of services rendered against a budgeted cost where after payment will be authorized on a debit card or smartphone central to the operation of a medical cloud computing business network. Furthermore, this purpose built long coding (subset x 4) numerical conversion system has successfully been prototyped and has executed debit card payments by claimed successive combination of steps (je; subsets I - 4) of the long code system for 1000 patients. This unique method will influence the cloud computing IT vendors in a concrete and useful way by the combination of steps of our method of acquiring and authorizing data transactions in the cloud between front end web portals, middleware clients and back end data servers in the cloud. NB: A live on-line demonstration of this patent with verification of services rendered and payment on-line by debit card can be demonstrated to prove that our patent is first to file -for a new long code patent that is prototype, ie; the invention is working in a secure medical environment.

Claims (21)

1. A method of acquiring data includes the steps of a) providing a first record set including a first unique number associated 'with a first person; a second unique number associated with a second 5 person; a third unique number associated with a specific question, contained in a list of questions; and a fourth number being an answer to the specific question; b) providing a second record set associated with the first record set, the second record set including a question code associated with the third 10 unique number; and a statistical weight to be given to the fourth number; c) providing a third record set associated with the second record set, the third record set including a description reference of the question code; and 15 d) saving the first record set, the second record set, and the third record set in a database.

2. A method of acquiring data includes the steps of a) providing a first record set including a first unique number associated with a first person; a second unique number associated with a second 20 person; a third unique number associated with a specific question, contained in a list of questions; and a fourth number being an answer to the specific question; b) providing a second record set associated with the first record set, the second record set including a question code associated with the third 2~7 unique number; and a statistical weight to be given to the fourth number; c) providing a third record set associated with the second record set, the third record set including a description reference of the question 5 code; d) saving the first record set, the second record set, and the third record set in a database; and e) providing a fourth record set identifying financial data.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which any of the first record set, 10 the second record set, the third record set, the fourth record set or the entire database are able to be jointly or separately transmitted to wherever required.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first person is a medical practitioner. 15

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the first number is associated with the medical practitioner's national registration number.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which the first number is associated with the medical practitioner's specialist qualifications and experience. 20

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second number includes a check digit calculated by means of the Lunz method.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second person is a medical patient. 26

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the fourth number is adapted to indicate a true or false answer to a question associated with the third number.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first 5 record set includes a fifth number associated with a date and time that the first person examined the second person.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first record set includes a sixth number adapted to be a check digit for verifying the validity of any other number contained in the first record set. 10

12. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second record set includes a list of third unique numbers associated with all possible questions that can be asked.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which each third unique number is associated with at least one further third unique number associated with a 15 question which should be asked or answered.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which each third unique number is associated with at least one further third unique number associated with a question which need not be asked or answered.

15. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the 20 third record set includes a reference to a publication containing a description of the question code.

16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15, in which the fourth record set includes three unique numbers. 296

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, in which the three unique numbers are respectively associated with a budgeted item, a budgeted value, and availability of funds.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the budgeted item is a type of 5 treatment or medication required by the second person.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, in which the budgeted value is a cost associated with the type of treatment or medication.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the availability of funds is retrieved from the second person's medical aid or bank account to cover 10 the costs indicated by the budgeted value.

21. A method of acquiring data substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.