CA2387236A1 - Computer implemented and/or assisted process and system for merckmedicus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method, system, and computer program device for a medical information portal, providing a key to medical content on the internet. The invention may include one or more of the following sets of tools, in which various resources are organized in a manner which is intuitive for a healthcare professional: diagnostic tools for research of diseases, learning tools for professional development, patient tools for patient resources, technology tools on using health technology, news and updates tools, quick-reference tools, and/or electronic assistant tool. According to and aspect to the present invention, healthcare resources may be accessed via the Internet. Optionally, the system includes user registration data for each user, and certain resources may be restricted to appropriate users. The system advantageously provides, utilizing the sets of tools, a unified and organized access to a wide variety of a large number of resources that would otherwise be too confusing and/or unwieldy to access, especially in its entirety.

Description

Docket No.105456.121 US1 Pate MP TE SI )' I:r ER "S
Y TEM F R MANA D V A RMAT N PORTAL
FOR ~FsAL~ ~'~' ~.~.F~
R~~TEL~ A ICAT~..~~.~
This appl~_cation cla:i.ms F)r;ic:or:ity t: r, t7.~:a. Patent App:Li.cation No. 60/364,743, "Computer Implemented and/or Assisted Process and System for Merck.Medicus" f,ile~.~ March 1t3, 2()( ~i, i.ncorpc~rats:ad herein by reference.
This application is rel,ateci to the} following U.~;. P<~tent applications: Attorney docket numbers 105456.123, 105456.124, 105456.125, 105456.126, and 1()545E~.:(~?7, to trice same invenl:.ors, and all of which are incorporated herein by x°efez:ence.
T3ACRt3R0UNLl t;3~",_!~N'~T ~' 'TIi::)N
Field of tag Invention The present irxvention i.,~> da.x°ec:ted to computer relate=d and/or assisted systems, methods, and computer program devices for unified ar.cess t:o pr~ofessiona:~. rescalarces in the medical f:Celd.
More particul.arl.y, i.t relates t.c:~ methos3~~ and systems for managing and/or providing unified access to professional healthcarea resources for health.care profe:~sional ;.users, a . c~. , physic:k.ans and other healthcare providers, including where access to some resources may be restrir.:teci t<<> c:.c::.r.°tain types of h.ealthcars professional users.
Description of thg 'Related Art.
In the healthcare field, healthcare professionals conventionally ma,y c>btai..n infc>rma~t.iorj from me~dic~al. publiskners, with most of this information be:Gr~g ju~;t in print . On them other hand, academic i.nsti.tuti.ons have cc.~nsiderabl.e libraries, which Docket No.105456.12"1 C1S1 Pa nt unfortunately ax.-e not univers~~l:ly av;~i.l~.t,~le to physicians. Hence, paper resources with healthcax-e infarmataon may be considerable but difficult to access.
In an attempt to provide information electronically, early websites with limited ixtfarmati.c~r1 were ..x>artsc;~reci by a jrar:i.ety of commercial entities, academic i.nst.itutians, cax- medical associations. There was, nevertheless, a lack of awareness among physicians of the web as a re:wotarce far pravidi.ng informat;.ion and/or other resources needed t'y physic tans . Px~emit.zm rescources might be provided on some of these sites, nevertheless, there was limited exposure and/or ac<ves~ t:c:> r.:hese~ premium resauxces for physicians and c>the:e: healtl ca:..e ~n°afess:ia.~:rals.
These conventional mean: off: prav::i.<:~.irxg information axxd other healthcare professional resources resulted in an uneven playing field for healtY°Acar~a prc>wic er:. Tr1 adci:it:i.on, there are a number of other hurdles fa~,~ing r>fta.ce~-ba~;ed, a::t~ra1 and non--institutional healthcare professionals.
Physicians and other healthcare providers are presently adapted to the current situation. Trey aye u.nlikely to cruange their current habitM~. although t;r~ex:e i.s as rnu<:lu greater degree of.
information available, unfarttznately it will not find its way into the hands of physic:.ians and healt'rm:axe prawiders, and ultimately will not result in improved he. al.t:.hc:are. taevee~theless, the: ability to save time and/or money is one of the primary moti.vators for physicians or healthcare professionals to ckiange their hak>its.
C'.onventionally, the information and/or information gathering process is difficult: and awkwerrd fc>r~ h~:alt:hc:a:c~e providers. The information might. nc~t be pravi.ded in one vanvenient place.
Moreover, the information itself might be inconvenient. P'ar Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent example, if tlxe informati.orr iwo L~rc:>v:ided kry subscriptian, it. is typically expensive to obtain multiple subscriptions. On the other hand informal ion ira text: bc~<.W°" mi.gl°a.t: ;~c ~t be up--to--dai-.e .
Further, textbooks, journals and libraries a~-e not at all suited to physicians' nomadic workin~~ .>tyle, wl~i ch t:ypic:ally incaudes travel between an office and a hospital. Information whicyh might be provided over the web may 1:>e ;°jt:~mbled o:r can:fused, with multiple places, passwords, formats, bzowse~:°s arid seax'ch engines provided for a variety of .i.nformation. z7:l.t::i.mate~3y, ph.ysi.cians and otlxer providers have entirely too many subscriptions, accounts, ID's and passwords, making t'~ne informat::iarx awkwac°d.
With regard tC~ utilizi.ng the Internet, the physicians might suspect the quality of infc:>rmati<5n ar ;:,erwi~~es prov~.ded canline.
Moreover, such information and services might be biased, f:or example as a .result of a spon:aoa af: a 1>~:ar't~.:i~.:G,lax product, unbeknownst to the users. Where information irx sites is searchable, the search erxgine,a that. arcs pn:avided. rniclht nut:
retrieve search results that are mast relevar~t to the physicians' query.
In some situaaions, the a~.cess tc:> iaxfarmation or services might be tied to a ;apecific: license ur spec:ialized access technology. For example, i.n c.~rdex to abt.airx ;:ertairi irrfarmation or services, the phw~rsician migh t be x:eqv~iLwd to use a spec:i.fic computer or install ~:ertairc t~=chz'aolagy In addition, sites that are provided by pharmaceutical companies do not tend to facu:9 arw plxysic:i~a~us. ''these sites. are product driven and patient oriented. They fail to provide far the needs of the physician as a c:ustc:~mer. I'n slaa~:t, it. is di.ffic:ult to obtain information or services via ronvent.ional methods.
'3 Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent One specific examplE_, c>f a web:a:ite directed to physic~~.ans is Medscape/WebMD. Unbeknownst. to physicians, however, Medscape/WebMD is ronarnerci.al.:l.y c;pc:~n~r~rect az:~d. e;~hibit::~ a bias.
As another example, thi:> site a wes physicians limited access to premium resources, stzc~h as t: he k>e,t:; j~.~uxrla~l.:s a~ad t.ext:, bec:amse there is no financia3. incentive to make this information available. Moreover, typic:a.l ott.xzese hvyfc:~> of site:, Medscape/WebMD does not have access tra the premium resources sufficient to place t.azem c~z:~l~ne.
Meanwhile, physicians are facing an increasing number of pressures. These pressures on hea.lrhcNaxe~ ~:ax'Gicr;i.l:icjners include an increase in time pressures, perhaps caused by busy practices and overwhelming pape.rwax k . 1~2 t;he Name t une , hea G. t.hcare practitioners face decreasing practice revanue:;. They also face information overload., with a de~.~z:vea~~a.izc~ arnc::rurat of time to sort through the relevant information.
The inventors have cietexm:ir7.F>d t.r~.at p~a:~xsi~::xians or other healthcare professionals engage in a nrzmber of amine ac~tiviti.es, including literature searches, r c::r~dt.:y mecl;i..<°al news in the professional press, xeading professional ijc~urn~zls, finding patient educational materials, using dr~;ic~ re:feze=nc:~~ dat:abases, researching upcoming meetings, engaging in online continuing medical education (CE) , reading med~.cal news ia:a tree l::ry pi::e~~.:;, r~c~mnn.~ruicating with colleagues, finding out about c~.inic~al trials, learning about medical devices, reading me~dica~ t.ext_ , and~''cax: ~,~art::icipat:ing in.
MD
chat roams. It is estimated by the inventcars rhat~ online CE is engaged :in by 58°s and 51% of pri.ma:r.°y care ~~~rovlde.r..°s~ and physician specialists, respectively.

Docket No.105456,121 tJS1 Patent The inventors knave det ernairsed that. p~r~r:;ic~a.arns x.~efer t:o medical information sites px:imaril.y to finv~ news and reference materials. In one study by the i.rtventox:~,:~ :a.r~ xe7panding to a question about the three mast important fa.~tors a physician uses in determining which ar~edical. infcw:r.°m~~tioa:u :-~:i_te:~ t.c> use, the following responses were provided:
Description Percent Medline Literature Search 64%
Medical News Updates and Alerts 53%
Medical Journals 47%
Drug Reference Database 34%
Medical Textbooks 30%
Continuing Educatian Online Courses 29%
Patient Relationship Infarmat.ioF:~ and 20%
Guides Clinical Trial Infarnuatiori. arzd l~,inks 15 d Listing of Medical Organizations anc9 7%
Meetings Financial and world News 5%
Community and Messages 'Boards 4%
The inventors perfarmed e~ten~sive re:r,earr:~tx with physicians about website features and flznct:ionality, inr_.l~~ding advisory boards, ane-on-ones and oruli.rZe ui>er abilitf tee>ti.r~g. The above table highlights t;he findings o t.-Lz~:> ~anlira.~ ~.r.sa::ubil.i.ty test of physician respondents.
According to the Gnline PLrys.it::i.an Maz:ket Dynamics Study (ZIMENT) , February/Max.°ch :001., i,Q91 , qual:it:y, r~rk.dibilit;y arid ease of use are the most irnportana.:. fe~atur~es t.a phys:acians in an u7nline service. The foll..owirag ar.e ~~ttz:~i.b'i.ste.=~i t1-~~::Gt arf~:
i.rnportant tr:~
specialists and primary care physicians:
~ Provides credible informatiarz ~ Provides quality iczformGat:i.an r Is easy to use*
~ Provides up-to-date healtLz a~°zd rnedic:~a:1 a.z~foxmation*
~ Enables effective iese;,ircLi of usual eases ur ~.onditians f Docket No.105456.121 TJSl Patent ~ Is comprehensive ~ Offers premium medical resources not easily accessible elsewhere ~ Helps physicians communicate better with patients ~ Ts available to dc:>r.~.tox:;.~ only and zAC~r~ r~emc>x°a:l consumers Offers ability to <.~.ustomize :>itse based ~>:n pre>ferences or°
specialty ~ Has a professional. look and feel.
Is unique from other sites to (* These attributes a;~re a.ess irri~>cetant t; ca :1>ecia:li.sta; than primary care physicians.) Certain aspects of conventional systems far providing healthcare :informat.ion are illu.stx:ated k>y ~aay ;of example ir., Figure 1, also described in LJ. S . Pa.ten.t 6 , 48'? , 15e;>> ; 11 iff , incorporated herein by reference. Miff concerns a computerized medical diagnostic and try=_atn~ent: advice ~ayst::em inc~'d.udiexg '.c°zetwor:~ acce:;s.
Figure 1 is a bloc=k diagram i,llGx~>tr4~tixxg ,~ con~~eptual view r.~f the database files and processes according tc :lift. A patient login process 1S0 is used. t~~ identi.fvy g~rev~ic:7usi.~~ rea:fist:tired patio:~nt.s.
An assistant: login proces;~ 1'72 :a.c> r.x:sed to .°:clent;if:y prev=iously registered assistants. An assisted patient login process 176 is used to identify previous:ly regz;_~tex:~e~ ~>at:aernt:::. A pat=ient registration process 1.52 is used to :G°egist::f:r nk:~>w or first-time patients, and an assistant registration proces:> 1'74 is used to register new oz' fi.rst~-time assir:-;ta.:nt:°::~. It' the patient is ncpt already registered, are. a.s:y:fisted p<~.t,.:i.E=nt xwrrist~ at ion proves::, is used to register the patient. Once logged :i.n or registered, t'he system provides an eval~xati~;m~ ;~axocess ~ 59 t hat;. performs a patient diagnosis, and/or a k~re.~~t:nu:arut:. t::a;ba.~> l:~rc.~ceas 156 to ~.>btain current treatment information for a disease or diagnosis.
Associated with these proc.es;ses arr. .~ pat_re~r.~t: tr.nd. assistant enrollment database 1r~;0, a consnxl.tat:ic~xa axi<::foxy- ~:3atabase 16~:, a fi Docket No.105456.12:C. LJS1 Patent patient response database 1E4, a medical history objects database 166, a patient medic<~i. hist:c:~ry dat:a.k~a:ae ~5~3, a pending database 169, and a patient medicati.an database 7'70.
Other aspects c.~f conventional systems are illustrated by way of example in Figure 2, also de~sc~ribed i.r:t '7..;~. Patent. 6, 50°_'., 196, Drucker et al., incorporated herein by ref~a.renc:e. Drucker discloses a method and apparatus for improving access to literature. Figure ~: ill.ustratau azo examp:l.s3 irzter.face for' querying the MEDLINE database. There are a row of action buttons 200-204, each action buttong pexfor~rn:i.z~g a ut:i.ffr">rent function.
Below the action buttons 200-204 is a sect:i.on '210 for entering query terms,, with three text boxes *?11-".%13 . , "vJhateve.r is entered into the text boxes 21.1-21.3 may be ~,zsed fox seaarc~hing using three methods. The method is selected using pul:u--down boxes 214-'?16.
Box 214, for exams?le, con.tains tioe~ c::~pt.i.oza.~~ :,ub;,yect, author name, or title word. Once a query is entered, the search may be performed, Once a query i.s subm::itt~~ad all. 1:: rne ~:er:or_~ds that match the parameters are retrie~red. ~f the search results are excessive, section 220 may be ut:::i l:iteti c;.o :i i.miC:: t:he search, and contains a number of limit boxes 22~.-228 r>_ach rallowing the user to place limits on tkxe search. fox: e~xamplc~, :Limit.s <~re provided for begin dateJend date, artic.~l.e.~ wx.vl.-t~>ri :i.ru r-~ pa.rC icular language, articles containing human/aniznal. result data, ;~xge group, gender, number of ax-ticle:~, journals, pval~li.c:~atia.rz ts~,pes~o, axzd/or types of articles.
Unfortunately, conventional systems inclx..r.ding those referred to above failed to mea='t thes~~~ nrreds;~ o ' ph;y~~z~~.i~~.n~ .
Moreovez.°, none of these conventional systems specifically pro~~wide an online unified method for .~ profess:ion<~1, c:~..ci. , u. i:~hy~°.icran, healt:ircare practitioner, or medi.~al st:~zclent, =::.o ac.~ce;~c heal.thr_are reso~..zrces, Docket No.105456.1~?1"_US1 Patent e.g., information. an~3/ar ser:wi<:~e:. More,=<:aver, u;~ing c~onvent-ional systems, it is not pc-,ssible to ral.~imlly ;,f~:arc.h fr~r and/or lrcate content which is re:LcaVant t<> tlrv~w lw,al..t:.hc~~z:e ~~rafE~ssianal':~
practice, for exampl.r..e, di.agrzos.i.r~<:~ i.i.lnes~;eas, le~rx:r~.inc~ a.nd advancing profession,a:L de~re7.c>prnc=~rtt. L:~otY~. fo:rmall.~Y> and infarrnally, accessing resources <~.pprc~praat~~: fc'x: pat:~_enr:.s, c>Lat:ain:lng information on healtkrcare terclm:cal.c>gy, zc:vif=wirg medic:~.al news, and/or accessing an ~~lectromic li.bxo3ry c:>f k~s~~:~ie naedic,~al re:~ou:rces.
There remains a need far sr.rc~Yr as;;ist:an.c<:e f.,ar ~~hvsici~:rns and other healthcare practitiourers.
The above pr:i.oW_ ari= refez:erGr~e.r>, llc~wever , fail t:o meet: the needs of today's meci:.ical canrmurrit.y. E'ox° exa:rnple, we haze determined that phys:a.cians and :he~zl~::Y~rax_e 1>rofe:~sionals would prefer <~ website wa.tl-~ cr.rtti.rcg edgrr t<:~csl:c arrcl re~aurces, avail<~ble in a single portal , <as a ke~~ tc> tyre medic~a:l In ternet . We L:avc=
determined that phys:i.cians a.rrd of:l.er M:rra<~lt~~caxs=> providers vaauld prefer that such a s:i.te is ethical" cred.i:ble, insightful, unbranded and ab-ject:ive. We have f.arth~:az ~l.r~t:.errnzned that :ouch a site should be for physicians arrc3 h.ea.l tkvc:a.r:e> pc~c:7fessionals, and provide access to pz-E=mium medical re sor.rr-c:w;.a .
BR1.EF S2TMMF~RY' ~'~E' 'CI~iE I,N'VENT2431V
The present i.nventiorr alleviates tire deficvi.enc:ies of conventional techniqi.~es acrd sya,t.ems de srw a k>ed .~L~ove . The invention enables infarmati.an ~>xavi:~ic.>n t:.o L~hy,~a.cians and other healthcare pravid~.=_rs t:hat: iw more tarr~et:erc3, ma:r.-e e.ffi.cient and may be permission-based.. Tyre i.nverrt:;i.c~rz p:r<:w~o~!e:~; a».iN~tarrce t:a hel_p physicians to obtain timely and ~~ppr.apriat~~ :a.rlt~c~r_mation to help them practice better medic°i.ne. °T ie :r~,~stern, ac.:~arding to one or ~S

Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent more aspects of the .invention, provides tre right information in an appropriate forma':.. It. aJ.s<px°cwide:~ f~::>r appxopr:iat.e f:cltering of information. Ano'.her endtzr.:inc~ valz.re wOi.~..)A the~ irztrentioz:z provides to physicians is an aggregation cf resources in one place. The present i.nven.ti.<:an I:~rcwri.de:> d:a f<ai.xly easy wa.y of distributing information targeted tc7 cert:aa.n physicians, anl.
allowing those physie~ians tc> ea.po;~e themselves more x~eadillr to new information. The xaresent: inver:ti.c:rn fost.c~r:~ the best practice of medicine, which creates simultaneous benefits for physicians, and patients.
In at least orre~ embodiment:, t::he px°esent: :irvventi_on bri.ng;a together: a vast. coll.e=c~.tion of xescstr:rce:7 av~:aa.labl.e to physicians.
The invention provides a content library unmatched in its breadth.
It optionally provida:a a search engir7.e ~rpp:copriate for perLCSirrg, e.g., Harrison's Online, c:.eci.l's Textbook ~,~~ Medici.ne, Praxis.md, the Merck Manual and many others. in addi~::i.on~ it provides. one or more links to searches such as M~ t'G~~rzsult; t::Y~at offer their yawn extremely comprehensive library. Ali told; t.hc:_se many resources cover primary care arid dust aboilw every sp~~cialt.y imaginable.
Users may utilize a qloba:i view ox ~;>er;~cm;a:ire their experience by choosing a specialty view, each of which may beg a portal in itself. An optional r~older f:ea~.ux.°e ala.ow:~ play:>ic.i.arzs to do~:.ument their visits with extensive boo),marl~~:inc:~ t.c> t:rac:°k tYreir prog.res~s (e.g., previously conducted searcher, reseax:wh links). The invention includes a compxehens:~..~"_~ ~a-rcafes;~~.c~raa:l. development area with board review questions, a medical meeting calendar with unique content from many meetings arid the ~~bili.ty to earn CME
~..~_redit through a partner s:i.te. 't"tre patiezzt re,:~ozzxo:e are=_a exceeds that of most physician web p~~rtals, and optionally includes access to an immense collection of pat:~~>a:at: f~zando~:Gt:.; t.7~.at physic.~.ianaz may easily print.. Other;' resourrk.~" c:vUy :R.nre:Lud~=~ c~ov~:~r.-age of vvh.at c Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent patients are seeing :in the media, cnlar illustrations and easy-to-read descriptions fc>7 nurnercr~.z s me=<:l:iG:z~l. p:G:c»~eac~.u.xe", and res<~ur~ces to help locate clinical trials for patients. Clinical workflow tools optionally inc:_ude ci.ir~ic:al. c~al.c,ul.aat:::ar:~, an IOI~-9 search engine, drug interact: ion che~cki.nq, a.nd/or: ,~=xpert systems ttaat assist with antibiot:ic:~ choices ("T'YrexaDoc.'*1 arzd difficult differential diagnoses (L)xpl.ai.n'*) . Opt,ioo,.~l:Ly, arr el.ect:ronic assistant provides quick links to relevant news and journals, career information ar.c:l c:.linical. ciec.is i.on s~.xpl>ort tnol.s that m<~y optionally be downloaded to a physician's handheld computer. A
number of unique arrd powerful. feat:u:reM rruay 1.>e Cax~ovided, such as free access tn subscription sites, (e.g., l~i.~rr.-ia:~c>n's Online, Praxis.md, MD Consult) . Another apt.ional. :~:esor.rrr_e is a lectures and presentations builder, all.c~wa.z:~g usex°s :::c:~ ,p~:.e~pare custom slide:>
for incorporation into, e.g., PowerPnint documents, and including, e.g., public speakinc; advice, Accordingly, one or more e~r~bodiment:a c>f t: he :invention.
provides a system and/or method to permit. ~~apidly searching' for and/or locating c<:mtent or se:rv:~ces; :au<:h. ~~s i~°1 Ga unified user interface. Further, the presen:' i.nven tion pro~,ra.des thar_ the resources , a . g . , content , informat iora, anil; ux Derv ices , are correlated t:o the relevant: segme>rut. 03= a Grrte;:a.ltk:~care>
pro:Eess:eonal's practice, for example, diagnosing illnesses, l.~aarning and advancing pr:ofessianal development k>ot:l7 fcazma::L:l.y and informally, accessing resources appropriate for patients, i~btaining information on healthcare t.e...~.hn~::7logy, r~esr.t.eawin<::~ medical new:?, and/or accessing an e7.ectronic :iib:rary of l~asica medical resources.
Such a system andjor method facilitates a ~>hysician's nomadic working style and pro°~ides rr~ad~~ acs:vess to re.scyurces . More~wer, according to one c>r more embodiments of tlxe present invention, <access to certain prewium re.~ou.LC:w~:~ is xwc~;.;t ri.i:t ecz, such as to Docket No.105456.121,US1 Patent users with profess::io::aal :li.censt~r~.=., medic;t~I stta.dexuts, and/ov licensed physicians.
According to orne or more embc><3irneaut.s <>f r.h~:~ preserxt invention, there i:~ lurovidec'1 a e,a..rzc~~e onii.nc c~estinat:.ion tea provide a "front doo-;°°' into on7. ira.e ;>eerwi.c~e;> for a physician or healtheare prac;.titioner, to enlaanc~e~ ci.~:~~tc~mer c: o2rvenieance, improve efficiency of information da:liver~r, and en.aance data gathering and targeting. Further', one car rnor:e> e~rnl>odim~arat s of the present invention provide a ~.~ser wit: la c°~xs;t:omi.zak>:le, personalized healthcare informat:ic:7n amd state-c~f-t:he-<xr~w set of tools and resources, to help pl~ysiciars c;~r c.~ttiez lsE,althcrxx,e provider:>
efficiently practice rnedicirae, integrate t.er:hnology, and stay current. Content mait:~ inc:l.r.xde ~rr~c>fess:ior~al x:-c.>ference:a, medical news, physiciaru educs::rtion, ~:eaz:cY:~ ern.gin~:~:a, ,pra,~.tice management information, and/or ;.inks to other re so~:czcF=s. Fcesources may incli.zde disease education xeso~:o.-ces, rarc>fe,;;:~io.aa:l development resources, practice management anr_3 t.eclirrcal~::>gy, and patient resources. Other' tools may be offrar:ed.
The invention l~r~ovi.des a met.h~:~d, sys::em ;and computer program device for providing k~ealtl~~care z~as~:v>uzre~;> ..>>.xc~h as information and services, to users, G~. med:ical i~ufc,~rmatic~n ,~:~r~rt:aa. :system and/or method for users including ph.ys:ician.s az~c9 i-Geaal~,~hcare provider:>, implemented by a ~~om~n.atez:~ system. ~ccoxcki~a~°~ ts:> one or more embodiments of the pre: sent inveG~tic>:v., tl:~~. rns=di{~al information portal system and/or method .incl.~,ade:> a cii5a~.~rxost:i<~ tool, man:agi.ng at least: one or disease diagnos:i a ar:cl re~se<::exch x:e>_sources, including at lease or:~ca nf: a di~:;ea.sr-' :r.ese<~P chu ~~s sistance resource, a disease diagnosis a;>sistan.ce rw~;o?.zrce, t.:;veatrcrent guidelines, medical references, and disease nuvdu:l.e=;~ eacvt: h;:ming d.is~aase information regarding a disease.. 'I'~xe:re.> i.a t:c:lsc> pxovided a Docket No.105456.1'v:1 LIS1 Patent learning tool, managing professional development resources, includirzg at least o~7.e of: <::rzl~lza~~ a°;rmti.nui:nc~
medic°al ed.z.zc~at:.io:n (CME) resources, linLCS to rc>nn~>o~ the u::~ex,~ t.c~ professiona:l.
societies, links to ~:onrrect use~:~ to medical school c.~.omputer sites, downloadable ?.ecture> mater i..a.ls ai°~ci ~li.de ::its, revieaw information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar of medical meetings, arz<1 a meeting repr~rter . r~ls~:~ pz-ovi..ded iF7 a patient tool, managirzg patient resources, inr_lading media information on what x:>atie>nt~s arFu :>e~=,in~~ :~..rz the rrmdza, patient handouts having information for patients, l.i..nks t.n connect the users t<a patient supp<5rt grGi.tps, ~:'li.nicai).. t:.~va.1 information., and at leash one hzealth c~;.tide.
Optionally, one or more embodi.ment.s ,~f t.',ze present invention include a healthca.xe technology tool., marza<;ing hrea.lthcara technolagy resources, inc:~:ading Kat Least, aaw o:~ : product reviews and/or selected articles on heal.thcare teciznology, a glossary of technical terms, and quex~yable irlfo:~~m<~tiotz an c::.echni.cal terms.
Optionally, one or more embodi.ment.s B:>tti:ze present invention include a news tool managing medica.'.l news, i.nc'iudi.ng at least one of : selected items from medical ;jour raa.l. s fear a current 'time period, selected recent medical findings, breaking news in the medical industry, new°s relating to ~aelf~c.:.t~~c:l medical specia.lt:ie~s, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user Optionally, the present izm~~nt.i.c~zu i.n<~i.~,.zdr:*s a toolbar, including at least one of. (i) <~ search tool having at least one of a user-definable c::~mput.:er ;~it:e:~ sF~a3.o~h G::<::~.~~ab:i..lity and predetermined computer sit.~> seax<:lm::;~,pabil..it:,y; (i.:i! a folder:, specific to the user, for storing dcacumexvt:s, l:i.nks, and personal Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent preferences for' the ~.iser; (iii; a c~z:ovxpiz~r~ of references tc:r basic medical resources, v.ncludinc~ one oz~ mare af: at Least one mf=d.ical textbook:, medical jo~.rrmals, at least. oner drug reference tent, articles an evi.dence--bass=d meda. c:i.r~e ~ ( i~,r) :~,:°cess t.o onl ine=_ continuing medical education (CMEt) serwVices, e.~n.'l.izre clinical decision. support ser~r:ices, medi.c~~zl. t.rivi.a:~; and (v) at: least one medical dictionary. One of the resources in one or more tools is restricted to users with px:afes>sic,,rzal l:a.c::e:resure. They invern.tion may include a user registration. component ~~ollecting user registration informat: iorx inc°ludinc~ k:rxv:~c;e:~s ic~na:l licensurc.
information, a validation component far va:.idating professional licensing informatioru, a rest:xi.c~tlKxr~ c,oTnx;a~ararsnt. iden ti.fyin g whether the user has a profe:>sional licensur~e required far at least. one restricted :resouxce:r and re°strir,t.i.nc3 accvE:~:>} 'to r:estri.cted resources. The unrestricted resourr_es are selected from a group comprising: at least. a portiarz ~::at- x°esourc:~r=_~..> in.
t°.l:m news t:aal, a.t least a portion of resources in the patieni:. toa:al, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices marl~al, one or mox°re rc~ec.~i~.s:-~.:1 t~:~xt:bc>aka, one or more medical dictionaries, at least. a parta..on ~af resources in the healthcare t=echno:lagi° foal, the d.is~aas a mc~carrle::5, the calendar of medical meetings, the meeting rr=_part.er, t.tm li.r~ks to professional societies, the links to medical ;~<:Yaoo1 sir<~~<.~~, information on residency and/or fell.awship opport;uz°iiti_ea~;,. c°l.irui.c~al trial information, and information on alt~:rnativc~ rrreclicine. Optionally, the restricted re:>ource i.<.<.~ restx:ict:ec3 tcj ux~~:e~rs identified a;
healthcare professionals or medical student: s, ~:~nd the restricted resources are sele~cte~:~ from a group cvorrrpr:L~Fi.nc~:- t:he folder, at least one clinical tool, at least one medical t::extbook, at least one drug reference text, co.nline C:'MP :~ez:wi.G:;~,, L.f=cr:rare materials, and slide kits. Optionally, at least a poxtioxz of the at least one restricted re:rour<:;e i::, x'est~.i<~i:F:~ci to :l.zr:en~ed 1>hysician~:a.
l :i Docket No.105456.12:1 t7S1 Patent According to one or more optional embodiments of the present invention, the selec:.:ed :items i~zom medical ~co.;rnals for a c_vur:rent time period are prov:itied c>n a i:?er i.c?dica..i. b;=r.<<>iac fxc>m t=hind-party providers. Also opt:.onally, the disease modules include informat ion searchab:!.e on ~i.gn:r ar:~.ci ~~s frr:~>t:oms .
The invention c?~>t.ionall~~ i:rcMl~a.des are r:lectronic assi:atant tool, managing healthcare practice: as sist::.a.nce resorzrces, ir:.cluding at least one of: at Least one c:iinic:al cal~:~zlator, clinical evidence resources, :;elecaed news ar:~d rn~:di::~zl. l.iterat.ure~ ax tides, at least one medical residency and .;::areex: :x:esource, and selected patient resources.
There has thus been c?ut.li.rred, rat.he~r broadJ.y, the rnoxo important features of the i.nver_t:icvn .:l": c?x°d,Ma t'tuat-. the:
detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present: rantribut:i.on t: ca thc= rrx~t mexy be bett.e:x appreciated. There arr., of r_ours~, :~ddit~.oraai. ,features of the invention that wi:i 1 x;e described irex e:inaf tear and which will farm the subjact matter of the claim: apZ~eazded a~~x°et c:.
Tn this respect, before e:xplai.rra.nc~ ;at leasta one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be uru3ers=mood that the invention is not limited in its ;:z~x~;~.'C..i~:at:,ic:ar? to thN details c>f construction. and too tire arrangeme~rrts ~~ t~m c;<arnponcents set forth in the following description or i.llrrstrateci in the drawings. The invention is capable ~~?f ot:he:r err~kacac3a.ments ar?.ca r>f bein.g practiced and carried out in various w,~.ys. ~~.so, it i.s to be understood.
that the phraseology and terrninolcagy employ°ed lrer:ein are for the purpose of description and sY~.ou ci rxc:.?t k?e:. x~:c~arr,~ed as limiting.
As such, those ;skilled i.n tr a art: w:i.l:L a~~3preciate that. the conception, upon which this disf:lasr_rre is based., may readil;~ be Docket No.105456.121 TJS1 Patent utilized as a basis for the de:>igni.ng of other ~>t:x°uctures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is imp.:>rtant, the~:refc:az.°e, r~hst: tra.e claims be x°egarded as including such equivalent: canstxuctions insofar as they do not depart from the spi.r°~t a~~d G:coye i.~f' t;he i;reser:~t invention.
Further, the pi.zrpose c>f the foregaing abstract is to enable the U . S . Patent and ~l'radE~max-k c:,~f f :i ce anc:l t: ~~re publ i.c genera;l 1y, and especially the scientists, engint:er:; a:nGi p~:r3ct:i.ti.one~.~s in t:: he art who are not familiar with patent or legal ~erms or phraseology, to determine quickly i.'.rom a rtrxso.x:W :i.raspectzor~ the :nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract :is neither intended to define the ir~ventiorn of t;h~> application, which is measured by the oa.aims, r~or i~~. it. inte:rz~aed to be limitir~g as to the scope of the invention. in any way. T:h,e.se together witka. other objects of the inver:t.ion, ai..ory with c-.lne wTl~a.r.:.iotzs features csf novelty which characterize the invention., ~~re pointed out with particularity in t?'m :laims annexed to ~=amd ~t:'orcnin<~ a part c>f t;his disclosure. For a be:=tter undexv>tarrding of t:l°~e invention, i.ts operating advantages anal the sperif:ic objec.~a s attained by its uses, refers=_nce slxoulc.:Z be; ha.c3 t::_a thR~ :~w.:artti:~ar~y:~.ric~
drawings and descriptive matter ir. which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the=_ ir:.v,rent.i.on.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIGN OF THE SEVE,~AL VIEWa OF..THE DRAWING~,~
The above-mentioned and otVex a<ivant:.~uc~es and features of: the present invention will be better understor,~cl from the following detailed description c~rf the :ir~v~~rxt:i.on wit; refe=rexzce to t:h.e accompanying draw_Lngs, in which.:
Figure 1 is a sr_>ftware coaac~r~pt:~..m:l d:i_~:~cJra~i~ o:f a prior art diagnostic treatment ~~nd advi.c..~e ;yst:em.
1:

Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent Figure 2 ill~.zsi:ra2~es <~n c:ax4~rn,~.~:l.e> u:~er ,seaa.rcYz in~;:erfae~-a for a prior art medical puw~lication :earrh sy stem.
Figure 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating <:in example of a medical inforrnrxt.:ic:n~~ ~;~cart~al fw~;r L,~~ovadinc~
h.eall:.hcare resources to users, according to ane or more embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a functi.anal t~lr:~c:J~; cii~:ac~razn i;Llu;~trating an example of diagnostic, tools for orze or mere embodiments of the medical information Y>c~rtal of t:t~~a px:e;errt: irz~Ferztion.
Figure 5 is a f tznctic>nal Yalcac:.k diGzgr~=zm i l.ltastrating an example of learning tools for one or more embodiments of the medical informatioru portal caf the px~eMeri.t. :d_~mre,iZt::io:n.
Figure 6 is a functional block diag:r:.zrn il.l.rzstrating inn example of patient tools far one or more eWodimer~ts of the.
medical informati~an Y?octal c~f tin.--.= pre:~erzt: i.r:GVe,nt.ion.
Figure 7 is a functional block diagram i~.l.ustrating an example of healthca.r~ tec:hr:ology t:ool.s fc>r oxze or mare embodiments of the medical infcrmation pox-tal. of the px:e:~ent invention.
Figure 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating a.n example of rnedica:L newNS tools for c:ra~e c:~x: rcu:::>x:e= c~mY~odiments of t:he medical information portal of the present :nvezztion.
Figure 9 is a functional block diagram of the electronic assistants i=or one=_ or more emboc~in~ezzt::> c>f t he- Gnecli.ral inf:ormat.ion portal of the present invention.
1 fi Docket No,105456.121".;J~1 Patent Figure 10 is a funt~tic~na_L k>lc}ck d:i.ag:ram of the tool i>ar for one or more embodime:rzts <~~f true rot~cii.c~al i.rifc~rmat.:~c~n portal of 'the present invention.
Figure 11 is arr execnpi.ar2r c~;ez_ int.exfac.,e il:f.ust.ratiro~ a home page, including opticonal me.>_cti.e:c~l. ra.ews tc:ml~~,, fox one or more embodiments of the me:~dical ix:Gfc~rzrrat.iorz ~>c~rral c>f t: he present invention.
Figure 12 is art exemplary x,~ser int.erfa.ce far current. medical periodical literatuxwa, for c>ne cax ~rtic>re ernbc.~dinrents ofthe noed:ic:al news tools.
Figure 1;3 is arc exem~>l.ary ~.z,e,z: imtc>rface far bx~eakinc~ news, for one or more embodiments of t~~ae rtredi.<:~a1. r~.ews tool:>.
Figure 14 is an exemplaxyr user i.nt:erfa<,e for m~:dical news, for one or more embocai.merrt.a of tl°.m-r ~necliczal :raewm~ taol~>.
Figure 15 is ara exe>.mpl.ary rzser int.ert~ac:e for s~>eciali.zed news, for one ar unox~e~ embc.,di.merctz:a of thte m~~ciical news tool;, Figure 16 is arc exem~>lary u.sex: ia-zterl'~:acze for consumer news, for one or more embactiment:~; of t~lm> anedic~~~1 xaew~; tools, Figure 17 is or;. exemplary ~..zsee intf:}rface for diagnost is tools, for one or more embodiments c>f ttze> rn~=di~,a:L irzformat.ion portal of the preaent inv~:rzt ior:..
Figure 18 ins ara exemplary ~zw~ex int.e:e;tace far a. medical reference for user it canuect:ic~ri with i-k-:c~> r:~:i.agrzast:ic tools c>f Figure 1.7.
Ii Docket No.105456.1'~~1 US1 Patent Figure 19 is ara exE=mpl.ar~r lz5erx: i.nt ex:t'ace fc~n a disea:~e diagnosis service, fc>r use irn c:o:c~rtc:~c~tiorz w:i.tt~. t-hea di<~graost~..c tools of Figure 17.
Figure 20 is araother gage iaf tH~e e~xe~s~p:l.ar~i ~zsez°
interfa<:e for the disease diagnosis serva.ce~ c>f. Ficy.zra~ 19.
Figure 2.1 is a furthex peGga c~f: t he=_ eacemplary user interface for the disease diagrcosi:> :>ervi.c~e c~fF'ic~u:r~:3 .t~.
Figure 22 is an exemplary i.ier interface 2c,r a clinical practice guideline's <v:LearincrhoLESe=, f:ot. use i.rn ~~c;~nnect:ion wi th the diagnostic tools of F":figure 7'7.
Figure 23 is are exemplary E.zs:ex: i.nt.erf;~ce for another medical reference, for use fir. c:orrnecvticrn wit:2n r_k~xc. <:Liagnost.ic~ too:Ls of Figure 17.
Figure 24 is or: exemplary user :interi=ace for a medical textbook, for use i.n c:onr~ect orv w:Lt::Pz they d~ac~nc~:~tic. tools c7f Figure 17.
Figure 25 is arc exemplary u~.~;ex~ int:~er t<zc~e fcJr a disea~ee module, for use in ccrnnec;t i.on witt-~ :.he dia~tazost=.ic tools of Figure 17.
Figure 26 is ari exemplary user int:e:ct~ac:e for a set of medical references, f. or user irz -~i:~nnHc:r. icsra ,~ai t:h t: he diagnost is tools of Figure 17.
Figure 27 i;s arexemplary ~.zser zntert:ace fox a li:braxy of medical websites, fox use i.n carwecrion w:ir..la tkze rnedacal references of Figure 'd'6.

Docket No.105456.,12~1,_US1 Patent Figure 2t3 is aaa exemplary x.z~aeo int::.c~r:Ea~:e far a medicaal database, for use in c:annec~t:ior:c with, t:hee mc-zdic°al reference;>
of Figure 26.
Figure 29 is an exemplar~r e,z~>er i.nt::erface for learnirn~ tools,, for ane or more embodiments r_>f c:h~:~ nmdicv<~1 inforrrratic>n portal of the present invent~.or~..
Figure 30 i.s az~ exemplar~r use~x: intf.=.rCace for a user firofile, for use in connect f. an witwh t:he le~a.rr~.iu~g r:or:>:l.-> ::~f Figure 2~~.
Figure 31 is azru exempl.arie u°°~>r: iz7.t.F>rtace f-.~:~r lecture materials and preserztatic7ns, faa:~ ;zse :irx c.anrzect~..axr wa.th then learning tools of Fi.cture 2C3.
Figure 32 is an exemplary i...i~;er: irzt:~:ri=cac~.e fox: a standard referent~e of internal medic~in.e :~lid.e., a:rici ci~.agrams, f'or use in connect~.on with the 7ectv.zre matez:ial.s ar,<1. ~:7x:~E:.scrritatic:~ns of Figure 31.
Figure 3 3 is ar; exemplary o.a.se:r i.nter:f~ac:e far a slide image bank, for use in canneetior, with the lec°t:..r:c:F= materials and presentations of Fi.gu,.re 3 i .
Figure 34 is are. exem~>lary~ uzser int.erf°ac~e f'or patient tools, far one or more embodiment; of t:hei medic: al :izaf, rrr~at.ic>n portal of the present inventiarc.
Figure 35 is arz exemplary ;.ase:r :i.ntert_ace f:ar infarmat ion on what patients are see=i.ng i.r~. the rnr~dia, for Gr~se in rvor:;nect.ion with the patient taals of Figa;c:re 34.
I ~) Docket IVo.105456.,121"USl_ Patent Figure 35 is ari exemplalr3~ ~r;aer: interface f:or another exampla_ of information on whirl p<ztient:a u:r a ;seea.rag iii the media., f<ar use in connection with ttae pata~=rrt t<:~c3i.~ c7f ~~'ic~u:re~ :~4.
Figure 37 is a.r: exemplary; cG~aer3: :irtc3r:Gac°F~ for patient handouts, for use i_n connect i car. wi.t rv t hk p..a~ ~.E~nt: tools of H~'igure 34.
Figure 33 is am exemplary ~.~z~:ex: i..:n~:.exvface fox: cl.ini.ca7. trial information, for use in <~orzrieca;ic~r~ with tkac~ pat:ierrt tools caf Figure 34.
Figure 39 is ari exemplary a.r:>er int.ex~fac:e for healthcare technology tools, fox: use ir: orze c>x: rno:re eenk>oc3iments of the medical information portal of tre preseait :irnve_~ti.c>n.
Figure 40 is arr exemplari~ s..r~rex: rote=rfac~e for a healtr~.car_e technology query sert.~ice, fc.x use i:n ~;.onn,~cwtiom with the technology tools of k'iguxw ~9.
Figure 41 is ari exempl.axy a.~;ex int:~=xvac:e fr~r a healtr~care technology assessment: service, fox :.rse ir«~orrnection with the technology tools of: Figure ~9.
Figure 42 is are exe~m~>lary i.r se:c int::e~raace fo:r electrorGic assistant tools, for u.se in ror:a~rer-:tica.; wit~:i one or more embodiments of th,s me~c~ic~al :infc~:e~rnat:ioru por°r:::z~l ~f: t:he presE:rir~
invention.
Figure 43 is arl exe,nplary uA~ex intezx.:face f-.or access to online shopping for ruedi.cal. tec:k2rm:logy, foz~ usa.=. iru connection with the electronic assistant. tccol.s 1_>1: F:rgn.ire ~~;:.
_'A) Docket No.105456.1'21,_US1 Patent Figure 44 is aaa exemp:Lar~,° m:.~e:r.~ int:~tar fW ce fax: ac=cess 1: o an online and/or PDA-en fzbled re~sou.rc;<~, fc.>r ~~st: ir, c;annection wit'~~
the electronic assistant r_oo:ls of F~':i.c~i re 42 Figure 45 is a5n exs~mp~.ar~r cz,=>err int:.er-::Face .fc~r. illustrative search results for a pred.et.e:rmines~. wsit;e ae<~r<:la foe: u:>e in r_onnection with, a , g , a tool.baar°, ca:(. o:ne> or n7ore embodiment=s of the present inventiozu.
Figure 46 is an exempLar~r u.:>es: int:s~rfs<r~~ for i7.lustrertive search results for a user--de~air~c~d search. fc:>r use .in connect: ion with, e.g., a toolba:c:, of <.>r:e c:~r nu:7re eml:ho~:xirrcents of the pries<=nt invention.
Figure 47 is arr exemplary usez: interface fr~r c:linica7- tools,.
for use in connection wit=h, e.c~. , t:kser toca7..t:~aa~ i:~f one or more embodiments of the m~>dical inf:c>r~c<rti.on iacari::al :~f the present invention.
Figure 48 is aru exem~>lary user inter+ac:.e for a dec:isi.on support software cl.i.rcical t:c~ol., fi:ca:r u~>e i=n c:~onrmc~ion with the clinical tool s of Fi.cxur<~ 4'T .
Figure 49 is are exempl.ar~.° naee~ i.ntPrface for an electronic consult service, for use in cor:~:nec.t:i.ox~ with t~h~~~ clini.cal. tc>ol:>
of Figure 47.
Figure 50 is anexemplary G ser inter: t'a<.°e foxy ~z:~e in connection with coll.~~ctic>r~ i.aser r:egistrat is>rn a~~d/or: x>ersonal preferer~ce :informati.c:m, fr~x use ,Lri ,~o~rn~~c:~~,:i.c:~n ~wi.tlu one or more embodiments of th~= nm~dical iwfc~rmation ~:ori.r:~~- :~c:=~c>x~di.ng to the present invention.
p9~

Docket No . 105456 . 1'? L LJS1 Patent Figure 5:1 is aru exenrplar~~ uAvroer :i_nt::er:Eace fc~r use in connection with comp eti~g t:lue~ ~z:e~z: r°egi>t:c.~t.ic:>n of Figwre~
50.
F:i.gure 52 is az7 e.xemp~.ar,,~ user. i.rxt:~~x'aacee f:c>r u:~~e in connection with unre><~istereci u:>ex:.=,, acc~c:~rd.iry t: ca cane or more embodiments of the me,dic<~1 i.nfc~rmat a.on pc,~rT:.t~~.. ~>tv t:he presexvt invention.
Figure 53 is an exempi.ar~° block diagram of a network architecture for use in r_orrraect:ic>ra wi.tta <.~r~r:> c:~z rnc~r:e embodi.rcvents of the medical informat:~on pazt:al <>fit..tze pz:~esc=nt i.nvention..
Figure 54 is ~a flow cr:a.ar-t: i7.3.u.st:rat: ing an example flow of control generally f:ov t:ooa_ acce=:~:~, a.c~cordir~.~1 tcr~ one or mox~~>
embodiments of the medical i nfc~rmar ior~ ~x:~r!: a..l. c>f t: he presex-ct invention.
Figure 55 is a flow chart: illustrating a::z example flow of control generally foz:v tools da.:>pl.ay, arzc~e:Pr:,.3ixzg to one oz more embodiments of the mh~dical info:rnzatior~ i>ort:,;al -:~fi the preser~t invent i<>n .
Figure 56 is a flow c:r:cart: .i:Llu;t:rati.zg azr example flow of.
control for user .reg.stratican, ac~c~ordine7 tr> c.ny~ ~~:r more embodiments tit the medical infc>r crcat:i.on p<:>ctwaa of the present invention.
Figure 57 is a flow ck.ax:~t :illustrating our er:ami-~le flew cascade for validatixu.g a rec,istF>xed. ~.aer , ,.rccorciing to one or more embodiments of the mF~dical informat iozn pr..~et:al. ~._of the present invention.
Figure SB is a flow chart i:ll:~stratilzrl arr example flc,w cascade for a user at t:empta.rcg to aa.r,c.-~e:=~;~ ~3 :e=stri.~:~ted resource,.
>7 Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent according to one or more emk>odimc>.rrts of tl:re nredic:al information portal of the present.:. inverxt ior:~ .
Figure 59 is a :block diaclrar~l c:~f a. c:o~:npra.ter used for implemer~.ting one or r.~~ore e:mk:rodi.mE:rzt.a wjf t: he ncedical information portal system, in acc:~ordan<:.c, witl:r a computer imp l.emented embodiment of t:he pr.~~~aent invert :i<>r~ .
Figure 60 illuA;trates a bl~ac°k diagram c:~f the interna7_ hardware of the comF»rter of Figuxr=
Figure 61 i.ll.u:etrates a b.lc>c~k rii.aclxvaan c.~f ar? alternat:.ive computer of a type sr:ci.tabl.e for ri~wrryincs ou.t thc> present..
invention.
DETAILED Df~;~Ck~IPr~:'l:t)N ~;~F 'I"HE INVENTION
The following ciet.ailecz desor ipt ior~ i~xclu~:ies many :~pe:cific details., The inclusion of sr.zch details is for the purpose r_~f illustration only ancx should nc~t be=. urzdex.sh:r>od t<> limit tYze invention. Throu.ghout.. this d:isc2xssi.orv, :;irni.i_a:r~ elements are referred to by similar nurr'bexs ix:G t~~e> v4sx ir.n:r.~ figures for ease of reference. In addition, featura~~; ira c~nF~ a~rr~l.>c>diment nray be combined with featurees in othex ernbodimen~.-:> c>f t.la.e ir:rvemtion.
The present inventi.orr provide.~> for art onLi.ne= de:>tinat ion site from which a l:ibx°ary of healt.Y:rc:~are x:erc~rxr,~es may be a.c°cessed in a manner that is i rxtera.ct ive ar:~d <:<>nveerr:Ge~r:rt specif ically for healthcare professioruals. 'fhe c:,c>r~t~=nt pxo~~ride~~ orz the> ~ite~ in accordance with the iravent:ion .i> :i.mtr~r~drsc3 !-:c> bt.=
c~c~mpreh~=_nsive.
The site in accordanc:~e~ with one c>r rrrore ernhc3diments of: t:.he invention is intendec. to be robi.ist:, easier to ,.as r=, and bette=r aligned with the need; of physi;~ians, ochre=_z° lve,~l.tlzcare professionals, an<i pxrrfessiorral> irr tra:i.rai.ucl. 'fhe invention. is ?3 Docket No.105456.121 JS1 Patent intended to provide access t:ra abroad amct dee;f:~ array of h.icah quality and credible infc~xmGutiK:rr-A toc~l~~ azuci x-~a~;ourr_es to as.ist with the practice of medi<ziTre. 'fl:ze ,~:itxa iru ~ccorc>x:dan<~~=_ wit:lv one or more embodiments of ~:he invf=~nt_i.orz i.:> .i.nt.~.a.ic:i.v~:l~r organized, and may be free from vi;>ar;~l. clut::t.ex . C'or:terrt: acres:>ed in connection with use of the inve:;:rtior;. may 1:>e made av~ilaY>le from the :>:ite provider and/or from third ljart y ,<~o~:rrc~e:} . !::3pt ionallv, acre>ss to certain tools and/or customizatic>ra f:e=_atures may beg provided subsequent to appropz:::iat.e v.rser recfi:istrat:.ion, arr<i/or sac:cess to certain tools may be :rest.xi<.vte<3.
The present: inr,Yention ma~;° pzotride ;~ ~,y;:~t.ern and method for bringing together tYz~~~ vast arrwy s:>f t:esoczx:r°~e~;w: availab:Le to physicians. Hence, ~rc:cordirrg to came or more embodiments, t:he invention provides a conterut library c.zrzmatcd.ed i:r~ it:~ breadth. Iw optionally provides ~:c search ergir:ze appzapriate for perusi.rag content , such as , Hax-r isan' ;~ Oral irze , c'e<::L 1. ' a Textbook o:E
Me>dic ine , Praxis.md, the Merck Manual and man~~ otkrers. Lru addition, it provides one or more links to :>eax:cYZes :>~acir as M:Cr Oon:>uLt that offer their. own extremely compx~2~ensive 1i'r~:rar,,r. All told, these many resources made accessible via ozze c;~.r rno:re Embodiments of the invention may cover l3rimary care 4~nci%o:r ar3Ar sp~arialty.
Optionally, users male utilize a c~3a:bal. ~,-iew or personalize their experience by c:hoosir::c~ a specialty vic>w, ~~~c~h of which rnay appear to be a medical poxt.~al in itsel f . Hn ol:rte i~:3x~a1 folder feature may allow physicians to, for exampl<a, dc>cumc~rit the.ix- visits with extensive k>ookmarkind to t:rac~k t.Ym.ix~ proyrc=:~> (P.g. , prcwic>r:rsly conducted searches, researc-Yz link:s) . ThE>. Lnvention optionally ma;r include a comprehensive professic:>nal. ~.iei7calc~prnerzt: area, E=.g. , with board review questior:~s; art optic~rva.l. med:i.<:~a:l me~.~t:irig c°~ile.=.ndar with access t:o c: antent fr<:rrz~ many me,ei~irzg,~~; arid ~:~>L>t:iturn~lly t:he>
ability to earnjaccess CME cx~dit: l.:hx:ougY:: a pa.rt:raer. sir:a. The t>pti.onal yq Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent patient resource area may exceed t:.kx.at of most, physician wel;~
portals, and optionally rt~ay include access to an immense collection of patient:.- harcdoxxts th.Gxt p~ly~ic iaxi.'may ea,~i.ly print.
Other resources may irxcl~xde coverage of what pavientare seeing i.n the media, colon illust:z'at:i«n> arxr~3. easy-to--:read descriptions for numerous medical procedures, and resources to help locate clinical trials for pat.:i.ent:;. C."x.iAx;'toal wor:kflczw tools optionally may include clinical calculators, an ICD-9 search engine, drug interact:ian check~.n<~, ari<~ c-rr°Ge oe mox:°e expert ::systems that assist with ant:Lbiotic choices {TheraDoc'") and difficult differential diagnoses (Dxpl.air3'"') . ~7~.7t..~.ona7.~.y, an electronic assistant provides quick links to relevar~t news and journals, career information a~°xd cl:inic<~7. decision sr.xpf>ort: too:l.:~
that: may optionally be downloaded to a ph;~si.cian's handheld computez: or PDA. A number of una..gue sand. pc~we>r°f't.xl- fe:e~.t:txrc>_s may beg pxov~.ded, such as free access t:o subscription sites {e. g., Harrison':
Online, Praxis.md, M~:a Consul. t.) . r~~.nr>tk~ez opt::io°i is a _:.ectux:es and presentations builder, allowing users to prepare custom slides for incorporation into, t~.g., Pc~werPc~i.r~t: doc~utr7c~ra.t:s, and inc:Luding, e.g., public speaking advice.
One or more aspects of the inverxtion pr::ovzde access to healthcare and medical resources. The term "resources" used herein is intended to encompass, e.g. , irafe;:ax~rri.a~~ion, services, content, applications, and anything else available electronically.
Accordingly, in one c>r more embodi.marn.ts of l:: he present: invention, medical information x°esources include, far example, one or more of reference books and/c:>z- databaseso sr:~vexal c:~xxt-standing and/c>r definitive medical information resources may be accessed electronically, inclrrrding:
?S

Docket No.105456.121_,US1 Patent ~ National Library of 'Medic°.ir~c~ dat.ab<~~.es: MEDLINE, AIDSLINE, Bioethics Line, CAr3c.'ERLI':C', ~ Harrison's Princip7.es of Mlerii~.ine, ~ Dorland's Nfedi~~~al L)ict:iorzar;,~, ~ Physicians' Desk Referenr~e tPDR? ~rnd P.I)R Drug :I:ntera~~tion Database, Mosby's Gen.Rx, Patient GenR~.; and Dzuag Mister. Plus (dx:ug interactior: database) ;
~ Merck Manual Online, ~ Merck Manual Hcame Edit: ion, ~ Cecil Textbook of Medi.ci.r~.e, arrd,'or ~ Best Practice c>f Medic:vi.ne by PraxisMt7 Optionally, the=r present invention ma~,r provide users vJi.th the.>.
ability to search same of t:.~~<ese r:E:~s~ourcF~s i.rrd.i;rid~xali.y or v.m>er a search engine to retrvieve :relevar-~.t. ~.orut~~rut f~.o,n ttae col:Lecti.on of resoi.rrces. Simple ar~d/or advan5~ed ~~earch ~~apa~i,l.itie:a may be pro~rided.
Another med.i.cai. information rh~sc,uzr°e ::i:.> MD Consult, a collection of medical infox-~nat~i~an rc=so~r:cce;> ~:ez~v:ing t:he clinical content needs of phy,icia~u and othe=_x' 'rc~a,:l~: rnc~ar~e px~ovi.ders. This is an example of a rev source= norrnaLl.~r a.zrs.il,x~>.l.e t:c>
phy~;ic~iar..s by subscription only, bi.~t may be p,~~ov:~c:3ed t.°.c~ a:e=t~i.~tered users ;~f the present invention.
,, Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent:
According to o:ne or more embodiment; of the present invention, resources may inc:~luc~e ncaws, si;tc:rr~ a:> auai.lable .from headlines, abstracts, full journal articl.~~s from medical journals, e.g. , JAMA, NEJM, Larucet, Arlrza:):,~ <>f, Trit.ea;Iral P'tedicinf_=, and BMJ.
Other news resources may be prc:rvided :f_r;?rct a newswire service of breaking news storie,:~ aboi.~t mec'li c:~:i,ra,e, a ,. <:~ , , those that cott.) d impact a physician' s prat°t:ir""e . Res<:~u:e-cc~~t may also include medial, specialty and/or consumer news. :such arti.r;les cover the bt.tsiness of healt:hcare, consumer medicos ra.raws, azn~9 ot:l:aF~x healt:~-rel<:~i=.ed news items, and may be obtained from professional and/or lay press resources, e.g. , Reur,:ers, FaxWatc~):~, axed l~lewsFt~:. Optionall~~~, the news directed to the user may be x:estrieted t:e items of interest to the user, such as matching v.asex:~ r~~.c~i.srratic:c3 irtformatior:.
Another example of medical information resources includes professional development re~,aurces ant) t:c-~ols:, e.g. , continuing medical education (CME) information, online CME, a medical meeting calendar with a l.ist~ of at :7.east. ma-,joa- ,~:>rofe=;sional c~.onfere>nces, information and/or rrtaview modules regarding board review fc:r various therapeutic atreas fc~r PoG:crd certific;atic>n and re-certifir_ation, link=> t:o prof'essicanal. ~7ocuet.ics, links to government web sites, links to medical. schocals, and/or access to clinical trials i.nfo~.matiora.
Another type of:' resource rel.at:es to p,~t:i~>_rsts, e.g. , patient education materials ~>uch as leaflets, optionally editable/customizablee; patient sheets, rj.g., pri.ntable~ articles intended for patient.::. to help them :be t: r_. en i.vnctF:r-stand t:he~ir disease and treatment; patient health news, e.g., ,gin archive of health-related news article, in the popai.a:z° Ca°~~ p:r~~e:as fc~f.f line, c>nline, and/or in print); clinical trial information, ~~.g., a searchable database of clinical trials such <:as spora.==;c~a:~ec k~~y NIH and/or '7 Docket L3o. 105456 , 121 ITS1 Patent industry; links to sv.appoxt S:lroups servizm~ patiezz.ts, such as in various disease :>tatc,s; and/or a kaest hey=ltra guide, having patient.
education materials tend consumer medical news, that may be customizable, printaLle, and/or e--mailabl.e.
Yet another type of resource relatf_~s to practice technology, including for examplc:~, hE:alt:h t:ec~Y:~nology newa, inc:l.uding ns=ws artiel.e~; and features about techncalogy :~,::::ue~~ af:fecti~zg the practice of medicine; evaluations of health technology vendors, e.g. , review/compari.son of the latest. af:fic:e technology for physician practices, such a> b~.lli.xac~ anti sL.rned~_zli.ng system.> and electronic medical. rc~~cords mansgemen.t ; ~"r.t er~~.ct i.we technology services, e.g., e-mail questions and answers, as well as FAQs, from a heaithcare tec°hnology pxof~~sso~:; ~~ ;mec:hc~c>logy glossary, e.g., a searchable li>t. of t:eahnal.agy term's ea:ud/or a practice technology assessment.. services, tc~ assess a level of technological sophistication in a doctor's practice.
A further type of resource relates tca diagnostic: assistance, including f:or exampl~:~, disease expl.anat,i.a:nra, tc~ help doctors correctly diagnose, k:~,;zsed c>n physi.c:.:ia.r, :i.x~.p~.at: ot~ c1 finical information, and providing possible diagno:~es, justifi.eations, suggestions for additional clinical infc:~xrnatio> i;o obt.aixx, and/or list of specific: .sigrxs/syrnptoms frrx: a ::~f7e:~~~::i.c: disease;
pra.~~tiee guidelines providing evidence-based caiz;i~al. p:ractice guidelines;
and/or disease modules, p:raviding ovex:views of many diseases, a . g . , ma j or and/or Gammon disease , inc~ludir~g a . g . , epide~rnio:logy, pathophysiology, c3iagnosi;:~, and t~x:eK;atment Opr_ionally, an ~;:leat:ronir. folciez ma~~ Lae ,~,sxavided f:or each user, in which the user ma~x~ argan.i~c. and ;a t. ore articles, patient 3~

Docket No.:105456.121 US1. Patent materials, and/or lurks for the>i.r:- consrez~Aiencr=' ~:rzvd futv.zre reference.
Other types of resources ir:cc~lude he>sp:i.tecl :>ffer~:ings t: hat address the needs of hospital--based audicn;~c=s (residents, Louse staff, hospital phys:.ci.ans) . Sucxu re~our-c~~.as may inc:k.ude, e--,.g. , medical calculators; ..nformat:ior:;, in~:ludiza,g nae=_dicw7. arsd zzon-medical information, calculat::ors and cc~ntcnt: from -aariot:~s smzrces that ars>
targeted to the needs of re>~ident:s and zned:i<~al student;s; an organizer for medicaa.. content a.n ca ta.b.(.e:~ c>:u o PDT, to assist users while they work with quick, problem--base=.d -.~olu~_ions t:o med~.cal question.s/clinical i>sues. Resou.x:cees iaAt:e~Lded for- hospital physicians include, c~..g. , rEferenc~e t~,>xt ;:>, es g. , m.zlled frc.~m core site content as most <:~ppropriat:e fc>x- :luo:>pi~~.,~7.. ph~rsician;a, PDA-download.able content: c~.ulled from t:h~-. c:vox-e a>ite and c~ustomi.cable by the user; a programmrible medical c°aL.c>ul~~t:ox: fox: important c~.inical calculations.
Other: resource:a include, fc.~z e~xaznp:(.e, c1 i.ra.i.cAal :ruppox:t tools that provide evidences based therapi~-~s ar5ci i::::reatments, dosage recommendations, .base~<a an pat-ie~.t~--spe~r~if z. c° data; arr orzline~ I:CD-9 Code reference for p~Gt:rent: eduoation; PL>A ;>oft°~aare; a w<~b-enabled version of well--resp~=cted texts, e.~wf., D~::urzwa.l~::~'s Atlas of Internal Medicine, i.rz~~ludinc~ disease i.mage~::a, cnart.s, and tables, which are optianally downloadable fear ir:Aco:rporation into, e.g., medical lectures; and a meet.irug repcyrter havin~~, news, anal~~sis, posters, and lecture summaries from rn<;~jc>x rnecli;~a:L meetings.
Figure 3 provides a block cLiagram of oxre_ or more=. e~rnbodiments of the medical :inaarncation portal, according tc> the pre;>ent.
invention. Preferabl'y~, tYie medic:a~. izufcaz:mfzt :io.rl portal. :.i.s implemented on a comF»zter system 301, wk~i.cJn may be acce:~sec( by one ~~ 9 Docket lVo.105456.121 USl Patent or more users 303. '~."he u.sex-s may cr7mrnurzic~atea, e,.g. , ;sign.-:i.z~z, register, and acce,:>s reso~,m:c~e:~, wa.tY-z the 0.;~;rstem in any usu<~1 manner, such as a poa::tal. c:we=r tl-;e I:nterxzet ??~3.
The system accc~rdin.c3 t:.o t~hN pre:aerzt .izm~ention znay in<:~lude one or more of the (callow inch seta of tool s , i.r; wh ich ~raricns resources are organised in a m~znraF~rr whicel~ is intLCitive for a healthcare professional.: diagnosta.c: t.ool.~w; c:a~:: researc.~.h of diseases 305, learning tools t'or profes~iornai. devc.lopmexrt: 307, patie~~nt tools for patient r:e:>ources 309, t:echno:ic_~g,r toc3ls on using health technology 311, rnew:5 and updates t:ac~l:r ::313, cl:.;irk:-reterenc:~=~
tools 315, and./or electron:i.:~ assi~~taz~t t::cx:~l,~ 317. Gne> ox~ nx~r~, re~~source~
may be included i.n mare than orze .yet: c3( foal::., :if appropr~.ate, a . g . , a glossary of r.cedica f. term:~~ . Vax ~..c ~u.-, :rode xes , :~ummaz_ ies , abstracts, etc., 335: 33'7 may be ~rrovided for xe~;ources ox~
col:Lections of resources, a.g. , jourrxal K~xt:ic°le.:>.
According to oz~e or more as~:~ects c33' '~i~r-.. px:esent invention, local healt:hcare resc~zarces ;319 may be ir.c:l.~.aded and accessed directly by the syst~ern, e.g. , a pxopxi.et::ax~°a text: . Aco:oxdi.ng to an aspect caf t=he present irxverution, txealt~hc~are xesc>ux~ce; 323, 325, 327, 329 may be accessed via the 3:nt:ern~~t 33::3. Fc.esources may include, e.g. , a joux_na1 323, a rre>dical. :~chc~c;~l 325, a rc~st.r:icted access resource 327 (:or wl-zi.c:h a ozser: mu~t~ :~cz c:.ex:taro c:r:itex:ia to obtain access, and/or- patient--a:cie~nted rc._==sozzrc~zs 329, c~pt.ionally, the system includes i.;ser registrat: icon data aB1 for ea<:h user, indicating, e.g. , user name and <::ontact rruc~ and licE:nsure information. The sy~;t.em may rec:eiv.~~ rrew:~~ ,a:lso v.ia orre>_ or more medical newswire ser~.,-ices :321. "fh.e :~yrste=m advantageously provides, utilizing t he sets; of t:ool.s, a u~rifi~~d arid organized access to a wide variety of ra laz:.cpe m_xmbc..c c:~f :re;~ourcees r_hat would Docket No.105456.121,_(7S1 Patent otherwise be too coni:us.in.g and;''ox~ ur:~wielc~y tc~ access, espec°ially in its Entirety.
Figures 4-10 i:A.lustrate examples of ;sets of tools fUr use in connection with the present invent.ic-.~ro. i~~rr~~ c>r nucsre embodi.rnents o:f the invention may im:~lude all, ~ax a pork:~.o:v c~f, t.hesee sa_ts of tools. Further, examples ax'e provided c:~fi :resources z.nc:Lude-d with the tools, for illust:;ration frurpcrse~:. ~~en.:we, one or rno:re embodiments of the f>x:ese:nt ~.rment~..<~n may i~,m~l.ude=, omit:, augment, and/or combine var.iou4> resourr_es. !:f al>px~:~priat.E~, a ~:e.>omrce may be included in more than o:rze set c:Pf t~:ao;3 c> . Moreover, r<=sources may be proprietary t<.> the c>pex:-atox of the syst:~rr~, or may be obtained fx:om other- L>arties, grad ~rka~~ be :lo~::at:e~l ,a.nywrzere that is electronically acces.,ible.
Reference is nc.>w made to Fi~~u:c'e 4, illustrating an e~:ample of diagnostic tools v05 for one ox more a~.mbc>dirrrents crf: t:he medical information portal of the pxeserxt inventi.o,:e. 'Che diagnostic tool;>
305 .include, for example, di.seasr: ra>"earra~. assi:>t_ance~ 4()1, disease diagnosis assistance 403, treatrner.t g;zidelines and "best=
praCtlCE's~~ 4~5, medlC"al x'i-?fE".r'~-'r".f;'E_';a 401, dniJ[/'C)r 5F?veraa.
dISE'aSe modules 409 with proiessi;~rral exT:~:lar~at.:ic~n;~ «f ~~i.sease~~. Try this example, the disease modules are opt.iixna~.:L;.~ st~:ar~=_d locally in the system. The system ~~x~ovi;~es ac;~e.ss tc- came ox irrore, dig>ease research resources 41 _;, orze m: m«xe d~..sE~as~:a di~:~gnosis. re~sou,rces (which is optionally x"estr:icted? 41a, azod/~ax° oc-7.e or me>re med.ieal references (optionally restricaec.~) ~~.1G>, 41'7.. ~:~cc.ess may be provided locally and/cor 'via a n~:~!:work., e:..~. , ttm :~nterner., 333. In this way, resources cl.i.rect:ed to meda.c<xl d:izj.grro;~is that are accessed over the TnterneYe: may bc= mac~a av~z.i.:i.abl..e t_o the user in a convenient grouping iru a ;set of .:iia!~rmsti:: tools, further meeting l Docket No.105456.121._USI. Patent the healthr_are profe>sional~,>' intr:ritive c~ategox~izatian of pertain resources as direct.e<~ to diagnas:i:a.
Reference i.s nc>w made t:<> Fz.c~ux:e 5, i.llia.stxatine; an example of learning tools s0':' for on.e or mox:e ernY:.ar~:iments of the me>dical information portal ofthe present i.rrvent:ion. 'Ihe learning tools 307 include, for example, online c~orrti..n~x:in~l n~eS3i.cal e<iupat.ion (CME) 501 (informatic>n and/or pro~.~it~ex:s) ; Leferences (e.g. , links, lists) too professional societies x:.03; refex-en.ces to med:ical..
schools 505; lecture materials 50')r and f>c:art.ion~ thereof, e.g., libraries of slides, present: at:ioxrs, lectur~a outlines, etc.;
medical board review in forma t. ion 509, ~:.c,J., ba~.~xd review materials, informati.cGn on boards, et.c.; an~~.,icar medical rneet:ings calendar and medical meetings repc~ztex~ ~~11. some of these resources may be c:an~,reni.entl.y local tc:~ t:xre ;~~rs2:em, for a>_xanrple, the meetings calendar 525, medip<zJ. ~>orzrc:~ ir.r.formati.an x)2_3, acnd/or lecture materials 521 . Other resources rna°.r be accessed via the Internet 333 . Resoux: ces appropx late t<> .J.ea:r°3ui::ag tool :>
inpl ude, e.g. , CME providers t~13, rnedica.r ;~cl~rc;c.>1 .< it::c.a:: ~~~15, pxofc,ss~i~ma1 societies 517, and/or medical. Waa.rd sates ;alt3. Acces:> t:.o resources may bs=_ prov i.ded :Local yr axad lo:r °;r.:i.a a rre t:wox 1~:, a . c~ . , the Internet: 333. In thi.~ way, resouzce.s dire:>ted t:c> med.i.cal learning that are accessed over the Intex:n~__=t ma.y k>e mad5.> available to the user in a convenient ~_~rou:~i.ng in a set ctf :=,.earu:~ing toc>l:>, f:~rther meeting the healthca.re pr,afessic:>rvalas' irvt:.~..rat:i.v~v c:ategorizat:ion of pertain resources as ciire~t:.ed t~::> l.eaxw:irg.
Reference i;a mow ma~:3e t:o E~igura 6, i:i.l.ust:..r<xting an example of patient tools 309 for ~:me or rrk<:~rr= em1>odi.ment:.s of trae med.ipal information portal of the pzese;nt; ir~.vent.iou-~. "G he=_ patient. tools 309 include, for exarr~x,,le, <5ne pr moee of : a;aat i~ar~t:-oriented media references 601, patient h,_rx~dout,~ 60mi, pat:i~yrxt ,support gxoup~;> 605, 3'?

Docket No.10545b.121 US1 Patent clinical. trials 607, and/or heal t:tv guide:=. 'The system may include, as in this c~xam~~le>, a datakaase of pak :lent h<3ndoutr:~ 611, and/or index and surnrnaries to L~xc:az~ide bFat~:r ~,t:cess t:o, e..<~., media references for patients k~13, i:~at:i.~>~-i.t :o~a~:~pe>it grc~u;ps f>:LS, and/or r_~linical t-ria:E s 617. Othez xveso~.axcr>=; nia~x> inc~l.ude a,t;icles appearing :in the lay media b19, pat:i.E:nt :.iupport grauF.~ site::; 621, and/or clinical tria_L. sites 62?, . A<~ce:s;> m~a~~ t~e prov:Lded lc.~<~ally and/or v is a network,, a . G . , the lrzt cruet: 3 3 '~ . I:r: tip i;~ way, resources directed to patients tLzat: ax:e ~~.c<..~e>seca over the :Cnternet may be made availablc:d t:.c.-> t.-he:~ u~;er irx r~ ~~c~~r:c~r~~::xiezrt grcozping in a set of patient tools; fuz:thre~x: meet ing t1 e~ rzr:~al tiucvare professionals' intuit.:LVe~ c.ate~:~c>r~.<;at:iorz <:>f c:.e~rtap..n resource=s as directed to patients Reference is z-z<:>w made to Figure 7, il.l>::str:ating a.rz a<cample of healthcare techna::l.ogy taal.s fc:>x cane c>~ rnax a enr"r~odiment s of the medical information l::aartal of the. pxeseaut irzvent.S.c.~n. T:he healthcare technolog~~ tacl.s 31a :c.riclu.de, fc~r example,. produ<:t reviews 70:L, featured:> rzealtt>car:e techraa:l~..-~gy <crt:icles '703, <3lossary of technical terms '7io5, and;'ar qwery--ab:i.e i.r~:kaxmatiozz on t:echnical terms or technology ;t>raducuts. ;3ame of C:k~e:>e xe:ac>zzrce:~ may be stored locally, e.g. , healtracaxe t.erhno:l.c:~gy art:ic:~:Les '709. Access may be provided locally and;'ar via a rretwor~~:, ~__.g. , the Int=cruet 333. If appropriate or desirable, uc~h zas where the :_esom:<:es are sufficiently sr_at:tered, the sy::tem may irr.:Lude an index an<~
summary of the resou:~::ces, e.g,, fc>x px:o<:~t~c~l:: xe;~views '711.
Resources may :include:. in the illi.zstz°at:ed c.mbociiment, e.g. , product reviews 713, and hea:,..thcare t.ec~h~°aca7.c>gy a7 tic~:ie >, 715. In this way, resources directed to healthc~az a tec:~hrzc3lctglr that: a:re accessed over the Internet. ma~~ be made ova:i.la.b7.e tct:x-Ge~ ~zser ~-n .a convenient grouping :';.z a set: ofhc.-'alt't:cszxe t.~rckzruolog~> toal;~, further meeting the riealttrc~.re pr-c.~fes>ir.>ral~:' irzt~.aitive ~i Docket No.10.5456.121 ITSI. Patent categorization of cer: tai.n resau.rcF>s a~.~ ciixec:t.ed to healthcare technology.
Reference is now madee t.o Fiuui:e 8, i:11~!str~atinc~ a:n ~~<cample of medir_.al news t:oolT~ 313 fc~r ane ax: mox°c. ~:.mbcu~a.ment;j of tY:e medical information 7>carta2. c:~f t:Y~c_. p~:e,:>ent i.rzvent:iora. The medical news toc,ls 305 incluc:le, for' examY>:le, ::>e-lr~~ctecl current medical literature 801, late,>t medical findiroxs 803, breaking medical news 805, medical specialty new s 80'", and/or c~u.ut::c~mi zed medical news 809. Medical news rr~saurces may :~.mr_~lud~~, fc~:c zxample3, medical journals S:L9, medica:'~ news 8<?1, arid/o3: m~e or mare newswires of medical news 823. AY:>propriate ~r~.d~or clr~irak>1.~ indexs>_s tc>
resources may be pro~,r:~.ded , a . g . , an index: and summary to ~~e=lected medical literature 8:'.1, to Latest m~.~dica:L f:i.r-!dings, and tc>
breaking medical new:-; 81.5. The medical r..ew;> xesources may be "selected" for a rescmrce by any appxopx.~iate matY:!ad, e.rl. , latest may be determined to be today's az:'t~.c~le:~;. Al t:ernatively, the medical news resource:!s may be '°,s~lec.ted" an,~ pz-avided by a third party. Each user rna.~,.~, if dersi.red, t:urna.,::~~ preff=ax.enc,e:~ fax-custamized medical ne:ews 817, whic~Y! mayr be ~xsr,d t.a fili~e:r ne=ws into customized medical neews 809. Acc.~~~s:> rnaXr br-> px-rwider3 :LacaL~y and/or via a network, e.g. , the :L:nt~~.rrlet 3:~3. In thi:~ way, resources directed tc;, medical news t:hczt Gbrk~ acs~essed over t:he Internet may be made available to the usfr~r ix:, a conveni.d=_nt:
grouping in a set of medical. new:> taal.s, fi.a.rt.-hex cneet.:ing tyke healthcare professiaz~als' ir~tui.t~.zre catr_=c~ori.zat.:i.caz! of certain resources as directed to medical r!ews.
Reference is nc>w made to Fi.c~ux:e 9, il:L7..~strating an e~cample of electronic assists:ants tor,l s 31"7 Lrar oroe <>:~ rnc:7.ze eml>odime:~nts of the medical infowmat~.an portal oa tY!.e pxe:sent~ i.r:rventian. ~:'he electronic assistant.;=> tools; 31 ~ ir~clu<~e, f~;~r example, clinical 3-~

Docket No.105456.:121 T3S1 Patent calculators 901, references to selected news acrd medical literature article=_s 90:3, select~:aca pGxtierrt :c°eso~zrce:> 905, cl:Lni.cal evidence resources 90'I, arld/ar rnedic~al re;>idenc..:y and career resources 909. Optionally, resoz,zrces pro~,r:~.d.ed by the electronic assistants tool are appxopri:jte f car dowzv.lc:><:~d:in~:~ tr3 user's electronic tool, especially where the foal is lzortable, e.g., a PDA of a user 911, a handheld c~7t~rput:e:z of a, ~.zsk°:r 9:L3, or other remote device 927. The system may provides a variety of patnei.t handouts 92°~, med:ical cal.~::ulatoa:~,~; 929, med:i.c:~al gul.delines 931, medical journals 319, pa t.ient:-ax°iented art:iole~ 933, one or more residency gateways 935, and one or more ma:.d.ical. career opportunities 937. t~~zex~e appx:o,~.~x:ia~~ra ox: d~.r,:irrable, indexes, summaries, or links to selected resources may :be provided, e.g., links to selected articles 919, r.~:~ ~~e:l~:c°t.k={:a pa C:.i.emt.
resouxck~s 917, to calculators and decision support 919, r~:> clinical evidence resources 921, and/or t:o Gxzedir..al. ~:azeer x°~.=_.;C:~ur~.Yes 923.
Acces:~ may be provided locally° a.nd/or via a network, t-s_g., the Internet 333.
In this way, resources appx~apriate fox- the eler:a.ronir assistants tool that a:re accessed avt=_x~ trce a:r~.t~rru=.t. sn,;aar bcJ made avail.a.ble to the user in a convenient grouping in a see of electronic assi stants tools, furt.hex. meetirLC taw ~nea:Lr:~zc:ar~e professional:a' intuitive categorization of certain resources as appropriate for an electronic assi:;tarzt .
Reference is haw made to Figure 10, :il_lustrating an example of a toolbar 315 fox rune or more embociimen°::r:> of the medical information portal of: the present inventiorz. ':Phe toolbar i.s intended to persist orr t:he user's .interi:'K~.cre wh:i.le acc°essincG
the site, in order to px-c:wide ~:ven ea;~.er <~c:vc:~e.~s tr,,a the most commonly used resources. "Most commonly zzsed" may be determined, e.g., by those a physician e~xi>ects t:c> have imrr~fi:.da.<:~t~:, Ly :zt hanca in t:raeir practice; these may include resoux:ces that are for are not) ~5 yocket No.105456.121. JS1 Patent provided in connection with another set of too'Ls. The toolbar 315 includes, for examplE:, cl.izaical k°.oo:l~ lki0:l, ons:a ox mare search engines 1003, and/or commonly used medic; al resources 1005.
kesources in the illustrated ex:ampl.f= :inc:.:lt.z~:~e~ c~n.e ox more clinical calculators 1.021, medical textbooks 10~?3, ztzedi~al journals 1025, drug reference texts x.027, medicra:l. z.~tic;l.e,.> 7.0~f~, medical dictionaries 1019, ar;.r.~/«r CME prc>vic:ex;; l.O:tl. Acces;; may be provided locally and/or via a network, e.c~., the Internet 333.
Indexes may be provided w~zeare a.ppr:ox>z:iat:e> ;arct~./~.7x: desf.rable, e.g., to various clinical calculators 101x., to medical textbooks 1013, to selected journal artic;l.es and rrsedi<-:al. ar:k l.c:Les 101.5, anck/or to CME providers. Some r-esc~urw~es may bs= pxc.r~rice>d l.ocall.y, a.c~., a site search engine 10307. Optionally, the system may include a folder f.or eacYz regi.s°t:ered user :10D ~ in wkz a.c:Yz i;:rze a ser may store 25 links and/or user-selected resources. 1:n this way, resources appropriate for a toolbar that ,:axe acr°esse~::~ c::w~~x° the Inter°net may be made available t:o the user i.rz a i=oxxvenit.:nt gruupirxg in a toolbar, further meeting the healthcara professionals' intuitive categorization of cer tairz resourc~r.s a> tlxo::z~~ t!zat should be immediately at hand.
Figure 11 is are. exe~mpl.ary~ user itzt:er:k=~:zce illust rat.inca a home page 1100, including sets of tools, e.g., optional disease research tools 1101., 1>rofe:»~ac>r~.a;l dpvelr:aprn~>:zt: t~.aol.s 1.105, patient resource tools 1103, healthcare technology tools 2107, electronic assistant tools, medJ_ca:1 rxews tools :1.1:L:~., ;~zndj~~r. tool. bar 17.:13, for one or more embodiments of t:l:ze rnedi~:al ~.rzft>:rtttati.orz. portal c:f the present invention. A user may select a seref tools (or a resource listed tt~.erc~.n) , ox t~~k~ ~::c~ 2:fw t.car~la, ra.nd be>
px°eseented with an appropriate user interface.
,~Sf9 Docket No.105456.121. tlS:l. Patent Tyre toolbar 7.1.1 ~~ rnay incl ucic=~ ,a ~ear:cia,, iru ;.he i llustx ated example, the tool bax: inc::l~xdes a ;ite s~~Gi:r~.az 19.15, and a search of a particular resource, e.g. , Medl:i.rar~ 2:11'7. Th;~ toolbar 1173 rnay optionally include ac~.res;~ t:o the l.as~er°s fol.cler 1.1~:L. The toolbar may include a set of c:linic:a:1 t.o<>ls 11:?1; ~~~rxd -~ :>et of other resov.rrces 1123, a fur t: her explained hereixn. CO~.>t:iona7.ly, t.Yte toolbar :1113 is di~~~>a..ayed c>n ever-~~ ~ac~e_= whx.i.:L.st t:he user :is at the portal according to t lre present :ir~vnn.t i<:,~r:c.
The news and updates tool s :1.11.1 may a..rar~1- de a variety of sets of resources, lc>c;icall.y gr<:>c.rped:l. 7rr ~.ime ii.lustrated example, the news tools 1111. iruclude~ seler~t.ed c~uxxa>rut:. m~:-~d:ical.
literatm:e~
1125 from journals; breaking new. 1.:1.*'7; qe~aFr'a:l medical news 11.29;
specialty news 1131; and%cJx :~elc:ec~t:e~::i <.-°ons iadkrex: s.iew:>
1133. New:
included in any or aLl of these rc.=~sou.rcc'~s :uv~y '::7e p:rov-ided f°y a third party provider. This i.:>° ~~,ivaratat~e~Uia:~ pa~..-t.ic~ula.rly where resources require an appxvopriat~:~ livense, l~.s ~:~n alternative, the site may provide she select ion of t.l::~e rm~w;a :i nc:L.~x<3eci in one or more=.
resources, e.g., "cr~.x:r~emt, medzc~,r:l. litc~x:at~,_xyee' rrvay k~e for a specified number of day:>>, e~.g. , 3~ most: xv~~erlt days, from e.g. , the ten most pxesti.gioi.xs medical. ,jo:.zx:nal;:~.
Figure 12 i:~ a.n. exemplary user ir'xtE~.-i:ac~e for current medical periodical literature , for one c:>r: mc:ax:e c:rmb~.~cxi.m<=ants of t:he rreedical news tools. Tn this f:~xanrple, tkic> :cr=;;ourc~r= a.~; l-xrcwided by aru independent third-par-ty socxrce, anal a pop-~,.p s~:: r.een 1201 displays the third-party sate. Al't ernati.srel~f, ti~a.e t Lu:f.r~::i--party site could be displayed with a frame. Her=e, tt~r, t~ir.i.rc:C ,ipar:ts;~ l:zas independently selected the provide>d anti.c~l_r~., arid .>pinions Figure=_ 1:3 i:Llust:.rata>.s an c~xa.mi~lc: c>f L~saax iazterfar_e for breaking news, for on:c or more emboc:3.i.mentr c>f t:he medical news 3 '7 Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent tools. In thi:~ example, tkxe bx:eal~irig news i.s provided by ac third party, which has seleect.ed t::rwe art-:icl.es ix:de.>p~>ndently, based on those that are expect A:~d t:o t:a~re .in~rrcediat::e~ :impl i.car~ ions fox the professional' s prac:t.i ce . Tl'::e z es;c::3u.rce i.> ,:~resw~nted S.n thi:a example in a pop-up :ac.reen 130:1 .
Reference is made to ~'igLCre 14, il.:Lu~atz:at_ing an example user interface for generaa. medical rtew~;, f~~>r. c>r;~~, c>r reu~re embodi_ment:s of the medical news t.oo~ s t.hi.> e:xayple,.:le.reral medical . Iri . he news is provided by a tYui~. re~so~trv:e s:ixxc:fi this c par . A,~,.~rv;~ resc;~urce t: y-causes the user int.erfac:edisplay a scrr.>!>n:1.40:1. ofmedical t:o news . Note that the toolt>ax:l L 1.:? oot remains on tYze~
l ox:~.al user i..~~rr interface in this example.
Reference is now made to Figure 1~~, i,.l.lust:rating an evxample user interface for specialized rrc~ws, foz o:rre o:e- more embodiments of the medical. news tools. Irr tlzi,==. Nxarnl~le, t:hr= ~.~peci.alty medical news is selected and provider) by ~~ t.hird p~r.rty reso~axce. 'Tkze specialty news carre:.pond:~ to orrc~ r,:r. m<axea :>pecialtieN: indicated by the riser whilst regiM.terizig. ~?,c~.c.~es:ir~g t.-11i..:-~ r,:>sov.rce cause's t:he user interface to dir;play a screern 1.50:1 o:E >e?lr~cted specialty medical news. Again, not:ra that t:lve tnoik:a,~:,_ 1. 1. .optf.onall~~
remains on the user izzterface izn t his e~a~rtp~:lc~, Figure 16 is are. example of ~~ ~.~ser i.rn°:r~i-f~ce for consumer news, for one or mc.~re> embodiment:a of t.he~ m,~d~.cal. r~c:.ws~ toolw~, In this example, t: he consumer medical xzews is f:~xvo~aided by a third party resource, and advant:ageou:~>ly :is :>el~:e~:t:ed Pram news re~sourcer>
typically accessed b~ lay people:>., a . g . , t.lmv.= 23e~~,r 'York 'Times .
Accessing the consume~x. xzews~ resc:,uxca i.n t:lza.; eacarnple cau:>es the user interface to di:,play a sare~ke~ 160;1 o.f: cc7n:~>umer medical news.
~8 Docket No.105456.1<?1 US1 Patent Again, note that the taalk7ax L~C:1.3 aptian~al:Ly x:ernains on. the user interface in this s~x~xmple .
References is nc:>w m<xde t:.o 1~'iciuxe 1°?,. i.1 1. u. st::x:ating a:n c:example of a user interface i_or di.Kxcana:at:i..c: t:ocald,>, for orm or mare embodiments of the mredical irafc>rrrurt:i.ar: laur.~al ,7f the present invention. The diagn«sti<: t:csrrl~nGr~~~ inc:i.~;rdea <~. v~.xiety of se=ts of resources. The diac~rvosti<~ xescaur<~~=~:, therc~:aelves 'may be pre:..ented to the user irxdividur~:lly and/ox m~:Ey be rt~a.ri:tac,.r i.oc icrxlly gx.ouped.
Tn the illustrated e:~cample, the> ~:iiacLnr~st:::i.c t_ool.> .i.nclude a one or more medical refererxG~e:>, r.. ~r.~ . , "33~-xw,t: ~>rv:~c:~c: ). rc>. of Medicine"' 1701;
one or more diagnosis; service, ea . q . , I~xt>l.a i:n ~ tm) a "703 ; a l i=t of national treatment cy.ri.deliraes 7. 'I C7t:; arse c~i rnorr.=_ general medical texts, e.g. , the Merc°k Marxual 1'7C ,7; ane ox more medical texctbooks, e.g. , Cecil 1709; di.: ease mc~dul.ea=, c~.:ntaiz,~iric3 c,.>ruc.~ise disea:>e information, a . g . , c'1:~ =ease def i.xl:i t icon, e.pi; emp.:ol.ar~y, pathophysiology, di.a<~nasi:> and~'o:e: treat.m~arv: <lu,t.<ieLines; and.!or_ other medical referex~c~es t'~13. zra the l7xe.>~:aa.t example, they toolbar 1113 remains> ara t:~-re rxse~x: :z.ra.t:~~x t~rc:e~ .
Reference is nc>w made to E~ic~u.re :1t=, illu::at.rating an example user interface fo:r a physi.cvian x:eference~ rr=~xaur:c~= provided in connection with they <:iia.gnastic t:~c:~l;w:. Ira ~::lnis example, they physician reference~ resouxcw "Be::~t E>r~rcxtic~~~a of Medicine'" i;~
provided by a third party, as rrs;~4 b.~:~ tyl:~zc~r:~:. f~xx rt standard reference text . 'rhea resource i:~ ~,ri:asc,nted in ;::.l~:is example in a pop-up screen 1801.
Reference is now made to f:1<aure 5~~, :i.l.3u.~trating an example user interface for a. di =ease di.agrrc>;ai.~ :>e>c~.ri .r_e, a resource accessed via the diacnost.ic: tact:;, <-rc:~°.r,~x:cl~.rrc7 t:,a orre ar mare embodiments of the preserat irwPmt::ia~... C:a ~ iti;example, the di:aease ;~-) Docket No.105456.12:1 LTS1 Patent diagnosis resource i> a serv~.ce~ pz:~c>vided bar a third party. The resource is presenc~e<i in t.h~..a e=xarrt~;l.E=_ ia'r a pol;-°,zl>
screen :1t~01.
Figure 20 is aarother: paged~ 2t)C?=L of t.h~:=~ exemplary user interface for the aii.aease diagr'~cF~~:i:.: s~r~,ric~~ c>f Fic~u.xe.=. 19.
The present invention al:iows fo1' i.utex:'act:i Ve-' rasorirc:.es t.o intera.ct with the user. In trt'a.is case, t.hr. r.~sex :~~~ u:rampted for inputs to the diagnosis servic:~>. Figure 2i. :i.w~ a t~;r',.irer page '?101 of the exemplary user inters ace for tkle c:~.i:ae~zs~.> dia.grao;7is service of Figure 19 , showing t:;::e cwase f: ir:~da.rlg's~~ ret:;r:arrreci in response t a ~~he user inputs. The u:>e=~r may x>e p_atEAract.ivc~lf° px'S3mpted far further inputs by a resour<:e such as :}kzc:~wri. irr t:.l,i~:> c:.xample.
Reference is naw made=_ t.o Fi.c~urr= 2~~, il:lust.rating an eexample user interface far a c,lirlir~.al f,z.~c~tir.~c: c~x:~i.del.ines resource:, for.
use in connection with the didgrr<:pat.-i.~-.° tc>r.~:l>. In t:tli:~
examF~le, the resource "National G~.:i.del:irre~ Cl.e~z:z:in.c~ha'~.z:>e'~ ~tcnj is 1>rovide,:d by a third party. The r.e:.our<:e is pre=>en.t.E~d. irc t.lr~ ~ example ira a pop-up screen 2201.
Reference is n<aw made t:o F:irtu.rx:e 2 ~,, il:lu~at~rating an example user interface for ar'cother medi.cr~.1 ref.-ex.-en.~e, for use in connection with the cliagnc>:atict:ocu.M~cof I~i:~'G.a.a:e~:n thi.:>
::1.'7.

example, the medical. refE=rer~ce,"'fln.E=~Mr=r.rrk is a st~rndard Mani.zal"

publication that i; ~o.rovidedthe sil~E, oA:>er.a,by obtairaing by <~r any necessary permissic'>n. The xeso~rre°e .is L:Jre~.erlteci 'in this er~:a'mpl.e in a pop-up screen 2 ac~l.
Figure 24 illw:vtrat:ees a uae-x: i.n:et'fau,~~a fox° ~ medical textbook as an ex.amp~ e_= fr_ax' use i.'n c:'c~nnec°t i :>rr wi.t:h the diagrcost;ic tOOlS Of: FlguY'e 17 . Tn t::ill.S E~3S:iaT'C1~71~:~', t~~CE' C'';lE'l:~i :'d.1 t:f:xtboak. 15 provided by a third F>arty Farc>vz~le~r. '1'hEr ra~:~r~ur.c~e is pre,serGteci in ~3(i Docket lVo.105456.1'21 CJS1 Patent this example in a pop-up sc~x°eera ~;~401, arxci. i;:he toolbax: 1.113 optionally remains ora t:he u:>er ir:t:erfa.crs .
Reference is rxow made to k'ir_;a.:x:e 2rs, a.n example of a laser interface for disease> mod:ule~u~, f~w~x: rrse ira ~:aora.nc>rti.on with t he diagnostic tools. Ira this exanupl.ea, t:he ciieas~=_ modules are,~
provided by the syst:e~m ope.x-atox:. The di.>e..x;re cn<:>dule:> ax:e ~.ntended to provide a consi.==~t:<~nt lc:ve>7 c;~f ir:fcarmati:a:~i ab<>ut: each of various diseases. Hence, irx thi:> a=_xamxale, a cxi.<sF~ase rr,cadu:le includes definition & classif:i.cat.:ion i.nf:o:cmati.on, e~aidemiolog~~, pathophysiology, di.ac~nosis information, an~i treatment gui.deelines.
The resource is presrrxteci ir: thi~~ e:x.amp3r> :ica a i:::c>p-G.ri~ screen '.?501.
Reference is n<:~w maxde t::o F:i g~rz:ea 7C>, rzrr exemplary user interface for a set caf medic°a. 1. rF:.fere~°.~caes , f<,or ~.rse in connesc~tion with the diagnostic. tools ofPi.c~uxee 1 al. 'I'.n.e me<iic:al reference's "resource" 2601 contaains a furttrex vet c>f M::e=.scro.:a ces, in this example including a :_ibraxy of: e~.c~ra.s,;r:lt mcxd~icaal webs:it:.es 2603, e.g., MD Consult (TM~; a rr~ed:ic:al dat.abasE~ :;~05, e.g., Harri:~on's Online; a standard medicai text ~~C~O'7, s=.c~, . "I°he Merck:
Manual; a medical textbook 260su, e.c~. , C:ve~ci.l 'I'exr_xocroic; a po:i.nt-of-dare referen<:e 2611, e.g. , Best Fract::ic:~e of Med:~.Yain~=.; and/or a medical dictionary 2613, e.c~. , Doxv.and.'.~ Mec3i.c:a7. 7:i_i~t:ic.>nar_y.
Referenr_e is made t:o E"igt:.r~e 2'7, acv s.:anapae c~f a user-interface for a library <:rf rr;edi~:"--a:l wer~si.tr=~, f~>r use in car:nec:tion with the medical referrence=: t.oca~:l.a~. Ira ~:1-:i~~ ex~-ample, the reference, MDConsv.xlt. (TM) is a c:°cllk.}ct::i can ~a:E o~arer resources, including summaries and abstracts tc:, ;~:>ai.:a: t:.hd= user. Thiw:
example illustrat~as t:hat. a x.esc~i.::r.c:e ir...~Ml i mr~y ~sc~ovic~.e yet another layer of intuitive= gxaupi.ngs to t:iae ~a:;er., <aTrd rnay still be Docket No.105456.121,T~S1 Patent references by the present invert: ioz, . Tkz~-~ re~;r,urct> is pres~~nted in this example irl a. po~:>-up scx:eerk d%'7~,:1...
Reference is z:l,~w made to fi.r~~zx:e 2t3, i:Lli.strating an exemplary user in.te=_r~tace foz- a medi.c;al ,L<~t,~.ba;e, for u~;e in connection with the= rrzedi~:a:l. z:et ex°er~c~> to<~~1,~. Irz this examf~~le, the medical database is r~~rov.ideci b;~ a t.lui.r:d L:;art: y, rind. is i.tse:l f indexed, provides :~urnmar:iss, arzc~ iii itseaf: sear.r.;lGable. Th~:>
resource is presente.>_c1 in t:h:Ls er:xampl.ea in a pmp-mp screen 21301.
Figure 29 is an exs=_rzzplar~,~ v.x::7er: int:e°rf:aae f.-or learninca tools, for one or more embodiments of t.rae medical infr:~xoczati«n port: al of the present invention. The learr:e~.ry~ tocO.s "r:e>ource" 2901 contains a further sF~t: of .reso~zrc-eN~, in tt~z:g_~~ e~:ranzple in.c;luding continuing education resourc°e.s ':?uC;3; Lec~t;a:cE, pre::entation resources 2905; medi<~al meet: i.nct ~~~alcarW;~xw~iac:~ meet ing repox:t:er 2907; board review pxeparat:~on rc:;;cuarces 2~~U_3; c:°lini.cval tr~_al information 2911; anciJc>r profe~;sicsna4. socvi.e>ty links and medical school links 2913. ~:zz t:he pxe~;ezzt uxaenl:a~.e, the page includes the toolbar 1113.
Reference is made to figure 3Ci, axz eacemp:l.ary user irzt:erface for a user profile, f:<.>r u:ze in c:c:~rzzz.ect:ic>za Faith the :Learning tools.
In the present example, t'tzee ias~x: L;~xt>fi:L~~ .~,)(>1. ;.~>rc~vides fox:
collection of informGs.P.ion relevar,.t ~rj cc>mmf-~rzciczc~ azr online CME
service.
Figure 31 illuw;trate., arz .-~x~.mplF~ c~:f , us.~-~x interface for:
lecture materials anc~~ presentat:ic.:az~~s :1501 , fc>r ~z:~e in connection with the learning tools . The resc>urce:> c~<:~l.:Lec2:ed in this ~:et of tools include, e.g. , visz.aals, sr.zcil ,:as fro=.r~ ~:z.~ ~?3t.las of Internal Medicine, s:Lides, illustrating m~..<iiea:L con~:vE:~pt..>, and/or text f:or conveying concept:. 'fhe r_wsoura~c:.=,~ rc;~:y~ 1,e ~:>hot~c:>graphs, drawings, Docket No.105456.12~1""FJSl Patent charts, tables, s.t~~tistics, t: e:>t, etc. Indi.vi.dual. v:isuals may be printed, or grouping:> (suc:h as bT"r t.c:>1>icm,~y be selected. In the present example, tr-~e toolbar: 1.:k13 i> irac:lLG~~led.
Reference is nc>w made t.o F"iduJ:~e 3w:, il.:l.ust:x.ating an exemplary user intr=_r Lace ~,'>C)1 9: or: a starzdax'd ref::erenc:e of :interna:l medicine slides and c9iagram~>, f:or use in connect::ion with tire lecture materials and prf=sern.t:ati~~~ria~ of F:ic~!arN 3:1. 1n this example, the referenc=e, t:he DrcaurGwald Atlas c:rof Lnternal Me<lic:ine Online is standard, ~:~nd raay be pxc.avid<.d k::y <~. tlx:ird party pr.ov:ider.
The resource is presf_>nted T::rc tY~i~ exasnpa.e :Lrr a pop--ul:~ screen 3201.
Figure :33 prov:~..des an exarnp:le: <7f ~r uT>~ar interface for a slide image bank, for use ire ccznrbect:.i.orl wik:h tare lecture materials and presentations of Figure a7.. 1r7 t:l'zis eax~:arrrple, the slide image bank may be propriet4ary, oz may be prc>vide~:l lay a third party provider. The slide image bank: :List.s di:~e~cse ~~zeas for which it provides visuals iJ.l.t~strati.ng rrrec:~a.c~~l ccrrrre>_1>ts. In this e~:ample, the resource is seax'c:~tuablc~. True xesourc~e :i..;~ pu:e~c~e:nted i.n this example in a pop-up screen 3:307., an ~:3 the :c>olb;:~x: 1113 optionally remains on the user ar~te:z'fK~ce.
Reference is nc:>w made to Figure 4i4, ~>xr>v;iding an exankple of a user interface fox pati.e.nt tc~>ls, f:r~r c~.~ce car nuaz-k= embodiments of the medical information portal c>ft.kxe pz:e;~~rr:at: ~..nve:nt:ion. 'fh.e patient too:Ls 340:1 may incl~rde ,z ~,a.r i_et.}j r>1= se of resr~urc=>s.
The patient resource: themselves;- ma;,r be hr~=sent:ed to the usE>:r individually and/or mr~y beg fc~rtk<c>r :l~oc3ica.;'L.:l~y ~~:r:cruped. Irr the illustrated example, t:hef patient, t.-o~:u:; v54!>: in.,::vlude a one or' more resources for what pat: ien.ts are , see>:k.nc3 in t h.e media 340 3 , a . g .
, TV
shows, magazines, cned:LCal websit:e~M,, ne.>w;>.pt~l;;,e::rs, aa~d by catecjory, a . g. , men' s health, women ' s k~ea:Lt.t~, s~>_rkl.oav :rae;~ ~t r, teen health, ::t 3 Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent and children's healt'-c; a k>e,:~t l:edlt;.'rz gzzides xe;.~~auz~c~e (it:selt containing further patient resauxo:es) 34C1~,; a star~dard consumer medical text 3407 , a . g . , Ti:ne~ Mc_a.z: <.~k Maraual. of Medical Information, Home Edition; a collection of patient edz.ACation handouts and/or sheets 3409; information c>n cl:inz~::~ct:l. stu<~li~:-:~; ~i411; and%or references to patient suppcart <:~rcmxp> 34~. a~ . In the present example, the toolbar 1113 re>.mairos ca a the a>er ir~t..erface.
Reference is n<:~w made to F'~.~;~ure 34~, L~z~ Erxentplary user interface for informatior_ on what patients are geeing in th.e media, for use in c:ormectiort wit:kr t:lze pat:ic-~rrt tools. In tt°sis example, the reference, the re:~oux.°ces ozi what- p<~.tients are seeing in the media may be provided lay ~~ tknird pasty provider, an<'3 may be a compilation of med:~.cal news appr~a:ri.zi~~ .a.rt rwim general meda..a. The resource is present:eei, in this ex«mple ira a pop-up screen 3~01. In this example, the t:oc>:Lbar 2J.:13 is ix~.~~~:L~zdc~:d irn. ~,.-.he us~ar interface.
Figure 36 is ar; exemplary ~.~se:r i.nt,erface for another example of information on whmt patients are: sw:e.ir~~.~ :i.n the media. 7:n this example, the refererzc~e, the news~ rtta~.~ kae ~:ux~~:wid~~ct by a third party provider, a . g . , the Americara Heart. Assoc ia~.: ion . 'fhe resource is presented in this example ire a ,r~op-n,xp ss:rx°e~~rr :~r~c7:l.
Figure 37 i's are exemplary user i.nt.er~-rice for patient.
handouts, fnr use in c~.orznectior_ wi.t'tz the p~rtiez°it tools of H'igure 34. In this example, nuz~u~xa~r.s k~~,:zndc~rxt:~ apL~ropt:~iate for prcr.widing to patients are accessible, arrd rraay be px:ovided by a third ,party provider. AdvantK~gecat,.zsly, t'he ;~?~tir;nt 2-uarn::lca~~ntuy may be personalized (e.g. , x:y adding pluysi<:~.i.an and/or patient informat.ionl , printed, anc~jo.x~ e-mailed, ''I'lu~ rr:esource is pry.=.sented in this example in a pop-up screen X701. In the illustrated example, the toolbar 1113 eemaiz~~ c7rz tKrze ,xa;ea:x i.nt.erface.

Docket No.105456..12:1.US1 Patent Figure 3B is a:rz exempi.ar~,' u:-rex: interfar..E~ fox c:Lirzict~ l trial information, for uae~ in cc5nmect::i.c;~rz wit.-xz t.Yue pa. t:ierzt ?roc>ls.
In this example, the r_efererac:s~, tai ~~~ c_'entc:rx: ,~~~t~:~Eu, :i; a c~li.ni~:_<11.
trials listing servive provided a third ~»~r't:y px-c:wider. Tloe resources is presenteai in thi.;> e~xc~rnpl.e in a pG:al-u~> scx~eerx 3F301.
Figure 39 is arz exerrrplar~° r:r:aer int:.erfaee ~c,r-he>al.thcare technology tools, f:c>z: u.se ix; or,e ~.~r- mars-~ embodiment s of tLze:~
medical informatioxz Laortal c>f t;Er.~r presec:zt: i.rzve::ntion. The healthcare technology tools 39C):~. cxvay i:nc~:L~z:ia a ~,rdx:iety of ,>et;a of resources. The healthcaz_e t:ec:Y~.rz,:~l.c~c~l,~ re,.<<:>ocaz:r~es thzemselves may be presentedto the :lnd1.1T7.dl.le~.ll~irrci:j ~'JE~ ~:llCt:rleY' ilSe2' dr:lt:~~c l.oglCally grouped.In the trated examf>le,heal,ch.care technology ill.zz> tLxe tools include or nacre re~sc~urceeaf,:.>x. news about 3901 ane he e3lthcare technology 390:3; featured t:echrm:lc~c~~i~ artic:~).es '3~a(J5;
e:valuat:x.Oxls of Yzealthcare technology vencxc>rs 3 )~~~~ ~ ; ~~
gl.c>s:s>:~r_y,ldic~ti.onar°y c;f technology 'terms 390~~; a ~3ervice fo:e an:.o~ec-a.rzg t.ec:~:hncvlogy related questions 3911; a.~zd/c.~xv an online=a t:e4_vhrzolcag~,u asse:~sment of the user's office. In t1-a, pr-esen.t. <~xamLil.t~a,, t hz~== t~ot>lbar ~ 113 x°e~mains on the user interface,.
Reference i;~ nc;w made to Figur°e 4U, :l.llu.=a t:rsting an exemplary user' interface for a ~~~al.,h<:axe r::c-~c:hczology query service, for' use :in connecaion with t:lxe t:c=c:lano~ogy tools. In thie:
example, the technolcogy q~.zery sc=x:'vi.e:e, r .c:~. , ~~.M>k the Tech Professor", may bee prc7vided by ,:z th.:ir<~ pa.k:t y1 pa:ovider. The resource is presented in r.:his ex:a~rrpd.e i.rz .x ~:>op -up screen 3201;
also in this example, tkze ro;alb~r 1' 1.~3 x-ern~ai.ns an the sate.
Reference i;~ now made to t=i.clure 41, ~.lla.z:>trat:ing an exemplary a ser int~er'frace i or a~ heialt:hc;are t.e=c:hzzol.cagy assessment service, for use in r_~>nnec°tiorz witaz the ts:a<:~znc~:~c~gy t:ool:~.
In this q ~;

Docket No.1.05456.121 US1 Patent example, the user is queried to obtain ap~:ropxiate information characterizing the t:~>chnoloc~y :~ r~ t.:ia.c:.. u:;e:~ ' s r,~i f W
°e . This x: esource may be provided by a third part.:y provider. Tyke resource iri this example interacts wi.~..h the ~.~sez- via a pop-~.xp screen 4101. 'this example illustrates a pozt:i<.>zv c;°f r,-.k°aE:.= toca:lx.ar 17.1:.2.
Reference is made Fi<~ure 4:?,, illu:>>trating one examplfa of a user interface for e?~ectrona..r_ a:css::G.~,~t.ar:~t. tns:>as, fc>x- use :in connection with one f:~r more embodiments of the medical information portal. The electron:i.~:. a:~si,tar:~t t:t:~c,l:> 4~0'L may inc7.~zde a variety of sets of. resources Th.e el.ec:trc)rGi.c a~;:~ istart resources themselves may be pre=_sented to the user :intiivi.dually and/ox- may be further logically gr«LZped. Tn tYce illu str,:ated example, the:
electronic assistant tools 4201 ir~clude <~ one ~x more clin-wcal calculators 4203 ) a >election c~f r:G~rw.; 4:% 05 , a ~c>llection of clinical evidence r:e:~«urc:e~s 420'7; a c~ollecf:i.on of residenc~r and career resources 4209; and/or a colleetio.n of patient. resources.
zn the present exam~>1.E>, t: he>. tocub~;rr: 1~1~F xv=.>mai~:m on t: he user interface.
Figure 43 is or: exemplar~° rtz:;er~ inte:r~:ac:e lox ac:°cess to online shopping fox medical. tec~ianr_~1~.-.~g~°, f.',at:°
t~sr~° in connect.i.on with the electronic assistant tools. Upt.ionally, the invention may include a menu 4301 Erovi_di.ng tt~~ø~ abilit.~° I:.c> skic>p a selection of online stores for healthcare technology. 'fhis example also illustrates anotha_r nr.edical. technology res~:v.~rc~-', concer:rainc PI)As used in medical pract: ice ~~303 .
Figure 44 is or; exemplary case;r :.inte:r.t:ace for access to an online and/or FDA-enak~led resou.x;:~e, for u:;~:., in cor~azection with the electronic assistant tools. In Lhis exantplc>" the reference, the ePocrates Rx (tm) , is a program e:x:c~:~.~,a~,i.vel,~° foa handheld PDAs.
4t Docket No.105456.121. tJS1 Patent Such reference may f>e prc>pz:i.E=tai:y c>r~ its mad,,! Lae proviered by a third party provider . Trre resaur ce i:> h~r. asent.e~~ n s..lr.i s example in a pop-up screen 4401.
Reference is rcc:~w made to F igi.rr~e =~~~, .:1.1u>t::rati.ng an example user interface 4501 fear il..l.ustga9::zve seax~r,u re;.~u:lts for a predetermined site search for u.~~f:. iz:r cazurrec:tr::i.arx with, e.g. , tkre toolbar, of one or num~e eamk>odimc-,z~t; of the x>re:~ent invention. In this example, the seG:;rch searcr.ed bc~r_tz th=:~ :;~~srem's site and any sites of third party provide rr> ;:a~?ec:ified 1~_,j rhr= user. A
predetermined search term may bfa se:Lected k:>r~ tyre usez:, or the user may input their s.=lecvt:ed =~ea.rcku. t~exrn. Tku~ r:°t:zs~~u.xce is pre s;ented i.n this example in a pop-up sc:reer:~ ~~ 501 . "'~'7.re ~.ai splay prese~nt:z the search results 4503. Tn t~lce prc,a:>errt cx<zmp:l.c-~, '~:he search results 4503 area grr~uped by. i esos.:rrce type, ~:.a a r~: z.:,t tire orsex in efficiently identifyxrrg t.he~ infc~c:.rna?::ic>n t,I:r<~air ncye:d.
Figure 46 i;s a.r:: exemplary u:se. intert:xxce for illustrative search results fo:r a.r;a.-3ther- a<Ver -defa.ned :~«~:~x-czh f<>r u.se izn connection with, c>.g., a t:.oolbar_, of canev a,: maM~e e_>znbodiments of the present inveni: for . In thi.==~ example., t~zc:= e~~rch is of a.
standard reference=_, e..g. , PubMe<i prr>~,~idec3 ia~~ tkre National L~:ibrary of Medicine, and may Lae pr:cavi..de~;:l ~~. th:ird p~rx:t.y px:avi.der. 'fhe resource is presented in t::his example irG ~~ pc>p--up ;~c.reen 4601.
T'he search xesult:~ 4603 a:rr~P pre:~er~t~:ri as p~ c:>vi,3ed by the sez~rch engine.
Reference i:~ made to Figu:rv> 4'7, prcav::i.dinfs an exemplary user interface far clinical t.o<als, f.~a:c:° sx~e i.n c:carrnes:t:i.c>n wit"~z, a.g., the toolbar for the medical :irr.f,r:rrration part.al In this example, the clinical tools provides additional res<::nzr:cas, e.g., a resource service to which sigr.:~ anci sympr:oms m<xy ty=va ;:zubzi:ri.t:ted to receive a Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent differential diagnosis 4'7U3; ar:~~ a t:hez:~x.peutic: decis:i.on su~:sport software for clinicians 4'7i)5. 'T"hc~ resource is presented in this example in a pop-up ~:;,creen "3801. 7:n t.Yts= pa.-~~sent: example, i.he toolbar 1113 is inclr.tded in the riser .int::erface.
Reference is nc~w made t.o Fi.gv:cre 48, ;:~F~. ~::xemplary user:
interface for a decision support software clinical tool, for use in connection with tl°u.=, cl:ini .ra7 t;G:~<:>1~~. :Cs. i::h:i.s example, the=y reference, Antibiotit~ Assistant, is an example of an interactive program for' obtainint:3 relevaxrt_ irrfor.~mat:i.c;~rn ak:jc,~t: a patient, and providing an antibiotic recommendation tailored to the needs of the patient. It. may be proviclee3 <~ t::r~irc~ p,:a~ty provi<ier. 7"he resource is presented in this example in a pop-up screen 4801.
Figure 49 is aru exemplary° user interface for are electronic consult service, for rise i.n coxu:nc_r~°ti.or~ mitka. t~h~~ cl.inical tools of Figure 47. In this ex.ampl.a, the r:esc:~ua.c~~, ~2L> C~~nsult, provides an electronic "consult" for the. physic;i,~.r~, anc3. i.s provided by a third party provider. Tries resraurae i;:~ ~:mn~sen t.~!a~:;i in °::.Yt:is example in a pop-up screen 4901. ,t~lso i.n t.r.i.s exampler t:he toolbar 1113 remains displayed.
Reference ins nc3w made to ki'igu:re 'W~, .i.l.lu~:lt.r.ating an exemplary user interface for use in conr~ect.ion with collecting user registration and/or per sonKal. pxe:~ex°etat:,e irxfor°matio:rt, for use in connection with ar. optional regi:~tratior~ according to on.e or more embodiments of the presetat i_nv~~rrt:.ic:~r:a. 2n this exarnple, the registration process collects vax~io~x contact information 5J01;
professional information 5003 f1:>e tk7e axaer..°, e;.~:.~., pxofeasiocal designation, practice type, specialty, and lice=_nsure jurisdiction and license number; arid esta'bli,k-m~ s sign-~:it:~ irWc~rmation r>o0 5, e.g. , user name, password, hint, arrca/c>~~ gu.~retiry, The Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent professional inforzr~at ion, or: a pc:a °t: i.on ~::t~.erec>f: , may be l.ised as the user's personal preferences, Reference is m~~de to f~'igl.~.:re 5:1Y illu.strs~t.ing an e:xem~>l.ary user interface 5101 for use in connectiorx witr, completing the user registration of ;a'is:~u:ce 50. Va2:i.c>u.rs user: i:ntez-faces with a va.riet,~
of appropriate messages may be provided, to convey successful registration and/or ~,rali~ation to the user.. F-7ere, the user:
interface indicate, !::hat the; u:~er: s~zcYc~es~,f~al.i.y x.e~gist:ered !:,10:3, that the user failed validation 510 5, optior~rs for re-tryin<3 validation 510'7, armi%or any otraer me=.ssacles fr~o~rs the system to the user 5109.
Figure 52 illu:,tra.t:e~a onEe example c:,f a user int:erf:ac:e for use in connection with unregistered users, according to one or more embodiments of t'cie mediwal. :iauf~.>rmat:i>w pc~~r~tal of the lure:>ent invention. This user interface irrel.udes a message 5201 regarding registration and restriction, which. may be a:t-;r~ui.red for parti<:ular resources . As illust orated., some.=, x eserexr~-~~ar~r rnay be reatric~te,d, for example by license rE:quirements from the third party provider.
The restrictions may x~ef~..ect tl~e third parr::~,~ pA-ovidex°
requirements, and they system may be flexib:Le to accommodate various types of rerstr ic:.tn: icms , r= . ~u;. . , z e; i.c3r:~rrrwy and/or licerGSUre requirements .
Figure 53 i::~ a.r.. exezqplary bloc:;k diagx:am .~f a network.
architecture for use in tonne>ction with c~n~:~ c>r more embodiments of the medical information portal of the present invention. 'this example illustrates rune embodim+,T::rt. f:or t~ro~~:~dir°zg news, ;suc'h a~;
from external partner sites 5303 and an Akamai network 5301, via the internee 5:.305., tc> users 530'x, arid pzo°~,r°i.,dirm:~
oyliona:l search engines 5309. The computer systnam acc:cprd:Lr:~cg to t:he illustrr:~te~d Docket No.105456.121,_~51 Patent example embodiment of the irxvez:~ta.car; inc:Lc.<cies ~-. DMG networlt 5329, one or more . com hea:lthcare int:~~mz:~e~t: ~>ages 5 ~~ L 5 , a server .', 317, a News JSP 5319, opti.o:ual web i.o<~~; t;~i:l, <~a:n. c~ptiu:ral. f:irewal:k 5311, optional load balance 5313, 53x5, rarrd/or:. c~ptic5x'al SQL prox~,r. A
distributed databa.se~ is prova.de:cl ';,"p.a a zm.two:ev 1~3 31, including an oracle database 5333, another opt..-i.caz-ml St~SL., E°r.cxrcy 53:35, a u::ier profile 5337, a cat:a:~og li:at:i.nc~ .>j: clo<~t:ox:s ~:~3=~'7, new;
d.atax:>asa_ 5341, and/or applications d~rtaba~ve~ r;343..
Here, the user- .530'7 has accc:assed t;.he home page of thee sate according to the pxe;~errt i.mvent_i.r~r~. ThN Ne=ws ,.1SP 531.9 communicates with t:hN Java F;earn:> cor:~ the :~e:cvex 5317, which in turn obtain the user's cu..~tomized prefer.erzoe:; fa~orn C..rre user's pi:of:ile 5337. If customizat;.i.ons exist, ~~.ru ~~pprapx::i~~i~e header , e~.g. , "'News Links" and associateeca "'See MorE~" lirzks~ Grxe <:iis,k;>iayed, otherwise, the defaults "News Links" and a:»cc.~c:i.ateca ~ ,3c-we C~tore" 7 inks are displayed. When the user ~>30 7 ;:~1 i.c;ks oz; t::l:re "t~3ews Li.nks'" , the JSP
5319 retrieves the a~:>,propra.ate rzew:~ frorru trrh= n~:~ws database 5361.
When the user clicks on t:he ""Sere l~kc>x~e° lin:~:, t:ue ~3SP

communi<:ates with the Java Tear,, whzicia L:mea t7RL; parameters to retrieve the °'News t~a ruks" frc>m t: are r:xar.abar5e=, .
According to one ar nrore ernbcrcairr~er:tw~,, t:h"::J c.=_xample architecture obtains .~Gews by a News Retx i ~=<rfxl. ~;~orkstation 5 345 contacting a partner *zetnwork 5347 t~ po:l:l ~;c sc~:~>am:irrg media 5 351 server over the Izztexruet 5349 fc:~x. tire lstc ~>i:: rxtaws articles . Th.e news articles are douenloaded, s:.:.c~h <:xs vis. r:l~re E~sx:tner n._>.twcrk to the News Retrie=_va7 Wozv~statz .r 534!x, vukue:-~xre ~:raey are loaded into the news database 5391.
In connection with a user mak~~ng rx a:~::c~ue~at, the user';, profile is checked. In ttxe exarrople ar~:hit:a:c~tLrr:e of F.igv.rre 1>3, the °~0 Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent user 5307 makes a request. If this is a new session and t~~ze user's station does caot inr_;:l.~.idc-: ;~ rv:~rr~ember.,_me cv~>c~k:ie identifying the user, a default ~>rofile is l.caacied ign, ~;:at:'rm2zwi~~,e, the remember me cookie is utili::ed to load user customizations, 'The ~7SP applications re~a;1/store t::he_ ,.~.:7e7: ir:u'c.:arrt~atlorr from the ~;:~rofile 5337.
Figure 54 is C~ flow <:r:mrt:. ~:l.l.,atratia:ag an example flaw of control generally for tool access, according to one or more embodiments of the mf>dical i.x:uc>xcn~Gtic~~r p<:>rt:Kal of the present invention. General. i:ool acc~es:~~407. loops ~u.za.t iJ. a.t c~eterm_i.ne~s that the user requested to access a tool., block 5403. Then, the system determines wh~at~her t;Yue reel~aest.ed tora;~. is restz:°icted, block 5405. If so, it determines the type c>f user restriction, for example, the resource might be rest. z: i.ctect t=o users that are' physicians (M.D. , I).Ci. ) bl.c,~ck 540;7. If t:t~zr~ u.iser: :~s mot of th<~
type allowed access to the selected resc>ur<_e, block 5409, t:he access ends, block S~aIG. C>n tree c~tkier tkan~:l., i:~ the user sYuould be allowed access, the e~ystem determines wYar~ttre.r the requested tool requires a special key, identifier, an installed program, c>r other additional resourwe ~.n orvde;r t.<> e~ec.:x~te, b:7.c~ck ~~411. If scr, at block 5413, the system automatically det.errnines the xequire~d special key, prog:rarri, etc, , anG ir~.st.~all:;. c~:r. c~>tk~erwise provides the nece ssary addit Tonal x~esou.x~ce . ':C~°ae::°! , at.-~>:G,cac::.~k 541.5 , the system performs or accesses the requested tool or resource, for example locally or via ths:a Tr:.terrGe=_t.. ~.t:. ;,back S4L'',, tlne ga_neral tool access then ends.
Reference is rnc:.w made to Fa_clu.xre p°_:, ~,,h.ow:~ng an examplfs flow chart generally for tools display 5503, acc~or~d:~ng to one or' mare embodiments of the me<3ical info:r:nnah,~cm. pna:t.al ~~t tlne present.
invention. Once a set- of tools n.ee~::~s t:.c:~ cl::i ~;p:1<~y i.ts companent.s, ~1 Docket No,105456.12:1 US1 Patent at block 5503 the sy~~tem determines whether t.kae current. to~,al. is a specialty tool. If ao, them tire :aystem determines whether the tool has a speoialty arid it i.t c~c>r:~z°E=:7por~cl: r_.a any user spe<.~ialty, such as by checking the user profile, at black 5505. If the tool is a specialty tool but doe::; nc;at r~;c>r:resporv~ t:c:~ ~xny u:aer spNCialty, then the tool is not: c3ispla~=era arrc:l the ,:;y~:~t:em paoc.:eeds t:o <:;heck whether there is another tool in t..lae set of tools, block 5~>17, get the next tool in the tool se: t., 1~1r>ck: 55:8.4:7, K:and ::loop back too the top. On the other hand, if the t.ao7. is to be displayed, the system checks whether the foal is refex'x:ed to by a system andex, block 5507 . If sa, at blocak 5t>0~, t: he ;~yst:ern ok~taims tkre t oo:L
reference (e. g., link) and any summary c>x: abstract for the tool which may be c: antai.nezd or acw.:e~~:ri.ka:le v:ia t'.~t~~ index. At bLcack 5511, the system di..sF~l.ays the tool x:et:ex.er~r~~:, ;.~r.icl~r a: a li.mk, and any summary or abstract for the tool. At block 5513, the system checks whether acres.-~ to the tc~r.>:1 i;_ rv.=.st.e i.r~t.e.~:i. If so, t:Yre system displays an indication to the user 'shat access to the tool is restricted, block 551.5. Then, the sy:xt~~m determines whether there is another r~aol in t.rre cu x. z:eraY~ r_o,:,Fl ~xo'u~~, block 551 T , and if so, gets the next tool in the tool group, b-=ock 5519, and loops back to the top. GtY~erwi:ae, t:h~:~ c~e~;era1 tc>c:>7..s display ends,, k>lock 5521.
Figure 56 is a flow chart. i.lliastrat izvg an example flow of control for user registration, acc.ardinq t~cu ore or more embodiments of the>_ medica:~. irrfox:rna~t:i..~z~. pm:t ~s1 ~>L the pry=_:;eni invention. When a user selects a registxat:ion link 5601, the registration link ~,TSP 560"T is :irr:iti.~~te<:l. 'i'L~e :system checks whether the user -.s 1<agged in 5t'>0'3 . Tf rr~~~t , trre system proc~2eds to registration 5605, displays a registraa~csn page 5611, and initiates a regist:ratiora 4tSP 56_i_ ? . T:i' t:lv.~~ r;~se:x i,~ rrot a new registered new user 5n19, tha. system checks whether the user Docket No.105456.121 LJS1 Patent registration is valiClated 5E~2~~. If: rzat:, a recd<strat'i.on. retry page 5629 is displayed, c~zui a xe=.r~:ist:r<.-~t: i.orz rE=t:r~~ 4TSL~ is irzitiate~d 5633.
If the user is logged i.n, the system updat:as the ~zsex's pr<:file 5609 and launches t:he updat::e pxo'x.;le ~15f?s !~h15. If t:he rec;istered user is validated, ox- if trze usax- is logged in already, the system displays the update profile page 5617. At block 5625, the system updates the profile <~rzd ~st::c>xe~:a i:.rv~:: i.zvfc~xn~at:ic:~n i..n a database !i621,.
e.g., an Oracle database. If the new user profile validates at block 5627, the user is returned to t:!:xe x-e!.~:i.st.rati~~n linlc c!isplay 5601, otherwise, the ~apdat:r~ profia.e <:~x~.d x:w>~:ayr page 5E31 :i.s displayed and the user may again attempt t~~ update the profile 5625.
Figure 57 is a flow chart illustra.ti.-zg arx example flow cascade 5701 for vali.c:iating a rec~iui::er eo ~z~.>ex°, a<:cording to one or more embodiments of the medical .a_x:vfrarcna!.-i.c>ci. poet:~t~a:l. of t:he present invention. In order to register anci -ralidate, the system checks the user profile as tc~ whsat.her glue ~a.se>a:~ is <xn k~Oj/nc7, 5703. If:
not, at block 5705, t: he system ~xisp:Lay.> a~z Gzppx:opx late "Thank You"
(#1), and the user may begin using and wetsxrn to the home page, block 5711, or may fn:~:theL~ r,~:~str,,rr~°i.za:~e t:Yxeir_ l;~r~oes.l.e, block 5.09.
If the user is an MD or a DO, the system ckzec:k~:a whether the user validates 5707. If so, the system ciisplaya an appropriate "Thank You", e.g., nat.ing that ti°ze use: is regi.steax°ed and validated, block 5715. The user may then begin using the system and return to the Name page, block 5'723a a!.t:.e.:r:rz~xt:i.vel:;e, tlve~ user may fv.zrther customize their px:ofile, k~lo~ck 4v i':39, zf ~::i-:Ge MI~/ts~7 user doer not validate, then the system displays an appropriate "Thank You", e.g. , noting that the user, 1.,a rc~>rl,x,"; I::ex.ec:f la~~t nc>t :ralidat~ed, block 5713 . The user may validate lat:.e~xv and ret:uGx rz t o i:aze :horns page, block 5757, further customize their profi~.E, block 5719, or re-enter the informat:ion and furt.h~~x at:.t.r'~mpt i,'aliraal~ion, block 5'721.
5a Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent If the reentered :~n~orrnati.cnrz ~~a.liclates tkae vt;~e:G°, an appropriate "Thank You" is displayed block 5729, and the user may eithe=r begin using the system and :retuzwu t. ca t:rzc~zome ~:;ia~~e, 'b:l.or.:k 5735, c:>r further customize their prof..i'.ie, block 5 73~ . If the re-entered information still does not vala.d;~t~e. t:i-ze aasr=r aftex a second try, the user is informed; bloc; 57x:'7, and may Srali~,iate~ later Land return to the home page 5'733, ar x:e-enter: and validate a trzird time, block 5731. If: the user v<~l.idate:a t.~ne= thnixd. time, block 5737, an appropriate "Thank Y'ou" noting that t:l~e user is validated is displayed, block x:.74:3, an,d the ~aw~e.x~ array cwzstc~mize {bloc)s;
5739) or return to the home page (5747). If the user fails to validate the third time, bloc°1:: 5'74:1, t:.~ue ez;:~ez:~ a.s i..-,.z:~'c~xmme>d t~t-zat the s~,Yst:em cannot validate them, and the user may either begin using the system block 5745 , ox cuatom:ize t.tzc:~ i.r px.c;~f i,.l~~ ~:~7:3t~ .
Figure 58 is a f''1ow c.°hart ~.1l~.istra.t:ir.~~x ar~z example flaw cascade 5801 for a user attempting to acce;as a restricted resource, according t:~::> orze or m~.ox:a ~emb«o:i.im~arut:s of r_he medical information portal of the presex=t invention. At. block 5803, if the user attempts to access a r~>t:z.i.r~~tecJ. :rr-s,~ou:r:°ce, t:h.ey :system checks whether the user is signed in, bloc:7~.. 5805. If not, the user is instructed tc> sa.gzz in o.r c:onzp:tete ::wgia:>tration. If they are signed in, the system checks whether tam u:~er is accessing a resource at a first xE.=~str:iction :Level, ~«.~~fi , Ha~.rz:ison's, block:
5809. If so, the system checks whether t.hf. usar's information meets the requirement: of the f:L.z.:-~t uest:.z:zc:~tior°~ 1<~vel, ~=.g. .
medical student, RN, hPN, Nurse Prac:ticioner, ~.>l.ork 5813. If they do meet the restriction, they a:c-c~ px:~c:~~ri.d.eca acc~::~s:> to the resource, block 5819, otherwise, an erx°or pagw:r i:~ d::i.::~yla~~~ed 5821.
The system checks whettzer t:h.e user is acc:~essing a resource at a second restriction le,vel., r~.~.~. , physic=iazu le~.Tel resourc~.es, y Docket No.105456.121 US1 Patent block 5811.. If then user i:a root, ;:r phy:.~ic:v.i.a~~ (NtD or DC>) , blc:ack 5817, then the unrestricted resouz°ces are l.ist.ed 5823. If the user is a physician, the sar.:~~tenn c°:kaE:.ck.~; wlnetkzex t: hey are validated, block 5825. If the user is not a ghysir.ian, block 5817, then an appropriate message :~~s d.ispl.ayead t::~lc~ck c>82.~.. Y:f t: he user:
attempting to access a physician restri.rteci resource is not:
validated, the syster~~ provides ~:~n a.f~proEa.i~it~e ~.~isplay 58'?'.F, and the user may either ~.Talidat:e latex: and r;et°~..:rn ~c~ the home page 5831, or enter licen:7ure information, bi.ac_~: r~8'~3.
According to t:l°:e i7.:YLxstx~a:t:~>d embodims.a.zt:, up to two attempts are made to enter fox re-enter), blocks 58.3, 5843 and validate 5835, 5847 the li~cen~sure~ :irzformat:i.o.rz. If:: t:~le ~zsc=..x does not validate, an appropriate mzessag~~ is disial.<~y,~~~d ~~849 arid the user is returned to the home gage 585'3. Lf the usYr validates, an appropriate "Thank l~c:,..z'~ display ~w~833, i~8~~::1 :~.~~ r:ii:~play..ed, ar.d access is provided to the requested rest.ric~.ted resource 5895, 5855, If the user iws not acc?es;.,::irrg, a.g. , ~~aru.i.:~ons no:r a physician restricted resource, the resourc~> is displayed, block 5815.
It should be= understood t~r<~t t:,:he inm.ez~~tic:>n i:~ described in connection with logical groupin~ls o~~ funcr~.~.ons or resources. One or more of these :Logi.cal <~r.oi:ypiai<~s zrn~.y be ~~m.itt:;eci from one c:~r more embodiments, and still remain within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, fun.c.~ti.c>n~~ znay kae= gx,:>o.::.ped di_fferentl.y, combined, or augmented without parting from t.h~ sr_ope of the invention. Similarly t:he present de;ac~t°i.pt;::;c:ru crzay describe various databases or. collections of data anri infoz:raa.ti~>n. One or mr:~re groupings of-. the data oz' iz-zfr~rmar_iozu maLY k>f om:i.,t;.tf_>d, distriY~uted, combined, or augmented, or p:z:~e7w,i.ded lc~r~al..l.~ ~an<:1/r:>r remotely without departing from the scope of the it°r~~~nta.car~.

Docket No.105456.121 tIS1 Patent The user may bh.> a phy.<<~i.c:i;~rx ax~ c~t~aex. hN~nlt ~~c.~arc~
professional or student of in the medical field. Same of these users may be licensed for a spec~i~ic pc<~<:~ti<we, and t~xe '1.~..sensure rnay be verifiable. The sysi:em may provide the user with expanded online access to high qualif:.y krf~alt.Yicazs.r r~:as<:>ur~c~e::. 'f2ue sy;:~tem may respond to the shifting needs Uf healthcare professionals, who are constrained to find g:aracti.cal vaa°y::c to a c~c:,es> information arzd services relevant to their px~ac;tices, despite t2°reir busine:>s schedules and geogi:a~:7kxir: cor°zstxai.r:ct.u.;. ~'~.zrl.tmr, the ~>reserrt:
invention is intended to pruwicte searnlesa access to such information.
Figure 59 is an illustration of a computer 58 used for implementing tyre conr~autex~ ~>x'oc~e~»>i..ryl in ac:c::;or.-dance:.. with a computer-implemented embodiment of rwhe pre:>ent invention. The procedures described above ma~~ tae= pr:eser~t.er.:l in t.errns of program procedures executed c>n, for example, a cc>cnpute.r_ or network of computez.°s .
Viewed externa.l.ly i.n Figure 59, nc~mpart.er 58 has a cen ral processing unit (c~PU) 68 :raving ~~i.s~c OrivF::~a ~~3, "70. Dish: d.:rives 69, 70 are merely symbolic: of a number of disk drives that might be accommodated by computer 58. 'ry~.~:i.c~all.;~, thk:~s;e might be «ne~ or more of the following; a floppy disk drive 69, a Yrard disk drive (not shown) , and a CD RUNS or di.~:::~at::,~1 vider...~ ~isi., a:~
ind:icatec3 by the slot at 70. The r~rumber and type: of drives varies, typically with different cornputer corafigux~ac~ ion s . 1:>:i.r;k _:drives 69, 70 are, in fact, options, and. for space considerations, may be omitted from the computer system used ixu ~r~orr_juarrc~t:~c.,n w:k..th the processes described herein.

Docket. No.105456.1'u:L_US1 Patent Computer 58 al,:ao hay a d:i.splay !1 r.rp~;:~n which. informar:i.on may be displayed. The <ii.splay .i.s crpt:ic3nal B_'c~z: r...he compui:~er used in conjunct.ian with the system de::~c~rix>eci he.=.xe~.ri. A keyboard '72 and/or a pointing <,ie~rice '7;3, si:~c'h ~~; fr m<~tu~(: l3, may be pre,vided as input devices to interfaces wii~Lu c:~e=rlt,awr~..l px~c.~ces~sincl unit 68. To increase input effi<:..i.enc:y, keybc:,~rz':c1 72 may beg sr..zpplemen.ted ar replaced. with a scarzrrer, r~<~r-d x:r=~ac.is=~x, ox os..her data :i.nput <iev:ice.
The poirating device "'3 may kae a rrzause, tc,uc.-~n p~aci control ciervice, track ball device, ox- any othem: t.t~pe <>f pa:irr.ting dev~_ce.
Alternativel~~, referring tc:f Figzz:rc:: ~':1, cc:>mputerv 58 may also include a CD ROM reacie.x 9 5 etnd i:D xv:cvcr.rcLex 9E~ , whicl2 are interconnected by a k:aus 9'7 along wa c:li o1: her: peripheral device:> 98 supported by the bus struc:tu.xe arrc:~ px-atc,<-°o:h.. ~3ms 97 serve's a:> the main information hi.gluway intexconraer.ti.n~~ o~:;ner components of the computer. It is corzrrectec7 via art inte~r.f aw~=.> i)9 t. c; thEe com~>uter 58.
Figure 60 illuv>trate~~ a blc:~c~); diagi am c~f t: he internal.
hardware of the computer afi Fi.c~u~e '~9. C'P":7 75 i;_ t:he central processing unit of t.f~.e system, ~>er fc,rm~.nr~ ~~:almzl.at.ions and logic operations required tc~, execute a ~.~x~<~~c~raor;. 1~'eea~ canly memox~~
(ROM) 76 and random accass rnemc>ry (RAM) '7'7 r.:~orx:at a.t_uta~ the main rrremory of the computer. Disk controller- '78 i.ztt=~rfac:,=':; oxke or nvore disk drives t;o the sysv,~err~ bus l4. T'he:~se di:~k ci:r::ive::> rnay k~e flaF>py disk drives such as 79, or CD ROM or C?V'D id~.c~ir=u::l. v:ic~ea/ve~rsatile disk) drives, as at 80, cr inte:rnal c.x e.x:~:e.rna~l Imr:<3 drives 87.. As previously indicated. theN~e vax:ioi.rs G~9i,>k drives ~.n;~ disk controllers are opt is rral <iev:ic°e.~ .
A display interface ,~'s2 pecrr~its.. infcarrrsat=i<>r:~ from b~zs '74 t.o be displayed an t:hze cLisp:~.ay 8:?. A~:::~rn.:in, a:r aosaic~ateci, the display is an optional access~c~ry for a ~F:~ntz:a:l. c~x :c error c~ c:~.omput,.=_x:-i:1 the '~i 7 Docket No.105456.12:1 US1 Patent communication network, as az°e i~f~:~c~.red a~ecnaive~r 88 and transmitter 89. Communication with external devices occurs using communications port:
In addition to the standard components of the comput<~r, the computer may a:iso irn~lude an irnte~.~f:ac:e F3a, wh.icl-~ allows fray: data input through the keyboard 86 cr pointing device, such as a mouse 87.
The foregoing detailed description includes many specific details. The inclu.s:ior~ of sucr~ detail i.~~ t::o.x true pm:pose of illustration only and should nat be uradcsr:;~tood to limit the invention. In addit.:i.on, features ire one embc>d.imen.t may be combined with featux°r-rs :in ot:Ymr ~~~nbr.~di.ment.;,; K:~f tzae invention.
Various changes may k>e made without depar-ting from tY.e scope of the invention as defined iz,L the~ fc::~:11.~~aw.iru:~ r:~;~.aim;~.
As one example, the medical i:lformation portal system may include a general F>uxpose compt:u:~~7, na <a ;~;t~fac:i~xa.ly px-ogrammed special purpose computer. The user may interact with the medical informat:ion portal ~~y~stem via e:. ~:a , , a L»~r-,:;c,.>rmal c::omputer ox over PDA, e.g., the Internet an Intrv~nr=:t, katc:. E~a.t.l~er of these may be implemented as a distributed computer system rather than a single computer. Similarly, the communir:at:L=:ms :L:i.r~k l~~ay be a dedicated link, a modem over a POTS line, androx- any other method of communicating betvNeerr~. computers :.~:xd!r~r ~ase:~.~s. Moreover, tr.e processing could be contr<:alled ~>y a softw;~:r~e~~ pr_-ogxam an c>ne: or more computer systems or processors, a.r eauld even be partially or wholly imply=_mented ir:~ haroiwar:e.
The user interfaces may be developed in ~aonnection with an HTML display form<~.t. Alti°iough Ti°I'MT.~ i~~ ut :l..i.ze::i i.n the illustrated examples, it is possible to utilize alt:errra.tive technology for Docket No. 105456 .,121 "_US1 Patent displaying information, obtaining user instructions and for providing user' inte.>r.'ace:a. '1'he~ i..z;v'E:>zntic:xr~ h~zGaa been d::LSCUS:~c.>d :in connection with part.cular examples. However, the principles apply equally to ot;hcar example; nrvdj or 7: ea:.L izat ions . Naturally, the relevant data mGiY;~ differ:, Grs 4ippr~c>pa:i..et:c:., Further, this :invention. tras been dis~.:~~,.z ssed i_m certair~
examples as if it 9..s made avail.ak>le tc~ ~z :~'i~nc~l~:~ ~.aser°, The invention may be used by nuttzerous users, ifpreferred. The medical information x~ortal systesr~: z,n~ec3. in r::c>nn+~ciaion with the invention may rely az~ the :i.n.te~:e-at.i.on of vzxvz.o~~.~~ G~omponent~~
including, as appropriate anal; or if desired, hardware and software servers, database encines, and/or ~"'F~ r~oratezrtv p:~c~'riders. Tree configuration may be, preferably, network-based and uses tl-,e Tnternet as a primary interface wi.t:h they °..z~;;;e.r.
Tkre medical infarmatlUrl portal system may store collected information and/or ix;.dexes to information :i..n a database. A.n appropriate datab<~se may be on ~:~ st<:zndaz::d .;e:G've.,r, fax' example, a small Sun'" Sparc"" or other remo~::e location. T~:e information may, for exarrrple, optionally be:.~ storv>d oz°z as f~:l.,::~s:.t'orrn t;:rzat. may, f.~:r example, be UNIX-based. '~t'he var;i.r.~u~dat:atoa.ses m<~;,~be in, for example, a UNIX format, but other standard data formats may be used.
Although the computer system in Figure 3 is illustrated as having a single computer, the medic:rz.:l i.rzfc:>xxnat.i.c~n ~>ortal system is optionally suitably equipped wit~hz a multitude c_>r combination of processors or storage devices. For examps..e:~, tzie computer may be replaced by, or combined w:ita, ~zr.~y a>za.icabi.~r p.r<:>cessing :>ystc=_m operative in accordance with the principles of embodiments of the present invention, inc~ludp.ng aso.E,:ai~isr:icat~:c:L c<al.r:~ul<~t.ors, hand held, size Docket No.105456.,121.,_,US2_ Patent laptop/notebook, mini, mainframe and super computers, as well as processing system ~:le~::woxk r:~c:>mb:iruat:::i.c:un:., co.f' thta :same.
FL~wrtrus>r, portions of the system may be provided in ani.~ appropriate electronic format, ia.~cludinc~, t.'c;r exampil.~:a, ~~xavided over a communication line a> elec:.i:x:~orz_i~~~ :x:i.c~rral.>, provide.d on flor~F:~y disk, provided on CD Rom, provided on optical disk memory, etc.
Arry presently rmailable c;r fut:ure developed computer software language and/or hardware components can be employed in such embodiments of t he prey:>errt: a.ravent is>r; . f?cr example, at 1<=ast some of the funct.iona_li.ty me::nti.oned a.bo~,r~: ;~~c5ula be implemented using Visual Basic, c', C++ or any assembly language appropx°iate in view of the proressoa be~irxg used. :I:t ..~.cn:~l.,::~. rt:~l.~:,~~ be written in an interpretive environment such as 4Tav~a and °:ransported to multiple destinations to vax-i.c:~us u;~ex:~~.
The many features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention are apparent from. the detail spPCificati.on, and thus, it is intended x>y tk~.e appaaroded cl~:acn.;a to co~rex' a1.1 such features and advantages of the inver~tior~ t:rrat: fall within the true spirit and scope of t he i.:rmenti.c:~z~ .. Fwr~ t l'xa:r. , s ir~r~e numerc>u~, modifications and vax iat.i.c:>ns wexw x:ead:ilv~ eoc.~cu~~ xed to ttzose:
skilled in the art, it is not desired to .~:i.mit the invention t:o the exact constructic;~n and opex;~tion. :i.alu~t:.x:~str-~d <~nd clese:ribacl, and accordingly, all suitable mudificatiorn;> and eguivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of. r_t~e invention.
1:e41

Claims (36)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. ~In a computer-based system for providing healthcare resources such as information and services, to users, a medical information portal system for users including physicians and healthcare providers, implemented by a computer system, said medical information portal system comprising:
(A) a diagnostic tool, managing at least one or disease diagnosis and research resources, including at least one of: a disease research assistance resource, a disease diagnosis assistance resource, treatment guidelines, medical references, and a plurality of disease modules each having disease information regarding a disease;
(B) a learning tool, managing professional development resources, including at least one of: online continuing medical education (CME) resources links to connect the users to professional societies, links to connect users to medical school computer sites, downloadable lecture materials and slide kits, review information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar of medical meetings, and a meeting reporter;
and (C) a patient tool, managing patient resources, including media information on what patients are seeing in the media, a plurality of patient handouts having information for patients, a plurality of links to connect the users to patient support groups, clinical trial information, and at least one health guide.

2. The medical information portal system of claim 1, further comprising a healthcare technology tool, managing healthcare technology resources, including at least one of: a plurality of product reviews and/or selected articles on healthcare technology, a glossary of technical terms, and queryable information on technical terms.

3. The medical information portal system of claim 1, further comprising a news tool managing medical news, including at least one of: selected items from medical journals for a current time period, selected recent medical finding, breaking news an the medical industry, news relating to selected medical specialties, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user.

4. The medical information portal system of claim 1, further comprising a toolbar, including at least one of: (i) a search tool having at least one of a user-definable computer site search capability and predetermined computer site search capability; (ii) a folder, specific to the user, for storing documents, links, and personal preferences for the user; (iii) a grouping of references to basic medical resources, including one or more of at least one medical.
textbook, medical journals, at least one drug reference text, articles on evidence-based medicine; (iv) access to online continuing medical education (CME) services, online clinical decision support services,medical trivia; and (v) at least one medical dictionary.

5. The medical information portal system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said resources in said tools is restricted to users with professional licensure; and further comprising a user registration component collecting user registration information including processional licensure information, a validation component for validating professional licensing information, a restriction component identifying whether the user has a professional licensure required for at least one restricted resources of said at least one resource and restricting access to said restricted at least one of said resources.

6. The medical information portal system of claim 5, wherein the unrestricted resources are selected from a group comprising at least a portion of resources in said news tool, at least a portion of resource in said patient tool, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices manual, one or more medical textbooks, one or more medical dictionaries, at least a portion of resources in said healthcare technology tool, the plurality of disease modules, the calendar of medical meetings, the meeting reporter, the links to professional societies, the links to medical school site, information on residency and/r fellowship opportunities, clinical trial information, and information on alternative medicine.

7. The medical information portal system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one restricted resource is restricted to users identified as healthcare professionals or medical students, and wherein the restricted resources are selected from a group comprising: the folder, at least one clinical tool, at least one medical textbook, at least one drug reference text, online CME services, lecture materials, and slide kits.

8. The medical information portal system according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the at least one restricted resource is restricted to licensed physicians.

9. The medical information portal system according to claim 1, wherein the selected items from medical journals for a current time period are provided on periodical basis from third-party providers.

10. The medical information portal system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of disease modules include information searchable on signs and symptoms.

11. The medical information portal system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic assistant tool, managing healthcare practice assistance resources, including at least one of: at least one clinical calculator, a plurality of clinical evidence resources, a plurality of selected news and medical literature articles, at least one medical residency and career resource, and a plurality of selected patient resources.

12. In a computer-based system for providing healthcare resources such as information and services, to users, a medical information portal system for users including physicians and healthcare providers, implemented by a computer system, said medical information portal system comprising: (A) a diagnostic tool, managing at least one or disease diagnosis and research resources, including at least one of: a disease research assistance resource, a disease diagnosis assistance resource, treatment guidelines, medical references, and a plurality of disease modules each having disease information regarding a disease; wherein the plurality of disease modules include information searchable on signs and symptoms;
(B) a learning tool, managing professional development resources, including at least one of: online continuing medical education (CME) resources, links to connect the users to professional societies, links to connect users to medical school computer sites, downloadable lecture materials and slide kits, review information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar of medical meetings, and a meeting reporter;
(C) a patient tool, managing patient resources, including media information on what patients are seeing in the media, a plurality of patient handouts having information for patients, a plurality of links to connect the users to patient support groups, clinical trial information, and at least one health guide;
(D) a healthcare technology tool, managing healthcare technology resources, including at least one of:
a plurality of product reviews and/or selected articles on healthcare technology, a glossary of technical terms, and queryable information on technical terms;
(E) a news tool managing medical news, including at least one of: selected items from medical journals for a current time period, selected recent medical findings, breaking news in the medical industry, news relating to selected medical specialties, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user; wherein the selected items from medical journals for a current time period are provided on a periodical basis from third-party providers;
(F) a toolbar, including at least one of: (i) a search tool having at least one of a user-definable computer site search capability and predetermined computer site search capability; (ii) a folder, specific to the user, for storing documents, links, and personal preferences for the user; (iii) a grouping of references to basic medical resources, including one or more of at least one medical textbook, medical journals, at least one drug reference text, articles on evidence-based medicine; (iv) access to online continuing medical education (CME) services, online clinical decision support services, medical trivia; and (v) at least one medical dictionary;
(G) wherein at least one of said resources in said tools is restricted to users with professional licensure;
and further comprising a user registration component collecting user registration information including processional licensure information, a validation component for validating professional licensing information, a restriction component identifying whether the user has a professional licensure required for at least one restricted resources of said at least one resource and restricting access to said restricted at least one of said resources;
wherein the unrestricted resources are selected from a group comprising: at least a portion of resources in said news tool, at least a portion of resources in said patient tool, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices manual, one or more medical textbooks, one or more medical dictionaries, at least a portion of resources in said healthcare technology tool, the plurality of disease modules, the calendar of medical meetings, the meeting reporter, the links to professional societies, the links to medical school sites, information on residency and/or fellowship opportunities, clinical trial information, and information on alternative medicine;
wherein the at least one restricted resource is restricted to users identified as healthcare professionals or medical students, and wherein the restricted resources are selected from a group comprising: the folder, at least one clinical tool, at least one medical textbook, at least one drug reference text, online CME services, lecture materials, and slide kits; wherein at least a portion of the at least one restricted resources is restricted to licensed physicians and (H) an electronic assistant tool, managing healthcare practice assistance resources, including at least one of: at least one clinical calculator, a plurality of clinical evidence resources, a plurality of selected news and medical literature articles, at least one medical residency and career resource, and a plurality of selected patient resources.

13. A computer-based method for providing healthcare resources such as information and services, to users, in a medical information portal method for users including physicians and healthcare providers, implemented by a computer system, said medical information portal method comprising the steps of:
(A) managing, in a diagnostic tool, at least one or disease diagnosis and research resources including at least one of: a disease research assistance resource, a disease diagnosis assistance resource, treatment guidelines, medical references, and a plurality of disease modules each having disease information regarding a disease;
(B) managing, in a learning tool, professional development resources, including at least one of: online continuing medical education (CME) resources, links to connect the users to professional societies, links to links connect users to medical school computer sites, downloadable lecture materials and slide kits, review information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar of medical meetings, and a meeting reporter; and (C) managing in a patient tool, patient resources, including media information on what patients are seeing in the media, a plurality of patient handouts having information for patients, a plurality of links to connect the users to patient support groups, clinical trial information, and at least one health guide.

14. The medical information portal method of claim 13, further comprising the step of managing, in a healthcare technology tool, healthcare technology resources, including at least one of: a plurality of product reviews and/or selected articles on healthcare technology, a glossary of technical terms, and queryable information on technical terms.

15. The medical information portal method of claim 13, further comprising the step of managing, in a news tool, medical news, including at least one of: selected items from medical journals for a current time period, selected recent medical findings, breaking news in the medical industry, news relating to selected medical specialties, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user.

16. The medical information portal method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing a toolbar, including at least one of: (i) a search tool having at least one of a user-definable computer site search capability and predetermined computer site search capability; (ii) a folder, specific to the user, for storing documents, links, and personal preferences for the user; (iii) a grouping of references to basic medical resources, including one or more of at least one medical textbook, medical journals, at least one drug reference text, articles on evidence-based medicine; (iv) access to online continuing medical education (CME) services, online clinical decision support services, medical trivia; and (v) at least one medical dictionary.

17. The medical information portal method of claim 13, further comprising the step of restricting at least one of said resources in said tools to users with professional licensure; and further comprising a step of registering the user including collecting user registration information including processional licensure information, validating professional licensing information of the user, identifying whether the user has a professional licensure required for at least one restricted resources of said at least one resource and restricting access to said restricted at least one of said resources.

18. The medical information portal method of claim 17, wherein the unrestricted resources are selected from a group comprising: at least a portion of resources in said news tool, at least a portion of resources in said patient tool, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices manual, one or more medical textbooks, one or more medical dictionaries, at least a portion of resources in said healthcare technology tool, the plurality of disease modules, the calendar of medical meetings, the meeting reporter, the links to professional societies, they links to medical school sites, information on residency and/r fellowship opportunities, clinical trial information, and information on alternative medicine.

19. The medical information portal method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one restricted resource is restricted to users identified as healthcare professionals or medical students, and wherein the restricted resources are selected from a group comprising: the folder, at least one clinical tool, at least one medical textbook, at least one drug reference text, online CME services, lecture materials, and slide kits.

20. The medical information portal method according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the at least one restricted resource is restricted to licensed physicians.

21. The medical information portal method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of receiving the selected items from medical journals for a current time period on a periodical basis from third-party providers.

22. The medical information portal method according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of disease modules include information searchable on signs and symptoms.

23. The medical information portal method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of managing, in an electronic assistant tool, healthcare practice assistance resources, including at least one of: at least one clinical calculator, a plurality of clinical evidence resources, a plurality of selected news and medical literature articles, at least one medical residency and career resource, and a plurality of selected patient resources.

24. A computer-based method for providing healthcare resources such as information and services, to users, in a medical information portal method comprising the steps of:
healthcare providers, implemented by a computer system, said medical information portal method comprising the steps of:
(A) managing, in a diagnostic tool, at least one or disease diagnosis and research resources, including at least one of: a disease research assistance resource, a disease diagnosis assistance resource, treatment guidelines, medical references, and a plurality of disease modules each having disease information regarding a disease; wherein the plurality of disease modules include information searchable on signs and symptoms;
(B) managing, in a learning tool, professional development resources, including at least one of: online continuing medical education (CME) resources, links to connect the user to professional societies, links to connect users to medical school computer sites, downloadable lecture materials and slide kits, review information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar of medical meetings, and a meeting reporter;
(C) managing, in a patient tool, patient resources, including media information on what patients are seeing in the media, a plurality of patient handouts having information for patients, a plurality of links to connect the users to patient support groups, clinical trial information, and at least one health guide;
(D) managing, in a healthcare technology tool, healthcare technology resources, including at least one of:
a plurality of product reviews and/or selected articles on healthcare technology, a glossary of technical terms, and queryable information on technical terms;
(E) managing, in a news tool, medical news, including at least one of: selected items from medical journals for a current time period, selected recent medical findings, breaking news in the medical industry, news relating to selected medical specialties, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user; wherein the selected items from medical journals for a current time period are received on a periodical basis from third-party providers;
(F) providing a toolbar, including at least one of:
(i) a search tool having at least one of a user-definable computer site search capability and predetermined computer site search capability; (ii) a folder, specific to the user, for storing documents, links, and personal preferences for the user; (iii) a grouping resources, including one or more of at least one medical textbook, medical journals, at least one drug preference text, articles on evidence-based medicine; (iv) access to online continuing medical education (CME) services, online clinical decision support service, medical trivia; and (v) at least one medical dictionary;
(G) restricting at least one of said resources in said tools to users with professional licensure; registering the user including collecting user registration information including processional licensure information, validating professional licensing information of the user; identifying whether the user has a professional licensure required for at least one restricted resources of said at least once resource; and restricting access to said restricted at least one of said resources; wherein the unrestricted resources are selected from a group comprising at least a portion of resources in said news tool, at least a portion of resources in said patient tool, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices manual, one or more medical textbook, one or more medical dictionaries, at least a portion of resources in said healthcare technology tool, the plurality of disease modules, the calendar of medical meetings, the meeting reporter, the links to professional societies, the links to medical school sites, information on residency and/or fellowship opportunities, clinical trial information, and information on alternative medicine; wherein the at least one restricted resource is restricted to users identified as healthcare professionals or medical students, and wherein the restricted resources are selected from a group comprising: the folder, at least one clinical tool, at least one medical textbook, at least one drug reference text, online CME services, lecture materials, and slide kits;
wherein at least a portion of the at least one restricted resource is restricted to licensed physicians; and (H) managing, in an electronic assistant tool, healthcare practice assistance resources, including at least one of: at least one clinical calculator, a plurality of clinical evidence resources, a plurality of selected news and medical literature articles, at least one medical residency and career resource, and a plurality of selected patient resources.

25. In a computer-based system for providing healthcare resources such as information and services, to users, a medical information portal system for users including physicians and healthcare providers, implemented by a computer system, said medical information portal system comprising:
(A) a diagnostic tool means for managing at least one or disease diagnosis and research resources, including at least one of: a disease research assistance resource, a disease diagnosis assistance resource, treatment guidelines, medical references, and a plurality of disease modules each having disease information regarding disease;
(B) a learning tool means for managing professional development resources, including at least one of: means for online continuing medical education (CME) resources, means for connecting the users to professional societies, means for connecting users to medical school computer sites, downloadable lecture materials and slide kits, review information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar means for medical meetings, and a meeting reporter means; and (c) a patient tool means for managing patient resources, including media information on what patients are seeing in the media, a plurality of patients handouts having information for patients, means for connecting the users to patient support group, clinical trial information, and at least one health guide.

26. The medical information portal system of claim 25, further comprising a healthcare technology means for managing healthcare technology resources, including at least one of:
a plurality of product reviews and/or selected articles on healthcare technology, a glossary of technical terms, and queryable information on technical terms.

27. The medical information portal system of claim 25, further comprising a news means for managing medical news, including at least one of: selected items form medical journals for a current time period, selected recent medical findings, breaking news in the medical industry, news relating to selected medical specialties, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user.

28. The medical information portal system of claim 25, further comprising a toolbar, including at least one of: (i) a search means for electronic searching, having at least one of a user-definable computer site search capability and predetermined computer site search capability; (ii) a folder means, specific to the user, for storing documents, links, and personal preferences to the user; (iii) a grouping of references to basic medical resource, including one or more of at least one medical textbook, medical journals, at least one drug reference text, articles on evidence-based medicine; (iv) means for accessing online continuing medical education (CME) services, online clinical decision support services, and medical trivia; and (v) at least one medical dictionary.

29. The medical information portal system of claim 25, wherein at least one of said resources in said tool means is restricted to users with professional licensure; and further comprising a user registration means for collecting user registration information including processional licensure information, a validation means for validating professional licensing informations a restriction means identifying whether the user has a professional licensure required for at least one restricted resources of said at least one resource and restricting access to said restricted at least one of said resources.

30. The medical information portal system of claim 29, wherein the unrestricted resources are selected from a group comprising: at least a portion of resources in said news tool, at least a portion of resources in said patient tool, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices manual, one or more medical textbooks, one or mores medical dictionaries, at least a portion of resources in said healthcare technology tool, the plurality of disease modules, the calendar of medical, meetings, the meeting reporter, the professional societies, the medical school sites, information on residency and/or fellowship opportunities, clinical trial information, and information on alternative medicine.

31. The medical information portal system according to claim 29, wherein the at least one restricted resource is restricted to users identified as healthcare professionals or medical students, and wherein the restricted resources are selected from a group comprising: the folder means, at least one clinical tool, at least one medical textbook, at least one drug reference text, online CME services, lecture materials, and slide kits.

32. The medical information portal system according to claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the at least one restricted resource is restricted to licensed physicians.

33. The medical information portal system according to claim 25, wherein the selected items from medical journals for a current time period are provided on a periodical basis from third-party providers.

34. The medical information portal system according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of disease modules include information searchable on signs and symptoms.

35. The medical information portal system according to claim 25, further comprising an electronic assistant tool means for managing healthcare practice assistance resources, including at least one of: at least one clinical calculator, a plurality of clinical evidence resources, a plurality of selected news and medical literature articles, at least one medical residency and career resource, and a plurality of selected patient resources.

36. In a computer-based system for providing healthcare resources such as information and services, to users, a medical information portal system for users including physicians and healthcare providers, implemented by a computer system, said medicinal information portal system comprising: (A) a diagnostic tool means for managing at least one or disease diagnosis and research resources, including at least one of: a disease research assistance resource, a disease diagnosis assistance resource, treatment guidelines, medical references, and a plurality of disease modules each having disease information regarding a disease;
wherein the plurality of disease modules include information searchable on signs and symptoms;
(B) a learning tool means for managing professional development resources, including at least one of: online continuing medical education (CME) resources, links to connect the users to professional societies, links to connect users to medical school computer sites, downloadable lecture materials and slide kits, review information concerning preparing for board review, a calendar of medical meetings, and a meeting reporter;
(C) a patient tool means for managing patient resources, including media information on what patients are seeing in the media, a plurality of patient handouts having information for patients, a plurality of links to connect the users to patient support groups, clinical trial information, and at least one health guide;
(D) a healthcare technology tool means for managing healthcare technology resources, including at least one of:
a plurality of product reviews and/or selected articles on healthcare technology, a glossary of technical terms, and queryable information on technical terms;
(E) a news tool means for managing medical news, including at least one of: selected items from medical journals for a current time period, selected recent medical findings, breaking news in the medicinal industry, news relating to selected medical specialties, and customized news relating to a personal preference indicated by the user; wherein the selected items from medical journals for a current time period are provided on a periodical basis from third-party providers;
(F) a toolbar, including at least one of: (i) a search means for searching, having at least one of a user-definable computer site search capability and predetermined computer site search capability; (ii) a folder means, specific to the user, for storing documents, links, and personal preferences for the user; (iii) a grouping of references to basic medical resources, including one or more of at least one medical textbook, medical journals, at least one drug reference text, articles on evidence-based medicine; (iv) means for accessing online continuing medical education (CME) services, online clinical decision support services, medical trivia; and (v) at least one medical dictionary;
(G) wherein at least one of said resources in said tool means is restricted to users with professional licensure; and further comprising a user registration means for collecting user registration information including processional licensure information, a validation means for validating professional licensing information, a restriction means for identifying whether the user has a professional licensure required for at least one restricted resources of said at least one resource and restricting access to said restricted at least one of said resources; wherein the unrestricted resources are selected from a group comprising:
at least a portion of resources in said news tool, at least a portion of resources in said patient tool, a Merck Manual, a Best Practices manual, one or more medical textbooks, one or more medical dictionaries, at least a portion of resources in said healthcare technology tool, the plurality of disease modules, the calendar of medical meetings, the meeting reporter, the links to professional societies, the links to medical school sites, information on residency and/or fellowship opportunities, clinical trial information, and information on alternative medicine; wherein the at least one restricted resource is restricted to users identified as healthcare professionals or medical students, and wherein the restricted resources are selected from a group comprising: the folder means, at least one clinical tool, at least one medic al textbook, at least one drug reference text, online CME services, lecture materials, and slide kits; wherein at least a portion of the at least one restricted resource is restricted to licensed physicians;
and (H) an electronic assistant tool means for managing healthcare practice assistance resources, including at least one of: at least one clinical calculator, a plurality of clinical evidence resources, a plurality of selected news and medical literature articles, at least one medical residency and career resource, and a plurality of selected patient resources.