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Please Note: The technology listed below is not available to the public at this time. This technology is in the early stage of research and requires further development before it is ready for the marketplace. The VA is currently in the process of identifying potential companies who may be interested in licensing and/or further developing the technology through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA). Through cooperative research initiatives such as these, it is our hope and goal that commercial products will be fully developed and made available to benefit veterans and others.
VA TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY BRIEF
Touch-Screen Applications for Outpatient Process Automation
OPPORTUNITY:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking a commercial partner to further
develop this technology through a Cooperative R&D Agreement (CRADA) to expedite
bringing it to market.
BACKGROUND:
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA),
the US healthcare delivery cost is increasing exponentially and has reached
$1.1 trillion dollars in 2001 and is expected to grow to $2 trillion by 2007.
The healthcare industry is under market pressure to reduce healthcare cost and
increase clinical quality and patient outcomes. Healthcare consumerism is growing
as well putting additional pressure on the industry to meet the needs, such
as patient right to know, privacy, confidentiality and security, which has forced
the government to develop new regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To meet the payer, provider, consumer, and regulatory
needs, the healthcare industry is looking at the information technology (IT)
for solutions.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
The VA subject technology is a software system for automating the outpatient
process through touch-screen applications. The touch-screen system allows patients
to "self-serve" certain aspects of healthcare delivery. As such the
system encourages patients to be more actively participative in their own care.
Through touch-screen self-serve applications, patients are empowered to contribute
their own care thereby improving customer satisfaction and reducing overall
healthcare delivery costs. Greater patient satisfaction and cost reduction are
achieved through this software by:
- Allowing patients to securely and confidentially view limited portions
of their medical records.
- Facilitating and automatically documenting patient education activities
thereby enabling shared-care.
- Having patients enter certain information directly into their electronic medical records thereby eliminating the cost of staff data entry.
TECHNICAL MERIT:
The purpose of the technology is to improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction,
and reduce cost. The VA touch-screen system software enables secure, HIPAA compliant,
direct patient medical record access and automates certain patient information
data entry functions. This "self-serve" capability is achieved through
computerized touch screen applications that require no user computer knowledge
or expertise. Card readers and biometrics, specifically fingerprint identification,
are used for login and security. Touch screen computer monitors are used for
navigation and data entry. Server-based applications using Internet protocols
enable consistency, scalability, and ease of maintenance. Multiple levels of
security and information release steps were built-in to ensure HIPAA compliance.
This system also allows compliance with other regulatory agencies, such as the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), by providing
and documenting patient information.
VA software can be used for a number of touch screen applications such as way-finding,
general center information, benefits, eligibility, patient health questionnaire,
pain assessment questionnaire, doctor's appointments, educational materials,
medication list, prescription refill request, health screening, symptom triaging,
and locating recent laboratory results with links to educational materials,
etc.
PATENT STATUS:
A provisional patent application for this invention was filed on Aug13, 2002
(60/402,734)
International patent application filed on August 13, 2003 (PCT/US03/25189)
US patent application filed on August 3, 2003 (10/636,772)
Federal register: September 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 189) p. 58594
A CRADA exists for this technology with DynaTouch Corp. Inc. The VA is currently seeking CRADA partners for other fields of use.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Saleem Sheredos
Program Manager
Technology Transfer Program
Veterans Affairs
Office of Research & Development (12TT)
5th Floor
103 South Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
202-380-5080
Fax 410.962.2141
e-mail: saleem.sheredos@va.gov