System and method for connecting a healthcare business to a plurality of laboratories

摘要

A system and method for connecting a healthcare business to a plurality of laboratories. The system includes a client application which executes on a workstation, e.g., at a physician's office or other business. Using this application, a user may place a laboratory order for a patient. In one embodiment, the laboratory system may utilize a Global Master Patient Index (GMPI) for maintaining patient record information across multiple healthcare sites. Thus, this GMPI information may be used in retrieving the appropriate patient record. User input specifying general requisition information is received, such as contact information for the patient, guarantor information, billing information, etc. Billing information may also be received. If a requisition was previously created for the specified patient, relative information from that requisition may populate the appropriate user interface fields. User input specifying diagnosis codes for the requisition may also received. The user may enter a list of diagnosis codes, such as ICD-9 codes that specify the caregiver's diagnosis for the patient. The user may also enter a list of test codes specifying the desired lab tests to perform on the patient specimen(s). User input specifying a list of labs to whom to electronically send the requisition may also be received. In the preferred embodiment, the system is operable to send requisitions to a plurality of labs. User input specifying a list of caregivers to whom to electronically send the results of the lab tests may also be specified. User input specifying other information for the requisition may also be received, such as lab instructions, information regarding the patient specimens collected, etc. The requisition information may be stored, and the user may use a menu option to select and electronically send the requisitions, e.g., by interfacing a middleware server which interfaces with the system for each laboratory which receives the requisitions.