Allen W Mitchell

US Patent:

20060059017, Mar 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/213332

Inventors:

Carol Louik - Brookline MA, US
Allen Mitchell - Wellesley MA, US

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705002000

Abstract:

A database contains confidential patient information. A researcher conducting a post-marketing study provides selection criteria to a maintainer of the database. The maintainer uses the selection criteria to select a cohort of potential post-marketing study subjects. The maintainer sends a questionnaire to each subject in the cohort. Optionally, the maintainer keeps a list of the identities of the subjects in the cohort. Subjects who choose to participate in the post-marketing study fill-in their questionnaires and return the questionnaires directly to the researcher. If the subjects choose to identify themselves to the researcher, the researcher can contact the subjects directly for follow-on research. Optionally, the researcher notifies the maintainer of the identities of subjects who return questionnaires, and the maintainer identifies subjects who do not return questionnaires and sends further questionnaires to these subjects. The maintainer informs the researcher of the number and characteristics (such as age, sex and zip code) of subjects in the cohort and optionally of subjects who do not return questionnaires, without revealing the identities or other confidential information of the subjects. The researcher uses the number and characteristics of the subjects to evaluate various aspects of the post-marketing study.