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HTH Worldwide Awarded U.S. Patent for Online Appointment Scheduling Process With Physicians
Friday, August 24, 2007
Radnor, PA -- HTH Worldwide announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to HTH for its method of arranging appointments with medical providers in all corners of the world via multiple simultaneous requests launched from its web pages and mobile communication devices. This patent award solidifies HTH Worldwide's place as the leader in online medical assistance services, serving hundreds of thousands of world travelers annually.
HTH's patent applies to a process designed to aid those seeking expedited appointments because of their medical condition or because their time horizon is constrained by travel plans. Whether at home or abroad, those in need of care use the HTH web tool to describe the reason and the desired timeframe for the appointment, choose recipients from a database of selected physicians and then launch simultaneous requests. HTH's patented method also includes a monitoring capability to assure that appointment requests generate replies within acceptable timeframes. This process benefits HTH's current customer base of world travelers as well as those seeking care in their own community from physicians with crowded schedules.
With hundreds of millions of doctor visits scheduled annually in the U.S. alone and aging baby boomers fueling increasing demand for prompt medical attention worldwide, the utility and value of this patented process places HTH in the forefront of helping consumers find quality care on a timely basis.
"HTH Worldwide is very gratified that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has recognized the efficiency and effectiveness of the methods we have designed," said Angelo Masciantonio, President and Chief Executive Officer, HTH Worldwide. "Our specific method is like a reverse auction process in which providers try to accommodate patient requests. This unique method can be used to improve the odds of seeing physicians whose schedules are crowded, an application that will grow in importance if physician shortages appear in the U.S. as industry experts have predicted. By marrying the latest Internet capabilities with a deep and broad knowledge of how to access medical care anywhere in the world, HTH has created a truly powerful capability that will set the standard for creating timely access to qualified doctors for many years to come," said Masciantonio.
"Though there are thousands of web sites competing to meet burgeoning consumer interest in prevention, diagnosis and therapy, HTH has gone beyond providing medical content on the web to meet the more daunting challenge of helping people find qualified physicians on a timely basis anywhere in the world," said Masciantonio. "The efficiencies inherent in HTH's patented method will continue to set HTH apart from our competitors and will sustain our competitive advantage in the mobile, global health and safety services marketplace."
HTH has been awarded a patent in Australia for its online health and safety tools, including appointment scheduling, and has applications pending in other important jurisdictions around the world. HTH is incorporating the methods protected by the U.S. patent into an expanding suite of services available via handheld communication devices now available to its members as HTH Mobile HealthK. With HTH Mobile HealthK, users can find doctors, set appointments, and when covered by one of HTH's specialty health insurance programs, arrange for HTH to pay the doctor directly in over 180 countries around the world. To view a demonstration of HTH Worldwide's Global Health and Safety tools and databases, visit www.hthworldwide.com and click on the invitation to "take a tour."
About HTH Worldwide
HTH Worldwide is an innovator and leader in helping world travelers stay safe and gain access to quality healthcare services all around the globe. HTH combines its health and safety research, advanced Internet applications, and extensive experience in designing and delivering international health insurance plans to ensure customers' health, safety and peace of mind. HTH annually serves hundreds of thousands of globalists who leave their home countries for extended periods of business, leisure and study. For more information on HTH Worldwide, visit www.hthworldwide.com.
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