Timeliness, flexibility and analysis of variance are critical factors in the successful implementation of protocols, which are needed to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of health care. The rapid expansion of health care alliances, and realignment of many established health care corporations coupled with the rapid growth of the Internet and Web Technologies have opened up a new, viable, and exciting platform for the implementation of a protocol management tool. Hardware, location, and access to a high speed network connection are no longer limiting factors. In this environment it is critically important to have an application that can:

• Empower health networks and managed care organizations to set uniform standards of care and have them monitored and applied at all offices in their group.
• Decrease liability by providing access for managers and caregivers to all patient records, regardless of the location where they are physically filed.
• Be cost effective by working with data and software already deployed.

With some additional features our first demonstration product, the Protocol Tool Bar

will have immediate applicability as a rule enforcement and monitoring tool, and should demonstrate the need health care clinics and insurance groups have for a product of this type. Its ease of use and access, data independence, and minimal impact, will allow for a trouble free deployment throughout any organization, and immediately start giving users rapid access to rules, required forms, and technical information. In the near future we will be improving it with the following features:

• User defined categories and check off elements;
• Improved rule definition;
• Allow multiple action sequences to be defined;
• Merging of context sensitive information into email messages;
• Improved triggering event determinations.

Concurrently we will be developing functions and technique for:

• background data access;
• messaging;
• security;
• server / browser notification.

With these functions and a multi-level user interface, the Protocol Engine will be positioned to become a sophisticated rules enforcement application with methods of defining events, actions, and variances to meet the most demanding needs of the industry and produce a system with power and flexibility.

With the Protocol Tool Bar readily available on our home page for downloading, demonstration, and testing we are preparing the ground work commercialization of both of our Internet health care rule enforcement products. Contacts and credibility that we build through trials, feedback, and use of the product will give us an excellent base for acquiring the additional investment we will need to commercialize, launch, and market the Protocol Engine.