A METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MINIMIZE COMMUNICATION BANDWIDTH CONSUMPTION BY GATHERING INFORMATION FROM A HEALTHCARE CONSUMER USING CONTEXT-BASED QUESTIONS AND PROGRESSIVELY PRESENTING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH A RANKED LIST OF SUGGESTED HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

摘要

Introduced are methods and systems for gathering information from a healthcare consumer using context-based questions and progressively presenting information associated with a ranked list of suggested healthcare providers. First, the server gathers information associated with the healthcare consumer using context-based questions. Questions are formulated based on the answers the healthcare consumer has provided to previous questions so that minimal and necessary questions are asked. Second, the server progressively sends information associated with a ranked list of suggested healthcare providers to a healthcare consumer device. The first information tier sent to the healthcare consumer device includes a graphic representing the match strength between the healthcare consumer and the healthcare provider and the number of similar healthcare consumers the healthcare provider has served. Based on the healthcare consumer interest, the server displays additional information to the healthcare consumer.