Multiple resource planning system

• US 10,318,899 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtual Radiologic Corporation (Mednax Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Virtual Radiologic Corporation (Mednax Incorporated)
• Inventors: Backhaus, Brent, Lusic, Lorna, Ebesu, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Pauls, John A
• Application Number:
  US14/079,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A system for managing remote doctor medical request workflow may include a workflow module that optimizes assignments of medical requests to remote doctors based on parameterized doctor and scheduling information and may further include a forecasting module that predicts the hospital credentials, state licenses or doctors needed to fulfill a projected volume of future medical requests. In one embodiment, radiologists are parameterized and then matched with requests for radiological readings based on information extracted from DICOM image headers and merged with associated information contained in a medical work order. In this embodiment, the radiologists are parameterized based on their locations, schedules, hospital credentials, state licensing, compensation metrics, and performance metrics and incoming requests for review of CT scans and the like are filtered based on the parameterized radiologist information to identify one or more radiologists who are to fulfill the medical request.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising:

at least one hardware processor;

a medical data processing component implemented by a first plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the medical data processing component to, under computerized control;

extract data values from electronic imaging data, wherein the electronic imaging data includes metadata and a plurality of digital medical images that originate from a medical imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging modality at a medical facility, and wherein the medical facility is identified by a medical facility identifier extracted from the metadata; and

generate data values that identify characteristics of a diagnostic evaluation task for the plurality of digital medical images, the task determined from the data values extracted from the metadata;

an evaluator data processing component implemented by a second plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the evaluator data processing component to, under computerized control;

perform an evaluation of parameterized qualification characteristic data values for a plurality of evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, the evaluation to apply rules that identify respective evaluators that are credentialed or licensed to perform the diagnostic evaluation task for the medical facility;

a workflow component implemented by a third plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the workflow component to, under computerized control;

generate data values to update, on an ongoing basis, electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators, the electronic worklists for the respective evaluators controlled by the workflow component to list pending diagnostic evaluation tasks designated for performance by the respective evaluators, wherein the electronic worklists are distributed for display at computing systems of the respective evaluators;

initiate a command to designate a particular evaluator of the respective evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the workflow component designates the particular evaluator based on matching at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, using the parameterized qualification characteristic data values; and

update the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator in response to the command to designate the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist is updated to indicate a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

a data transmission component implemented by a fourth plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the data transmission component to, under computerized control;

transmit the plurality of digital medical images, via a network, to a computing device associated with the particular evaluator, in response to a command received from the particular evaluator via the electronic worklist to accept the diagnostic evaluation task from the pending state;

wherein the plurality of digital medical images are transmitted and made accessible to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, based on the acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

wherein the respective electronic worklists are used to manage capabilities of the respective evaluators to receive and access the plurality of digital medical images, such that the plurality of digital medical images are not transmitted or accessible to the computing systems of the respective evaluators before acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the rules that identify respective evaluators includes additional rules determined from additional evaluation characteristics, the additional evaluation characteristics indicated in order data associated with the medical imaging procedure performed by the medical imaging modality.

3. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the workflow component further filters evaluators in a listing of the plurality of evaluators, based on a match of one or more parameters in the parameterized qualification characteristic data values to one or more parameters associated with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, and wherein the one or more parameters associated with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task includes at least one of:

scheduling data for the plurality of evaluators, classification data for the plurality of evaluators, location data for the plurality of evaluators, preference data for the plurality of evaluators, performance data for the plurality of evaluators, compensation data for the plurality of evaluators, expertise data for the plurality of evaluators, subspecialty data for the plurality of evaluators, contract terms for the plurality of evaluators, credentialing data for the plurality of evaluators, and licensing data for the plurality of evaluators.

4. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the medical data processing component determines the characteristics of the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of licensing, credentialing, or specialization for the respective evaluators of the plurality of evaluators.

5. The data processing system of claim 4, wherein the at least one requirement is determined based on licensing and credentialing, and wherein the medical data processing component identifies the particular evaluator as credentialed and licensed to perform the diagnostic evaluation task for the medical facility based on the medical facility identifier.

6. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the medical data processing component determines available evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of:

a status of computing devices associated with the available evaluators, a status of network connectivity of the computing devices, scheduling availability of the available evaluators at the computing devices, or a status of an electronic worklist of the available evaluators at the computing device.

7. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a radiological image interpretation, wherein the particular evaluator is a qualified radiologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located radiologists.

8. The data processing system of claim 7, wherein the workflow component designates the particular evaluator based on a match of the at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, in response to the at least one qualification being determined from at least one of:

connection information for connectivity of computing devices associated with the plurality of remotely located radiologists, scheduling information for scheduled availability of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, forecasting information for projected availability of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, preference information of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, or preference information of the medical facility providing the electronic imaging data.

9. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a pathological image examination, wherein the plurality of digital medical images are pathology images, wherein the particular evaluator is a pathologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located pathologists, and wherein the diagnostic evaluation task includes a pathological examination of the plurality of digital medical images by the pathologist.

10. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators include an electronic worklist for another evaluator of the plurality of evaluators, and wherein the workflow component is additionally to:

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator to designate the evaluator to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on matching at least one qualification of the another evaluator with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task wherein the electronic worklist of the another evaluator is updated to indicate a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task by the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to remove the pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions to process medical imaging data, the instructions which when executed by a computing machine cause the computing machine to perform operations that, performed under computerized control:

extract data values from electronic imaging data, wherein the electronic imaging data includes metadata and a plurality of digital medical images that originate from a medical imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging modality at a medical facility, and wherein the medical facility is identified by a medical facility identifier extracted from the metadata;

generate data values that identify characteristics of a diagnostic evaluation task for the plurality of digital medical images, the task determined from the data values extracted from the metadata;

perform an evaluation of parameterized qualification characteristic data values for a plurality of evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, the evaluation to apply rules that identify respective evaluators that are credentialed or licensed to perform the diagnostic evaluation task for the medical facility;

generate data values to update, on an ongoing basis, electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators, the electronic worklists for the respective evaluators to list pending diagnostic evaluation tasks designated for performance by the respective evaluators, wherein the electronic worklists are distributed for display at computing systems of the respective evaluators;

initiate a command to designate a particular evaluator of the respective evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the particular evaluator is designated based on matching at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, using the parameterized qualification characteristic data values; and

update the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator in response to the command to designate the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist is updated to indicate a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

transmit the plurality of digital medical images, via a network, to a computing device associated with the particular evaluator, in response to a command received from the particular evaluator via the electronic worklist to accept the diagnostic evaluation task from the pending state;

wherein the plurality of digital medical images are transmitted and made accessible to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, based on the acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

wherein the respective electronic worklists are used to manage capabilities of the respective evaluators to receive and access the plurality of digital medical images, such that the plurality of digital medical images are not transmitted or accessible to the computing systems of the respective evaluators before acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the computing machine to further perform operations that:

determine additional rules from additional evaluation characteristics, the additional evaluation characteristics indicated in order data associated with the medical imaging procedure performed by the medical imaging modality, wherein the particular evaluator is further designated based on a corresponding match of the at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the additional rules.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the computing machine to further perform operations that:

electronically filter evaluators in a listing of the plurality of evaluators, based on a match of one or more parameters in the parameterized qualification characteristic data values to one or more parameters associated with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task;

wherein the one or more parameters associated with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task includes at least one of;

scheduling data for the plurality of evaluators, classification data for the plurality of evaluators, location data for the plurality of evaluators, preference data for the plurality of evaluators, performance data for the plurality of evaluators, compensation data for the plurality of evaluators, expertise data for the plurality of evaluators, subspecialty data for the plurality of evaluators, contract terms for the plurality of evaluators, credentialing data for the plurality of evaluators, and licensing data for the plurality of evaluators.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the computing machine to further perform operations that:

determine the characteristics of the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of licensing and credentialing applicable to the plurality of evaluators; and

identify the particular evaluator as credentialed and licensed to perform the diagnostic evaluation task for the medical facility based on the medical facility identifier.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the computing machine to further perform operations that:

designate the particular evaluator based on a match of radiologist information to the parameterized qualification characteristics, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a radiological image interpretation, wherein the particular evaluator is a qualified radiologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located radiologists, wherein the at least one qualification is determined from at least one of;

connection information for connectivity of computing devices associated with the plurality of remotely located radiologists, scheduling information for scheduled availability of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, forecasting information for projected availability of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, preference information of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, or preference information of the medical facility providing the electronic imaging data.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the computing machine to further perform operations that:

designate the particular evaluator based on a match of pathologist information to the parameterized qualification characteristics, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a pathological image examination, wherein the plurality of digital medical images are pathology images, wherein the particular evaluator is a pathologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located pathologists, and wherein the diagnostic evaluation task includes a pathological examination of the plurality of digital medical images by the pathologist.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators include an electronic worklist for another evaluator of the plurality of evaluators, and wherein the instructions cause the computing machine to further perform operations that, prior to transmitting the plurality of digital medical images to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator:

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator to designate the evaluator to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on matching at least one qualification of the another evaluator with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task wherein the electronic worklist of the another evaluator is updated to indicate a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task by the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to remove the pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task.

18. A method for processing medical data in a workflow through use of a data processing system comprising at least one hardware processor, the method comprising the at least one hardware processor performing electronic operations, under computerized control, including:

extracting data values from electronic imaging data, wherein the electronic imaging data includes metadata and a plurality of digital medical images that originate from a medical imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging modality at a medical facility, and wherein the medical facility is identified by a medical facility identifier extracted from the metadata;

generating data values that identify characteristics of a diagnostic evaluation task for the plurality of digital medical images, the task determined from the data values extracted from the metadata;

performing an evaluation of parameterized qualification characteristic data values for a plurality of evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, the evaluation to apply rules that identify respective evaluators that are credentialed or licensed to perform the diagnostic evaluation task for the medical facility;

generating data values to update, on an ongoing basis, electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators, the electronic worklists for the respective evaluators controlled to list pending diagnostic evaluation tasks designated for performance by the respective evaluators, wherein the electronic worklists are distributed for display at computing systems of the respective evaluators;

initiating a command to designate a particular evaluator of the respective evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the particular evaluator is designated based on matching at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, using the parameterized qualification characteristic data values; and

updating the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator in response to the command to designate the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist is updated to indicate a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

transmitting the plurality of digital medical images, via a network, to a computing device associated with the particular evaluator, in response to a command received from the particular evaluator via the electronic worklist to accept the diagnostic evaluation task from the pending state;

wherein the plurality of digital medical images are transmitted and made accessible to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, based on the acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

wherein the respective electronic worklists are used to manage capabilities of the respective evaluators to receive and access the plurality of digital medical images, such that the plurality of digital medical images are not transmitted or accessible to the computing systems of the respective evaluators before acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining additional rules from additional evaluation characteristics, the additional evaluation characteristics indicated in order data associated with the medical imaging procedure performed by the medical imaging modality, wherein the particular evaluator is further designated based on a corresponding match of the at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the additional rules.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

electronically filtering evaluators in a listing of the plurality of evaluators, based on a match of one or more parameters in the parameterized qualification characteristics to one or more parameters associated with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task;

wherein the one or more parameters associated with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task includes at least one of;

scheduling data for the plurality of evaluators, classification data for the plurality of evaluators, location data for the plurality of evaluators, preference data for the plurality of evaluators, performance data for the plurality of evaluators, compensation data for the plurality of evaluators, expertise data for the plurality of evaluators, subspecialty data for the plurality of evaluators, contract terms for the plurality of evaluators, credentialing data for the plurality of evaluators, and licensing data for the plurality of evaluators.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining the characteristics of the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of licensing and credentialing applicable to the plurality of evaluators; and

identifying the particular evaluator as credentialed and licensed to perform the diagnostic evaluation task for the medical facility based on the medical facility identifier.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

designating the particular evaluator based on a match of radiologist information to the parameterized qualification characteristics, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a radiological image interpretation, wherein the particular evaluator is a qualified radiologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located radiologists, wherein the at least one qualification is determined from at least one of;

connection information for connectivity of computing devices associated with the plurality of remotely located radiologists, scheduling information for scheduled availability of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, forecasting information for projected availability of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, preference information of the plurality of remotely located radiologists, or preference information of the medical facility providing the electronic imaging data.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

designating the particular evaluator based on a match of pathologist information to the parameterized qualification characteristics, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a pathological image examination, wherein the plurality of digital medical images are pathology images, wherein the particular evaluator is a pathologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located pathologists, and wherein the diagnostic evaluation task includes a pathological examination of the plurality of digital medical images by the pathologist.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators include an electronic worklist for another evaluator of the plurality of evaluators, and wherein the electronic operations further include, prior to transmitting the plurality of digital medical images to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator:

designating the another evaluator from the plurality of evaluators for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images, the another evaluator designated from among the plurality of evaluators, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on a corresponding match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task;

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator to designate the evaluator to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on matching at least one qualification of the another evaluator with the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task wherein the electronic worklist of the another evaluator is updated to indicate a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task;

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task by the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to remove the pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task.