Computer process for modeling flow of patients through hospital units

• US 20020107769A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dashefsky, Michael S., Larsen, Edward R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method of assessing patient flow through a hospital is disclosed. Through the collection of data regarding hospital statistics, a model can be built. Also, an hourly cost can be assigned to each care unit of the hospital for each patient. The model can be used to simulate the flow of patients through the hospital. Additionally, the model can be used to estimate a cost savings that would result from a purchase of patient monitoring equipment, or other resource changes.

Claims

1. A method of assessing patient flow through care units of a hospital, comprising:

collecting data regarding hospital statistics,

assigning an hourly cost to each care unit for each patient,

building a model based upon the collected data and hourly cost, and

using the model to simulate the flow of patients through the hospital.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each care unit is a hospital department.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the model to estimate a cost savings that results from a purchase of patient monitoring equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the model to recommend hospital resource changes.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a bottleneck in the flow of patients through the hospital.

6. The method of claim 1, where collecting data further comprises locating patients through a patient locating system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting data is done in real-time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein collecting real-time data comprises using a patient locating system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein collecting real-time data comprises using an equipment locating system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein collecting real-time data comprises using an Admission Discharge Transmission System.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein collecting real-time data comprises using a point of care system.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting a bottleneck in the flow of patients through the hospital through the use of the model.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data regarding average patient length of stay in a care unit.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining alternative patient flow routes based upon optimizing efficiency of the hospital.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining resource utilization based upon the model.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an estimation module configured to estimate a cost savings that would result from a purchase of patient monitoring equipment.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising an prediction module configured to predict a bottleneck in the flow of patients.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising an identification module configured to identify a bottleneck in the flow of patients.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a resource module configured to determine a resource utilization of the hospital.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the collection module is further configured to collect real-time hospital statistics.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the care units include at least the following hospital departments:

Admitting, Intensive Care Unit, Surgery and Discharge.

16. A system for modeling patient flow through care units of a hospital comprising:

a collection module configured to accept data regarding hospital statistics;

an assignment module configured to assign an hourly cost to each unit for each patient;

a model module configured to build a model of the flow of patients through the hospital; and

a simulation module configured to simulate the flow of patients through the hospital.