Management of information flow and workflow in medical imaging services

• US 20030212580A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duxlink Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Duxlink Incorporated
• Inventors: Shen, Michael Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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

Managing information flow and workflow in medical imaging services includes mapping activities in medical imaging services to a set of discrete steps in a model medical imaging process. Data concerning the medical imaging services is collected and tracked using an electronic data store and a communications network. Collected data is correlated to at least one of the discrete steps in the model medical imaging process and process metrics for performance are calculated based upon the correlated data.

Claims

1. A method for managing information flow and workflow in medical imaging services, the method comprising:

mapping activities in medical imaging services to a set of discrete steps in a model medical imaging process;

collecting and tracking data concerning the medical imaging services using an electronic data store and a communications network;

correlating the collected data to at least one of the discrete steps in the model medical imaging process; and

calculating process metrics for performance based on the correlated data.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein mapping the activities in the medical imaging services includes mapping workflow activities in the medical imaging services to the set of discrete steps in the model medical imaging process.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein collecting and tracking the data includes collecting and tracking the data from the workflow activities in the medical imaging services.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein collecting and tracking the data from the workflow activities includes collecting and tracking the data from the workflow activities of all parties involved in the medical imaging services using a communications network.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein mapping the activities in the medical imaging services includes mapping information flow activities in the medical imaging services to the set of discrete steps in the model medical imaging process.

6. The method as in claim 5 wherein collecting and tracking the data includes collecting and tracking the data from the information flow activities in the medical imaging services.

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein collecting and tracking the data from the information flow activities includes collecting and tracking the data from the information flow activities of all parties involved in the medical imaging services using a communications network.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein mapping the activities in the medical imaging services includes mapping workflow activities and information flow activities in the medical imaging services to the set of discrete steps in the model medical imaging process.

9. The method as in claim 8 wherein collecting and tracking the data includes collecting and tracking the data from the workflow activities and the information flow activities in the medical imaging services.

10. The method as in claim 9 wherein collecting and tracking the data from the workflow activities and the information flow activities includes collecting and tracking the data from the workflow activities and the information flow activities of all parties involved in the medical imaging services using a communications network.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein mapping the activities in the medical imaging services includes mapping pre-testing activities in the medical imaging services to the set of discrete steps in the model medical imaging process.

12. The method as in claim 11 wherein the pre-testing activities include at least one of validation, tests and indications, standardization, and dissemination.

13. The method as in claim 1 wherein mapping the activities in the medical imaging services includes mapping testing activities in the medical imaging services to the set of discrete steps in the model medical imaging process.

14. The method as in claim 13 wherein the testing activities include at least one of test ordering, reporting, access, and distribution.

22. The method as in claim 1 wherein calculating the process metrics includes calculating outcome metrics corresponding to a combination of the discrete steps in the model medical imaging process based on the correlated data.

23. The method as in claim 22 wherein the outcome metrics include diagnostic metrics.

24. The method as in claim 23 wherein the diagnostic metrics include utilization metrics to track an impact of using a screening test in the medical imaging services on at least one of further other non-invasive testing, invasive testing, interventional therapy, and surgery.

25. The method as in claim 23 wherein the diagnostics metrics include accuracy metrics to measure diagnostic test accuracy in terms of patients and specific anatomy in comparison to other invasive tests.

26. The method as in claim 23 wherein the diagnostics metrics include clinical correlation metrics to track feedback from referral physicians and patients themselves to results of tests on patients of the referral physicians.

27. The method as in claim 22 wherein the outcome metrics include clinical outcome metrics.

28. The method as in claim 27 wherein the clinical outcome metrics include event rate metrics to track feedback related to clinical complications and events using a communications network.

29. The method as in claim 27 wherein the clinical outcome metrics include symptom metrics to track changes in a patient'"'"'s symptoms.

30. The method as in claim 27 wherein the clinical outcome metrics include testing index metrics to measure physiological functions of a patient as a result of patient treatment.

31. The method as in claim 22 wherein the outcome metrics include service outcome metrics.

32. The method as in claim 31 wherein the service outcome metrics include procedure outcome metrics to track multiple procedure utilizations over a period of time at a particular medical imaging center as compared with at least one of benchmark targets and organizational goals.

33. The method as in claim 31 wherein the service outcome metrics include referral outcome metrics to track referral physician specialties, practice locations, referred patient'"'"'s characteristics and referral potentials as compared with at least one of benchmark targets and organizational goals.

34. The method as in claim 22 wherein the outcome metrics include financial outcome metrics.

35. The method as in claim 34 wherein the financial outcome metrics include reimbursement metrics to measure a billing performance based on a reimbursement rate and speed compared to at least one of a benchmark target and organizational goals.

36. The method as in claim 1 further comprising generating arrays of data and metrics to enable exporting the data and the metrics for further analysis and modeling, including at least statistical analysis computer software.

37. The method as in claim 1 further comprising providing a tool to input and modify medical standards for comparison to metrics from at least one of the discrete steps or measures in the model medical imaging process.

38. The method as in claim 37 further comprising correlating the input medical standards to modifiable reimbursement codes and recommendation levels.

39. The method as in claim 1 further comprising generating analysis metrics based on an integration of different users of the communications network, different tests and results, and the process metrics to enable a comprehensive analysis of different aspects of the medical imaging services.

40. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include utilization metrics for measuring medical imaging tests actually performed compared with recommended medical imaging tests based on medical guideline recommendations to identify under utilization and over utilization of particular medical imaging tests.

41. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include referral analysis metrics for identifying referral patterns of referral physicians in relation to patients, tests, and process and outcome metrics.

42. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include clinical risk assessment metrics for use in at least one of pre-testing risk stratification and post-testing risk stratification.

43. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include clinical risk assessment metrics to use an established or published model to assess risks in given patients and a need for further diagnostic imaging tests.

44. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include clinical risk assessment metrics to use an established or published model to assess risks in given patients and compare to post imaging risk classification to assess the established or published model.

45. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include behavior analysis metrics to evaluate behavior patterns of at least one of referral physicians, medical imaging centers, and patients compared to standards and outcomes in the model medical imaging process over a period of time.

46. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include organizational process analysis metrics to identify one or more steps in the entire process for improvement in organizational performance for different outcomes.

47. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include practice process analysis metrics to analyze longitudinal practice from clinical question, to testing, diagnosis and risk stratification, follow-up/clinical management and clinical outcomes.

48. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include local practice analysis metrics for use in developing of local database system to measure and track the degree of standard implementation, the difference of patients and practice between national and local, and refinement of local standardization.

49. The method as in claim 48 wherein the local practice analysis metrics include metrics for use in measuring and tracking the degree of implementing national standards and guidelines for quality control, improve insurance reimbursement and monitoring legal protection.

50. The method as in claim 48 wherein the local practice analysis metrics include metrics to define the difference of patients and practice between national and local levels for patient population characteristics in disease development, progress and response to treatment as well as patient reception to new technologies and treatment.

51. The method as in claim 48 wherein the local practice analysis metrics include metrics to define the difference of practice between national and local level to identify local practice variation from national criteria and standards in diagnosis and diagnostic accuracies to redefine local standards in local practice or recommend new local practice criteria.

52. The method as in claim 39 wherein the analysis metrics include outcome estimation and modification in using indexes of an imaging test to estimate local patient outcomes, track real outcomes and refine indexes for patient outcome estimation.

53. The method as in claim 52 wherein the analysis metrics include outcome estimation of local patient clinical outcomes based on published landmark studies in certain local patient populations to see the difference in estimation.

54. The method as in claim 52 wherein the analysis metrics include outcome estimation refinements in using a database to track and follow-up with patients over time to observe the real outcomes.

55. The method as in claim 52 wherein the analysis metrics include outcome estimation to further refine indexes for patient outcome estimation with respect to patient characteristics or technology.