SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TAILORING THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS TO PATIENTS

• US 20110071868A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Healthways Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Healthways World Headquarters
• Inventors: Eddleman, Don, Parker, Kimberly
• Application Number:
  US12/614,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A computer implemented method may be used for tailoring communications to a plurality of patients. The clinical priority of each communication, the likelihood of a patient responding to the communication if received at a particular time, and the available resources for performing the communications may be analyzed in order to prioritize and schedule the plurality of patient communications.

Claims

1. A computerized method of scheduling a plurality of patient communications, the method comprising:

determining the available resources for communicating a plurality of patient communications;

determining the clinical priority of each patient communication;

determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication based on the time of the patient communication;

organizing the plurality of patient communications into time slots based on the likelihood of receiving a response, the clinical priority of each patient communication, and the available resources; and

outputting a schedule for performing patient communications based on the organized patient communications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time of the communication is a time of day, a day of the week, a particular date, or a week of a month.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the available resources for communicating a plurality of patient communications comprises analyzing the skill set of each individual responsible for performing the communications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the clinical priority of each patient communication comprises:

categorizing the patient communication;

assigning a priority based on the category of the communication; and

adjusting the priority of the communication based on the length of time the communication has been scheduled but not completed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the time and content of a future patient communication based on the response received from the patient communication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a relative priority of the patient communications within a time slot; and

ordering the patient communications within the time slot based on the relative priority.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication comprises analyzing a correlation between patient demographics and the likelihood for a patient to respond to a patient communication performed in a particular time slot.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein patient demographics comprise age and gender.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication comprises analyzing communication preference information received from the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication comprises analyzing the patient'"'"'s health status.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a predictive model is used to determine the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein organizing the patient communications is performed by a computing device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting a patient on the basis of the schedule.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the patient is contacted using an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a computer, a portable computing device and a telephone.

15. A computerized method of scheduling a plurality of patient communications, the method comprising:

receiving information indicative of the available resources for communicating a plurality of patient communications;

receiving information indicative of the clinical priority of each patient communication;

receiving information indicative of the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication based on the time of the patient communication;

organizing the plurality of patient communications into time slots based on the likelihood of receiving a response, the clinical priority of each patient communication, and the available resources; and

outputting a schedule for performing patient communications based on the organized patient communications.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the time of the communication is a time of day, a day of the week, a particular date, or a week of a month.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the time and content of a future patient communication based on the response received from the patient communication.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a relative priority of the patient communications within a time slot; and

ordering the patient communications within the time slot based on the relative priority.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein organizing the patient communications is performed by a computing device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising contacting a patient on the basis of the schedule.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the patient is contacted using an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a computer, a portable computing device and a telephone.

22. A system for scheduling a plurality of patient communications, the system comprising:

a memory storing information associated with a plurality of patients; and

a processor to perform;

determining the available resources for communicating a plurality of patient communications;

determining the clinical priority of each patient communication;

determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication based on the time of the patient communication;

organizing the plurality of patient communications into time slots based on the likelihood of receiving a response, the clinical priority of each patient communication, and the available resources; and

outputting a schedule for performing patient communications based on the organized patient communications.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the time of the communication is a time of day, a day of the week, a particular date, or a week of a month.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein determining the available resources for communicating a plurality of patient communications comprises analyzing the skill set of each individual responsible for performing the communications.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein determining the clinical priority of each patient communication comprises:

categorizing the patient communication;

assigning a priority based on the category of the communication; and

adjusting the priority of the communication based on the length of time the communication has been scheduled but not completed.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor further performs determining the time and content of a future patient communication based on the response received from the patient communication.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor further performs:

determining a relative priority of the patient communications within a time slot; and

ordering the patient communications within the time slot based on the relative priority.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication comprises analyzing a correlation between patient demographics and the likelihood for a patient to respond to a patient communication performed in a particular time slot.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein patient demographics comprise age and gender.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication comprises analyzing communication preference information received from the patient.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein determining the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication comprises analyzing the patient'"'"'s health status.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein a predictive model is used to determine the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication.

33. A computerized system for scheduling a plurality of patient communications, the system comprising:

a memory storing;

information indicative of the available resources for communicating a plurality of patient communications;

information indicative of the clinical priority of each patient communication; and

information indicative of the relative likelihood of receiving a response to each patient communication based on the time of the patient communication; and

a processor to perform;

organizing the plurality of patient communications into time slots based on the likelihood of receiving a response, the clinical priority of each patient communication, and the available resources; and

outputting a schedule for performing patient communications based on the organized patient communications.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the time of the communication is a time of day, a day of the week, a particular date, or a week of a month.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor further performs determining the time and content of a future patient communication based on the response received from the patient communication.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor further performs:

determining a relative priority of the patient communications within a time slot; and

ordering the patient communications within the time slot based on the relative priority.