Method and Apparatus for Estimating Patient Populations
First Claim
1. A method of predictive sampling of a medical patient population comprising:
- estimating an initial patient population (M) for a sample time period, said initial patient population based on historical sample populations for said sample time period;
calculating an initial sample population (m) for said sample time period, said initial sample population based on said estimated initial patient population and minimum sample size tables;
sampling said initial patient population (M) randomly until m population members are sampled;
recalculating a minimal sample population (n) for said sample time period, said minimal sample population (n) based on an actual patient population (N) for said time period and said minimum sample size tables; and
correcting for an under-sampling of said actual patient population (N).
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Abstract
The methods and apparatuses of the present invention provide for a continuous abstraction of randomly sampled patient data and shortened data processing cycle times when an accurate sample population size is unknown at the beginning of the sampling process. The present invention estimates an initial medical patient population size for the purpose of randomly sampling that population. The estimated population size is calculated based on historical patient population data and is corrected at the end of the sample time period. Under-sampling is remediated at the end of the sample time period, during which continuous sampling of the patient data is carried out to provide interim and immediately available sampled patient data. Criteria for medical patient population sizing and sampling are provided by health care organizations responsible for administrating health care quality improvement standards.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of predictive sampling of a medical patient population comprising:
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estimating an initial patient population (M) for a sample time period, said initial patient population based on historical sample populations for said sample time period; calculating an initial sample population (m) for said sample time period, said initial sample population based on said estimated initial patient population and minimum sample size tables; sampling said initial patient population (M) randomly until m population members are sampled; recalculating a minimal sample population (n) for said sample time period, said minimal sample population (n) based on an actual patient population (N) for said time period and said minimum sample size tables; and correcting for an under-sampling of said actual patient population (N). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-based predictive sampling system, said sampling system coupled to a sample population database having historical population data for medical patients, said sampling subsystem also coupled to a standard-based sampling requirements database having minimum sample size tables, said sampling system comprising:
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an estimation subsystem for estimating an initial patient population (M) and collecting an actual patient population (N), said estimation system also estimating an initial sample population (m) based on said minimum sample size tables, said initial patient population (M) being based on said historical population data, said initial patient population (M) and said actual patient population (N) being determined before and after said sample time period respectively; a verification subsystem for calculating a minimal sample population (n) for said sample time period based on said actual patient population (N) and said minimum sample size tables, said verification subsystem further calculating a reconstituted patient population (N′
) upon a determination of undersampling during said sample time period; anda sampling subsystem for sampling randomly said initial patient population (M) and said reconstituted patient population (N′
), said random sampling performed on said initial patient population (M) for m population members, said reconstituted patient population being determined by said verification subsystem to be said actual patient population (N) without said previously sampled population members, said random sampling additionally performed on said reconstituted patient population (N′
) based on a difference between said minimal sample population (n) and said “
m”
sampled population members. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of sampling a patient population for quality of care analysis, said quality of care analysis being conducted by a health care quality standards provider, the method comprising:
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storing a plurality of patient records in a patient database, said plurality of patient records including historical data related to a target patient population, said target patient population having a common core measure; estimating an initial patient population (M) for a sample time period, said initial patient population being based on said historical data; calculating an initial sample patient population (m) for said sample time period;
said initial sample patient population based on said estimated initial patient population and minimum sample size data provided by said health care quality standards provider;sampling said initial patient population (M) randomly until m patient population members are sampled; submitting after each sampling said patient records for said initial sample patient population to said health care quality standards provider; determining an actual patient population (N) for said time period; recalculating a minimal sample patient population (n) for said sample time period based on said actual patient population (N) and said minimum sample size data provided by said health care quality standards provider; recalculating an additional sample patient population (m′
), said additional sample patient population based on a difference between said minimal sample patient population (n) and said initial sample patient population (m);resampling randomly a reconstituted patient population (N′
) until m′
patient population members are sampled, said reconstituted patient population being said actual patient population (N) without the members previously sampled; andsubmitting said patient records for said additional sample patient population to said health care quality standards provider. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of predictive sampling of a medical patient population comprising:
real time and continuous sampling of the medical patient population when the final medical patient population size is unknown.
Specification