Healthcare System Planning Tool

• US 20110301971A1
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HOK Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HOK Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Roesch, Anthony, Bracco, Nicolas G., Fitz, Todd W., Siconolfi, Charles, McKenna, Lauren, Ingrum, Charles H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

A system for planning at a healthcare facility employs a database that stores health care facility impacting data including demographic data describing a preselected set of aspects of a population residing within a defined geographic area. A simulator applies modeling tools to the health care facility impacting data and generates output data corresponding to selected data in the health care facility impacting data. The modeling tools include a protocols of care tool; a service configuration modeling tool; a financial analysis tool; and a facility modeling tool. A video monitor displays an image of a map with a visual representation of the geographic area and a plurality of dynamically configurable data display objects that are superimposed on the map. Each data display object is disposed adjacent to a location of a different healthcare facility and each displays output data generated by the simulator.

Claims

1. A system for planning at a healthcare facility by a user, operational on a digital computer including a computer readable memory, comprising:

(a) a database stored on the computer readable memory, the database configured to store health care facility impacting data including demographic data describing a preselected set of aspects of a population residing within a defined geographic area;

(b) a simulator, operable on the digital computer, that is configured to apply a plurality of modeling tools to the health care facility impacting data and configured to generate output data corresponding to selected data in the health care facility impacting data and configured to store the output data in a predefined memory location, the plurality of modeling tools including;

(i) a protocols of care tool;

(ii) a service configuration modeling tool;

(iii) a financial analysis tool; and

(iv) a facility modeling tool; and

(c) a video monitor, responsive to the digital computer, configured to display an image that includes;

(i) a map that includes a visual representation of the geographic area; and

(ii) a plurality of dynamically configurable data display objects, superimposed on the map, each disposed adjacent to a location of a different one of a selected plurality of healthcare facilities and each display object configured to display output data stored in the predefined memory location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamically configurable data display objects further include a data input interface configured to receive a data input from the user and wherein the simulator is further configured to generate, based on the data input, revised data corresponding to the selected data in the health care facility impacting data and to store the revised data in a location so that the revised data is displayed in the dynamically configurable data display object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the image further includes in interactive condition select object configured to receive an input from the user that indicates conditions that the user desires to be imposed on the simulator.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the simulator is further configured to project future performance of the healthcare facility based on a plurality of assumptions regarding future conditions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the protocols of care tool is configured to model an impact of changes in patient care protocols as a result of at least one variable of the health care facility impacting data selected from a list of variables consisting of:

level of eligibility, level of adoption, patient throughput assumptions, space requirements, construction costs, operational costs and staffing ratios.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the protocols of care tool is also configured to generate at least one output selected from a group of outputs consisting of:

facility space needs, operational costs savings, capital costs, staffing adjustment and projected patient volumes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the service configuration modeling tool is configured to analyze an impact on the selected healthcare facility by other healthcare facilities within the defined geographic area as a result of at least one variable of the health care facility impacting data selected from a list of variables consisting of:

demographic projections, patient acuity, average length of stay, protocols of care impact, space utilization, throughput, strategic growth rate, introduction of a new facility into a market, and change of key room inventory.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the service configuration tool is also configured to generate at least one output selected from a group of outputs consisting of:

patient volumes, market share, key rooms, and growth.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial analysis tool is configured to analyze an impact on financial measures of the healthcare facility as a result of at least one variable of the health care facility impacting data selected from a list of variables consisting of:

charges per patient, net revenue per patient, direct fixed per patient costs, direct variable per patient costs, indirect per patient fixed costs, indirect variable costs, and case mix.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the financial analysis tool is also configured to generate at least one output selected from a group of outputs consisting of:

charges, net revenue, direct fixed costs, direct variable costs, indirect fixed costs indirect variable costs, case mix, gross margin, net income, and average reimbursements.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility modeling tool is configured to analyze an impact on facility need of the healthcare facility as a result of at least one variable of the health care facility impacting data selected from a list of variables consisting of:

assessment of current physical assets, projected inventory by key room, program elements, space benchmarks, construction costs, renovation costs, soft costs, costs escalation factors, project completion date, and amortization assumptions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the facility modeling tool is also configured to generate at least one output selected from a group of outputs consisting of:

current facility assessment, current key room inventory, infrastructure improvement costs, master facility program, projected facility needs, capital project program, projected capital project costs, projected impact on operational costs, and project return on investment.

13. A healthcare facility planning system, including a digital computer coupled to a computer readable memory, operable by a user, the system comprising:

(a) a database stored on the computer readable memory, the database configured to store health care facility impacting data including demographic data describing a preselected set of aspects of a population residing within a defined geographic area;

(b) a simulator, operable on the digital computer, that is configured to apply a plurality of modeling tools to the health care facility impacting data and configured to generate output data corresponding to selected data in the health care facility impacting data and configured to store the output data in a predefined memory location, the plurality of modeling tools including;

(i) a protocols of care tool configured to model an impact of changes in patient care protocols and configured to model facility space needs, operational costs savings, capital costs, staffing adjustment and projected patient volumes for the healthcare facility;

(ii) a service configuration modeling tool configured to analyze an impact on the selected healthcare facility by other healthcare facilities within the defined geographic area and configured to model patient volumes, market share, key rooms, and growth for the healthcare facility;

(iii) a financial analysis tool configured to analyze an impact on financial measures of the healthcare facility and configured to model charges, net revenue, direct fixed costs, direct variable costs, indirect fixed costs indirect variable costs, case mix, gross margin, net income, and average reimbursements for the healthcare facility; and

(iv) a facility modeling tool configured to analyze an impact on facility need of the healthcare facility and configured to model current facility assessment, current key room inventory, infrastructure improvement costs, master facility program, projected facility needs, capital project program, projected capital project costs, projected impact on operational costs, and project return on investment for the healthcare facility; and

(c) an output interface, responsive to the digital computer, configured to display information generated by the simulator.

14. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, where the health care facility impacting data further includes data describing:

level of eligibility, level of adoption, patient throughput assumptions, space requirements, construction costs, operational costs and staffing ratios.

15. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, where the health care facility impacting data further includes data describing:

demographic projections, patient acuity, average length of stay, protocols of care impact, space utilization, throughput, strategic growth rate, introduction of a new facility into a market, and change of key room inventory.

16. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, where the health care facility impacting data further includes data describing:

charges per patient, net revenue per patient, direct fixed per patient costs, direct variable per patient costs, indirect per patient fixed costs, indirect variable costs, and case mix.

17. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, where the health care facility impacting data further includes data describing:

assessment of current physical assets, projected inventory by key room, program elements, space benchmarks, construction costs, renovation costs, soft costs, costs escalation factors, project completion date, and amortization assumptions.

18. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, wherein the simulator is further configured to generate, for display on the output interface:

(a) a map that includes a visual representation of the geographic area; and

(b) a plurality of dynamically configurable data display objects, superimposed on the map, each disposed adjacent to a location of a different one of a selected plurality of healthcare facilities and each display object configured to display output data stored in the predefined memory location.

19. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, wherein the dynamically configurable data display objects further include a data input interface configured to receive a data input from the user and wherein the simulator is further configured to generate, based on the data input, revised data corresponding to the selected data in the health care facility impacting data and to store the revised data in a location so that the revised data is displayed in the dynamically configurable data display object.

20. The healthcare facility planning system of claim 13, wherein the image further includes in interactive condition select object configured to receive an input from the user that indicates conditions that the user desires to be imposed on the simulator.