Computer implemented resource allocation model and process to dynamically and optimally schedule an arbitrary number of resources subject to an arbitrary number of constraints in the managed care, health care and/or pharmacy industry

• US 7,386,465 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. (The Cigna Group)
• Original Assignee: Medco Health Solutions Incorporated (The Cigna Group)
• Inventors: Chen, Jen-Shyang, Wood, Paul I., Lai, Karmon, Friedland, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US11/349,869
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9
• US Class Current: 705/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A method of allocating resources includes scheduling jobs from among a plurality of resources of a work-producing system. The work producing system is a pharmacy. The method includes the steps of sorting, in a predetermined order, available resources to be utilized in the pharmacy by a last task assignment, a number of tasks performable, rate per task, and/or cost per hour, and determining one or more queues responsive to the sorting. The method also includes the step of normalizing the queue by dividing a current task queue by an average rate of the available resources for each task in the current task queue. The method also includes the step of assigning the available resources to one or more tasks with a predetermined normalized queue, subject to at least one task constraint.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources from among a plurality of resources of a work-producing system, wherein the work-producing system comprises a pharmacy, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) in a computer system, sorting, in a predetermined order, available resources by an arbitrary number of tasks from among a plurality of tasks of the work-producing system performable per resource, and rate per task, and determining at least one queue responsive to said sorting, wherein the tasks are subject to a plurality of constraints of the work-producing system, wherein the rate per task characterizes the processing of pharmaceutical orders processed in the at least one task for a time period, the at least one task including reviewing a pharmaceutical order, dispensing a pharmaceutical prescription as part of the pharmaceutical order, and verifying the pharmaceutical order; and

(b) assigning the available resources to the at least one task from among a plurality of tasks of the work-producing system subject to at least one constraint from among a plurality of constraints of the work-producing system, including assigning the available resources using volume data of the number of RX'"'"'s processed in each task for each time period for tasks including;

filling bottles, packaging bottles, opening pieces of mail and at least one of customer inbound and outbound calls,

wherein said sorting step (a), and said assigning step (b) are performed according to a resource allocation model,

wherein the resource allocation model includes entities with variable attributes having variable quantities that transform through at least one network of nodes and includes significance and performance criteria, associated tableaus and scenarios, and wherein abstract model elements are stored as at least one of the parameters and the attributes, and as at least one of functional, logical, graphical and symbolic forms,

wherein each node of the at least one network of nodes includes an associated set of attributes and parameters, the attributes include the resource; and

each node or at least one network of nodes exists for a pre-determined time period.

2. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, further comprising the step of redetermining the at least one queue after assignment of the available resources, and designating the assigned resource unavailable until a predetermined time when the assigned available resources expires.

3. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, further comprising the step of incrementing time to time of a next event.

4. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the at least one task constraint includes maximum resource capacity, defined start and end times, and scheduled down time.

5. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the at least one task constraint includes at least one team assignment constraint defining resource attributes, and the available resources are assigned to the at least one task until the at least one team assignment constraint is satisfied.

6. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein said assigning step (b), further comprises the steps of assigning the available resources to the at least one task for a maximum time of task, and removing the at least one task from a resource skill set.

7. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the at least one constraint includes an end of shift constraint, and wherein the available resources are not assigned to the at least one task when the assignment violates the end of shift constraint.

8. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined order comprises an ascending order.

9. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the attributes are qualitatively defined through at least one of nominal, graphical and symbolic conventions.

10. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 9, wherein the available resources include the attributes of the nodes, and the available resources undergo transformational processes arriving at least one arbitrary state or passing through a series of states that may become the attributes of the resources.

11. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the parameters are specified as at least one of inputs, outputs, capacities, operational processes, functional behaviors, movement logics, and other dynamic parameters.

12. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocation model stores at least one of historical values, theoretical values, the attributes and constellations of the nodes, and wherein the resource allocation model provides multiple bases of comparison for monitoring, measuring, and evaluating real-time operational data and operational performance for management functions.

13. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocation model includes significance and performance criteria, associated tableaus and scenarios, and wherein abstract model elements are stored as at least one of the parameters and the attributes, and as at least one of functional, logical, graphical and symbolic forms.

14. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the available resources are characterized by the following information:

person identifier, person name, person type, shift assignment by day of week, task preference,

shift name, shift start time, shift end time, lunch start, break 1 start, break 2 start,

person type categories, eligible tasks,

task name, rate per task, task capacity, task color for Gantt chart, flow percentages between tasks,

projected incoming volume by task and time, and

start of day queues in each task.

15. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein said assigning step (b) assigns the available resources using at least one of the following outputs:

people allocation;

number of people assigned to each task for each time period,

volume data;

number of RX'"'"'s processed in each task for each time period,

queue data;

queue length for each task area by time period, and

Gantt chart;

person task assignment for each time period.

16. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein said assigning step (b), further comprises the steps of assigning the available resources to a varying set of tasks having varying individual rates.

17. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein said assigning step (b), further comprises the steps of assigning the available resources to the at least one task with a work flow between tasks following a Markov Chain.

18. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 3, wherein the next event includes at least one of:

a resource or task that becoming subsequently available, incoming work, a queue reaching zero, and a minimum time in the task.

19. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resource according to claim 1, wherein the resource include at least one of:

humans, machines, and teams.

20. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the tasks include at least one of:

filling bottles, packaging bottles, opening pieces of mail, out-bound customer service calls, and in-bound customer service calls.

21. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the constraints include at least one of:

physical, logistical, and temporal.

22. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the filling further includes at least one of:

vertical fill, baker fill, prepack fill, front fill, narcotics fill, control fill, and insulin syringe fill.

23. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, wherein the tasks further include at least one of:

managed care review, Dr. call verification, eligibility verification, drug utilization review, mail handling, phone refill handling, phone prescription handling, safing, label generation, checking, packing, manifesting, and wanding.

24. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 1, further comprising the step of normalizing the at least one queue by dividing a current task queue by an average rate of the available resources for each task in the current task queue.

25. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources from among a plurality of resources of a pharmacy system, said method comprising the steps of:

a) in a computer system, sorting, in a predetermined order, available resources by an arbitrary number of tasks from along a plurality of tasks of the pharmacy system performable per resource, and rate per task, and determining at least one queue responsive to said sorting, wherein the tasks are subject to a plurality of constraints of the pharmacy system, wherein the rate per task characterizes the number of pharmaceutical orders processed in the at least one task for a time period, the at least one task including reviewing a pharmaceutical order, dispensing a pharmaceutical prescription as part of the pharmaceutical order, and verifying the pharmaceutical order;

b) assigning the available resources to the at least one task from among a plurality of tasks of the pharmacy system subject to at least one constraint from among a plurality of constraints of the pharmacy system; and

assigning the available resources to a varying set of tasks having varying individual rates and variable individual demands, wherein the at least one task is performed at least one of manually and automatically,

wherein said sorting step (a), and said assigning step (b) are performed according to a resource allocation model,

wherein the resource allocation model includes entities with variable attributes having variable quantities that transform through at least one network of nodes, and

wherein each node of the at least one network of nodes includes an associated set of attributes and parameters, the attributes include the resource;

each node or at least one network of nodes exists for a pre-determined time period.

26. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the available resources are assigned to the at least one task and associated with a predetermined queue.

27. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, further comprising the step of redetermining the at least one queue after assignment of the available resources, and designating the assigned resource unavailable until a predetermined time when the assigned available resource expires.

28. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, further comprising the step of incrementing time to time of a next event.

29. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the at least one task constraint includes maximum resource capacity, defined start and end times, and scheduled down time.

30. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the at least one task constraint includes at least one team assignment constraint defining resource attributes, and the available resources are assigned to the at least one task until the at least one team assignment constraint is satisfied.

31. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein said assigning step (b), further comprises the steps of assigning the available resources to the at least one task for a maximum time of task, and removing the at least one task from a resource skill set.

32. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the at least constraint includes an end of shift constraint, and wherein the available resources are not assigned to the at least one task when the assignment violates the end of shift constraint.

33. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined order comprises an ascending order.

34. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 26, further comprising the step of normalizing the at least one queue by dividing a current task queue by an average rate of the available resources for each task in the current task queue;

wherein the predetermined queue comprises a largest normalized queue comprising a largest task queue divided by an average rate of available resources for each task in the largest task queue.

35. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the attributes are qualitatively defined through at least one of nominal, graphical and symbolic conventions.

36. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 35, wherein the available resources include the attributes of the nodes, and the available resources undergo transformational processes arriving at least one arbitrary state or passing through a series of states that may become the attributes of the resources.

37. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 35, wherein the parameters are specified as at least one of input, outputs, capacities, operational processes, functional behaviors, movement logics, and other dynamic parameters.

38. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the resource allocation model stores at least one of historical values, theoretical values, the attributes and constellations of the nodes, and wherein the resource allocation model provides multiple bases of comparison for monitoring, measuring, and evaluating real-time operational data and operational performance for management functions.

39. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the resource allocation model includes significance and performance criteria, associated tableaus and scenarios, and wherein abstract model elements are stored as at least one of the parameters and the attributes, and as at least one of functional, logical, graphical and symbolic forms.

40. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the available resources are characterized by the following information:

person identifier, person name, person type, shift assignment by day of week, task preference,

shift name, shift start time, shift end time, lunch start, break 1 start, break 2 start,

person type categories, eligible tasks,

task name, rate per task, task capacity, task color for Gantt chart, flow percentages between tasks,

projected incoming volume by task and time; and

start of day queues in each task.

41. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein said assigning step (b) assigns the available resources using at least one of the following outputs:

people allocation;

number of people assigned to each task for each time period,

volume data;

number of RX'"'"'s processed in each task for each time period,

queue data;

queue length for each task area by time period, and

Gantt chart;

person task assignment for each time period.

42. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein said assigning step (b), further comprises the step of assigning the available resources to the at least one task with a work flow between tasks following a Markov Chain.

43. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 28, wherein the next event includes at least one of:

a resource or task that becoming subsequently available, incoming work, a queue reaching zero, and a minimum time in the task.

44. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the filling further includes at least one of:

vertical fill, baker fill, prepack fill, front fill, narcotics fill, control fill, and insulin syringe fill.

45. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the tasks further include at least one of:

managed care review, Dr. call verification, eligibility verification, drug utilization review, mail handling, phone refill handling, phone prescription handling, safing, label generation, checking, packing, manifesting, and wanding.

46. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, further comprising the step of normalizing the at least one queue by dividing a current task queue by an average rate of the available resources for each task in the current task queue.

47. A method of dynamically scheduling an arbitrary number of resources according to claim 25, wherein the available resources are assigned to the at least one task and associated with a predetermined queue.