Multiple resource planning system

• US 8,090,593 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtual Radiologic Corporation (Mednax Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Virtual Radiologic Corporation (Mednax Incorporated)
• Inventors: Backhaus, Brent, Lusic, Lorna, Ebesu, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAULS, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US13/084,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 705/4, 705/37, 707/10, 600/300.437, 364/413.01
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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

A system for managing remote doctor medical request workflow may include a workflow module that optimizes assignments of medical requests to remote doctors based on parameterized doctor and scheduling information and may further include a forecasting module that predicts the hospital credentials, state licenses or doctors needed to fulfill a projected volume of future medical requests. In one embodiment, radiologists are parameterized and then matched with requests for radiological readings based on information extracted from DICOM image headers and merged with associated information contained in a medical work order. In this embodiment, the radiologists are parameterized based on their locations, schedules, hospital credentials, state licensing, compensation metrics, and performance metrics and incoming requests for review of CT scans and the like are filtered based on the parameterized radiologist information to identify one or more radiologists who are to fulfill the medical request.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

processing an electronic request for evaluation of a set of digital medical images produced from a medical imaging procedure at an originating medical imaging location; and

identifying, according to a workflow, a selected user from a plurality of users to conduct an evaluation of the set of digital medical images, the workflow comprising using a computer processor to perform the following acts;

obtaining one or more request attributes from data extracted from one or both of the electronic request and the set of digital medical images, the request attributes including an identifier of the originating medical imaging location;

obtaining parameterized information for the plurality of users, the parameterized information including user credentialing information and user licensing information for the originating medical imaging location obtained using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location;

filtering the plurality of users to one or more users available to conduct the evaluation of the set of digital medical images in connection with the electronic request, the filtering performed by comparing the request attributes to the parameterized information;

generating a ranking of users from one or more results of filtering the plurality of users, wherein one or more weighting factors used in the ranking of users include medical imaging location preferences obtained from the identifier of the originating medical imaging location; and

identifying the selected user from the results of filtering the plurality of users using the ranking of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital medical images are produced from one or more radiological imaging devices, wherein the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images includes a radiological read request, wherein the users available to conduct the evaluation of the set of digital medical images are radiologists, and wherein the workflow is conducted by a teleradiology provider.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing information from the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images to the selected user according to results of the workflow; and

routing the set of digital medical images to the selected user according to results of the workflow.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameterized information further includes one or more of:

user schedule information, user classifications, user location information, user preference information, user performance information, user compensation metrics, user contract terms, user capacity, and user expertise; and

wherein the weighting factors further include request timing, complexity of the electronic request for evaluation, and user request volume.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying the user performance information for users of the plurality of users, the user performance information comprising a completion time rating, a report accuracy rating, or a satisfaction rating; and

applying a performance ranking factor to the users using the user performance information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images includes a patient age, a body region, or both;

and wherein generating a ranking of users comprises;

identifying a complexity total for users in the results of filtering the plurality of users and applying a complexity ranking factor to users using the complexity total, wherein applying the complexity ranking factor comprises;

comparing the complexity total to a complexity total threshold, calculating a complexity level for the evaluation of the set of digital medical images, using at least one of the patient age, the identifier of the originating medical imaging location, the body region, or combination thereof, and comparing the complexity level to a complexity level threshold, wherein;

when the complexity level is above the complexity level threshold, applying a preference for users having a complexity total below the complexity total threshold, and when the complexity level is below the complexity level threshold, applying a preference for users haying a complexity total above the complexity total threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the complexity level for the evaluation of the set of digital medical images comprises:

assigning an age complexity weight using the patient age;

assigning a body region complexity weight using the body region;

assigning a medical location complexity weight using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location; and

calculating a sum of the age complexity weight, the body region complexity weight, and the medical imaging location complexity weight.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the complexity total is calculated by a sum of complexity level of all evaluations completed by users in the results of filtering the plurality of users during a set time period.

9. The method of claim 1, the workflow further comprising:

identifying the user credentialing information for users credentialed at the originating medical imaging location using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location;

identifying the user licensing information for users licensed for the originating medical imaging location using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location; and

wherein filtering the plurality of users to users available to conduct the evaluation includes filtering for identified users credentialed at and licensed for the originating medical imaging location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a backup user from the plurality of users to evaluate the set of digital medical images according to the workflow, the backup user having a second highest rank in the ranking of users; and

upon determination that the selected user failed to conduct the evaluation of the set of digital medical images within a specified timeframe;

routing the information from the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images to the backup user; and

routing the set of digital medical images to the backup user.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

processing an electronic request for evaluation of a set of digital medical images produced from a medical imaging procedure at an originating medical imaging location; and

identifying, according to a workflow, a selected user from a plurality of users to conduct an evaluation of the set of digital medical images, the workflow comprising;

obtaining one or more request attributes from data extracted from one or both of the electronic request and the set of digital medical images, the request attributes including an identifier of the originating medical imaging location;

obtaining parameterized information for the plurality of users, the parameterized information including user credentialing information and user licensing information for the originating medical imaging location obtained from the identifier of the originating medical imaging location;

filtering the plurality users to one or more users available to conduct the evaluation of the set of digital medical images in connection with the electronic request, the filtering performed by comparing the request attributes to the parameterized information;

generating a ranking of users from one or more results of filtering the plurality of users, wherein one or more weighting factors used in the ranking of users include medical imaging location preferences obtained from the identifier of the originating medical imaging location; and

identifying the selected user from the results of filtering the plurality of users using the ranking of users.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the digital medical images are produced from one or more radiological imaging devices, wherein the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images includes a radiological read request, wherein the users available to conduct the evaluation of the set of digital medical images are radiologists, and wherein the workflow is conducted by a teleradiology provider.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

routing information from the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images to the selected user according to results of the workflow; and

routing the set of digital medical images to the selected user according to results of the workflow.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the parameterized information further includes one or more of:

user schedule information, user classifications, user location information, user preference information, user performance information, user compensation metrics, user contract terms, user capacity, and user expertise; and

wherein the weighting factors further include request timing, complexity of the electronic request for evaluation, and user request volume.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying the user performance information for users of the plurality of users, the user performance information comprising a completion time ranking, a report accuracy rating, or a satisfaction rating; and

applying a performance ranking factor to the users using the user performance information.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images includes a patient age, a body region, or both;

and wherein generating a ranking of users comprises;

identifying a complexity total for users in the results of filtering the plurality of users and applying a complexity ranking factor to users using the complexity total, wherein applying the complexity ranking factor comprises;

comparing the complexity total to a complexity total threshold, calculating a complexity level for the evaluation of the set of digital medical images, using at least one of the patient age, the identifier of the originating medical imaging location, the body region, or combination thereof, and comparing the complexity level to a complexity level threshold, wherein;

when the complexity level is above the complexity level threshold, applying a preference for users having a complexity total below the complexity total threshold, and when the complexity level is below the complexity level threshold, applying a preference for users having a complexity total above the complexity total threshold.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein calculating the complexity level for the evaluation of the set of digital medical images comprises:

assigning an age complexity weight using the patient age;

assigning a body region complexity weight using the body region;

assigning a medical location complexity weight using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location; and

calculating a sum of the age complexity weight, the body region complexity weight, and the medical imaging location complexity weight.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the complexity total is calculated by a sum of complexity level of all evaluations completed by users in the results of filtering the plurality of users during a set time period.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

identifying the user credentialing information for users credentialed at the originating medical imaging location using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location;

identifying the user licensing information for users licensed for the originating medical imaging location using the identifier of the originating medical imaging location; and

wherein filtering the plurality of users to users available to conduct the evaluation includes filtering of identified users credentialed at and licensed for the originating medical imaging location.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

identifying a backup user from the plurality of users to evaluate the set of digital medical images according to the workflow, the backup user having a second highest rank in the ranking of users; and

upon determination that the selected user failed to conduct the evaluation of the set of digital medical images within a specified timeframe;

routing the information from the electronic request for evaluation of the set of digital medical images to the backup user; and

routing the set of digital medical images to the backup user.

21. A method, comprising using a computer processor to perform the following acts:

accessing data related to medical imaging evaluation requests previously submitted by a plurality of medical imaging locations;

identifying, from the data, a historical volume of the medical imaging evaluation requests associated with one or more particular imaging locations of the plurality of medical imaging locations, the historical volume occurring during a prior time period;

generating a forecast volume of future medical imaging evaluation requests expected to be received from the one or more particular imaging locations during a future time period, the future time period correlating to the prior time period, and the forecast volume derived from the historical volume;

identifying one Or more assignment parameters for assignment of the future medical imaging evaluation requests to a plurality of available users during the future time period, the assignment parameters including one or more of;

user scheduling, expected user licensing approval, expected user credentialing approval, medical imaging location preference for certain users, user contract terms, one or more user compensation metric, one or more historical user performance metric, and additional medical imaging locations to be serviced, during the future time period; and

assigning, within a workflow, new medical imaging evaluation requests to the plurality of available users using a ranking of the plurality of available users derived from the assignment parameters.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the medical imaging evaluation requests include radiological reading requests, wherein the plurality of available users are radiologists, and wherein the workflow is conducted by a teleradiology provider to assign the radiological reading requests to selected radiologists from the ranking of the plurality of available users.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying, within the user schedules, a list of scheduled users associated with the future time period;

identifying an assignment schedule including a lowest number of unassigned future medical imaging evaluation requests, wherein identifying the assignment schedule comprises;

(a) assigning requests of the forecast volume of future medical imaging evaluation requests to one or more of the scheduled users,

(b) creating a proposed assignment schedule using results of assigning the requests;

(c) determining a number of unassigned future medical imaging evaluation requests associated with the proposed assignment schedule, and

(d) storing the proposed assignment schedule,

wherein steps (a) through (d) are repeated for a plurality of iterations, each iteration including different assignments of users and future medical imaging evaluation requests;

storing the assignment schedule; and

determining, at the future time period, whether a list of available users corresponds to the scheduled users and a list of connected medical imaging locations corresponds to the plurality of medical imaging locations;

wherein assigning the new medical imaging evaluation requests to the plurality of available users within the workflow includes using the assignment schedule; and

wherein the future time period is of comparable length to the prior time period.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the ranking of the plurality of available users includes:

determining a pending assignment volume for users of the plurality of available users and applying a volume weight for users having low pending order volumes;

determining an evaluation request quota for users of the plurality of available users and applying a quota weight for users currently below quota;

combining the volume weight and the quota weight for users of the plurality of available users into a total weight value; and

ranking the plurality of available users using the total weight value.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a number of licenses, credentials, or users needed to fulfill the forecast volume of the future medical imaging evaluation requests within the workflow.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the forecast volume of the future medical imaging evaluation requests is generated in part using one or both of:

the historical volume of the medical imaging evaluation requests weighted by a calculated growth factor; and

a number of contractually obligated medical imaging evaluation requests per medical imaging location.

27. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

accessing data related to medical imaging evaluation requests previously submitted by a plurality of medical imaging locations;

identifying, from the data, a historical volume of the medical imaging evaluation requests associated with one or more particular imaging locations of the plurality of medical imaging locations, the historical volume occurring during a prior time period;

generating a forecast volume of future medical imaging evaluation requests expected to be received from the one or more particular imaging locations of during a future time period, the future time period correlating to the prior time period, and the forecast volume derived from the historical volume;

identifying one or more assignment parameters for assignment of the future medical imaging evaluation requests to a plurality of available users during the future time period, the assignment parameters including one or more of;

user scheduling, expected user licensing approval, expected user credentialing approval, medical imaging location preference for certain users, user contract terms, one or more user compensation metrics, one or more historical user performance metrics, and one or more additional medical imaging locations to be serviced during the future time period; and

assigning, within a workflow, new medical imaging evaluation requests to the plurality of available users using a ranking of the plurality of available users derived from the assignment parameters.

28. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the medical imaging evaluation requests include radiological reading requests, wherein the plurality of available users are radiologists, and wherein the workflow is conducted by a teleradiology provider to assign the radiological reading requests to selected radiologists from the ranking of the plurality of available users.

29. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

identifying, within the user schedules, a list of scheduled users associated with the future time period;

identifying an assignment schedule including a lowest number of unassigned future medical imaging evaluation requests, wherein identifying the assignment schedule comprises;

(a) assigning requests of the forecast volume of future medical imaging evaluation requests to one or more of the scheduled users,

(b) creating a proposed assignment schedule using results of assigning the requests;

(c) determining a number of unassigned future medical imaging evaluation requests associated with the proposed assignment schedule, and

(d) storing the proposed assignment schedule,

wherein steps (a) through (d) are repeated for a plurality of iterations, each iteration including different assignments of users and future medical imaging evaluation requests;

storing the assignment schedule; and

determining, at the future time period, whether a list of available users corresponds to the scheduled users and a list of connected medical imaging locations corresponds to the plurality of medical imaging locations;

wherein assigning the new medical imaging evaluation requests to the plurality of available users within the workflow includes using the assignment schedule; and

wherein the future time period is of comparable length to the prior time period.

30. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the ranking of the plurality of available users includes:

determining a pending assignment volume for users of the plurality of available users and applying a volume weight for users having low pending order volumes;

determining an evaluation request quota for users of the plurality of available users and applying a quota weight for users currently below quota;

combining the volume weight and the quota weight for users of the plurality of available users into a total weight value; and

ranking the plurality of available users using the total weight value.

31. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

determining a number of licenses, credentials, or users needed to fulfill the forecast volume of the future medical imaging evaluation requests within the workflow.

32. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the forecast volume of the future medical imaging evaluation requests is generated in part using one or both of:

the historical volume of the medical imaging evaluation requests weighted by a calculated growth factor; and

a number of contractually obligated medical imaging evaluation requests per medical facility.