Method and system for prioritizing communication of a health risk

• US 8,260,636 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Grichnik, Anthony J., Taylor, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHONGSVIRAJATI, POONSIN
• Application Number:
  US11/896,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20090062621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

System and methods are provided for prioritizing communication of a health risk. The method may include obtaining health information for individuals and determining, based on the health information, a risk of each individual contracting each of plurality of diseases. The method may also include calculating, based on the risks, an average risk of each individual contracting the diseases and selecting a subset of the individuals based on the average risks. Further, the method may include calculating an improved risk by making lifestyle changes for the subset of the individuals and communicating the health risks and the lifestyle changes to individuals in the subset based on the amount of improved risk.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for prioritizing communication of a health risk, comprising:

obtaining, by a processor associated with the computer, health information for individuals;

determining, by the processor and based on the health information, an initial health risk of each individual contracting each of plurality of diseases;

calculating, by the processor and based on the initial health risks, an average health risk of each individual contracting the diseases;

selecting, by the processor, a subset of the individuals based on the average health risks;

calculating, by the processor, an improved health risk for the subset of the individuals contracting the diseases based on the subset of individuals making lifestyle changes;

calculating, by the processor, a risk improvement for the individuals in the subset based on the average health risk and on the improved health risk;

selecting, by the processor, among a plurality of methods of contacting individuals in the subset, a desired method of contacting individuals in the subset to communicate health risks and lifestyle changes based on a value of the calculated risk improvement; and

initiating contacting the individuals in the subset to communicate the health risks and lifestyle changes according to the selected method of contacting.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

creating, by the processor, a list of the average health risks; and

sorting, by the processor, the list such that individuals having higher average health risk are at the top of the list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the subset includes selecting a number of the higher risk individuals from the list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the subset includes selecting based on a number of lifestyle changes necessary to achieve a defined reduction in the average health risk.

5. The method of claim 1, further including dividing, by the processor, the subset of individuals into groups based on the amount of the risk improvement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the method of contacting the individuals in the subset includes selecting based further on a ratio of the value of the risk improvement to a number of the lifestyle changes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected method of contacting is selected from at least one of:

mailing a letter to the individuals in the subset, sending an e-mail to the individuals in the subset, telephoning the individuals in the subset using a nurse bank, notifying a physician for follow-up care of the individuals in the subset, and directly contacting the individuals in the subset by a physician.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for prioritizing communication of a health risk, the method comprising:

obtaining health information for individuals;

determining, based on the health information, an initial health risk of each individual contracting each of a plurality of diseases;

calculating, based on the initial health risks, an average health risk of each individual contracting the diseases;

selecting a subset of the individuals based on the average health risks;

calculating an improved health risk for the subset of the individuals contracting the diseases based on the subset of individuals implementing lifestyle changes;

calculating a risk improvement for the individuals in the subset based on the average health risk and on the improved health risk;

selecting, among a plurality of methods of contacting individuals in the subset, a desired method of contacting individuals in the subset to communicate health risks and lifestyle changes based on a value of the calculated risk improvement; and

triggering contacting the individuals in the subset to communicate the health risks and lifestyle changes according to the selected method of contacting.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes:

creating a list of the average health risks; and

sorting the list with individuals having higher average health risk at the top of the list.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein selecting the subset includes selecting a number of the higher risk individuals from the list.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein selecting the subset includes selecting based on a number of lifestyle changes necessary to achieve a defined reduction in the average health risk.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes dividing the subset of individuals into groups based on the amount of risk improvement.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein selecting method of contacting the individuals in the subset includes selecting based on a ratio of the value of the risk improvement to a number of the lifestyle changes.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the selected method of contacting is selected from at least one of:

mailing a letter to the individuals in the subset, sending an e-mail to the individuals in the subset, telephoning the individuals in the subset using a nurse bank, notifying a physician for follow-up care of the individuals in the subset, or directly contacting the individuals in the subset by a physician.

15. A system for prioritizing communication of a health risk, comprising:

a memory;

at least one input device; and

at least one central processing unit in communication with the memory and the at least one input device, wherein the central processing unit;

obtains health information for individuals;

determines, based on the health information, an initial health risk of each individual contracting each of plurality of diseases;

calculates, based on the initial health risks, an average health risk of each individual contracting the diseases;

selects a subset of the individuals based on the average health risks;

calculates an improved health risk for the subset of the individuals contracting the diseases based on the subset of individuals implementing lifestyle changes;

calculates a risk improvement for the subset of individuals based on the average health risk and on the improved health risk; and

selects, among a plurality of methods of contacting individuals in the subset a desired method of contacting individuals in the subset to communicate health risks and the lifestyle changes based on a value of the calculated risk improvement; and

triggering contacting the individuals in the subset to communicate the health risks and lifestyle changes according to the selected method of contacting.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:

creates a list of the average health risks; and

sorts the list with individuals having higher average health risk at the top of the list.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein selecting the subset includes selecting based on a number of lifestyle changes necessary to achieve a defined reduction in the average health risk.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:

selects the method of contacting the based further on a ratio of the value of the risk improvement to a number of the lifestyle changes.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:

divides the subset of individuals into groups based on the amount of the risk improvement, each group having a defined number of individuals; and

selects the group having the greatest amount of risk improvement.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit is configured to select the method of contacting from at least one of:

mailing a letter to the individuals in the subset, sending an e-mail to the individuals in the subset, telephoning the individuals in the subset using a nurse bank, notifying a physician for follow-up care of the individuals in the subset, or directly contacting the individuals in the subset by a physician.