Performance outcomes benchmarking

• US 8,862,656 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chironet, LLC
• Original Assignee: Chironet, LLC
• Inventors: Olchanski, Vladislav, Bovbjerg, Viktor E., Zimberg, Stephen E., Rossiter, Louis F., Polyakov, Vadim, Green, Jennifer S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TANG, KAREN C
• Application Number:
  US09/996,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,711 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/218, 709/205, 709/224, 315/331, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

A technique for benchmarking performance outcomes is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by creating and managing feedback reports for a benchmarking process. More particularly the technique includes acquiring primary data at the source, compiling the data in an analytically meaningful manner for benchmarking, preparing web-based reports and maintaining and managing cumulative historical data and reports.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and reporting outcomes data for benchmarking medical procedures comprising the steps of:

collecting first outcomes data sets for a first plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of medical procedures performed on a first plurality of individuals in a first period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at a first plurality of user sites, wherein the first plurality of indicators comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the first plurality of individuals from which the first plurality of individuals cannot be identified, and wherein the first plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

converting at least some of the first outcomes data sets for the first plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of medical procedures into an outcomes data group;

establishing a norm based at least in part on the outcomes data group;

collecting second outcomes data sets for a second plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of medical procedures performed on a second plurality of individuals in a second period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at one or more of a second plurality of user sites, wherein the second plurality of indicators comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the second plurality of individuals from which the second plurality of individuals cannot be identified, and wherein the second plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

converting at least some of the second outcomes data sets for the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures into at least one outcomes result;

selecting one of the at least one outcomes result, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least some of the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the second plurality of individuals;

comparing the selected one of the at least one outcomes result to the norm; and

generating at least one outcomes monitoring report comprising the selected one of the at least one outcomes result and the norm, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises medical procedure performance outcomes data from which the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals cannot be identified and from which the outcome for a particular individual in the second plurality of individuals cannot be determined, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises outcomes descriptors organized by outcome per surgical procedure, and wherein the outcomes descriptors comprise;

a first descriptor indicating a relative performance of the selected at least one outcomes result in comparison to the norm;

a second descriptor indicating a performance trend of the selected at least one outcomes result over time; and

a third descriptor indicating a rate of complications within the selected at least one outcomes result based on the second plurality of indicators.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the first data outcomes sets for the first plurality of indicators and the second outcomes data sets for the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures to a data processor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selectively restricting access to the at least one outcomes monitoring report.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

posting the at least one outcomes monitoring report to a webpage.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

collecting the second outcomes data sets for the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures from at least one of the one or more of the second plurality of user sites at a plurality of discrete intervals.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

generating the at least one outcomes monitoring report from at least two of the plurality of discrete intervals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

individually identifying and converting the second outcomes data sets for each user site of the second plurality of user sites.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one outcomes monitoring report includes the at least one outcomes result for a selected user site of the second plurality of user sites and at least one comparison of the norm to the least one outcomes result for the selected user site.

9. At least one processor readable medium for storing a computer program of instructions configured to be readable by at least one processor for instructing the at least one processor to execute a computer process for performing the method as recited in claim 1.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of indicators includes at least one of verbal responses, measured analytical data, and observations of a third-party observer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least 30 individuals in the second plurality of individuals.

12. A method for collecting and reporting outcomes data for benchmarking surgical procedures comprising the steps of:

collecting first primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets including a plurality of responses to a set of indicators associated with a plurality of surgical procedures performed on a first plurality of patients in a first period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at a first plurality of surgical centers, wherein the plurality of responses to a set of indicators comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of surgical procedures performed on the first plurality of patients from which the first plurality of patients cannot be identified, and wherein the first primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets comprise admissions following surgery;

converting at least some of the first primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets including the plurality of responses to the set of indicators associated with one of the plurality of surgical procedures into an outcomes data group;

establishing a norm based at least in part on the outcomes data group;

collecting second primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets including a plurality of responses to the set of indicators associated with the plurality of surgical procedures performed on a second plurality of patients in a second period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at one or more of a second plurality of surgical centers, wherein the plurality of responses to a set of indicators comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of surgical procedures performed on the second plurality of patients from which the second plurality of patients cannot be identified, and wherein the second primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets comprise admissions following surgery;

converting at least some of the second primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets including the plurality of responses to the set of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of surgical procedures into at least one outcomes result;

selecting one of the at least one outcomes result, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least some of the set of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of surgical procedures performed on at least some of the second plurality of patients;

comparing the selected one of the at least one outcomes result to the norm; and

generating at least one outcomes monitoring report comprising the selected one of the at least one outcomes result and the norm, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises surgical procedure performance outcomes data from which the first plurality of patients and the second plurality of patients cannot be identified and from which the outcome for a particular individual in the second plurality of patients cannot be determined, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises outcomes descriptors organized by outcome per surgical procedure, and wherein the outcomes descriptors comprise;

a first descriptor indicating a relative performance of the selected at least one outcomes result in comparison to the norm;

a second descriptor indicating a performance trend of the selected at least one outcomes result over time; and

a third descriptor indicating a rate of complications within the selected at least one outcomes result based on the second primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the first and second primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets including the plurality of responses to the set of indicators associated with the plurality of surgical procedures to a data processor.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

selectively restricting access to the at least one outcomes monitoring report.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

posting the at least one outcomes monitoring report to a webpage.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

individually identifying and converting the second primary source surgical procedures outcomes data sets for each surgical center of the one or more of the second plurality of surgical centers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one outcomes monitoring report includes the at least one outcomes result for a selected surgical center of the one or more of the second plurality of surgical centers and at least one comparison of the norm to the selected one of the least one outcomes result for the selected surgical center.

18. At least one processor readable medium for storing a computer program of instructions configured to be readable by at least one processor for instructing the at least one processor to execute a computer process for performing the method as recited in claim 12.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of indicators includes at least one of verbal responses, measured analytical data, and observations of a third-party observer.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least 30 individuals in the second plurality of patients.

21. An apparatus for collecting and reporting outcomes data for benchmarking medical procedures, the apparatus comprising:

a data collection portion including one or more user interfaces located at a first plurality of user sites, wherein the data collection portion collects first outcomes data sets for a first plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of medical procedures in a first period of time performed on a first plurality of individuals and second outcomes data sets for a second plurality of indicators associated with the plurality of medical procedures in a second period of time performed on a second plurality of individuals, wherein the data collection portion strips out personal identifiers of the first plurality of individuals and of the second plurality of individuals from the first outcomes data sets and from the second outcomes data sets, and wherein the first plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery and the second plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

a data processor portion to receive the first and second outcomes data sets for the first and second plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of medical procedures from the data collection portion, wherein the data processor portion comprises;

a first converter portion to convert at least some of the first outcomes data sets for the first plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of medical procedures into an outcomes data group;

a norm establishing portion to establish a norm based at least in part on the outcomes data group;

a second converter portion to convert at least some of the second outcomes data sets for the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures into at least one outcomes result;

a selecting portion to select one of the at least one outcomes result, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least some of the second plurality of indicators associated with at least some of the second plurality of individuals;

a comparison portion to compare the selected one of the at least one outcomes result to the norm; and

a report generation portion to generate at least one outcomes monitoring report comprising the selected one of the at least one outcomes result and the norm, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises medical procedure performance outcomes data from which the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals cannot be identified and from which the outcome for a particular individual in the second plurality of individuals cannot be determined, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises outcomes descriptors organized by outcome per surgical procedure, and wherein the outcomes descriptors comprise;

a first descriptor indicating a relative performance of the selected at least one outcomes result in comparison to the norm;

a second descriptor indicating a performance trend of the selected at least one outcomes result over time; and

a third descriptor indicating a rate of complications within the selected at least one outcomes result based on the second plurality of indicators.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a webpage portion to post the at least one outcomes monitoring report to a webpage.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a security portion to selectively restrict access to the at least one outcomes result, the at least one outcomes monitoring report, and the first and second outcomes data sets for the first plurality of indicators and second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second outcomes data sets for the first and second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures are primary source data sets.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first plurality of indicators includes at least one of verbal responses, measured analytical data, and observations of a third-party observer.

26. An article of manufacture for collecting and reporting outcomes data for benchmarking medical procedures, the article of manufacture comprising:

at least one processor readable medium; and

instructions carried on the at least one processor readable medium;

wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one processor readable medium by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to;

collect first outcomes data sets for a first plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of medical procedures performed on a first plurality of individuals in a first period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at a first plurality of user sites, wherein the first outcomes data sets comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the first plurality of individuals from which the first plurality of individuals cannot be identified, and wherein the first plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

convert at least some of the first outcomes data sets for the first plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of medical procedures into an outcomes data group;

establish a norm based at least in part on the outcomes data group;

collect second outcomes data sets for a second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures performed on a second plurality of individuals in a second period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at one or more of a second plurality of user sites, wherein the second outcomes data sets comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the second plurality of individuals from which the second plurality of individuals cannot be identified, and wherein the second plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

convert at least some of the second outcomes data for the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures into at least one outcomes result;

select one of the at least one outcomes result, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least some of the second plurality of indicators associated with at least some of the second plurality of individuals;

compare the selected one of the at least one outcomes result to the norm; and

generate at least one outcomes monitoring report comprising the selected one of the at least one outcomes result and the norm, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises medical procedure performance outcomes data from which the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals cannot be identified and from which the outcome for a particular individual in the second plurality of individuals cannot be determined, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises outcomes descriptors organized by outcome per surgical procedure, and wherein the outcomes descriptors comprise;

a first descriptor indicating a relative performance of the selected at least one outcomes result in comparison to the norm;

a second descriptor indicating a performance trend of the selected at least one outcomes result over time; and

a third descriptor indicating a rate of complications within the selected at least one outcomes result based on the second plurality of indicators.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the first plurality of indicators includes at least one of verbal responses, measured analytical data, and observations of a third-party observer.

28. At least one non-transitory processor readable storage medium for storing a computer program of instructions configured to be readable by at least one processor for instructing the at least one processor to collect and report outcomes data for benchmarking medical procedures by performing the steps of:

collecting first outcomes data sets for a first plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of medical procedures performed on a first plurality of individuals in a first period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at a first plurality of user sites, wherein the first outcomes data sets comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the first plurality of individuals from which the first plurality of individuals cannot be identified, and wherein the first plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

converting at least some of the first outcomes data sets for the first plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of medical procedures into an outcomes data group;

establishing a norm based at least in part on the outcomes data group;

collecting second outcomes data sets for a second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures performed on a second plurality of individuals in a second period of time via a plurality of user interfaces located at one or more of a second plurality of user sites, wherein the second outcomes data sets comprise data reflective of the outcome of the plurality of medical procedures performed on the second plurality of individuals from which the second plurality of individuals cannot be identified, and wherein the second plurality of indicators comprises admissions following surgery;

converting at least some of the second outcomes data sets for the second plurality of indicators associated with the one of the plurality of medical procedures into at least one outcomes result;

selecting one of the at least one outcomes result, wherein the selected outcomes result is based on at least some of the second plurality of indicators associated with at least some of the second plurality of individuals;

comparing the selected one of the at least one outcomes result to the norm; and

generating at least one outcomes monitoring report comprising the selected one of the at least one outcomes result and the norm, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises medical procedure performance outcomes data from which the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality individuals cannot be identified and from which the outcome for a particular individual in the second plurality of individuals cannot be determined, wherein the outcomes monitoring report comprises outcomes descriptors organized by outcome per surgical procedure, and wherein the outcomes descriptors comprise;

a first descriptor indicating a relative performance of the selected at least one outcomes result in comparison to the norm;

a second descriptor indicating a performance trend of the selected at least one outcomes result over time; and

a third descriptor indicating a rate of complications within the selected at least one outcomes result based on the second plurality of indicators.

29. The non-transitory processor readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the first plurality of indicators includes at least one of verbal responses, measured analytical data, and observations of a third-party observer.