Facilitating patient communication using branching logic in an outpatient oncology treatment regimen

• US 9,779,631 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Letwin, Rhonda, Miller, Richard, Pfeifer, Amy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/779,395
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 434362
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A method and system facilitate communication with a patient on an outpatient oral oncology regimen. The method and system facilitate creating an initial contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring at the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen and using the initial contact guide to conduct an initial contact with the patient using the branching logic of the initial contact guide to determine which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on information provided by the patient. The method and system further facilitate creating a secondary contact guide to conduct a secondary, follow-up contact with the patient using the branching logic of the secondary contact guide to determine which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on information provided by the patient.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a patient on an outpatient oral oncology regimen, the method executed by one or more processors programmed to perform the method, the method comprising:

creating, by one or more processors, an initial contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring at the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, wherein the initial contact guide includes one or more questions about the outpatient oral oncology regimen, one or more informational scripts providing information to the patient regarding the outpatient oral oncology regimen, and branching logic to determine which questions and informational scripts to present and an order in which questions and informational scripts are presented, wherein the one or more questions are selected from a plurality of questions which are filtered based at least in part on teratogenicity of the outpatient oral oncology regimen and at least some of the filtered plurality of questions are automatically answered, by the one or more processors, based on medical history data and treatment data for the patient from a medical history database and a treatment database, respectively, and wherein the one or more questions include at least one experimental question in a different format than an original format for a corresponding question to determine whether the different format improves patient compliance;

using, by the one or more processors, the initial contact guide to conduct an initial contact with the patient by;

(i) presenting a first initial contact question to the patient,

(ii) receiving an initial contact answer from the patient wherein the initial contact answer is stored in a patient interaction database,

(iii) using the branching logic of the initial contact guide to determine which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the initial contact answer, and

(iv) presenting one or more subsequent questions or informational scripts based on the determination of which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the initial contact answer, wherein the initial contact with the patient is conducted by an automated representative;

creating, by the one or more processors, a secondary contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring a first period of time after the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, wherein the secondary contact guide includes one or more questions about the outpatient oral oncology regimen, one or more informational scripts providing information to the patient regarding the outpatient oral oncology regimen, and branching logic to determine which questions and informational scripts to present and an order in which questions and informational scripts are presented;

using, by the one or more processors, the secondary contact guide to conduct a secondary contact with the patient by;

(i) after the first period of time after the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, presenting a first secondary contact question to the patient,

(ii) receiving a secondary contact answer from the patient wherein the secondary contact answer is stored in a patient interaction database,

(iii) using the branching logic of the secondary contact guide to determine which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the secondary contact answer, and

(iv) presenting one or more subsequent questions or informational scripts based on the determination of which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the secondary contact answer, wherein the secondary contact with the patient is conducted by the automated representative;

preparing, by the one or more processors, a report based on one or more of the initial contact or secondary contact; and

sending, by the one or more processors, the report to a third party including one or more of a prescriber of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, a government agency, or an insurance provider,

wherein the report includes indications of one or more adverse effects caused by the outpatient oral oncology regimen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, dispensing a prescription for an oncologic medication.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein dispensing the prescription for an oncologic medication includes split-filling the prescription for the oncologic medication, wherein a first portion of the prescription is dispensed at substantially the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, the method further comprising:

determining whether to dispense a second portion of the prescription based on one or more of whether the patient has missed more than a threshold number of doses of the oncologic medication, how well the patient has tolerated the outpatient oral oncology regimen, a consultation with the prescriber of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, or whether the patient is still alive;

based on the determination of whether to dispense the second portion of the prescription, dispensing or not dispensing the second portion of the prescription.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial contact and secondary contact are conducted using one or more of a telephone, computer, tablet computer, or mobile phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to presenting the first initial contact question to the patient, receiving information about the patient from the patient information database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to presenting the first secondary contact question to the patient, receiving information about the patient from the patient information database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more questions and one or more informational scripts of the initial contact guide and secondary contact guide relate to one or more of the side effects associated with the outpatient oral oncology regimen, medication counseling associated with the outpatient oral oncology regimen, missed doses in the outpatient oral oncology regimen, or ascertain the patient'"'"'s level of knowledge about the outpatient oral oncology regimen.

8. A computer system for communicating with a patient on an outpatient oral oncology regimen, comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to;

create an initial contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring at the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, wherein the initial contact guide includes one or more questions about the outpatient oral oncology regimen, one or more informational scripts providing information to the patient regarding the outpatient oral oncology regimen, and branching logic to determine which questions and informational scripts to present and an order in which questions and informational scripts are presented, wherein the one or more questions are selected from a plurality of questions which are filtered based at least in part on teratogenicity of the outpatient oral oncology regimen and at least some of the filtered plurality of questions are automatically answered based on medical history data and treatment data for the patient from a medical history database and a treatment database, respectively, and wherein the one or more questions include at least one experimental question in a different format than an original format for a corresponding question to determine whether the different format improves patient compliance;

use the initial contact guide to conduct an initial contact with the patient by;

(i) present a first initial contact question to the patient,

(ii) receive an initial contact answer from the patient wherein the initial contact answer is stored in a patient interaction database,

(iii) use the branching logic of the initial contact guide to determine which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the initial contact answer, and

(iv) present one or more subsequent questions or informational scripts based on the determination of which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the initial contact answer, wherein the initial contact with the patient is conducted by an automated representative;

create a secondary contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring a first period of time after the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, wherein the secondary contact guide includes one or more questions about the outpatient oral oncology regimen, one or more informational scripts providing information to the patient regarding the outpatient oral oncology regimen, and branching logic to determine which questions and informational scripts to present and an order in which questions and informational scripts are presented;

use the secondary contact guide to conduct a secondary contact with the patient by;

(i) after the first period of time after the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, present a first secondary contact question to the patient,

(ii) receive a secondary contact answer from the patient wherein the secondary contact answer is stored in a patient interaction database,

(iii) use the branching logic of the secondary contact guide to determine which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the secondary contact answer, and

(iv) present one or more subsequent questions or informational scripts based on the determination of which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the secondary contact answer, wherein the secondary contact with the patient is conducted by the automated representative;

prepare a report based on one or more of the initial contact or secondary contact; and

send the report to a third party including one or more of a prescriber of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, a government agency, or an insurance provider,

wherein the report includes indications of one or more adverse effects caused by the outpatient oral oncology regimen.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory stores further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to facilitate dispensing a prescription for an oncologic medication.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory stores further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to:

facilitate split-filling the prescription for the oncologic medication, wherein a first portion of the prescription is dispensed at substantially the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen;

determine whether to dispense a second portion of the prescription based on one or more of whether the patient has missed more than a threshold number of doses of the oncologic medication, how well the patient has tolerated the outpatient oral oncology regimen, a consultation with the prescriber of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, or whether the patient is still alive;

based on the determination of whether to dispense the second portion of the prescription, facilitate dispensing or not facilitate dispensing the second portion of the prescription.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the initial contact and secondary contact are conducted using one or more of a telephone, computer, tablet computer, or mobile phone.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory stores further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to receive information about the patient from a patient information database prior to presenting the first initial contact question to the patient.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory stores further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to receive information about the patient from a patient information database prior to presenting the first secondary contact question to the patient.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the one or more questions and one or more informational scripts of the initial contact guide and secondary contact guide relate to one or more of the side effects associated with the outpatient oral oncology regimen, medication counseling associated with the outpatient oral oncology regimen, missed doses in the outpatient oral oncology regimen, or ascertain the patient'"'"'s level of knowledge about the outpatient oral oncology regimen.

15. A tangible, computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause a computer system to:

create an initial contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring at the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, wherein the initial contact guide includes one or more questions about the outpatient oral oncology regimen, one or more informational scripts providing information to the patient regarding the outpatient oral oncology regimen, and branching logic to determine which questions and informational scripts to present and an order in which questions and informational scripts are presented, wherein the one or more questions are selected from a plurality of questions which are filtered based at least in part on teratogenicity of the outpatient oral oncology regimen and at least some of the filtered plurality of questions are automatically answered based on medical history data and treatment data for the patient from a medical history database and a treatment database, respectively, and wherein the one or more questions include at least one experimental question in a different format than an original format for a corresponding question to determine whether the different format improves patient compliance;

use the initial contact guide to conduct an initial contact with the patient by;

(i) present a first initial contact question to the patient,

(ii) receive an initial contact answer from the patient wherein the initial contact answer is stored in a patient interaction database,

(iii) use the branching logic of the initial contact guide to determine which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the initial contact answer, and

(iv) present one or more subsequent questions or informational scripts based on the determination of which initial contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the initial contact answer, wherein the initial contact with the patient is conducted by an automated representative;

create a secondary contact guide to direct a patient interaction occurring a first period of time after the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, wherein the secondary contact guide includes one or more questions about the outpatient oral oncology regimen, one or more informational scripts providing information to the patient regarding the outpatient oral oncology regimen, and branching logic to determine which questions and informational scripts to present and an order in which questions and informational scripts are presented;

use the secondary contact guide to conduct a secondary contact with the patient by;

(i) after the first period of time after the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, present a first secondary contact question to the patient,

(ii) receive a secondary contact answer from the patient wherein the secondary contact answer is stored in a patient interaction database,

(iii) use the branching logic of the secondary contact guide to determine which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the secondary contact answer, and

(iv) present one or more subsequent questions or informational scripts based on the determination of which secondary contact guide questions and informational scripts to present based on the secondary contact answer, wherein the secondary contact with the patient is conducted by the automated representative;

prepare a report based on one or more of the initial contact or secondary contact; and

send the report to a third party including one or more of a prescriber of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, a government agency, or an insurance provider,

wherein the report includes indications of one or more adverse effects caused by the outpatient oral oncology regimen.

16. The tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 15, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to facilitate dispensing a prescription for an oncologic medication.

17. The tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 15, further storing instructions that that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to:

facilitate split-filling the prescription for the oncologic medication, wherein a first portion of the prescription is dispensed at substantially the beginning of the outpatient oral oncology regimen;

determine whether to dispense a second portion of the prescription based on one or more of whether the patient has missed more than a threshold number of doses of the oncologic medication, how well the patient has tolerated the outpatient oral oncology regimen, a consultation with the prescriber of the outpatient oral oncology regimen, or whether the patient is still alive;

based on the determination of whether to dispense the second portion of the prescription, facilitate dispensing or not facilitate dispensing the second portion of the prescription.

18. The tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the initial contact and secondary contact are conducted using one or more of a telephone, computer, tablet computer, or mobile phone.

19. The tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 15, further storing instructions that that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to receive information about the patient from a patient information database prior to presenting the first initial contact question to the patient.

20. The tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 15, further storing instructions that that when executed by the processor cause the computer system to receive information about the patient from a patient information database prior to presenting the first initial contact question to the patient.

21. The tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more questions and one or more informational scripts of the initial contact guide and secondary contact guide relate to one or more of the side effects associated with the outpatient oral oncology regimen, medication counseling associated with the outpatient oral oncology regimen, missed doses in the outpatient oral oncology regimen, or ascertain the patient'"'"'s level of knowledge about the outpatient oral oncology regimen.