SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING COMPLIANCE WITH A HEALTH PLAN

• US 20090076335A1
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humana Innovation Enterprises, Inc. (Humana Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sensei, Inc.
• Inventors: Dion, Timothy J., Schwarzberg, Robert, Zabinski, Marion, Melton, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

System and method to determine user compliance with personalized diet and exercise plans by analyzing responses to messages about the plans. An expert system has a number of stored messages and display characteristics from which it chooses. The expert system generates message relating to the user'"'"'s diet or physical activity that are sent to a user'"'"'s mobile device and analyzes responses. Display characteristics change periodically and compliance data relating to the user'"'"'s adherence to the plan when certain display characteristics are used is stored (e.g., meal plan adherence, acceptance of specific food selections, and adherence to instructions and advice in messages). The expert system then determines which messages and display characteristics achieve the greatest compliance to the dietary and physical activity schedule and goals.

Claims

1. A method for tracking, monitoring, and analyzing message data to increase compliance with personalized diet and exercise plans, comprising:

a) storing profile data for a plurality of users, said profile data comprising contact information for said users and dietary and exercise preference data for said users;

b) developing diet and exercise plans for each of said plurality of users, said diet and exercise plans consistent with said dietary and exercise preference data for said plurality of users;

c) generating a first message for a first group of users selected from said plurality of users, said first message comprising content related to said diet and exercise plans for said first group of users;

d) determining a first set of display characteristics for said first message;

e) transmitting said first message to mobiles devices for said first group of users using said contact information for said users;

f) tracking responses to said first message from said first group of users;

g) generating a second message for a second group of users selected from said plurality of users, said second message comprising content related to said diet and exercise plans for said second group of users;

h) determining a second set of display characteristics for said second message;

i) transmitting said second message to mobiles devices for said second group of users using said contact information for said users;

j) tracking responses to said second message from said second group of users;

k) calculating a first set of compliance measures for said first message based on responses to said first message;

l) calculating a second set of compliance measures for said second message based on responses to said second message;

m) comparing said first set of compliance measures and said second set of compliance measures to determine which message results in a greater level of compliance; and

n) generating a third message and transmitting said third message to a third group of said plurality of users using said contact information for said users, said third message comprising content and display characteristics of said message resulting in a greater level of compliance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said profile data for said plurality of users comprises compliance data for each of said users'"'"' compliance with a personalized diet and exercise plan developed by said expert system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said compliance data for each of said plurality of users is based on a number of messages received and acknowledged over a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first or second set of display characteristics comprises determining a message tone and selecting a graphic for a message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said graphic is an avatar.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a first or second message comprising content related to said diet and exercise plans comprises generating a first or second message with content related to a diet and exercise plan goal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a first or second message comprising content related to said diet and exercise plans comprises generating a first or second message with content related to a diet and exercise plan activity reminder.

8. A system for generating messages related to users'"'"' diet and exercise plans to send to said users'"'"' mobile devices, comprising:

a database comprising profile data for a plurality of users, said profile data comprising a) contact information for said users;

b) dietary and exercise preference data for said users; and

c) compliance data for said plurality of users wherein said compliance data relates each of said plurality of users'"'"' responses to messages regarding diet and exercise plans;

an expert system for developing a diet and exercise plan for each of said plurality of users, said diet and exercise plans consistent with said dietary and exercise preference data for said plurality of users;

a server for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from mobile devices for said plurality of users using said contact information, said messages generated by said expert system and comprising content and display characteristics selected for each of said plurality of users according to said dietary and exercise preference data and said compliance data; and

wherein said expert system analyzes messages received from said mobile devices to update compliance data at said database for said plurality of users for use in generating additional messages comprising content and display characteristics selected for each of said plurality of users according to said dietary and exercise preference data and said compliance data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of users have similar profile data as determined by said expert system.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of compliance measures calculated by said expert system from said compliance data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of compliance measures comprises a number of users who have responded to said transmitted messages, a number of users who have not responded to said transmitted messages, and a number of users who have quit a respective diet and exercise plan within a specified period of time.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said message display characteristics comprise a message tone and a graphic.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said graphic is an avatar.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said message content comprises a diet and exercise plan goal.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said message content comprises a diet and exercise plan activity reminder.