Patent ID: 7617115
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G16H

Abstract:
1. Computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to perform a method for effecting a controlled, recurring assessment of a care episode and service utilization patterns associated with a locale, the locale including a plurality of corresponding institutions, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a population dataset comprising one or more population data records, wherein each population data record describes a population or population density for a unique geographic location, and wherein none of the described geographic locations overlaps; (b) receiving an encounter dataset comprising one or more encounter data records, wherein each encounter data record describes a distance, measured in physical distance or time, between: (c) receiving one or more statistical parameters; (d) for each population data record, statistically power transforming the data contained in the respective population data record using the one or more statistical parameters to generate a corresponding transformed population data record; (e) for each encounter data record, statistically power transforming the data contained in the respective encounter data record using the one or more statistical parameters to generate a corresponding transformed encounter data record; (f) for each transformed population data record, standardizing each transformed population data record using the set of all transformed population data records as a first baseline to generate a corresponding standardized transformed population data record; (g) for each transformed encounter data record, standardizing each transformed encounter data record using the set of all transformed encounter data records as a second baseline to generate a corresponding standardized transformed encounter data record; (h) linking each standardized transformed encounter data record to a corresponding standardized transformed population data record; (i) for each standardized transformed encounter data record, calculating a distance index based on the respective standardized transformed encounter data record and the corresponding standardized transformed population data record; (j) for each distance index, standardizing the respective distance index using the set of all distance indices as a third baseline to generate a standardized distance index; (k) assessing the departure of the set of one or more standardized distance indices from a standard normal statistical distribution; (l) if the assessment in step (k) conforms to a predetermined threshold, identifying the set of standardized distance indices as the set of optimized distance indices; (m) else if the assessment in step (k) does not conform to the predetermined threshold, changing the one or more statistical parameters and repeating steps (d-k); (n) identifying one or more health care providers; (o) for each optimized distance index, risk-adjusting the respective optimized distance index and assigning the risk-adjusted optimized distance index to a single health care provider chosen from the set of one or more health care providers based on the geographic location served by the health care provider; and (p) for each health care provider, generating a report by aggregating any risk-adjusted optimized distance indices assigned to the respective health care provider, wherein the report assesses for the corresponding geographic location served by the health care provider: