Abstract:
In one aspect, a method for managing a health care plan is disclosed. The method may include accepting input characterizing a service management objective; accepting input representing a message for a client; and affecting the client&#39;s behavior with respect to the service management objective by presenting by electronic communication the message to the client according to a schedule.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    This present disclosure relates generally to management of services including health care, social services, training, and education. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic communications between providers of the services delivered in accordance with service plans and the providers&#39; clients, where the electronic communications are a means for management of the service plans, and to information displays and predictions regarding client behavior with reference to such service plans. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Provision of health care (“health care” herein including physical health care and mental, psychiatric, or psychological health care), social services, training, and education by provider individuals such as doctors, case managers, or teachers, and provider entities such as clinics, hospitals, social service agencies, and schools (referred to herein as “service providers”) often include service plans containing schedules for the administration of medication, appointments for examinations, therapeutic sessions, training sessions, lessons, and other events requiring a client who is receiving services from service providers to take an action or perform a task at a specific time. A service plan may often be revised or improved if a client, or people or entities associated with the client such as family members, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, foster homes, transition facilities, training facilities, and schools (referred to herein as “client associates”), may provide feedback to service providers. Such feedback may take the form of answers to survey questions or other requests for information from service providers. 
         [0003]    As an example, a service provider such as a probation department may be required to supervise required probationary activities of a number of probationers with a variety of health, social services, training, and educational needs. For each probationer, the probation department may be required to supervise in accordance with a plan the administration of medication, appointments for examinations, counseling sessions, training sessions, or classes for the benefit of the probationer, the client in this example, with the assistance of the probationer&#39;s family or an entity such as a support facility, the client associates in this example. The client and client associates may provide feedback to the probation department. 
         [0004]    It is helpful if a service provider may conveniently and reliably provide information and reminders to a client or a client associate concerning the services being provided and scheduled actions or events pertaining to such services, according to a service plan. It is also helpful if a client or client associate may provide information pertaining to the services being provided to a service provider. The results of a service plan may be assessed if, for instance, information from a client or client associate may be charted or otherwise displayed such that assessments of the client&#39;s conformance to the service program. Further, the results of a service plan may be improved if, for example, information from a client or client provider may be analyzed to yield predictions of client or client associate behavior with reference to the services being provided. The results of a service plan may be improved if the predictions are used to adjust the services provided to influence the client or client associate to behave more in accordance with the requirements of the services being provided. 
         [0005]    Returning to the example of the probationer and probation department, it is helpful if the probation department may conveniently and reliably provide information and reminders to a probationer or the probationer&#39;s family member concerning, for instances, medications to be taken or refresher information about job interviewing according to the service plan. The results of the probationary service plan may be improved if, for instance, information from the probationer or a support facility may be displayed in graphical or tabular form for assessment of the probationer&#39;s conformance to the probation department&#39;s service plan. The results of the probation department&#39;s service plan may be improved if, for instance, information from the probationer or a member of the probationer&#39;s family may be analyzed to yield predictions of probationer or probationer family member performance, such as the administration of medication or success at job interviewing. The results may be improved if the predictions are used to change reminders provided by the probation department, for example, are delivered to the probationer or his or her family member in a more effective form (e.g., taped vocal reminders delivered by telephone instead of email messages). 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to a server, including at least one processor operably coupled to at least one memory, the server operably coupleable to an electronic communications medium; wherein the at least one memory stores data representing a service management goal; wherein the at least one memory stores data representing a message for a client or service provider, the message designed to affect the client&#39;s behavior or the service provider&#39;s behavior with respect to the service management goal; and wherein the at least one memory stores data representing a schedule, the schedule including at least one time for using the at least one processor and the at least one memory to retrieve and present the message to the client via an electronic communications medium. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, a method for managing a health care plan includes but is not limited to accepting input characterizing a service management objective; accepting input representing a message for a client; and affecting the client&#39;s behavior with respect to the service management objective by presenting by electronic communication the message to the client according to a schedule. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, a machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations, includes instructions for operations including but not limited to accepting input characterizing a service management objective; accepting input representing a message for a client; and affecting the client&#39;s behavior with respect to the service management objective by presenting by electronic communication the message to the client according to a schedule. 
         [0009]    In one or more various aspects, related articles, systems, and devices include but are not limited to circuitry, programming, electro-mechanical devices, or optical devices for affecting the herein referenced method aspects. The circuitry, programming, electro-mechanical devices, or optical devices can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and firmware configured to affect the herein referenced method aspects. 
         [0010]    In addition to the foregoing, various other method, device, and system aspects are set forth and described in the teachings, such as the text (e.g., claims or detailed description) or drawings, of the present disclosure. 
         [0011]    The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices, processes, or other subject matter described herein will become apparent in the teachings set forth herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary system for communications and processing for service management in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary high-level architecture for a software program or set of software programs and associated hardware for service management in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for an exemplary operation of a service provider setup module; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for exemplary operations of a system provider setup module; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for use of a schedule/call module together with a survey/message module; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for use of a survey/message module together with a schedule/call module; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for use of a graphics module; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for use of a prediction module; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8B  shows a high-level flow chart of an operational process for use of a mining module; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows a screenshot of a website including a table of users of a service management system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  shows a screenshot of a website for entry of data pertaining to users of a service management system; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  shows another screenshot of a website for entry of data pertaining to users of a service management system; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  shows a screenshot of a website including a table with client information; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  shows a screenshot of a website for entry of data pertaining to a client; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  shows a screenshot of a website for entry of data pertaining to a client&#39;s treatment plan; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  shows a screenshot of a website showing the surveys constructed for a client; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  shows a screenshot of a website for beginning the process of constructing a survey; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  shows a screenshot of a website for adding templates for a client; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  shows a screenshot of a website for selecting and generating reports about a client&#39;s activities based on the client&#39;s objectives, surveys, and templates; 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  shows a screenshot of a website providing for searching of stored templates and display of stored templates; 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  shows a screenshot of a website for construction of a template; 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  shows a screenshot of a website for display of questions and messages that are available for inclusion in templates; 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  shows a screenshot of a website for adding questions and messages to those available; 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  shows a screenshot of a website for display of response types available as responses to questions and some messages; 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  shows a screenshot of a website for adding a response type to those available; 
           [0037]      FIG. 25  shows a screenshot of a website for displaying the audio file of medication names that are available for messages to clients; 
           [0038]      FIG. 26  shows a screenshot of a website for adding medication name audio files to those available; 
           [0039]      FIG. 27  shows a screenshot of a website for display of alerts available for use with clients; 
           [0040]      FIG. 28  shows a screenshot of a website for adding new alerts; 
           [0041]      FIG. 29  shows a screenshot of a website for display of medications available for use in questions and messages for clients; 
           [0042]      FIG. 30  shows a screenshot of a website for adding medications to those available; 
           [0043]      FIG. 31  shows a screenshot of a website for display of diagnoses available for use in characterizing clients; 
           [0044]      FIG. 32  shows a screenshot of a website for adding diagnoses to those available; 
           [0045]      FIG. 33  shows a screenshot of a website for display of available problem descriptions for use in characterizing clients; 
           [0046]      FIG. 34  shows a screenshot of a website for adding problem descriptions to those available; 
           [0047]      FIG. 35  shows a screenshot of a website for display of available programs for use with clients; 
           [0048]      FIG. 36  shows a screenshot of a website for adding programs to those available; 
           [0049]      FIG. 37  shows a screenshot of a website for display of goals for use with clients; 
           [0050]      FIG. 38  shows a screenshot of a website for adding goals to those available; 
           [0051]      FIG. 39  shows a screenshot of a website for display of objectives for use with clients; 
           [0052]      FIG. 40  shows a screenshot of a website for adding objectives to those available; 
           [0053]      FIG. 41  shows a screenshot of a website for display of the types of users; 
           [0054]      FIG. 42  shows a screenshot of a website for setting up templates including survey configurations; and 
           [0055]      FIG. 43  shows a screenshot of a website displaying a template for a client. 
       
    
    
       [0056]    While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and the accompanying detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the present disclosure to particular embodiments. This disclosure is instead intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
       Notation and Nomenclature 
       [0057]    Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components and configurations. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the terms “couple,” “couples,” “coupleable,” or “coupling” are intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical or wireless connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct electrical or wireless connection, or through an indirect electrical or wireless connection by means of other devices and connections. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0058]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0059]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system  100  for communications and processing for service management is shown. Various elements of the system may be operably coupled via the Internet  105 , a cellular voice and data network  110 , a public switched telephone network  115 , or some combination of two or more of these media. The exemplary system  100  may include servers  120  that may be operably coupled to one or more of the Internet  105 , the cellular voice and data network  110 , and the public switched telephone network  115 . Terminals  125  may be operably coupled to the servers  120  or to one or more of the Internet  105 , the cellular voice and data network  110 , and the public switched telephone network  115 . A terminal  125  may be a computer such as a personal computer, a laptop computer, a purpose-built terminal unit, or some other computer interface unit. Various devices for receiving and sending data, such as a stationary telephone  130 , a cellular telephone  135 , a personal data assistant (herein, “PDAs”)  140 , or a personal computer  145 , may be operably coupled to one or more of the Internet  105 , the cellular voice and data network  110 , and the public switched telephone network  115 . 
         [0060]    The servers  120  may be used to run software for service management or to provide for data transfer between the terminals  125  and the Internet  105 , the cellular voice and data network  110 , and the public switched telephone network  115 . The terminals  125  may be used to run software for service management or for input and output of data relevant to service management. Devices such as the exemplary stationary telephones  130 , cellular telephones  135 , PDAs  140 , and personal computers  145 , may also be used to run software for service management or for input and output of data relevant to service management. 
         [0061]    Referring to the example of the “Background of the Present Disclosure” section of this specification, the probation department may use the servers  120  to run software for management of the services it provides for probationers and to provide for the transfer of data required by a probationer&#39;s service plan between the terminals  125  used by the probation department and the Internet  105 , the cellular voice and data network  110 , and the public switched telephone network  115 . The probationer or an associate of the probationer such as a family member or a support facility may use a stationary telephone  125 , a cellular telephone  135 , a PDA  140 , or a personal computer  145  to run software for service management or for input and output of data relevant to service management. 
         [0062]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary high-level architecture  200  for a software program or set of software programs and associated hardware for service management in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. In the exemplary service management architecture  200 , an entity that provides the system for service management, the system provider, provides and operates one or more system provider databases  205 , a system provider setup module  210 , a survey/message module  215 , a graphics module  220 , a schedule/call module  225 , a prediction module  230 , and a mining module  235 . The system provider also provides to an entity that provides the service for which management is required, the service provider, one or more service provider databases  250  and a service provider setup module  255 . The system provider may be a developer and/or a vendor of the software used for service management, and the service provider may be a government or private organization that provides service to individual clients, such as a local probation department providing services to probationers or a local mental health service agency providing services to patients. 
         [0063]    Each of the one or more system provider databases  205 , the system provider setup module  210 , the survey/message module  215 , the graphics module  220 , the schedule/call module  225 , the prediction module  230 , and the mining module  235  may be run on one or more system-provider side servers or other computer resources, represented in  FIG. 2  by the one or more servers  260 , with one or more processors  265  and one or more processors  270 . Each of the one or more service provider databases  250  and the service provider setup module  255  may be run on one or more service-provider-side servers or other computer resources, represented in  FIG. 2  by the one or more servers  275 , with one or more processors  280  and one or more memories  285 . The servers  260  and  275  may be, for example, the servers  120  of  FIG. 1 . The one or more system-provider-side servers  260  may communicate with the one or more service-provider-side servers  275  via, for example, the Internet  105 , the cellular voice and data network  110 , and/or the public switched telephone network  115  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0064]    Continuing with reference to  FIG. 2 , the one or more processors  265  and one or more memories  270  may be shared among the one or more system provider databases  205  and the system provider setup module  210 , the survey/message module  215 , the graphics module  220 , the schedule/call module  225 , the prediction module  230 , and the mining module  235 . Each of these databases  205  and the modules  210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  225 ,  230 , and  235  may be implemented to accept input and provide output via a variety of computer-based tools such as a display screen, an Internet browser, a web page, an audio speaker, a microphone, a keypad, a keyboard, a touchpad, or a mouse, or some combination of these items. 
         [0065]    The one or more processors  280  and the one or more memories  285  may be shared among the one or more service provider databases  250  and the service provider setup module  255 . Like the databases and the modules on the system provider side, each of these service provider databases  250  and the service provider setup module  255  may be implemented to accept input and provide output via a variety of computer-based tools such as a display screen, an Internet browser, a web page, an audio speaker, a microphone, a keypad, a keyboard, a touchpad, or a mouse, or some combination of these items. The service provider setup module  255  may be used by a service provider user such as a case worker in a probation department to enter or change data concerning a client such as a probationer, including, for instance, the client&#39;s name, an identification number, one or more telephone numbers, and one or more email addresses. These data may be stored in the one or more service provider databases  250 . In an aspect of present disclosure, the service provider setup module  255  may be operably coupled only to the one or more service provider databases  250 . An exemplary operation of the service provider setup module  255  is described herein in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
         [0066]    Turning to the system provider side, broadly speaking, aspects of the present disclosure may be used to provide service management for clients with a variety of problems, including, for example, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, or substance use disorder. A specific program may be made available for service management for a client with an identified problem. In addition, a service provider may specify one or more broadly-stated goals, such as “Improve the quality of life of the client,” “Stabilize client&#39;s family relationships,” or “Stabilize the client&#39;s psychiatric condition.” These goals may be made practically attainable by the specification of one or more objectives, which may include, for example, “Reduce substance abuse,” “Adhere to medication regimen,” “Keep scheduled appointments,” or “Report any negative side effects of medication(s).” The system provider setup module  210  may be used by either a service provider user such as a case worker or a system provider user such as a system specialist to enter, change, or select for an use with a client a variety of data used by aspects of the present disclosure, including the problems, programs, goals, and objectives. These data may also include (1) one or more questions that call for responses from a client and (2) one or more messages that convey to the client instructions, information, and/or motivational statements. Questions may include, for example, “ ”This is your daily checkup? Is everything going OK?” or “Do you think you will miss your next appointments?” Messages may include, for instance, “Great, keep up the good work” or “Remember using illegal drugs while taking Seroquel can be harmful to health.” These data may also include one or more templates comprising a set of questions and/or messages, the questions and/or messages being associated with a specific objective for the client. In addition, these data may include one or more surveys, each comprising one or more templates, to be presented to clients to assist management of service plans. 
         [0067]    A template included by a survey directed to a client may include, for instance, the identified problem, “substance abuse”; a specific program to address the problem, the identified goal, “therapy for family”; and the specified objective, “to improve the client&#39;s ability to handle anger that increases the risk of substance abuse.” A survey may generally include a request for authentication such as a PIN, a welcome message, a request to answer one or more questions, the one or more questions, and a closing message. For example, an exemplary survey that includes the foregoing exemplary template may include:
       (1) the welcome message, “This is your daily checkup”;   (2) the question, “Have you had an angry outburst today?”;   (3) if “yes” to (2), the question, “How many anger outbursts did you have today?”;   (4) the question, “Are you aware of what triggered your angry outbursts?”;   (5) if “yes” to question (4), the motivational statement, “Great, understanding what triggers an outburst is one of the first steps in preventing future outbursts”;   (6) if “no” to question (4), the question, “Before your anger outbursts, were you typically aware of any signs that you were getting angry?”;   (7) if “yes” to question (6), the motivational statement, “Great, being in tune with the signs that precede an anger outburst will help you control your anger”;   (8) if “no” to question (6), the motivational statement, “That is great to hear”;   (9) the parting statement, “Remember that if you experience any problems which you find too bothersome, please go to your local emergency room, call 911, or call the crisis hotline at 817-555-4444. If you would like to leave a short, non-emergency message for your case manager, leave it now.”       
 
         [0077]    Another exemplary template directed to a client with a different set of survey questions is shown in  FIG. 43 .  FIG. 43  shows the “Update Template” screen  4305  that allows changes to survey questions and different actions based on the response by the client to the question. 
         [0078]    Questions and messages from which templates and surveys may be constructed, as well as the templates and surveys constructed from the questions and messages, may be entered by users via the system provider setup module  210  and may be stored in the one or more system provider databases  205 . Exemplary operations of the system provider setup module  210  are described in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
         [0079]    The schedule/call module  225  may be used to present a survey (including either one or more questions, one or more messages, or both) to a client and to accept responses from the client. The schedule call module may work in conjunction with the survey/message module  215  and the one or more system provider databases  205 . An exemplary operation of the schedule/call module  225  used in conjunction with the survey/message module  215  and the one or more system provider databases  205  is described in connection with  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0080]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , a high-level flow chart of an operational process  300  for an exemplary operation of the service provider setup module  255  of  FIG. 2  is shown. As discussed, the service provider setup module  255  of  FIG. 2  may be used by users associated with a service provider, such as case workers with a probation department or a public mental health service, to set up the basic identifying and contact information for a client of the service provider, such as a probationer or a mental health patient. A user associated with a service provider may login to the service provider setup module  255  (operation  305 ). After logging in, the user may choose to enter information for a new client (operation  310 ), select a list of existing clients (operation  315 ), or select a single existing client (operation  320 ). If a user selects a list of existing clients (operation  315 ), the user may elect to enter information for a new client to be associated with that list (operation  310 ) or select a single existing client from the client list (operation  320 ). If a user selects a client list (operation  315 ) or a client (operation  320 ), the user may view client data (operation  325 ). Having viewed client data, the user may select a client data item such as a name, a phone number, or a scheduled appointment (operation  330 ). If the user elected to enter information for a new client (operation  310 ), the user may select a client data item to add for the new client (operation  330 ). Once the user selects a client data item (operation  330 ), the user may choose to configure the client data item (operation  335 ), which may include adding, changing, or deleting the client data item, or leaving the client data item as it is. Once the user configures the client data item (operation  335 ), he may enter information for another new client (operation  310 ), select a list of existing clients (operation  315 ), or select an existing client (operation  320 ). If the user is finished, the service provider database  250  updates automatically (operation  340 ). The user may then logout of the service provider setup module  255  (operation  345 ). If the user interface with the service provider setup module  255  is implemented to be used with a web browser, the user may skip from one operation to another among those illustrated in  FIG. 3  without necessarily following the flow chart as illustrated. 
         [0081]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a high-level flow chart of an operational process  400  for exemplary operations of the system provider setup module  210  is shown. The system provider setup module  210  of  FIG. 2  may be used by users associated with the service provider, such as case workers with a probation department or a public mental health provider, to configure a client setup. The system provider setup module  210  of may also be used by users associated with a system provider, such as a system specialist with a system vendor, to set up templates for use by service providers. A user of either type may login (operation  405 ). A user may set one or more preferences for the presentation of data (operation  410 ). Such preferences may pertain to a set of clients or to an individual client. Taking the case of a service provider user first (or, for example, a system provider user working under the direction of a service provider user), such a user, having logged in, may enter a new client setup (operation  415 ), select a client list (operation  420 ) or a client (operation  425 ), from which the user may select a client (operation  420 ). Once a client is selected (operation  420 ), the service provider user may view the client setup for that client (operation  430 ). Once a client setup is viewed (operation  430 ), the user may select a client setup item (operation  435 ), such as a survey that has been selected to be presented to that client. Having selected a client setup item (operation  435 ), the user may configure the client setup item (operation  440 ), where configuring may include adding an item, changing an item, or deleting an item. The user may also configure a client setup item (operation  440 ) after deciding to enter a new client setup (operation  415 ). Once a client setup has been configured (operation  440 ), the one or more system provider databases may be updated to reflect the configuration (operation  445 ). Once the one or more system provider databases have been updated (operation  445 ), the one or more system provider databases and the one or more service provider databases may be synchronized (operation  450 ). That is, the client setups stored in the one or more system provider databases may be linked with the client identifiers stored in the one or more service provider databases through system-provider-side client identifiers used to protect the privacy of client information. 
         [0082]    Continuing with the exemplary operational process  400 , system provider users may login to the system provider setup module  210  of  FIG. 2  (operation  405 ). The system provider user may set preferences for the display of data (operation  410 ). Once logged in (operation  405 ), the system provider user may select the set up of a template (operation  455 ). Having selected the set up of a template (operation  455 ), the user may assign a name and a purpose to the template he or she is setting up (operation  460 ). After assigning a name and a purpose to the template (operation  460 ), the user may set up the survey questions and evaluation information that are to be part of the template (operation  465 ). Once the template&#39;s survey questions and evaluation information have been set up for the template, the user may store the template in the one or more system provider databases  205  (operation  470 ). The user may select setting up another template (operation  455 ) or may log out (operation  475 ). 
         [0083]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a high-level flow chart of an exemplary operational process  500  is shown. The exemplary operation process  500  may use the schedule/call module  225  of  FIG. 2  to present a survey to a client such as a probationer or a mental health patient. The schedule/call module  225  may retrieve updated data from the one or more system provider databases  205  periodically or when the one or more system provider databases  205  when client identifying and/or contact information and/or one or more templates associated with a client are updated as a result of, for instance, one or more operations of the exemplary operational processes  300  or  400 , of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively. The schedule/call module  225  may request a survey and/or a message from the survey/message module  215  (operation  510 ), where the survey specifies either one or more templates comprising one or more questions to be presented to a client, or one or more messages to be sent to a client (such as a reminder message), or both. 
         [0084]    Continuing with reference to  FIG. 5 , after the schedule/call module  225  requests one or more surveys and/or messages from the survey/message module  215  (operation  510 ), the survey/message module  215  may accept the requested one or more surveys and/or messages from the survey/message module  215  (operation  515 ). The schedule/call module  225  may also request client contact information from one or more the service provider databases  250  (operation  520 ). In some circumstances, such information must be protected by laws, regulations, or policies such as the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), such that the schedule/call module  225  may retrieve the contact information for use in contacting the client at the time the client is to be contacted, and once the client has been contacted, the contact information may be deleted from the schedule/call module  225 . Using the retrieved client contact information, the schedule/call module  225  may contact the client, for instance, by placing a telephone call or sending an email message to the client (operation  525 ). Once the contact has been made, the schedule/call module  225  may authenticate the client (operation  530 ) by, for instance, requesting a password. If the contact has been made by a telephone call, the schedule/call module may request a spoken password with a stored audio message and process the response using voice and/or word recognition software. If the contact has been made by email message, the email message may, for example, direct the client to a website where the client may be prompted to enter a password. If the client is not authenticated, the exemplary operational process  500  may be terminated (operation  535 ). 
         [0085]    Continuing with reference to  FIG. 5 , if the client is authenticated (operation  530 ), the schedule/call module  225  may request from the survey/message module  215  one or more survey questions and/or messages included in the one or more templates, present to the client the one or more survey questions and/or one or more messages included in the one or more templates designed for this client and requested from the survey/message module  215 , and may accept responses from the client (operation  540 ). In conjunction with the activities included in operation  540 , the schedule/call module  225  may interact with the survey/message module  215  during interactive contact with the client. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , in conjunction with operation  540 , the survey/message module  215  may retrieve the one or more survey questions and/or messages included in the one or more templates from the one or more system provider databases  205 , may provide the one or more survey questions and/messages to the schedule/call module  225  when requested to by the schedule/call module, and may accept client responses from the schedule/call module  225  (operation  542 ). (Interaction between the schedule/call module  225  and the survey/message module  215  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 6  herein.) 
         [0086]    If the contact has been made, for instance, by telephone, the survey questions and/or messages may be presented by stored audio and the responses may be accepted by word recognition software. If the client interacts with the schedule/call module  225  via a website, the questions and/or messages may be presented via dialogue boxes or other graphical user interface features and may accept responses entered by the client to the interactive features of the website. Operation  540  may be conducted interactively as the survey and/or messages are presented to the client. For example, the client may be presented with a question by the schedule/call module  225 , and the schedule/call module  225  may accept a response from the client and provide it to the survey/message module  215 . The survey/message module  215  may use the response to determine the next action, for instance, a first question that depends on the receipt of a first response or a second question that depends on the receipt of a second response. The survey/message module  215  may store the client&#39;s response to the one or more system provider databases  205  and may retrieve the appropriate question from the one or more system provider databases  205 , for example, the second question, as a result of receiving the second response from the client, and may make it available to the schedule/call module  225 . The schedule/call module  225  may then retrieve the second question from the survey/message module  215  and may present that second question to the client. (Interaction between the schedule/call module  225  and the survey/message module  215  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 6  herein.) If the client interaction ends prematurely (operation  545 ), for instance, before the survey questions have been responded to by a client hanging up the telephone or ceasing providing responses, or by a client ceasing interaction with a website, the service provider may be informed (operation  550 ), for example, by a stored audio message delivered by telephone or an email message, and the exemplary operational process  500  may be terminated (operation  535 ). 
         [0087]    Continuing with reference to  FIG. 5 , after the one or more survey questions and/or one or more messages included in the one or more templates designed for this client are presented and responses accepted (operation  540 ), the schedule/call module  225  may present an option to the client to leave a message for the service provider (operation  555 ), for instance for his or her case manager. If the client elects to leave a message, the schedule/call module  225  may accept the message (operation  560 ), for example, by recording and storing an audio message or by accepting a typed texted message via a website. The schedule/call module  225  may then terminate contact with the client (operation  535 ) and send the message to the service provider (operation  565 ). 
         [0088]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a high-level exemplary operational flow chart of an exemplary operational process  600  is shown. The exemplary operational process  600  details an interaction between the survey/message module  215  and the schedule/call module  225  during the operational process  500  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , from the perspective of the survey/message module  215 . Beginning with the operation  510  of  FIG. 5 , the schedule/call module  225  may request a survey and/or a message from the survey/message  215  at a time scheduled for contact with a client. After the schedule call module contacts the client (operation  525  of  FIG. 5 ) and authenticates the client (operation  530  of  FIG. 5 ), the schedule/call module  225  may request from the survey/message module  215  a question or a message to be presented to a client (operation  605  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  540  of  FIG. 5 ). The survey/message module  215  may accept the request for the question or the message from the schedule/call module  225  (operation  610  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  542  of  FIG. 5 ). The survey/message module  215  may then request the question or the message from the one or more system provider database  205  (operation  615  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  542  of  FIG. 5 ). Having made the request, the survey/message module  215  may accept the question or the message from the one or more system provider database(s)  205  (operation  620  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  542  of  FIG. 5 ). The survey/message module  215  may provide the question or the message to the schedule/call module  225  (operation  625  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  542  of  FIG. 6 ). The schedule/call module  225  may present the question or the message to the client, accept a response to the question or to the message if called for, and provide the response to the survey/message module  215  (operation  630  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  542  of  FIG. 5 ). If the response from the client or the survey to be presented to the client calls for another question or message for the client, the operational process  600  allows for a return to operation  605  after operation  630  and a repetition of operations  605 ,  610 ,  615 ,  620 ,  625 , and  630 . This repetition is a detailed account of the repetition indicated between operation  540  and  542  in  FIG. 5 . The survey/message module  215  may accept the response accepted in operation  630  from the schedule/call module  225  (operation  635  of  FIG. 6 ; operation  542  of  FIG. 5 ). The survey/message module  215  may store the response to the one or more system provider database  205  (operation  640  of  FIG. 6 ; not shown in  FIG. 5 ). If the interaction with the client ends prematurely, the operation process  600  ends and the operational process  500  may continue from operation  545 . If the operational process  600  ends after operation  640 , the operational process  500  of  FIG. 5  may continue from operation  555 . 
         [0089]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , a high-level operational flow chart of an exemplary operational process  700  is shown. Operation  705  may include accepting data from one or more of the system provider databases  205  of  FIG. 2 . For instance, the graphics module  220  may accept input from a database  205 , such as input representing a probationer&#39;s responses or a client&#39;s responses to survey questions. Operation  710  may include outputting a visual display of the information in the form of, for example, a graph or a table. For example, the responses of a probationer or a patient to a survey question over time may be outputted as a graph with a horizontal time axis and a vertical axis representing the range of answers available for the probationer or the patient to make. 
         [0090]    Turning now to  FIG. 8A , a high-level operational flow chart of an operational process  800  is shown. Operation  805  may include accepting input of data from one or more databases, and operation  810  may include processing the accepted data to yield a prediction. For example, the prediction module  230  of  FIG. 2  may accept input data from the one or more of the system provider databases  205  (operation  805 ) and process the data to yield a prediction (operation  810 ). Such a prediction may include, for example, a warning that a bipolar client who has reported that he feels that he is taking too much medication will stop taking the medication, a circumstance meriting the attention of the client&#39;s case manager. 
         [0091]    Turning now to  FIG. 8B , a high-level operational flow-chart of an operational process  850  is shown. Operation  855  may include mining data from one or more databases, and operation  815  may include inferring rules for prediction from the mined data. For example, the mining module  235  of  FIG. 2  may mine data from the one or more of the system provider databases  205  (operation  855 ) and may infer rules from the mined data. In this example, the data may include the questions and responses pertaining to more than one client, providing information from which more general rules of predictive value may be inferred. For example, the questions and responses from a number of clients may provide material for an inference that if a client on a particular medication misses appointments for a specified period of time, that client may be at significant heightened risk for not adhering to his/her treatment plan. 
         [0092]      FIGS. 9-42 , in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrate screenshots of a web-based implementation of aspects of the present disclosure. The web-based implementation may include a user interacting with the system via the websites by interacting with the system provider setup module  210 .  FIGS. 9-11  show screenshot pertain to users of a service management system according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The system provider websites shown may be used by service provider persons such as case managers or system provider persons such as system specialists.  FIG. 9  shows a screenshot of a website featuring a table  905  that presents information about users of a service management system, including a system provider user (such as a system administrator) and a service provider user (such as a case manager).  FIG. 10  depicts a screenshot of another website, including a data entry area  1005 , in which a user may enter data and select options pertaining to a user of the system.  FIG. 11  illustrates a screenshot, similar to that of  FIG. 10 , in which a website includes a data display and entry area  1105  in which a user may change the information stored regarding herself. 
         [0093]      FIGS. 12-18  show screenshots pertaining to clients of a service provider using a service management system according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         [0094]    The system provider websites depicted may be used by a service provider person such as a case manager or a system provider person such as a system specialist to provide, alter, or add to the service management being provided to a client.  FIG. 12  shows a screenshot of a website, including a table  1205  that presents information about clients of the service provider, including the service provider person assigned to each client and the program under which each client is being provided service management.  FIG. 13  illustrates a screenshot of a website, including a data display and entry area  1305 , in which a user may enter data about a service provider&#39;s client.  FIG. 14  shows a screenshot of a website in which a data display and entry area  1405  features information about a client&#39;s stored treatment plans (which includes specified problems, programs, goal, and objectives) and provides for entry of a new treatment plan by data entry and selection of options.  FIG. 15  depicts a screenshot of a website featuring a table  1505  of all of the surveys that have been constructed for a particular client.  FIG. 16  shows a website for beginning the process of constructing a survey in the option selection area  1605 .  FIG. 17  illustrates a screenshot of a website, where the data entry area  1705  includes provisions for data entry and selection to add templates for a client of the service provider.  FIG. 18  shows a website in which the data entry area  1805  provides a way for a user to select reports about the client&#39;s activities with regard to her service plan according to plan objective, survey, and template. 
         [0095]      FIGS. 19-32  show screenshots pertaining to templates of surveys for service management according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The system provider&#39;s websites depicted by these screenshots may be used by a system provider specialist to provide, alter, or add to the options available for templates.  FIG. 19  depicts a screenshot of a website in which a data entry area  1905  provides for entry of search criteria for searches of stored templates and table  1910  shows a list of stored templates.  FIG. 20  shows a screenshot of a website in which a data entry area  2005  provides for entry of data for the construction of a template.  FIG. 21  depicts a screenshot of a website that includes a table  2105  of questions that are available for inclusion in templates and a table  2110  of “informations,” that is, messages that are available for inclusion in templates.  FIG. 22  shows a screenshot of a website, in which the data entry area  2205  includes provisions for accepting data and making selections to add a question or a message to those available for inclusions in templates, including provisions for adding an audio recording of a hard-to-pronounce medication name. Data entry area  2210  of the screenshot of  FIG. 22  includes provisions for specifying the responses that may be presented for selection by the client in response to the new question.  FIG. 23  shows a website screenshot that includes a table  2305  containing the response types available for selection, e.g., “yes,” “no,” and “strongly disagree.” The website of the screenshot of  FIG. 23  includes a button  2310  for access to a website for adding a response type to those available for selection, and  FIG. 24  illustrates a screenshot of a system provider website that provides for adding the response type in the data entry area  2405 .  FIG. 25  shows a website screenshot, in which a table  2505  listing the available audio files for medication names is included. The button  2510  allows for access to a website for the addition of further audio files.  FIG. 26  shows the website for addition of audio files, with a data entry area  2605 .  FIG. 27  depicts a website screenshot that includes a table  2705  including a listing of available alerts and a button  2710  that provides for access to a website that allows the addition of new alerts.  FIG. 28  shows a screenshot for the website for addition of new alerts, with a data entry area  2805 .  FIG. 29  shows a screenshot of a website with a list  2905  of available medications and a button  2910  for access to a website for adding medications to the list  2905 .  FIG. 30  shows a screenshot for the website for addition of medications, with a data entry  3005 .  FIG. 31  depicts a screenshot of a website showing a list  3105  of available diagnoses and a button  3110  for access to a website for addition of diagnoses.  FIG. 32  depicts a website screenshot for addition of diagnoses, with a data entry area  3205 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 33-42  show screenshots pertaining to setups of clients for service management according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The system provider websites depicted by these screenshots may be used by a system provider specialist to provide, alter, and edit the options available to be used for service management for clients.  FIG. 33  depicts a system provider website screenshot with a list  3305  of available problem descriptions and a button  3310  for access to a website for adding new available problem descriptions.  FIG. 34  depicts a screenshot of the website for adding new available problem descriptions, with a data entry area  3405 .  FIG. 35  illustrates a website screenshot including a list  3505  of available programs and a button  3610  for access to a website for adding new available programs.  FIG. 36  depicts a website screenshot including a list  3705  of available goals and a button  3710  for access to a website for adding new available goals.  FIG. 38  shows a website screenshot for the addition of new available goals, with a data entry area  3805 .  FIG. 39  illustrates a screenshot for a website that includes a list  3905  of available objectives and a button  3910  for access to a website for adding new available objectives.  FIG. 40  shows a website screenshot for adding new available objectives with a data entry area  4005 .  FIG. 41  depicts a screenshot of a website, in which a list  4105  of user types for the system is included.  FIG. 42  shows a website screenshot that includes a data display and entry area  4205  for setting up a survey configuration. 
         [0097]    While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present disclosure.