Mobile view for physician metrics

A method that includes receiving a request on a mobile device from a user to access first performance data indicative of at least one performance metric of a physician is provided. The method includes receiving confirmation that the user has been authenticated as the physician and receiving the first performance data indicative of the at least one performance metric of the physician for a period of time. In some embodiments, the method further includes configuring the first performance data for display in a format specific to the mobile device and providing the formatted first performance data for display on the mobile device. A mobile device and a system to perform the above method are also provided.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure generally relates to the presentation of data, and more particularly to the use of a computing device to display data.

Background

Caregivers and healthcare personnel, such as physicians, are subject to high pressure in an ever increasingly competitive healthcare market. Patients and insurance providers are constantly reviewing healthcare professional performance and make decisions and selections accordingly. Thus, it is desirable for a healthcare provider or physician to have easy access to his or her personal performance data, in order to improve it. Also, it is desirable for managers and supervisors to have access to other healthcare professional's performance data for accountability and other managerial decisions such as compensation, costs, and billing.

SUMMARY

A computer-implemented method according to embodiments disclosed herein includes receiving a request on a mobile device from a user to access first performance data indicative of at least one performance metric of a physician. The method also includes receiving confirmation that the user has been authenticated as the physician and receiving the first performance data indicative of the at least one performance metric of the physician for a period of time. In some embodiments, the method further includes configuring the first performance data for display in a format specific to the mobile device and providing the formatted first performance data for display on the mobile device.

A system as disclosed herein includes a memory storing executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory. Upon execution of the commands, the processor causes the system to receive a request on a mobile device from a user to access first performance data indicative of at least one performance metric of a physician. The processor may also cause the system to receive confirmation that the user has been authenticated as the physician, and to receive the first performance data indicative of the at least one performance metric of the physician for a period of time. In some embodiments, the processor also causes the system to configure the first performance data for display in a format specific to the mobile device and to provide the formatted first performance data for display on the mobile device, wherein the at least one performance metric is configured by the user.

A mobile device according to some embodiments includes a memory configured to store commands, a display configured to provide a plurality of metrics related to a healthcare professional's performance, and a communications module configured to communicate with a remote server through a network. The mobile device may also include a processor configured to execute the commands in the memory and retrieve a healthcare professional performance data from the remote server using the communications module, the processor is further configured to provide a graphic display of the healthcare professional performance data to the display. In some embodiments, the mobile device includes a geo-locator module configured to obtain at least two geo-coordinates for the mobile device, and to provide the at least two geo-coordinates to the processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed system provides for a display of metrics related to a healthcare professional's performance, on an electric device. In some embodiments, the electric device is a mobile device capable of communicating with a remote server through a network. The mobile device may be a smart phone, or a tablet device configured to wirelessly couple with the network. The network may be a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Further, the network can include, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, and the like.

As discussed herein, examples are provided in which the healthcare professional is a physician. It is understood, however, that the metrics provided for display can be for other healthcare professionals (e.g., pharmacists, nurses, technicians, assistants) for whom metrics in a healthcare setting are of particular relevance. In an effort to reduce spending and increase efficiency, a hospital or other healthcare institution may desire to make its physicians aware of their performance, as well as the performance of other physicians. The physician's performance may be judged by certain metrics. A device on which to deliver and display the metrics may be a mobile device.

In one embodiment, and with reference toFIG. 1, physician metrics are provided for display on a user (e.g., physician or other healthcare professional) mobile device102. The physician metrics may be provided for display after the user provides an authentication to access the user's physician metrics. The physician metrics generally pertain to physician performance, including cost and efficiency. Example physician metrics available for display are patient length of stay, average length of stay, cost per stay, mortality rate, readmission rate, case mix index, number of encounters, average daily checkout, average drug events, supply statistics, patient recovery time, medication spending, and patient satisfaction ratings. The physician metrics may be those associated with the user or other users.

The physician metrics are based on physician performance data, which is stored on a database (e.g., a knowledge portal, an evidence-based monitoring system such as MedMined®, etc.). Physician performance data may be any data related to the performance of the physician, including, but not limited to, physician data, patient data, medicine data, medical procedure data, hospital data, and feedback data.

A first physician metric104, a second physician metric106, and a third physician metric108are displayed. In certain aspects, any number of one or more physician metrics may be displayed. In certain aspects, the user is able to customize which physician metrics are displayed. In certain aspects, a default set of one or more physician metrics is initially displayed, which the user may then configure to create a customized display. In certain aspects, the default set of one or more physician metrics may change. For example, the set of physician metrics displayed on the mobile device102may change based on a location of the mobile device102. The mobile device102may display a first set of physician metrics when the user is in his/her office. The mobile device102may display a second set of physician metrics when the user is in his/her home. The mobile device102may display a third set of physician metrics when the user is in a hospital. As another example, the set of physician metrics displayed on the mobile device102may change based on the user's specialty or area of care. A pediatrician's device may display a default set of physician metrics that is different than a cardiologist's default set of physician metrics.

The first physician metric104is displayed using a pie chart. The second physician metric106is displayed using a bar graph. The third physician metric108is displayed using a table. In certain aspects, the physician metric may be displayed in any number of styles. Example styles are a bar graph, a pie chart, a line graph, a table, a scatter chart, an area chart, a doughnut chart, a bubble chart, a radar chart, a surface chart, a stock chart, and a list. The metrics can display one or many user metrics within the same style (e.g., within the same graph or chart).

The user may select a different set of physician performance data to calculate the physician metric using an arrow110next to the physician metric display. In certain aspects, using the arrow110results in a display of a different set of physician performance data for the same physician metric. In certain aspects, using the arrow110results in display of a different physician metric. In certain aspects, instead of pressing an arrow, the user may swipe the screen over the physician metric in order to scroll to a different set of physician performance data.

The displayed metrics associated with a physician may be refreshed periodically to incorporate new data. For example, the displayed metrics may be refreshed in intervals of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. In certain aspects, the refresh frequency may be set by the user. The refresh frequency may be configured based on notification or data “fatigue” experienced by users when data is refreshed either too quickly or too slowly.

The user may access an interface comparing him/her to other physicians using the compare button112. In certain aspects, using the compare button112causes a chart to be displayed. In certain aspects, the chart compares the user to other physicians, sorted by one or more physician metrics. In certain aspects, the chart ranks a set of physicians by a criterion. In certain aspects, the set of physicians is all physicians. In certain aspects, the set of physicians is the physicians in the same practice area as the user. In certain aspects, the criterion may be a single physician metric or a combination of two or more physician metrics. Data among physicians within the same care or in different care areas may be normalized for consistency.

The system may also generate notifications114informing the user of updates. Examples of updates include updated performance related data and updated rankings of the set of physicians.

The content available for display on the mobile device may vary, depending on the user. There may be limits placed on the access the user has to certain information. There may also be options that allow for the physician to approve or disapprove of access to physician performance data.

In certain aspects, the user may view the physician metrics associated with only the user. In certain aspects, the user may view the physician metrics associated with the user and other physicians. In certain aspects, a hospital administrator may view the physician metrics associated with all physicians. In certain aspects, the user may choose to opt-out, and that physician's performance data may no longer be used to generate physician metrics. Further, that physician's individual physician metrics may also no longer be available for comparison by other physicians. In certain aspects, the user may choose to opt-in, in order for that physician's performance data to be used to generate physician metrics, and for comparison by other physicians.

FIG. 2illustrates an example process200for viewing physician metrics on a mobile device. The process200begins at step205when a request is received on a mobile device (e.g., mobile device102) from a user to access performance data indicative of at least one performance metric of a physician. The performance data, as previously discussed, are physician metrics that generally pertain to physician performance, including cost and efficiency.

In step210, confirmation is received that the user has been authenticated as the physician. The authentication may be received from a server that also provides access to the performance data. This user authentication, as previously discussed, affects access to performance data and the content available for display on the mobile device (e.g., mobile device102).

In step215, performance data is received that is indicative of the at least one performance metric of the physician for a period of time.

In step220, the performance data is configured for display in a format specific to the mobile device. For example, in the example user interface illustrated byFIG. 1, the performance data was configured for display in a pie chart104, a bar graph106, and a table108that is formatted for display on smaller displays such as those available in most mobile devices. Accordingly, in some embodiments step220includes configuring the performance data for display according to an orientation of the mobile device, such as a vertical or horizontal orientation, and selecting between a portrait or landscape aspect ratio of the display.

In step225, the formatted performance data is provided for display on the mobile device (e.g., mobile device102).

FIG. 3illustrates an example architecture300for providing a user interface for viewing physician metrics on a mobile device, according to some embodiments. Architecture300includes servers310and personal computing devices302connected over a network350. Each of the many personal computing devices302is configured to include and execute at least a network based application for displaying content. The network based application can be, for example, a web browser, a document or text editing program, an image editing program, a video editing program, a gaming program, a media player program, a social networking program, or any other program that displays content. The content can be, for example, a plurality of physician metrics provided by at least one of servers310, a web page, a document, an image, a video, an audio file, a game, or other displayable content. Personal computing devices302can be, for example, a tablet computer330(e.g., including e-book readers), a desktop computer340, a mobile device360(e.g., a smartphone or PDA), a personal computer device370, a set top box380(e.g., for a television), a convertible device (e.g., tablet-to-laptop computer device) or any other devices having appropriate processor, memory, and communications capabilities for displaying content. More particularly, personal computing devices302may be associated with registered clients of one or more of servers310. In that regard, any one of personal computing devices302may include all the features and characteristics of mobile device102, described in detail above. Furthermore, any one of personal computing devices302can be used to perform at least one, or all of the steps in method200, described above. Moreover, the steps in method200may be performed by personal computing device302communicating with any one of servers310.

In certain aspects, the content for display in the application can be obtained from one or many servers310over network350. Servers310can be any device having an appropriate processor, memory, and communications capability for hosting the content for display. The network350can include, for example, any one or more of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Further, the network350can include, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, and the like.

Any one of personal computing devices302may include a memory configured to store commands, a display configured to provide a plurality of metrics related to a healthcare professional's performance, and a communications module configured to communicate with a remote server through a network. Any one of personal computing devices302may also include a processor configured to execute the commands in the memory and retrieve a healthcare professional performance data from the remote server using the communications module. In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to provide a graphic display of the healthcare professional performance data to the display. In some embodiments, any one of personal computing devices302includes a geo-locator module configured to obtain at least two geo-coordinates for the mobile device, and to provide the at least two geo-coordinates to the processor.

In some embodiments, any one of personal computing devices302includes a sensor module configured to determine an orientation of the personal computing device and provide the orientation to the processor to adjust the display in at least one of a horizontal or vertical configuration. Moreover, any one of personal computer devices302in any of the above configurations may include a geo-locator module that provides location information to the processor, the location information including whether the user is in one of a home or a hospital. The display in any one of personal computing devices302above may include a touch sensitive screen configured to receive input from a user, the input from the user including an authentication credential for the user to access the plurality of metrics related to the healthcare professional's performance.

The processor in any one of personal computing devices302above may adjust the display according to a user's specialty area of care. In that regard, any one of servers310may provide the user specialty area of care to any one of personal computing devices302upon certifying the authentication credential provided by the user.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system400with which the personal computing device and server ofFIG. 3can be implemented. Also, mobile device102inFIG. 1, and method200inFIG. 2can be implemented with computer system400. In certain aspects, computer system400can be implemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware, either in a dedicated server, integrated into another entity, or distributed across multiple entities.

Computer system400(e.g., personal computing devices302and servers310) includes a bus408or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor402coupled with bus408for processing information. By way of example, computer system400can be implemented with one or more processors402. Processor402can be a general-purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable entity that can perform calculations or other manipulations of information.

Computer system400includes, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them stored in an included memory404, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, or any other suitable storage device, coupled to bus408for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor402. Processor402and memory404can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

Computer system400further includes a data storage device406such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, coupled to bus408for storing information and instructions. Computer system400is coupled via input/output module410to various devices. The input/output module410is any input/output module. Example input/output modules410include data ports such as USB ports. The input/output module410is configured to connect to a communications module412. Example communications modules412include networking interface cards, such as Ethernet cards and modems. In certain aspects, the input/output module410is configured to connect to a plurality of devices, such as an input device414and/or an output device416. Example input devices414include a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which a user can provide input to the computer system400. Other kinds of input devices414are used to provide for interaction with a user as well, such as a tactile input device, visual input device, audio input device, or brain-computer interface device. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, tactile, or brain wave input. Example output devices416include display devices, such as a LED (light emitting diode), CRT (cathode ray tube), or LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, for displaying information to the user.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, personal computing device302can be implemented using a computer system400in response to processor402executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in memory404. Such instructions may be read into memory404from another machine-readable medium, such as data storage device406. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory404causes processor402to perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in memory404. In alternative aspects, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various aspects of the present disclosure. Thus, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

Computing system400includes servers and personal computer devices, such as servers310and personal computing devices302, described in detail above. A personal computing device and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. Computer system400can be, for example, and without limitation, a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet computer. Computer system400can also be embedded in another device, for example, and without limitation, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a video game console, and/or a television set top box.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be disclosed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially disclosed as such, one or more features from a disclosed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the disclosed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

The subject matter of this specification has been described in terms of particular aspects, but other aspects can be implemented and are within the scope of the following disclosure. For example, the actions recited in the disclosure can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Other variations are within the scope of the disclosure.