Abstract:
A method and system for providing shared private nursing or other healthcare services has a computer with a database for storing patient data and locations. The patients are sorted by location and assigned a nursing rotation for each group of patients at a common location. The services provided to each patient are assigned a numerical value and the value of the services provided to each patient are calculated to determine a percentage of the daily nursing rate attributable to each patient. The patient is then billed only for the percentage of the nurse&#39;s time and work that was used over the billing period. The calculations are performed automatically on a computer having a microprocessor after receiving data on the services provided from a personal computer, smartphone or tablet of each nurse.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/887,390, filed on Oct. 6, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a method for sharing private duty nursing or other private health care among residents of a common facility. In particular the present invention relates to a computerized method for calculating the amount of care received by each patient from the private duty nursing or other healthcare staff, and billing the patient accordingly. 
         [0004]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0005]    When people are confined to a hospital, rehabilitation center or assisted living facility, they often require care that exceeds the level provided by the on-site nursing staff. In these situations, people often hire a private duty nurse (PDN). The PDN works directly for the patient, and not for the facility. The level of care provided is excellent, as the PDN staff looks after the patient 24 hours a day. However, the costs can be excessive, and are often beyond what a single patient can afford. 
         [0006]    It would be ideal if there were a way for several patients in a single facility to share the cost and services of a single PDN or other private healthcare provider. Currently, no such systems exist. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system for providing shared nursing services and calculating the costs to be billed to each patient based on the amount of nursing used. 
         [0008]    This object is accomplished by a method for sharing nursing or healthcare services that is run on a computer system having a microprocessor, a storage device, a wireless communication device and software that is programmed to perform the method steps. 
         [0009]    First, data of patients requesting private care is entered into the database, either directly at the computer storing the database, or transmitted over the wireless communication network. The patient data includes at least the patients&#39; names and locations but can include other information as well, such as medical history and billing information. 
         [0010]    Additionally, a list of common nursing or care services provided by a nursing rotation is entered into the database, along with a corresponding numerical value assigned to each one of the services. The more labor intensive or complicated the service, the higher the numerical value. The numerical value could be a relative value, such as a scale of 1-10, or could be an estimated dollar amount of the value of the service. 
         [0011]    The patient data is then sorted by the microprocessor to group the patients according to location. This way, patients in the same facility are grouped together to form a nursing group. The processor automatically assigns the patients in a common location to a single nursing rotation. The software can be programmed to set a limit on the number of patients in a single nursing rotation, so that once that number is exceeded, another nursing rotation is assigned. The number of patients is then spread out among the assigned nurses. For example, if the maximum number of patients per nurse is 4, but there are six patients in a single facility requesting nursing care, then two nurses will be assigned with three patients each. Two more patients can be added to the group without the need for an additional nurse. However, once the ninth patient appears (assuming that none of the original patients drop out) a third nursing rotation will be added. The assignment is dynamic within a facility as the patients are added and drop out. 
         [0012]    After the private nursing rotations are assigned to the patients, each service provided to each patient is entered into the database. The processor then automatically assigns a numerical value to each service based on the values already entered in the database for the common services. In addition, the database also stores a daily rate for each nursing rotation in the database. Typically, a nursing rotation will consists of three nurses sharing one 24 hour shift. However, other configurations of the 24 hour shift could also be done, such as 2 nurses on 12 hour shifts, or four or more nurses on shorter shifts. 
         [0013]    Once all of the data is entered into the database, the microprocessor, as programmed by the software, calculates a cost per patient in the common location by determining the percentage of the daily rate for each nursing rotation to be assigned to each patient based on the numerical value of the services provided to each patient. The microprocessor then automatically generates an invoice for the cost of the nursing rotation and sends the invoice to each patient over the wireless network or by mail. Typically, the charges are compiled over time and invoices are sent on a monthly basis, but other time frames could be used as well. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the services provided to each patient are entered into the database via a personal computer, tablet or smartphone of each nurse in the nursing rotation and transmitted over a wireless network to the database. This way, the services can be recorded in real time, as they are being performed. This cuts down on reporting errors and makes it easier for the nurses to keep track of their charges. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the tablet, smartphone or personal computer is provided with a custom interface that allows quick entry of the services provided for each patient. The interface contains pre-loaded information about each patient and a checklist of services provided. The nurse merely has to select the service provided from the list each time it is performed. If a service is provided that is not on the list, the nurse can manually enter it and it will be sent to the database over the wireless network, or it can be sent by text message or email. A billing specialist at the database location can then assign a custom value for that charge. 
         [0016]    The present invention provides a unique opportunity to provide shared private nursing services to patients in various facilities, at a reduced cost. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
           [0018]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the hardware components used in the method according to the invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show block diagrams of the internal components of the system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the interface on a nurse&#39;s screen; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram of the method steps according to the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a workflow of the allocation of patients to nursing staff in the method according to the invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a sample list of charges entered into the database with the method according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the components of the system according to the invention. An application server  101  can be connected to a database server  102  and to the internet  108  via a firewall  103 . Servers  101  and  102  can communicate with a plurality of personal devices  230  such as phone/handheld  109 ,  11 , tablet  113  and computing device  115 . Application server  101  and database server  102  form a computer system  220 . Servers  101  and  102  could also be a single integrated server. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show details of the interior components of servers  101  and  102  ( FIG. 2A ) and personal devices ( FIG. 2B ). Each of the servers (or the single server) have a motherboard  229  that contains a microprocessor  221 , a power supply  224 , a memory  222 , a mass storage  223  and a video output  225 . In some cases, the memory  222  and mass storage  223  can be combined into a single memory storage device such as a flash memory. Mass storage  223  is ROM and stores the software  209  that runs the system according to the invention. This software  209  when used is called up into memory  222  (RAM memory) and used by microprocessor  221  to perform the tasks of the invention. Communications device  225  can be a modem or any other device that can transmit and receive data over the internet. Data that is input into the system is stored in mass storage device  223  in the form of a searchable database  210 . A video output  226  displays data from the database  201 . 
         [0027]    Computer system  220  communicates with personal device  230  shown in  FIG. 2B . Personal device  230  can be a tablet  113 , smartphone  111 ,  109  or personal computing device  115  such as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each personal device  230  has a motherboard  239  with a microprocessor  231 , a memory  232 , a mass storage  233 , a power supply  234 , a video output  237 , a GPS (global positioning system)  236 , a telephonic communication device  235 , such as a SIM card, and a WIFI communication device  238 . A video screen  230   a  displays an interface allowing a user to input information for transfer to computer  220 . Communication devices  235  and  238  allow personal device  230  to communicate with computer system  220  and exchange data. As explained below, data regarding patients, nursing rates and services provided is input into computer system  220  and stored as a database  210  in mass storage  223 . Computer system  220  communicates with personal device  230  over the internet or other wireless network to exchange data between the nursing rotation and computer system  220 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a smartphone  109  with a video display  230   a  and a customized interface in the form of an application  300  installed on mass storage  233  and accessed by memory  232  for use by microprocessor  231 . The application  300  displays a pull-down menu of information for a particular nurse having smartphone  109 . The application  300  contains all of the data regarding each patient assigned to a nurse, such as patient names  310 . Application  300  also contains a preloaded menu of services provided 320, and allows entry of the date the service is provided 330 and the time the service is provided 340. A “send” button allows the selected information to be immediately sent from smartphone  109  to computer  220  via any available wireless network. For example, if a nurse is assigned to four patients, each patient name is sent to smartphone  109  of the nurse, who only has to select from the group of names in the application. Each of the various services provided by a nurse is also pre-loaded onto application  300 , so the nurse only has to select from the list of services. If a service is provided that is not on the list, the nurse can send a custom description to computer system  220  either by text message, email or via an adaption to application  300  that allows custom inputting. The date and time of each service is also entered before sending the information to computer system  220 . 
         [0029]    Once the information is received by computer system  220 , microprocessor  221 , using software  210 , matches each service with a numerical value, and assigns that value to each patient. At the end of the billing cycle, the daily rate of each nurse is divided by the proportion of the nurses services used by each patient as determined by aggregate numerical value of all services provided to each patient during the billing period. 
         [0030]    The steps of the method are shown in  FIG. 4 . In step  401 , data of patients requesting nursing care is entered into computer system  220  and stored in storage  223  in the form of a database  210 . In step  402 , the patient data is sorted by microprocessor  221  using software  209  to group the patents by location, so that all patients in a single location form one or more nursing groups. In step  403 , the microprocessor automatically assigns the patients in a common location to a single nursing rotation. The patient data is then sent to the personal device  230  of all nurses in that nursing rotation. In step  404 , data for each service provided to each patient is entered into computer system  220  by entering the data via the application  300  on smartphone  109  or any other personal device  230  used by each nurse. The data is then sent over any available wireless network to computer system  220  for storage on mass storage  223 . 
         [0031]    In step  405 , a list of common nursing services is entered into computer system  220 , along with a corresponding numerical value for each service. In step  406 , microprocessor  221  automatically assigns the designated numerical value to each service that was entered for each patient in step  405 , so that each patient has a running tally of services provided and numerical values for each service. In step  407 , a daily rate for each nursing rotation is entered into computer  220 . This daily rate is generally the rate charged for a single 24 hour shift of nursing care. Generally, this can be anywhere from 2-4 nurses sharing this shift. The steps recited above are not necessarily performed in the order given, as the entering of information into computer system  220  can be done at various different times during a billing process. 
         [0032]    In step  406 , the microprocessor automatically calculates a cost per patient over a set period of time by determining the percentage of the daily rate for each nursing rotation to be assigned to each patient for each day, based on the numerical value of the services provided to each patient. 
         [0033]    In step  407 , the microprocessor automatically generates and sends an invoice for the cost of the nursing rotation to each patient. Generally, the invoices are calculated, generated and sent on a monthly basis, but other billing cycles could also be used. The invoices can be sent automatically by email or text message by server  221 , or can be printed out and mailed to each patient. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a decision tree showing how patients are allocated to each nursing rotation. A patient pool  500  consists of eight patients, who are grouped according to location in step  402  of the process. In facility A, there are 6 patients requesting nursing care, and in facility B, there are two patients requesting nursing care. The software program  209  has set a maximum number of patients per nursing rotation at 4, so in Facility A, two nursing rotations must be assigned by the microprocessor  221 . The total patients are facility A are then divided between the two nursing rotations, so that each nurse 1, 2 is assigned to three patients. Microprocessor  221  performs this calculation automatically. Facility B has not reached the maximum number of patients, so only a single nurse 3 is assigned. As the patient pool changes over time, the number of nurses assigned to each facility changes, as do the number of patients. The microprocessor  221  is continuously re-evaluating the staffing at each facility to ensure that the proper number of nurses are assigned for each facility, based on the maximum patient load. This helps to keep the costs down for the patients, as they are sharing the costs with a larger number of other patients, while still receiving quality care. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a list of charges  600 , showing a sample cost allocation for a variety of nursing services. Such an allocation is entered into computer  220  for use in calculating the costs to each patient. As shown in  FIG. 6 , each service is allocated a different numerical value, based on the difficulty or time each service takes. For example, administering medication is rated a 2, while bathing is rated a 5, so is comparatively more expensive to the patient. 
         [0036]    The monthly bill to each patient is calculated as follows: Nurse 1 (i.e., a nursing rotation of a 24 hour shift) has three patients in a single facility, Patient 1, Patient 2 and Patient 3, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Patient 1 has used 240 units of nursing charges in the month of December, as calculated by the schedule of charges shown by example in  FIG. 6 . Patient 2 has used 310 units and Patent 3 has used 120 units. The daily rate for Nurse 1 is $400 for a 24 hour shift. Thus, for the month of December, the total nursing charge is $400×31 or $12,400. The total units used in December by patients 1-3 was 670. Thus, Patient 1 used 240/670 units, or 36% of the nursing charge. Patent 2 used 46% and patient 3 used 18%. Thus, the monthly bill to patent 1 is 36% of $12,400, or $4464. The monthly bills to patients 2 and 3 are $5704 and $2232, respectively. These charges can be calculated easily and automatically by the microprocessor  221 , even if new patients are added mid-month, or if a patient uses only a part of a month&#39;s nursing care, as the bill only reflects the percentage of nursing care actually used. 
         [0037]    Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.