Abstract:
A system and related methods and procedures are provided for gauging the financial and operational implications of various types of investment decisions. Among the various applications of the invention, the invention can be used to conveniently and efficiently assess employment decisions, including, for example, the hiring of a new physician by a medical group or hospital and the hiring of an additional attorney to expand a legal practice, in any type of practice setting.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/913,061, which was filed Apr. 20, 2007 and which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is related to the fields of data processing and communications networks, and more particularly, to utilizing such processing and networks to electronically generate various types of pro-forma. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The long-term viability of virtually all types of organizations, be they commercial ventures or not-for-profit entities, frequently depends on making critical investment decisions. Such decisions can include the decision to hire new employees, to expand existing facilities, and to purchase new equipment. For example, a critical investment decision for a group medical practice or law firm is deciding whether to expand the practice by hiring additional professionals. Similarly, critical investment decisions for a large not-for-profit medical research and teaching facility include, for example, deciding whether to hire new professors, to purchase the latest cutting-edge medical equipment, and to undertake new construction to expand the size or operations of the facility. 
         [0005]    The same considerations pertain to individuals making personal decisions as well. For example, a professional, such as a physician or attorney, deciding whether to move to a new practice or establish one in a different region must make many of the same assessments to determine whether such a move is in the professional&#39;s best interest. 
         [0006]    Making these kinds of decisions typically involves assessing a multitude of factors. For example, in the context of hiring a new physician for a group medical practice or large hospital, the decision can require consideration of prevailing physicians&#39; salaries. This may require information about salaries at the regional level or even the national level, depending on the appropriate market for a particular medical specialty. Additionally, any expected increase in revenues to be generated by hiring a new physician must be estimated. Increased costs, such as the cost of additional medical malpractice coverage, must be weighted against the estimated increase in revenue if an optimal decision is to be made. 
         [0007]    The assessments of risks, expected benefits, and anticipated costs, however, can be extremely difficult to make. Typically, making these assessments requires access to a vast amount of different types of data, data which is often difficult to obtain. Often times an even greater challenge can be to identify and locate a source from which the needed data can be obtained. Moreover, putting the data together to arrive at an accurate assessment of any of the various factors can be a daunting task. Thus, the number of man-hours of research and evaluation that goes into making these types of decisions can be considerable. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for a system and procedures for acquiring, processing, and presenting the myriad information needed to make accurate investment decisions. In particular, there is a need for a system and procedures for accurately and efficiently generating pro-forma, particularly financial pro-forma, which can serve as the basis for making investment decisions like those regarding hiring new personnel, purchasing new equipment, and expanding existing facilities or operations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is directed to a system and related methods and procedures that provide a unique and efficient infrastructure for gauging the financial and operational implications of various types of investment decisions. Among the various applications of the invention, the invention can be used to conveniently and efficiently assess employment decisions, including, for example, the hiring of a new physician by a medical group or hospital or the hiring of an additional attorney to expand an existing legal practice, in any type of practice setting. 
         [0010]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the system can be implemented as an Internet website. For example, in the context of physician hiring—whether it is an existing family practice physician looking to relocate to another state, or a hospital administrator considering the employment of a cardiologist for a new heart program—the website can provide a ‘decision-string’ procedure that allows for the rapid, unbiased, and concise generation of an Adobe PDF or other type of printer-friendly pro-forma, typically in only a matter of minutes. 
         [0011]    With the migration of Internet revenue shifting towards impression-based advertising models, the website can be designed to maintain a captive audience through multiple screen presentations utilizing question-based logic. As a result of this migration, the website can be implemented as an advertising-based revenue model. The website also can establish a reciprocal link service through collaboration with various entities, such as payscale.com, salary.com and monster.com. 
         [0012]    The website, moreover, can be implemented with the most current hypertext markup language (HTML) and international web design standards so as to ensure minimal distortion, and to maintain a consistent appearance and presentation over the Internet. The website can also be equipped with an advertising content manager that can be maintained by clerical, secretary-level professional. The system additionally can include a reporting module or system for state-specific usership measurements through tracking during any predetermined timeframe, ranging from daily to annual tracking. 
         [0013]    Users can choose to enter specific free-text values. Alternatively, users can opt to have the hidden decision logic system make recommendations for them based on the accessible databases or data sets containing publicly-available information, such as health data, relocation services, and malpractice rates. 
         [0014]    The website can be hosted on any type of server, including a basic server. Manual upgrades need be made only annually. Although, the system is illustratively described herein primarily in terms of physician practices, the infrastructure of the invention is scalable and can easily be established for other professional services, including for dental practices and the market for physician assistants, for example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    There are shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred. It is expressly noted, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic diagrams exemplary network environments in which is deployed a system for electronically generating financial and other pro-forma, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a system for electronically generating financial and other pro-forma, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of exemplary steps in a method for electronically generating financial and other pro-forma, according to still another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The invention is directed to systems and methods for generating various types of pro-forma, including financial pro-forma that can serve as the basis for different types of investment decisions. These investment decisions include, for example, an organization&#39;s decision to hire new personnel, to purchase new equipment, and/or to expand an existing facility or operation. The invention can also permit individuals, such as physicians, dentists, and attorneys, to make more informed career decisions. As explained herein, the invention provides an electronic mechanism whereby user-supplied information and/or stored data is used to electronically generate pro-forma, such as financial pro-forma, for making such decisions. 
         [0020]    The invention, more particularly, provides a platform that permits users to create a fusion between user-supplied information and information obtained from existing databases and data sets in order to create a basic estimate or a detailed, customized multi-year forecast regarding a particular decision. One of the advantages offered by the invention is that an endeavor that would otherwise typically entail hours of research, data assemblage, and evaluation can often be accomplished in only minutes. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an exemplary network environment  100  in which an electronic data processing system  102 , according to one embodiment of the invention, can be utilized. The system  102  can receive user-supplied information through the network, electronically process the information, and generate a user-requested proforma. The network environment  100  illustratively includes, in addition to the system  102 , at least one computing device  104 , at least one telephone device  106 , at least one mobile communications device  108 , and at least one handheld device  110 , any one of which can be employed by the user to communicate with the system. Although only one of each type of device is shown for purpose of illustration, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that a far greater number of each of these various types of devices can be used according to the invention. 
         [0022]    The computing device  104  is illustratively a desktop computer. In other embodiments, however, the computing device  104  can be, additionally or alternatively, a laptop computer or similar type of device with which a user can input information using a computer keyboard or a computer mouse configured to effect point-and-click operations, for example. Indeed, when the computing device is combined with automatic speech recognition capabilities, the computing device  104  also can be a vehicle for inputting voice-based information. 
         [0023]    The mobile communications device  108  is illustratively a cellular phone that communicates via a cellular network that includes at least one cellular tower  109  for receiving and conveying wireless signals. The cellular network can be communicatively linked to the system  102  directly and/or via a computer communications network. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile communications device  108  can communicate, for example, via a communications satellite or over a mobile communication network. The handheld device  110  can be, for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA), electronic tablet, or similar such device. Thus, the handheld device  110  can incorporate handwriting-recognition and/or speech-recognition features, allowing a user  112  to input information to the system  102  in written and/or spoken form. 
         [0024]    Each of the various devices shown in the exemplary network environment  100  is illustratively linked to the system  102  via a computer communications network  114 , such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or other such communication network configured to convey packetized data between the system  102  and the various network-connected devices  104 - 110 , according to one or more known routing protocols. Thus, for example, voice signals can be conveyed between the telephone device  106  and the system  102  as Internet Protocol (IP) voice packets according to the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) specification H.323 (VoIP). 
         [0025]    Although illustratively shown as being connected to the system  102  via the computer communications network  112 , in alternate embodiments one or more of the different devices connects directly to the system  102 . Accordingly, the telephone  106  can communicatively link to the system  102  via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), for example. 
         [0026]    The various network-connected devices provide entry points at which various users—for example, an entity such as a medical group, research and teaching hospital, law firm, or single individual—can submit information to the system  102  for processing according to the various procedures implemented by the system. When received by the system  102 , the different forms of information are processed in order to create storable electronic data and to provide data that is a basis for the different types of pro-forma that can be generated by the system  102 . 
         [0027]    As illustrated, the system  102  includes a network interface  116  through which information is received directly and/or via the computer communications network  106 . The system  102  further illustratively includes at least one processor  118  communicatively linked to the network interface  116  for processing received information. Additionally, the system  102  illustratively includes a plurality of databases  120  communicatively linked to the processor  118  to store electronic data. 
         [0028]    The databases  120 , more particularly, store various data sets that can be routinely updated to reflect factors such as changing national and regional market trends. These market trends, for example, can pertain to regional or national salary trends for professionals, such as physicians, dentists, and attorneys, as well as salary trends for other occupations and professions. Other market trends reflected in the data sets can be cost trends, such as the changing costs for malpractice insurance and the costs of generally-used or special-purpose equipment. As explained more particularly below, these data sets alone, or in conjunction with user-specific information, are analyzed by the system  102  to generate different types of user-requested pro-form a  122 ,  124 . 
         [0029]    Each generated pro-forma  122 ,  124  can be saved to the system  102  as a printable document, which also can include a reference dictionary of the supporting recommendation rationales of the analysis. Moreover, the particular pro-forma  122 ,  124  generated from the analysis performed by the system  102  can be rendered in a “ready-to-go” format so that the pro-form a can be easily included in any business proposal or write-up. Accordingly, the system  102  can enable a user to create an accurate forecast of the financial implications of virtually any type of investment decision, including, for example, salary, malpractice, recruitment and continuing medical education recommendations specific to a physician type for making an informed judgment about hiring a new physician by a group medical practice or hospital. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of an alternative network arrangement  150  in which the electronic data processing system  102 , according to another embodiment of the invention, can be utilized. According to this embodiment, the system  102  communicates through the data communications network  114  with one or more network-connected databases  121 ,  123 ,  125  that are remotely located from the system. Operatively, the system  102  executes a search procedure to locate among the plurality of remotely-located, network-connected databases  121 ,  123 ,  125  at least one database containing at least a portion of the information needed to generate a particular user-requested pro-forma. 
         [0031]    For example, a group medical practice may be considering hiring an additional physician trained in a particular medical specialty. The group medical practice may not know the prevailing physician salaries for the particular medical specialty in the relevant geographic region. Accordingly, the system  102  executes the search procedure to identify one or more databases  121 ,  123 ,  125  from which the needed information can be obtained. Once the system  102  has identified at least one such database, the system can obtain the needed information for completing the analysis needed to generate the requested pro-forma. 
         [0032]    Illustratively, the electronic data processing system  102  can be implemented as a network connected server having at least one processor  118 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the processor  118 , according to one embodiment of the invention. The processor  118  illustratively includes a prompting module  202 , a database accessing module  204 , and a pro-forma generating module  206 . Each of the prompting module  202 , database accessing module  204 , and pro-forma generating module  206  functions cooperatively with the other modules and with the other elements of the system  102 . One or more of the modules  202 ,  204 ,  206 , according to one embodiment, comprises computer-readable code configured to execute on a general-purpose or application-specific computer. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the modules  2202 ,  204 ,  206  comprises dedicated hardwired circuitry. In still another embodiment, one or more of the modules  202 ,  204 ,  206  comprises a combination of computer-readable code and dedicated hardwired circuitry for carrying out the procedures effected by the system  102 . 
         [0033]    Operatively, the prompting module  202 , incorporated in or executing on the server, presents to a user a series of prompts. Each of the series of prompts requests that the user supply a predetermined set of information needed for completing the analysis necessary for generating a particular, user-requested pro-forma. 
         [0034]    One aspect of the invention is that the user is afforded an opportunity to rely on the system  102  to supply at least a portion of the predetermined set of information. Accordingly, if the user elects to use system-supplied data for constructing all or a portion of the predetermined set of information, the database accessing module  204  incorporated in or executing on the server automatically accesses at least one database and obtains the needed data. As noted above, the system  102 , according to one embodiment, includes databases  120  that include regularly- or intermittently-updated datasets. According to an alternative embodiment, also noted above, the system  102  through the database accessing module  204  executes a search routine so as to identify one or more databases  121 ,  123 ,  125  having the needed data. According to this embodiment, the system  102  through the database accessing module  204  obtains the needed data from the identified database or databases  121 ,  123 ,  125  through the data communications network  114 . 
         [0035]    Either or both procedures can be employed to obtain needed data when a user elects to have the system  102  provide at least a portion of the predetermined set of information. Once the complete set of information has been assembled, the pro-forma generating module  206  incorporated in, or executing on, the server analyses the information in order to generate the particular, user-requested pro-forma. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is flowchart of exemplary steps illustrating an electronic data processing method  300  for generating a pro-forma. Illustratively, following that start at step  302 , a series of prompts is provided to a user at step  304 . Through the series of prompts, provided as a series of graphical displays and/or audible instructions, the user is directed to supply specific information to be analyzed and evaluated for generating a user-requested pro-forma. 
         [0037]    At step  306 , a determination is made as to whether the user-supplied information is sufficient to complete a predetermined set of necessary information, which is needed to generate the user-requested pro-forma. If the set of information is incomplete, the procedure proceeds to step  308 , at which point one or more databases is identified as having the information needed and the needed information is obtained. The user may, either for the entire set of information or selected portions of information, explicitly elect that the information be obtained from one or more databases rather than be supplied directly by the user. According to one embodiment, the system-supplied information is obtained from predetermined databases. According to still another embodiment, the information is obtained by searching multiple, publicly-accessible databases accessed through a data communications network in order to identify and retrieve the information. 
         [0038]    Once the predetermined set of information is complete, the procedure continues at step  308  with an analysis of the complete set of information. Based on the analysis and evaluation of the information, a user-requested pro-forma is generated at step  310 . Illustratively, the method concludes at step  312 . 
         [0039]    The invention, as already noted, can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
         [0040]    The invention, as also already noted, can be embedded in a computer program product, such as magnetized tape, an optically-readable disk, or other computer-readable medium, in which is embedded computer-readable code defining a computer program for causing a computer or computer-based system to implement the methods described herein when loaded in the computer or computer-based system. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
         [0041]    The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration. The description is not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Indeed, modifications and variations will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the detailed description provided herein.