Patent ID: 8224665

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: at a computer, receiving input data comprising healthcare costs, processes, and a population; receiving, using the computer, for a first simulation on a first set of simulated subjects reflecting the population, a first set of outcome data, comprising, in part, for each of the simulated subjects, a plurality of potential healthcare outcomes and associated first risk outcome values representing probabilities that the potential healthcare outcomes will occur; storing a first set of initial variables and, for each simulated subject, corresponding first outcome data from the first set of outcome data; receiving, using the computer, for a second simulation reflecting an effect of an additional healthcare intervention on a second set of simulated subjects, a second set of outcome data, comprising, in part, for each of the simulated subjects, a plurality of second potential healthcare outcomes and associated second risk outcome values and representing probabilities that the second potential healthcare outcomes will occur with the intervention; storing a second set of initial variables and, for each simulated subject, corresponding second outcome data from the second set of outcome data; determining, using the computer, from the stored first set of initial variables and from the corresponding first outcome data for each simulated subject, a first risk function that describes a first risk under the first set of processes; determining, using the computer, from the stored second set of initial variables and from the corresponding second outcome data for each simulated subject, a second risk function that describes a second risk under the second set of processes containing data reflecting at least one intervention; and deriving, using the computer, a benefit function that represents a benefit of the intervention by subtracting the second risk function from the first risk function.