# US 7,860,728 B2 · System, method, and computer program product for reducing the burden on scheduling systems by forecasting a demand for medical resources using retrieved billing data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,860,728 B2 - Document ID: US7860728B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/351,353 - Filed: 2006-02-09 - Published: 2007-08-09 - Granted: 2010-12-28 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-09 - Assignees: Syus, LLC - Inventors: David Reynolds; Prakash Raghothamachar; Mark Soileau; Eric Vickery; Milan Zimmermann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7860728B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 40/08: Insurance - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract The present invention generates a forecast factor indicating an anticipated demand for a medical resource in a medical facility during a selected time period. The invention generates the forecast factor using billing data retrieved from one or more billing data systems wherein the retrieved billing data is from a prior time period that is comparable to the selected time period. The invention may also generate a schedule of the medical resource using the determined forecast factor such that the generated schedule may substantially correspond to the anticipated demand for the medical resource during the selected time period. In addition, the invention may also generate one or more displays of the determined forecast factor to a user and may also receive a user input for selecting and/or modifying the protocol used to determine the forecast factor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for optimizing a schedule of at least one medical resource in at least one medical facility using a billing data set, the system comprising: a medical billing system comprising the billing data corresponding to at least one medical procedure being performed using the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during a first time period, the data within the billing data set being indicative of a utilization of the at least one medical resource during the first time period; and a forecasting module in communication with said medical billing system, wherein said forecasting module: retrieves the billing data set from the medical billing system; converts data within the billing data set into a utilization data set corresponding to a historical demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; determines a forecast factor using data within the utilization data set, the forecast factor corresponding to an expected demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during a second time period, the second time period being subsequent to the first time period; and generates a schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said forecasting module transfers the generated schedule to a scheduling calendar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said forecasting module comprises a memory device for storing the retrieved billing data set. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface for displaying the forecast factor to a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A system according to claim 4, wherein said user interface is configured to receive a user input comprising a selection of the forecast factor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A system according to claim 4, wherein said forecast module displays the forecast factor to the user via said user interface in at least one of: a chart of substantially concurrent medical procedures in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; a chart of a quantity of the at least one medical procedure in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and a Gantt chart of the at least one medical procedure during the first time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the data within the billing data set comprises at least one of: an identification code for identifying a type of the at least one medical procedure; a time of the at least one medical procedure; a duration of the at least one medical procedure; a location of the at least one medical facility; a personnel identification code for identifying a clinician performing the at least one medical procedure; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the forecast factor comprises at least one of: a percentage of time the at least one medical facility is in use during the first time period; a number of clinicians required to staff the at least one medical procedure; a qualification of a clinician required to staff the at least one medical procedure; a number of concurrent medical procedures occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and a percentage of time that a selected number of concurrent medical procedures are occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second time periods are comparable time periods of substantially equivalent duration comprising at least one of: a day; a week; a month; and a year. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, further comprising a conversion module comprising data and corresponding utilization information, and wherein said forecasting module interrogates said conversion module so as to convert the data within the billing data set into a utilization data set comprising the utilization information corresponding to a historical demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during the first time period. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one medical resource is at least one of: a clinician; and a medical procedure room within the at least one medical facility. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one medical resource comprises a plurality of like medical resources each being interchangeable with one another such that a first of the plurality functions similarly to a second of the plurality; wherein the forecast factor corresponds to an expected demand for the plurality of like medical resources, the forecast factor comprising a number of concurrent medical procedures occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and wherein the forecast factor is configured such that the plurality of like medical resources can be scheduled for efficient utilization of each of the plurality during the second time period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12, wherein said forecasting module generates the schedule of the at least one medical resource such that the schedule corresponds to the determined forecast factor during the second time period, the plurality of like medical resources each being scheduled for efficient utilization of each of the plurality during the second time period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the forecasting module generates the schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time, the time comprising a time interval, during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the forecasting module generates the schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time, the date comprising a date range, during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized. ### Claim 16 A method for optimizing a schedule of at least one medical resource in at least one medical facility using a billing data set from a medical billing system, the billing data set corresponding to at least one medical procedure being performed using the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during a first time period, the data within the billing data set being indicative of a utilization of the at least one medical resource during the first time period, the method comprising: retrieving the billing data set from the medical billing system using a processing element; converting data within the billing data set into a utilization data set corresponding to a historical demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during the first time period using a processing element; determining a forecast factor using data within the utilization data set, the forecast factor corresponding to an expected demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during a second time period, the second time period being subsequent to the first time period using a processing element; and generating a schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized using a processing element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving a user input comprising a selection of the forecast factor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising transferring the generated schedule to a scheduling calendar. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying the forecast factor to a user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the displaying step further comprises displaying the forecast factor to the user in at least one of: a chart of substantially concurrent medical procedures in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; a chart of a quantity of the at least one medical procedure in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and a Gantt chart of the at least one medical procedure during the first time period. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the data within the billing data set comprises at least one of: an identification code for identifying a type of the at least one medical procedure; a time of the at least one medical procedure; a duration of the at least one medical procedure; a location of the at least one medical facility; a personnel identification code for identifying a clinician performing the at least one medical procedure; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the forecast factor comprises at least one of: a percentage of time the at least one medical facility is in use during the first time period; a number of clinicians required to staff the at least one medical procedure; a qualification of a clinician required to staff the at least one medical procedure; a number of concurrent medical procedures occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and a percentage of time that a selected number of concurrent medical procedures are occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16 wherein the first and second time periods are comparable time periods of substantially equivalent duration comprising at least one of a day; a week; a month; and a year. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising interrogating a conversion module comprising data and corresponding utilization information so as to convert the data within the billing data set into a utilization data set comprising the utilization information corresponding to a historical demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during the first time period. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one medical resource is at least one of: a clinician; and a medical procedure room within the at least one medical facility. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one medical resource comprises a plurality of like medical resources each being interchangeable with one another such that a first of the plurality functions similarly to a second of the plurality; wherein the forecast factor corresponds to an expected demand for the plurality of like medical resources, the forecast factor comprising a number of concurrent medical procedures occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and wherein the forecast factor is configured such that the plurality of like medical resources can be scheduled for efficient utilization of each of the plurality during the second time period. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, wherein said generating a schedule comprises generating the schedule for the at least one medical resource such that the schedule corresponds to the determined forecast factor during the second time period, the plurality of like medical resources each being scheduled for efficient utilization of each of the plurality during the second time period. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein generating the schedule comprises generating the schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time, the time comprising a time interval, during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein generating the schedule comprises generating the schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time, the date comprising a date range, during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized. ### Claim 30 A computer program product for optimizing a schedule of at least one medical resource in at least one medical facility by retrieving a billing data set from a medical billing system, the billing data set corresponding to at least one medical procedure being performed using the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during a first time period, the data within the billing data set being indicative of a utilization of the at least one medical resource during the first time period, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code instructions stored therein comprising: first computer instruction means for retrieving the billing data set from the medical billing system; second computer instruction means for converting data within the billing data set into a utilization data set corresponding to a historical demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; third computer instruction means for determining a forecast factor using data within the utilization data set, the forecast factor corresponding to an expected demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during a second time period, the second time period being subsequent to the first time period; and fourth computer instruction means for generating a schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized using processing element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, further comprising fifth computer instruction means for receiving a user input comprising a selection of the forecast factor. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, further comprising sixth computer instruction means for transferring the generated schedule to a scheduling calendar. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, further comprising seventh computer instruction means for displaying the forecast factor to a user. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A computer program product according to claim 33, wherein the seventh computer instruction means for displaying further comprises ninth computer instruction means for displaying the forecast factor to the user in at least one of: a chart of substantially concurrent medical procedures in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; a chart of a quantity of the at least one medical procedure in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and a Gantt chart of the at least one medical procedure during the first time period. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the data within the billing data set comprises at least one of: an identification code for identifying a type of the at least one medical procedure; a time of the at least one medical procedure; a duration of the at least one medical procedure; a location of the at least one medical facility; a personnel identification code for identifying a clinician performing the at least one medical procedure; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the forecast factor comprises at least one of a percentage of time the at least one medical facility is in use during the first time period; a number of clinicians required to staff the at least one medical procedure; a qualification of a clinician required to staff the at least one medical procedure; a number of concurrent medical procedures occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and a percentage of time that a selected number of concurrent medical procedures are occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period. ### Claim 37 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30 wherein the first and second time periods are comparable time periods of substantially equivalent duration comprising at least one of a day; a week; a month; and a year. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, further comprising eighth computer instruction means for interrogating a conversion module comprising data and corresponding utilization information so as to convert the data within the billing data set into a utilization data set comprising the utilization information corresponding to a historical demand for the at least one medical resource in the at least one medical facility during the first time period. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the at least one medical resource is at least one of: a clinician; and a medical procedure room within the at least one medical facility. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the at least one medical resource comprises a plurality of like medical resources each being interchangeable with one another such that a first of the plurality functions similarly to a second of the plurality; wherein the forecast factor corresponds to an expected demand for the plurality of like medical resources, the forecast factor comprising a number of concurrent medical procedures occurring in the at least one medical facility during the first time period; and wherein the forecast factor is configured such that the plurality of like medical resources can be scheduled for efficient utilization of each of the plurality during the second time period. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A computer program product according to claim 40, wherein said fourth computer instruction means for generating a schedule comprise computer instruction means for generating the schedule of the at least one medical resource such that the schedule corresponds to the determined forecast factor during the second time period, the plurality of like medical resources each being scheduled for efficient utilization of each of the plurality during the second time period. ### Claim 42 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the fourth computer instruction means for generating a schedule comprise computer instruction means for generating the schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time, the time comprising a time interval, during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized. ### Claim 43 (depends on 30) A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the fourth computer instruction means for generating a schedule comprise computer instruction means for generating the schedule for the at least one medical resource based on the determined forecast factor indicating at least a date and time, the date comprising a date range, during the second time period when the at least one medical resource is expected to be utilized.