Patent No. 6039688 Therapeutic behavior modification program, compliance monitoring and feedback system

 

Patent No. 6039688

Therapeutic behavior modification program, compliance monitoring and feedback system (Douglas, et al., Mar 21, 2000)

Abstract

A therapeutic behavior modification program, compliance monitoring and feedback system includes a server-based relational database and one or more microprocessors electronically coupled to the server. The system enables development of a therapeutic behavior modification program having a series of milestones for an individual to achieve lifestyle changes necessary to maintain his or her health or recover from ailments or medical procedures. The program may be modified by a physician or trained case advisor prior to implementation. The system monitors the individual's compliance with the program by prompting the individual to enter health-related data, correlating the individual's entered data with the milestones in the behavior modification program and generating compliance data indicative of the individual's progress toward achievement of the program milestones. The system also includes an integrated system of graphical system interfaces for motivating the individual to comply with the program. Through the interfaces, the individual can access the database to review the compliance data and obtain health information from a remote source such as selected sites on the Internet. The system also provides an electronic calendar integrated with the behavior modification program for signaling the individual to take action pursuant to the behavior modification program in which the calendar accesses the relational database and integrates requirements of the program with the individual's daily schedule, and an electronic journal for enabling the individual to enter personal health-related information into the system on a regular basis. In addition, the system includes an electronic meeting room for linking the individual to a plurality of other individuals having related behavior modification programs for facilitating group peer support sessions for compliance with the program. The system enables motivational media presentations to be made to the individuals in the electronic meeting room as part of the group support session to facilitate interactive group discussion about the presentations. The entire system is designed around a community of support motif including a graphical electronic navigator operable by the individual to control the microprocessor for accessing different parts of the system.

Notes:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore provides for an integrated, computer-implemented, electronically deliverable patient therapeutic behavior modification program, compliance, monitoring, and feedback system which supports the design of customized therapeutic behavior and lifestyle modification programs for subscribers; accepts the input of current health data for these patients; enables the review of these health records by a physician; enables the performance of aggregate reviews of such records by health plan payors, such as HMOs, insurance companies, and large self-insured employers; and motivates the patient to comply with the program and make the necessary lifestyle changes through an integrated system of interactive graphical interfaces.

In an exemplary scenario, a physician prescribes parameters and goals for a such a therapeutic behavior modification program to help a patient recover from an ailment or surgical procedure, and these are input into the computer-implemented system. Alternately, one of several established behavior modification programs that have been designed for patient recovery from particular ailments or procedures can be utilized. The system provides a novel interface that allows immediate patient access to the behavior modification program and helps monitor compliance with the program by prompting the patient to input data relating to his or her adherence to the program's parameters. These parameters may relate, for example, to diet, exercise, and other factors pertinent to the behavior modification program. The patient, physician, case manager or members of the physician's staff may also input information relating to blood pressure, medication, and the results of other medical tests on a computer linked to the system. Using this input, the system can recommend a plan (also referred to as a therapeutic program) and goals based on established medical protocols. The physician can modify the program to customize it for the patient. Once the patient has begun to follow the program, the system recommends modifications and updates to both physician and patient by correlating the patient's progress with previously established goals.

The system provides ongoing multimedia (audio, video, and e-mail) feedback to the patient through a novel, user-friendly interface designed around an interactive "village" or "community of support" motif that allows him or her to navigate electronically through different parts of the system. The interface provides access to pertinent medical information, an on-line journal that enables the patient to write down his or her feelings on a regular basis, an electronic calendar which integrates events mandated by the program with the patient's daily schedule, on-line interactive group support sessions with patients on similar programs, and motivational multimedia presentations. The system can make specific diet and exercise suggestions based on the patient's overall program. This data is monitored by a professional case advisor--a nurse trained in the protocols of the system's software--as well as electronically by the system's protocols themselves. The system provides specific feedback to the physician so that he or she can modify or update the program as the patient progresses; and in the aggregate to the health plan payor to assess management and cost factors. The health plan payor can also view individual records which are obtainable after receiving the proper medical release from the patient. By providing several channels of continuous feedback among the patient, physician, professional case advisor, and health plan payor through custom designed interfaces, the system helps enhance patient compliance with the behavior modification program, and can help make the overall health care system more efficient.

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In the preferred embodiment, the system is constructed using the C++ programming language in conjunction with SQL 6.5, Cold Fusion, commercially available from Alaire Company, Visual Basic, commercially available from Microsoft Corporation), and HTML. Active X and Java components may also be invoked to handle the multimedia functions of the system.

It will be understood that the foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, the system can be programmed in any number of programming languages besides C++ code to achieve the underlying principles of the present invention. The screens can be reformatted to change their appearance, and many different data sets can be used for various patients with different chronic diseases.