METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A PHARMACOLOGICAL TRACKING AND REPORTING PLATFORM

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20200051679
  • Publication Number
    20200051679
  • Date Filed
    August 08, 2019
    5 years ago
  • Date Published
    February 13, 2020
    4 years ago
  • CPC
    • G16H20/10
    • G16H15/00
    • G16H10/60
    • G16H50/30
  • International Classifications
    • G16H20/10
    • G16H50/30
    • G16H10/60
Abstract
A method and computing system for prescription drug management program reporting can include receiving laboratory test results corresponding to a patient and being indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient. Controlled substance prescription data for the patient can be retrieved from a prescription drug management program data source and can include prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period. The controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results can be analyzed to determine a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment. An enhanced toxicology report based on the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period, the overdose risk score, and the drug consistency assessment can be generated output to a requestor computing device.
Description
FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pharmacological tracking platform.


BACKGROUND

It is estimated that approximately 80% of Americans are prescribed at least one pharmaceutical drug. Many people who are prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, however, may be prescribed the wrong drug, which can lead to adverse reactions, ineffective treatment, or even death. In some scenarios, a patient may be taking two medications that are not compatible with one another. In other scenarios, the patient may be physiologically unable to metabolize or otherwise process one of the active ingredients in the medication. These conditions may be averted if the patient is prescribed appropriate tests prior to being prescribed a treatment.


Moreover, many patients that are prescribed medications are misusing their drugs. In some scenarios, patients may be abusing the medication they are prescribed (e.g., opiates, amphetamines, and/or benzodiazepines). In other scenarios, patients may be using the drug with an incompatible over the counter medication or may be using the medication improperly (e.g., taking the medication too infrequently or without following the instructions). In other cases, prescribed medications may be diverted for use by individual's other than the one for whom the medication is prescribed, such as for sale on the black market or for unprescribed use by friends or family members. In any of these scenarios, a patient's health may be adversely affected and/or the costs of treating the patient may increase due to the improper use of the medication.


A need exists for improved methods and systems for detecting and addressing situations involving improper prescription of medication, improper utilization of prescribed medications, and diversion of prescribed medications to unprescribed uses.


SUMMARY

Improved methods, systems, components, processes, modules, and other elements (collectively referred to alternatively herein as the “pharmacological tracking platform,” or simply as the “platform”) for detecting and addressing situations involving improper prescription of medication, improper utilization of prescribed medications, and diversion of prescribed medications to unprescribed uses.


According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for detecting misuse of a controlled medication of a patient is disclosed. The method includes obtaining, by a processing system, lab test results of the patient from a lab testing system. The method also includes obtaining, by the processing system, patient attributes of the patient from one or more patient data sources. The method further includes generating, by the processing system, a usage profile corresponding to the patient based on the lab test results of the patient and the patient attributes. The method also includes determining, by the processing system, whether the usage profile is indicative of potential misuse of the controlled medication based on one or more features of the usage profile. Furthermore, in response to determining potential misuse of the controlled medication, the method includes transmitting a notification that indicates the potential misuse by the patient.


In some embodiments, the potential misuse of the controlled medication is overuse of the controlled medication.


In some embodiments, the potential misuse of the controlled medication is underuse of the controlled medication.


In some embodiments, generating the usage profile includes combining multiple test results of the patient to obtain a history of lab results of the patient.


In some embodiments, the patient attributes include two or more of: an age of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body type of the patient, and an activity level of a patient. In some of these embodiments, the patient attributes are obtained from an electronic medical record database of a healthcare system associated with a clinic of the patient. In some embodiments, the patient attributes are obtained from an insurer database of an insurance system associated with an insurance provider of the patient.


In some embodiments, determining whether the usage profile is indicative of potential misuse includes: identifying a set of features based on the usage profile; inputting the set of features into a machine learned classification model that is trained to classify instances of potential misuse of the classified medication; obtaining a classification from the machine learned classification model and a confidence score indicating a degree of confidence in the classification determined by the machine learned classification model; and determining whether the usage profile is indicative of the potential misuse based on the classification and the confidence score.


In some embodiments, determining whether the usage profile is indicative of potential misuse includes: identifying a set of features based on the usage profile; clustering the usage profile with a plurality of other usage profiles using a clustering algorithm, each other usage profile respectively corresponding to a respective previous patient that was prescribed the controlled medication and deemed either to be indicative of potential misuse of the controlled medication or proper use of the controlled medication; determining a cluster of the usage profile of the patient to which the usage profile was clustered, wherein the cluster includes a subset of the plurality of other usage profiles; and determining whether the usage profile is indicative of potential misuse of the controlled medication based on the other usage profiles in the subset of the plurality of other usage profiles.


In some embodiments, determining whether the usage profile is indicative of potential misuse includes: identifying a set of features based on the usage profile; and applying a set of rules to the features to determine whether the usage profile is indicative of potential misuse.


In some embodiments, the lab test results include results from a urine analysis test. In some embodiments, the lab test results include results from a blood test. In some embodiments, the lab test results include results from a buccal swab.


According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for recommending a lab test for a patient is disclosed. The method includes obtaining, by a processing system, a proposed prescription for the patient from an external data source, the proposed prescription indicating a medication. The method further includes obtaining, by the processing system, patient attributes for the patient, including a diagnosis of the patient. The method also includes determining, by the processing system, whether to recommend one or more different lab tests for the patient prior to the patient beginning the proposed prescription based on the proposed prescription and the patient attributes. The method also includes providing, by the processing system, a testing recommendation to a customer relationship management system, wherein the testing recommendation indicates the one or more different tests that are recommended for the patient in response to determining to recommend one or more different lab tests for the patient, wherein the customer relationship management system transmits the testing recommendation to a healthcare system of a clinic of the patient.


In some embodiments, determining whether to recommend the one or more different lab tests includes: identifying a set of features based on the proposed prescription and the patient attributes; inputting the set of features into one or more machine learned models that are respectively trained to determine whether to recommend a respective lab test; obtaining one or more respective recommendations from the one or more respective machine learned models based on the set of features, wherein each respective recommendation indicates whether the respective lab test should be performed for the patient given the patient attributes and has a confidence score that indicates a degree of confidence in the recommendation; and for each recommendation, determining whether to recommend the respective lab test indicated therein based on the confidence score of the recommendation. In some of these embodiments, each of the one or more machine learned models corresponds to the medication. In some embodiments, each of the one or more machine learned models is trained on a plurality of training data samples that respectively correspond to a plurality of previous patients that were prescribed the medication, wherein each training data sample includes respective patient attributes of the respective previous patient and an outcome related to the medication for the previous patient. In some of these embodiments, each training data sample further includes one or more lab test results of the respective previous patient.


In some embodiments, determining whether to recommend the one or more different lab tests includes: identifying a set of features based on the proposed prescription and the patient attributes; inputting the set of features into a machine learned model that is trained to determine whether to recommend one or more of a plurality of different lab tests given a set of patient attributes; obtaining a recommendation and a confidence score corresponding to the recommendation from the machine learned model based on the set of features, wherein the recommendation indicates any of the plurality of different lab tests that should be performed for the patient given the patient attributes, and the confidence score indicates a degree of confidence in the recommendation; and determining whether to accept the recommendation based on the confidence score of the recommendation. In some of these embodiments, the machine learned model corresponds to the medication. In some embodiments, the machine learned model is trained on a plurality of training data samples that respectively correspond to a plurality of previous patients that were prescribed the medication, wherein each training data sample includes respective patient attributes of the respective previous patient and an outcome related to the medication for the previous patient. In some embodiments, each training data sample further includes one or more lab test results of the respective previous patient.


In some embodiments, determining whether to recommend the one or more different lab tests includes: identifying a set of features based on the usage profile, and applying a set of rules to the features to determine whether to recommend the one or more different lab tests based on the set of features and one or more conditions defined in the set of rules.


In some embodiments, the different lab tests include at least one of a genetic test, a blood test, and a urine analysis test.


According to various implementations of the present disclosure, a computer implemented method for prescription drug management program reporting is disclosed. The method can include receiving, at a computing device having one or more processors, laboratory test results from a laboratory. The laboratory test results can correspond to a patient and be indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient. The method can also include retrieving, by the computing device and from a prescription drug management program data source, controlled substance prescription data for the patient. For example only, the controlled substance prescription data can include prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period. The method can further include analyzing, by the computing device, the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results to determine a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment. The daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period can correspond to a cumulative intake of opioid class drugs by the patient on a daily basis for the given time period. The overdose risk score can be indicative of a likelihood of an unintentional overdose by the patient. The drug consistency assessment can be representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient. An enhanced toxicology report can be generated, by the computing device, and can correspond to the patient based on the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period, the overdose risk score, and the drug consistency assessment. The enhanced toxicology report can be output, by the computing device, to a requestor computing device.


In some aspects, the method can additionally or alternatively include obtaining, by the computing device, patient attributes of the patient from one or more patient data sources. The patient attributes can correspond to one or more of an age of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body type of the patient, an activity level of the patient, and a diagnosis of the patient. The enhanced toxicology report can be further based on the patient attributes.


In some aspects, the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient can include a historical trend of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient. The historical trend can be presented in a graphical format or other format.


Additionally or alternatively, the enhanced toxicology report can include one or more drug consistency scores based on the drug consistency assessment. Each particular drug consistency score can be indicative of a match between a particular drug identified in either or both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient. Each particular drug consistency score can indicate: (i) a prescribed and detected condition in which the particular drug is identified in both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient; (ii) a detected but not prescribed condition in which the particular drug is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient but not the controlled substance prescription data; and/or (iii) an inconsistent condition in which (a) the particular drug is a drug metabolite of a parent drug and is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient and the controlled substance prescription data indicates a prescription for the parent drug, or (b) the particular drug is identified in the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient indicate that the particular drug is not present at a prescribed amount in the patient.


In certain aspects, the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient can include a graphical element indicative of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period. The graphical element can include a list of prescribers that issued the prescriptions. Further, the graphical element can illustrate an overlap of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period from multiple prescribers.


Additionally or alternatively, in certain implementations the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient can include a historical trend of the overdose risk score for the patient.


According to various implementations of the present disclosure, a computing system for prescription drug management program reporting is disclosed. The computing system can include one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations can include receiving laboratory test results from a laboratory. The laboratory test results can correspond to a patient and be indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient. The operations can also include retrieving, from a prescription drug management program data source, controlled substance prescription data for the patient. For example only, the controlled substance prescription data can include prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period. The operations can further include analyzing the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results to determine a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment. The daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period can correspond to a cumulative intake of opioid class drugs by the patient on a daily basis for the given time period. The overdose risk score can be indicative of a likelihood of an unintentional overdose by the patient. The drug consistency assessment can be representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient. An enhanced toxicology report can be generated, by the computing system, and can correspond to the patient based on the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period, the overdose risk score, and the drug consistency assessment. The enhanced toxicology report can be output, by the computing system, to a requestor computing device.


In some aspects, the operations can additionally or alternatively include obtaining patient attributes of the patient from one or more patient data sources. The patient attributes can correspond to one or more of an age of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body type of the patient, an activity level of the patient, and a diagnosis of the patient. The enhanced toxicology report can be further based on the patient attributes.


In some aspects, the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient can include a historical trend of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient. The historical trend can be presented in a graphical format or other format.


Additionally or alternatively, the enhanced toxicology report can include one or more drug consistency scores based on the drug consistency assessment. Each particular drug consistency score can be indicative of a match between a particular drug identified in either or both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient. Each particular drug consistency score can indicate: (i) a prescribed and detected condition in which the particular drug is identified in both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient; (ii) a detected but not prescribed condition in which the particular drug is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient but not the controlled substance prescription data; and/or (iii) an inconsistent condition in which (a) the particular drug is a drug metabolite of a parent drug and is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient and the controlled substance prescription data indicates a prescription for the parent drug, or (b) the particular drug is identified in the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient indicate that the particular drug is not present at a prescribed amount in the patient.


In certain aspects, the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient can include a graphical element indicative of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period. The graphical element can include a list of prescribers that issued the prescriptions. Further, the graphical element can illustrate an overlap of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period from multiple prescribers. Additionally or alternatively, in certain implementations the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient can include a historical trend of the overdose risk score for the patient.


A more complete understanding of the disclosure will be appreciated from the description and accompanying drawings and the claims, which follow.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a better understanding of the disclosure, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings:



FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an example environment of a pharmacological tracking platform according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating an example set of components of a customer relationship management (CRM) system of a pharmacological tracking platform according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating an example set of components of a test management system of a pharmacological tracking platform according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating an example set of components of a prescription monitoring system of a pharmacological tracking platform according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating an example reporting system environment of a pharmacological tracking platform according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example of an enhanced toxicology report according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 7 is an illustration of another example of an enhanced toxicology report according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 8 is an illustration of yet another example of an enhanced toxicology report according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 9 is an illustration of a further example of an enhanced toxicology report according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 10 is an illustration of an additional example of an enhanced toxicology report according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;



FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example computing system including an example computing device and an example server computing device according to some implementations of the present disclosure; and



FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the example computing device of FIG. 11.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned above, there is a need for improved methods and systems for detecting and addressing situations involving improper prescription of medication, improper utilization of prescribed medications, and diversion of prescribed medications to unprescribed uses. In the United States, for example, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are utilized to track prescriptions of controlled drugs. These PDMPs are state-run programs which collect and/or distribute data about the prescription and dispensation of federally controlled substances. In some implementations, PDMPs are electronic databases that allow healthcare providers to see patients' prescription histories, thereby allowing doctors and other drug prescribers to check whether a patient has been prescribed and dispensed controlled drugs, such as opioids, before prescribing others to the patient. Some PDMPs also track non-fatal and fatal opioid overdoses, identify risk factors for fatal overdoses in patients, and track toxicology testing. The US federal government provides funding to the states so that each state can fund its own PDMP program.


The goal of PDMPs is to help to prevent adverse drug-related events through opioid overdoses, drug diversion, and/or substance abuse by decreasing the amount and/or frequency of opioid prescribing. Such PDMPs may be accessed and utilized by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists, and/or other prescribers, pharmacists, and/or pharmacy support staff, as well as law-enforcement agencies and research agencies. These parties may act individually or collaborate together to support the legitimate medical use of controlled substances, while limiting their abuse and/or diversion, as further described herein.


Pharmacies and dispensing prescribers of controlled substances may be required to register with their respective state PDMPs and/or to report the dispensation of such prescriptions to an associated electronic online database. For example only, when a pharmacist dispenses drugs to a patient or is about to dispense drugs to a patient, the pharmacy logs the dispensation with the PDMP. In some states, pharmacies are required to log drug dispensation with the PDMP in real-time or substantially real-time. In other states, pharmacies log drug dispensation daily, weekly, monthly, or at some other interval. Once dispensation of a drug has been logged, a record of the dispensation is accessible by one or more of doctors, other healthcare providers, state insurance programs, healthcare licensure boards, state health departments, and first responders and other law enforcement personnel. In some cases, PDMP information is shared between states, and/or is used by the federal government, such as to improve statistical gathering and legislation to combat opioid abuse.


As briefly mentioned above, PDMP information can be used by doctors and other providers of prescriptions to help prevent patients from seeing different doctors to receive redundant drug prescriptions from each of the doctors, which is sometimes referred to as “doctor shopping.” If a doctor views PDMP prescription logs for a patient before prescribing an opioid to the patient, the doctor may see that the patient has already been prescribed one or more opioids recently by other doctors and may take the appropriate action, e.g., refusing to provide one or more additional opioid prescriptions to the patient. By reducing such “doctor shopping,” PDMPs can assist in curbing opioid addiction.


PDMP information can also be used by lawmakers and administrative agencies to assist in drafting legislation to curb opioid addiction. The lawmakers and administrative agencies can use PDMP log information to inform themselves about general opioid prescribing practices in states, regions, or other geographical areas. The lawmakers and administrative agencies can then pass legislation and regulations using real data about prescribing practices to accurately target trends and issues with the current healthcare system in the geographical area(s) under consideration. For example only, state lawmakers and administrative agencies can access PDMP logs to acquire data regarding opioid prescribing practices within their state, and federal lawmakers and administrative agencies can access PDMP logs of multiple states to acquire data regarding opioid prescribing practices and trends between states and in the whole United States.


In some aspects, PDMP information can also be used by law enforcement agencies and first responders to assist in handling cases of opioid addiction, overdose, and withdrawal. For example only, the law enforcement agencies and first responders can check PDMP logs for an individual who is addicted to opioids or is experiencing opioid overdose or withdrawal to accurately ascertain an extent of the individual's opioid use and thereby provide proper assistance, such as by providing drugs that block the effects of opioids, e.g. Naloxone.


In yet another use case, PDMP information can be used by healthcare personnel (such as anesthesiologists and nurses) to assist in medical procedures that do not generally involve opioids. For example, prior to a surgical procedure, a doctor, nurse, or anesthesiologist can check PDMP logs to determine whether a patient is currently taking opioids. The doctor, nurse, or anesthesiologist can then more accurately prepare the patient for surgery, such as by raising or lowering levels of anesthetic used during the surgery to account for interactions between opioids and anesthesia. In some cases, patients may be reluctant to disclose opioid use or addiction to healthcare personnel due to stigma, embarrassment, personal issues, or other reasons. In such cases, it may be important for the healthcare personnel to determine an extent of opioid use by the patient in order to foresee complications regarding the interactions between opioids and anesthesia or other drugs used during care.


While the above discussion of PDMPs has been limited to PDMPs as implemented in the United States, it should be appreciated that similar programs exist in many other countries and regions, some of which are described below. For example only, several European countries have implemented national drug prescription tracking and information sharing. In France, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) develops several activities both in France and on behalf of the European Union to track prescribing practices and help develop strategies for curbing opioid abuse, such as regulation of prescription and dispensing conditions and reductions in prescription periods. The ANSM has an online reporting tool for use by healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and patients to report use and overuse of opioids, methods of use of opioids, prescribing practices of opioids, and compliance or noncompliance with the laws and regulations regarding opioids. Spain and Germany have similar national systems for providing information, conducting research, and receiving incident reports regarding opioid drugs and abuse thereof.


Internationally, the European Union (EU) drug agency in Lisbon (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction) has established the EU4MD database to track prescription drug importation and exportation to and from countries neighboring the EU, known as “neighborhood countries.” The neighborhood countries include Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. The EU4MD seeks to establish a better understanding of drug markets, capacity for development for forensic analysis, assessment of the environmental impact of drug production, identification of drug problem “hot spots,” mapping of production and trafficking dynamics, technological innovations, threat assessment, and responses to emerging issues to support the EU and neighboring countries.


In Denmark, the Register of Medicinal Product Statistics includes data on all drugs sold in primary care or purchased for use in Danish hospitals. Aggregate data on gross sales of drugs are freely available, and individual-level data on prescriptions filled by Danish residents at community pharmacies are available as an independent sub-registry known as the National Prescription Registry. However, the National Prescription Registry does not provide information regarding drugs used during hospital admissions, drugs used by certain institutionalized individuals, such as individuals institutionalized with psychiatric illness, and drugs supplied directly by hospitals or treatment centers.


In Finland, a service called Kanta allows healthcare personnel and pharmacies to record information regarding drug prescribing. The records are available to patients and can be made publicly available with patient consent. Prescriptions issued by healthcare professionals in Finland are accessible in Kanta and are recorded for at least twenty years. Information regarding deceased individuals is available for up to twelve years after the patient's death. Information stored by Kanta is available to pharmacies and healthcare providers in Finland, and in some cases is also accessible in other European countries.


The Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) monitors drugs dispensed by prescription in Norway. NorPD collects and processes data on drug consumption in Norway to map usage trends and monitor trends over time, and can be used as a resource for research, as well as to give health authorities a statistical management tool for quality control of drug use and to give prescribers a basis for internal control and quality improvement of their prescribing practices. NorPD data sorted by demographic, such as sex, age, or region, is publicly available, but information about a patient's name, address, or national identification is not stored.


In Sweden, the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (SPDR) contains information about age, sex, and unique identifier of each patient to whom a drug has been prescribed. The SPDR also includes information regarding drug names, costs, the professional and training of the prescriber, the prescribed amount of drug, the date of prescription, the date of collection, and other similar information. The information stored by the SPDR is available to researchers, journalists, city council investigators and authorities, and pharmaceutical industry representatives. Personal information such as patient name and identifier are private.


In China, the China Food and Drug Administration has implemented the Chinese Electronic Drug Monitoring Network (CEDMN) to track prescription drug products. Information is tracked and exchanged in the CEDMN via XML data. CEDMN information tracks prescription drugs from manufacturers, to warehouses, and to pharmacies. Pharmacists or other drug dispensers and patients can check the CEDMN database to trace drugs to their sources. Drugs are also tracked and logged in the CEDMN using barcode scanning, RFID identifiers, and Electronic Data Interchange. In Japan, the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) provides information regarding prescription drugs and health insurance claims to the public. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare also disseminates information and statistics regarding prescription drugs.


For ease of description, the terms “prescription drug management program/programs” and “PDMP/PDMPs” as used herein will refer to any and all of the above programs and any other similar programs that exist now or in the future directed to the monitoring, managing, etc. of prescription drugs in any region, nation, or other jurisdiction.


In order to address the above noted need for improved methods and systems for detecting and addressing situations involving improper prescription of medication, improper utilization of prescribed medications, and diversion of prescribed medications to unprescribed uses, the present disclosure is directed to an improved pharmacological tracking platform. The pharmacological tracking platform can be utilized to perform various functions, including but not limited to a report generation and outputting function, a misuse of a controlled medication function, and a laboratory test recommendation function. Each of these functions can be performed separately or in various combinations to address the above noted and other needs associated with the goal of preventing adverse drug-related events.


With respect to the report generation and outputting function, the present disclosure provides for generating an enhanced toxicology report corresponding to a patient. The enhanced toxicology report is designed as a simple and easy to understand summary of the use and potential misuse of controlled substances for a patient. As more fully described herein, the enhanced toxicology report can include various graphical elements to present information related to the use and potential misuse of controlled substances for a patient. These graphical elements can include, but are not limited to, graphs of historical trends or changes over time, a graph of prescriptions issued to the patient by prescriber by time periods, numerical scores, and color indicators. The enhanced toxicology report can be requested by prescribers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to assist in treating a patient, as more fully described below.


In order to generate the enhanced toxicology report, laboratory test results from a laboratory and controlled substance prescription data for the patient are analyzed. The laboratory test results are indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient and the controlled substance prescription data includes prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period. From this information, a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment are determined. The daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period corresponds to a cumulative intake of opioid class drugs by the patient on a daily basis for the given time period. The overdose risk score is indicative of a likelihood of an unintentional overdose by the patient, and the drug consistency assessment is representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient. It should be appreciated that other scores, assessments, measurements, calculations, etc. can be determined.


With respect to the misuse of controlled medication function, the present disclosure provides for techniques for determining whether a usage profile of a patient is indicative of potential misuse of one or more controlled medications. A machine learning model or other form of artificial intelligence is utilized to generate a potential misuse score or similar measurement of the likelihood that a patient is or has the potential for misusing a controlled substance. In some aspects, laboratory test results from a laboratory that are indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient are utilized, in conjunction with patient attributes of the patient, to generate the usage profile of the patient. Various features of the usage profile can be utilized with the artificial intelligence system to determine the likelihood that the patient is or has the potential for misusing a controlled substance. In response to determining that the patient is or has the potential for misusing a controlled substance, or when a healthcare professional is otherwise treating the patient, a notification or report of the patient's potential for misusing a controlled substance can be provided in order to assist with the treatment of the patient.


With respect to the laboratory test recommendation function, the present disclosure provides for techniques for determining whether to recommend one or more laboratory tests for a patient, e.g., at a time of prescribing a controlled substance. A machine learning model or other form of artificial intelligence is utilized to generate a laboratory test recommendation or similar measurement of the likelihood that the patient would benefit from one or more specific laboratory tests before the patient is given a proposed prescription. In some aspects, a proposed prescription for the patient is utilized, in conjunction with patient attributes of the patient (e.g., a diagnosis), to determine whether to recommend one or more specific laboratory tests. Various features of the proposed prescription and patient attributes can be utilized with the artificial intelligence system to determine the likelihood that the patient would benefit from a specific laboratory test before beginning the prescription of the controlled substance. In response to determining that the patient would benefit from one or more specific laboratory tests, or when a healthcare professional is otherwise treating the patient, a notification, report, or laboratory test recommendation for the patient can be provided in order to assist with the treatment of the patient.



FIG. 1 illustrates an example pharmacological tracking platform 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 is configured to collect and monitor data relating to laboratory tests (“lab tests” or “tests”) collected in connection with a treatment of a patient and/or data relating to prescription medications that are prescribed to patients. The pharmacological tracking platform 100 may obtain data from multiple external sources, including electronic medical records (EMRs), insurer databases, pharmacy databases, testing lab databases, prescription drug monitoring programs, and/or other suitable data sources. The pharmacological tracking platform 100 may use the obtained data to: make recommendations relating to the types of lab tests patients should undertake before beginning a potential prescription; determine whether a patient may be misusing a controlled medication (e.g., an opiate, a benzodiazepine, or amphetamine); determine whether a physician is overprescribing a controlled medication; determine whether a physician or clinic is over-ordering or under-ordering lab tests for their patients; and/or assess the quality of a testing lab. The pharmacological tracking platform 100 may perform additional or alternative tasks without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


As shown in FIG. 1, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may communicate with external sources such as electronic medical records (EMRs), insurer databases, pharmacy databases, testing lab databases, and/or prescription drug monitoring programs, as well as other computing device(s), systems, data sources, applications, and platforms, via a network 380. It should be appreciated that the network 380 can take the form of any communication network suitable for communicatively linking computing devices and/or components thereof, including, without limitation, a virtual private network, the Internet, a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network, a cellular network, and an intranet or other private network.


In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may use the collected data to determine whether a patient should have one or more lab tests ordered prior to beginning a proposed prescription. In some of these embodiments, the platform 100 may obtain data relating to the patient, including the proposed prescription, as well as outcome data from previous patients that have taken the prescription in the past that includes lab tests associated with those patients, attributes of those patients (e.g., age, sex, weight, body type), and the result of the treatment (e.g., was the prescription effective). In this way, the patient may be prescribed a medication that is more likely to be effective prior to beginning the treatment. Furthermore, in embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may recommend one or more different tests for the patient during or after the treatment, to ensure that the patient is receiving effective treatment.


In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may monitor test results of respective patients to determine whether the respective patients are misusing a controlled medication (e.g., an opiate, a benzodiazepine, or an amphetamine). Misusing a controlled medication may include overusing/abusing the medication, underusing the medication (which may be indicative of someone illegally distributing the medication), using the medication with other controlled medications, or improperly using the medication (e.g., not taking the medication at the correct times). In some of these embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may analyze a patient's lab test results (e.g., toxicology screens such as blood tests or urine analysis tests) to determine if the patient is potentially misusing a controlled medication. In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may consider a patient's lab tests in their totality (e.g., over the period when the patient is prescribed the medication) and/or in view of lab tests of other patients (e.g., lab tests of patients that properly use the medication and lab tests of patients that misuse the medication) and attributes of those patients.


In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may provide notifications and/or recommendations to appropriate third parties, such as healthcare organizations (e.g., hospitals and/or clinics), physicians, pharmacies, insurers, and the like. In some of these embodiments, the platform 100 may provide customer relationship management capabilities, whereby the platform 100 may leverage these capabilities to provide the notifications and/or recommendations.


In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may include a customer relationship management (CRM) system 102, a test management system 104, a prescription monitoring system 106, and/or a machine learning system 108. The pharmacological tracking platform 100 may include additional or alternative systems without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


In embodiments, the test management system 104 may determine whether to recommend lab testing for a patient given a proposed treatment of the patient. In response to the test management system 104 determining to recommend lab testing for a patient, the CRM system 102 may provide a mechanism (e.g., a GUI) by which a user (e.g., a representative of a lab testing organization) may provide the notification recommending lab testing to a healthcare provider (e.g., the treating physician or the office thereof), a pharmacy, and/or an insurance provider. In embodiments, the test management system 104 may also perform various analytics on captured data to determine when physicians are overusing or underusing lab tests in their respective practices. In these embodiments, the test management system 104 may monitor the ordering of tests from a group of physicians to determine instances where a physician's ordering of tests is anomalous. The test management system 104 may provide other features as well, such as quality assessment relating to testing labs.


In embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 monitors test results of patients prescribed certain prescription medications to determine whether the respective patients are misusing the prescription medication (e.g., overusing/abusing, or underusing the prescription medication). In response to the prescription monitoring system 106 determining a likely case of misuse, the CRM system 102 may provide a mechanism by which a user (e.g., a representative of a lab testing organization) may provide the notification of potential misuse to a healthcare provider (e.g., the treating physician or the office thereof), a pharmacy, and/or an insurance provider.


In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may be accessed by users associated with a testing lab system 150. In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may allow these users to manage relationships and communications with healthcare providers associated with healthcare systems 130, pharmacy employees associated with pharmacy systems 140, and/or insurance providers associated with insurance systems 160. In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may receive recommendations and/or notifications from the test management system 104 and/or the prescription monitoring system 106. The CRM system 102 may perform additional or alternative tasks, such as obtaining data from external data sources (e.g., healthcare systems 130, pharmacy systems 140, testing lab systems 150, and/or insurance system 160) and may structure the obtained data into different types of records according to respective schemas.


In embodiments, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 may include a machine learning system 108 that is configured to train machine learned models that are leveraged by the test management system 104 and/or the prescription monitoring system 106. The machine learning system 108 may train any suitable type of model, including neural networks, deep neural networks, recurrent neural networks, Hidden Markov Models, Bayesian models, regression models, and the like. The machine learning system 108 may train the models in a supervised, unsupervised, or semi-supervised manner. In embodiments, the machine learning system 108 may collect training data from one or more data sources. Depending on the purpose of the model, the data types included in the training data will vary. For example, models used to recommend testing for a patient prior to the patient undergoing a particular treatment (e.g., prescription) may be trained on training data that includes prescription data of respective patients, outcome data relating to the respective patients' treatments, and lab test results of the respective patients that correspond to the outcome data. Models used to classify a patient's misuse of a medication may be trained on training data that includes lab test results of patients that were deemed to be misusing a particular medication and patient information relating to those patients, and lab test results of patients that were deemed to be using the medication properly and patient information relating to those patients.


A healthcare system 130 may refer to a collection of one or more computing devices, including client user devices and/or server devices that are used in connection with a healthcare organization (e.g., one or more hospital, doctor offices, etc.). In embodiments, a healthcare system 130 may include an EMR data store 132. An EMR data store 132 may include one or more databases that store and/or index electronic medical records. A respective electronic medical record may store or reference patient data of a respective patient of the healthcare organization. An electronic medical record may include a patient identifier, one or more physician identifiers that indicate respective physicians of a patient, physician notes relating to the patient, prescription data indicating treatments that were prescribed to a patient, test results of the patient, and the like. The EMR data store 132 may store additional or alternative data without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


A pharmacy system 140 may refer to a collection of one or more computing devices, including client user devices and/or server devices that are used in connection with a pharmacy organization (e.g., a pharmacy or chain of pharmacies). In embodiments, the pharmacy system 140 may include a prescription data store 142. The prescription data store 142 may include one or more databases that store and/or index prescription records. A respective prescription record may store a prescription ID that uniquely identifies a prescription of a patient, a patient ID identifying the patient to whom the prescription corresponds, a physician ID that identifies the physician that wrote the prescription, a medication ID that identifies the medication that was prescribed, a quantity of the medication that is prescribed, a dosage of the medication that is prescribed, a date on which the medication was prescribed, a date on which the prescription expires, and the like. The prescription data store 142 may store additional or alternative data without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


An insurance system 160 may refer to a collection of one or more computing devices, including client user devices and/or server devices that are used in connection with an insurance organization (e.g., a health insurance provider). The insurance system 160 may be configured to process claims, payout medical bills, collect medical data relating to insured patients, and the like. In embodiments, an insurance system 160 may include an insured data store 1622. The insured data store 1622 may include one or more databases that store and/or index insured records. A respective insured record corresponds to a respective insured person and may store an insured ID that uniquely identifies the person being insured, a policy ID that identifies the policy of the insured, one or more healthcare system IDs that identify one or more respective healthcare systems that the insured visits or has visited, one or more physician IDs that respectively identify a physician of the insured, one or more prescription IDs that respectively identify one or more respective prescriptions of the insured, billing information of the patient, a medical history of the patient, and the like. The insured data store 1622 may store additional or alternative data without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


A testing lab system 150 may refer to a collection of one or more computing devices, including client user devices and/or server devices that are used in connection with an organization that performs medical testing (e.g., a blood testing, a urine analysis, genetic testing, and the like). In embodiments, the testing lab system 150 may include a test results data store 152. The test results data store 152 may include one or more databases that store and/or index test result records that respectively correspond to testing administered by the organization. In embodiments, a test results record may include a test ID that identifies the test that was performed, a test type ID that identifies the type of test performed, a subject ID that indicates a subject of the test (e.g., a patient), a requestor ID that indicates an organization that ordered the test (e.g., a healthcare organization or physician), results data (e.g., the results of the test), and a date (e.g., a date on which the test was administered). The test results data store 152 may store additional or alternative data without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


In embodiments, the CRM system 102 is configured to provide a framework for users associated with a testing lab organization to manage relationships with healthcare organizations, insurance organizations, and/or pharmacy organizations. In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may allow a user to send communications (e.g., emails, text messages, directed messages on social media platforms, and the like) to a healthcare provider, pharmacy, and/or insurance provider. In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may notify a user of the CRM system 102 when a healthcare provider is prescribing a treatment that may benefit from a test (e.g., a genetic test, a blood test, a urine test, etc.). For example, the test management system 104 (discussed below) may recommend the patient undergoing a genetic test before beginning a specific medication to see if the specific medication is likely to be effective in treating the patient suffering from a specific ailment. In these scenarios, the user may opt to send the recommendation to a healthcare provider (e.g., treating physician), the pharmacy, and/or the insurance provider of the patient.


In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may allow a user to send communications (e.g., emails, text messages, directed messages, and the like) to a third party when a patient is suspected of misusing a prescription medication (e.g., overusing/abusing or underusing the prescription medication). In these embodiments, the CRM system 102 may receive a notification of a detected misuse. In response, the CRM system 102 may identify a healthcare provider of the patient misusing a medication and may transmit a notification to the healthcare provider indicating the detected misuse. In some embodiments, the notification to the healthcare provider is sent automatically upon a detected misuse. In some embodiments, a user associated with the testing lab may be provided the option of sending the notification to the healthcare provider.


In embodiments, the test management system 104 is configured to assist users to identify patients that should undergo tests in connection with a prescribed treatment. For example, the test management system 104 may recommend a patient undergo genetic testing in response to a patient being prescribed a particular medication given the particular medication, one or more attributes of the patient, and the ailment of the patient. In this way, the patient may be prescribed the correct medication, rather than have a period where the patient is prescribed a treatment that is unlikely to be effective.


In embodiments, the test management system 104 leverages one or more machine learned models to determine whether to recommend testing for a patient that has been prescribed a specific treatment. In some of these embodiments, the test management system 104 may receive a prescribed treatment (e.g., a medication identifier) for the patient and one or more attributes of the patient (e.g., a patient's age, a patient's sex, a patient's body type, a patient's other medications). The test management system 104 may input these features into a machine learned model that determines whether a particular test (e.g., a genetic test, a blood test, etc.) should be performed. In these embodiments, the test management system 104 may leverage multiple models, such that each respective model may correspond to a different type of test. In some embodiments, the test management system 104 may receive a prescribed treatment (e.g., a medication identifier) for the patient and one or more attributes of the patient (e.g., a patient's age, a patient's sex, a patient's body type, a patient's other medications) and may input these features into a machine learned model that determines any tests that should be performed.


In embodiments, the test management system 104 may be configured to employ a rules-based approach to determine whether any tests should be performed on a patient given a prescribed medication. In these embodiments, the test management system 104 may assess the patient with a set of rules that correspond to a medication that is prescribed to the patient. The conditions which trigger certain rules may be learned using analytics that are derived from outcomes relating to the medication. For example, a certain medication may be ineffective for people over the age of sixty having a certain genetic characteristic, but effective for all other segments of the population. In this example, if the patient is over the age of sixty, the test management system 104 may determine that the patient should undergo genetic testing to determine whether the patient exhibits the certain genetic characteristic.


Upon determining that one or more tests should be performed for a patient, the test management system 104 may output the recommended tests to the CRM system 102. As discussed, in embodiments, a user associated with the lab testing organization may elect to provide the recommendation to an appropriate recipient. In other embodiments, the CRM system 102 may provide the recommendation to the appropriate recipient automatically.


In embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 receives lab test results for patients (e.g., blood tests, urine analysis tests) and determines whether it is likely that the respective patients are misusing a prescription medication. In some embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may obtain lab test results of a patient, medication identifiers of any prescription medications that the patient is prescribed or currently using, and relevant patient data (e.g., an ailment of the patient, the age of the patient, weight of the patient, height of the patient, body fat percentage of the patient, and the like). The prescription monitoring system 106 may then determine whether a patient is misusing a prescription medication based on the lab test results, the medication identifiers, and the relevant patient data.


In embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may utilize machine learning and Al techniques to determine if a patient is misusing a prescription medication. In some of these embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may leverage one or more machine learned models to determine if a patient is misusing a prescription medication. For example, in embodiments, a machine learned model may be trained to identify when a patient is likely abusing a particular prescription medication (e.g., an opiate, a benzodiazepine, or amphetamine). These models may be trained on training data samples relating to patients that were determined to be abusing the medication and patients that were determined to be using the prescription medication properly. In these embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may obtain lab test results of the patient (e.g., a blood test and/or a urine analysis test), a prescription medication that the patient is being prescribed, and relevant patient information (e.g., an ailment of the patient, other prescriptions of the patient, an age of the patient, a gender of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body fat percentage of the patient, and the like). In embodiments, the machine learned model may output a classification relating to the patient that indicates whether the patient is likely abusing the medication or using the medication properly. In embodiments, the classification may include a confidence score, whereby a higher confidence score indicates a higher degree of confidence in the classification. In some of these embodiments, the machine learned model(s) may be trained to identify the type of abuse of a medication (e.g., overuse/addiction, use with other controlled substances, and the like). In embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may leverage other machine learned models. For instance, the prescription monitoring system 106 may leverage a machine learned model that is trained to identify when a patient is underusing a prescription medication, which may be indicative of a patient illegally distributing the prescription medication to other people.


In some embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may be configured to apply a rules-based approach for detecting misuse. In these embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may obtain lab test results of the patient (e.g., a blood test and/or a urine analysis test), a prescription medication that the patient is being prescribed, and relevant patient data (e.g., an ailment of the patient, other prescriptions of the patient, an age of the patient, a gender of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body fat percentage of the patient, and the like), which may be analyzed in view of a set of one or more conditions. In these embodiments, the one or more conditions may be indicative of one or more types of abuse. For example, conditions may define maximum allowances of detected opiates, benzodiazepines, and/or amphetamines in a patient's blood or urine. These allowances may vary depending on the patient's prescription and metabolic factors (e.g., ailments, age, body fat, weight, etc.). For example, conditions for a patient with a relatively higher prescribed dosage and/or a relatively higher body fat percentage may define relatively higher allowances. Similarly, conditions may define minimum levels of detected opiates, benzodiazepines, and/or amphetamines for patients, which may vary based on one or more factors (e.g., prescribed amounts and/or metabolic factors). In these examples, the conditions may be tailored to identify underuse of the prescription medication. Upon receiving one or more test results and/or a notification of a prescription relating to a patient, the prescription monitoring system 106 may apply the one or more rules to determine if the patient is misusing the prescription medication.


Upon determining that a patient is likely misusing a prescription medication, the prescription monitoring system 106 may output a notification of the detected misuse to the CRM system 102. As discussed, in embodiments, a user associated with the lab testing organization may elect to provide the notification to an appropriate recipient(s) (e.g., the treating physician) or the CRM system 102 may provide the notification to the appropriate recipient(s) automatically.


The prescription monitoring system 106 may monitor other entities as well. For example, in embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may monitor a physician's prescription history to determine if the physician if overprescribing certain medications.



FIG. 2 illustrates a set of example components of a CRM system 102 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the CRM system 102 may include a processing system 200, a data storage system 220, and a communication system 240.


The processing system 200 may include memory (e.g., RAM and/or ROM) that stores computer-executable instructions. In embodiments, the processing system 200 executes a data intake module 202, a data structuring module 204, a reporting module 206, and/or a client interfacing module 208, each of which is discussed in further detail below. The processing system 200 may execute additional or alternative modules without departing from the scope of the disclosure.


The data storage system 220 may include one or more storage devices (e.g., hard disk drive, flash drive, etc.) that store data. In embodiments, the data storage system 220 may store a clinic data store 222, a physician data store 226, a patient data store 230, an insurer data store 234, and a test results data store 238, all of which are discussed in further detail below.


The communication system 240 may include one or more communication devices that interface with a communication network (e.g., the internet). The one or more communication devices may effectuate wired or wireless communication.


In embodiments, the clinic data store 222 stores clinic related data. A clinic may refer to any sized healthcare organization (e.g., a hospital system, a multi-physician office, a single physician office) and/or units within an organization (e.g., a cardio-unit of a hospital, an oncology unit of a hospital, a surgery unit of a hospital, an intensive care unit of a hospital, etc.). In embodiments, the clinic data store 222 stores a clinic database that stores and/or indexes clinic records. Each clinic record may correspond to a respective clinic. A clinic record may include and/or may be related to a clinic ID that identifies the clinic, one or more physician IDs that identify physicians associated with the clinic, one or more administrator IDs that identify administrators associated with the clinic (e.g., contacts/decision makers at the clinic), ordering data that indicates orders made by the clinic (e.g., lab tests ordered by the clinic, the lab testing organization that performed each lab test, and dates of each order), and/or suitable metadata. It is noted that the list of items included in a clinic record is provided for example only and may include additional or alternative types of data.


In embodiments, the physician data store 226 stores physician-related data. In embodiments, the physician data store 226 stores a physician database that stores and/or indexes physician records. Each physician record may correspond to a respective physician or other healthcare provider. A physician record may include and/or may be related to a physician ID that identifies the physician, a set of patient IDs that identify a set of patients that see the physician, a set of clinic IDs that indicate any clinics that the physician is associated with, ordering data that indicates orders made by the physician (e.g., lab tests ordered by the physician, the lab testing organization that performed each lab test, and dates of each order), prescription data indicating prescriptions written by the physician (including, dosages, amounts, and dates of each prescription), and/or suitable metadata. It is noted that the list of items included in a physician record is provided for example and may include additional or alternative types of data.


In embodiments, the patient data store 230 stores patient-related data. In embodiments, the patient data store 230 stores a patient database that stores and/or indexes patient records. Each patient record may correspond to a respective patient. A patient record may include and/or may be related to a patient ID that identifies the patient, a set of physician IDs that identify a set of physicians that treat or have treated the patient, a set of clinic IDs that indicate any clinics that the patient has visited, ordered test data that indicates any tests ordered for the patient (e.g., lab tests ordered for the patient, the results of the tests, the lab testing organization that performed each lab test, and the date of each test), prescription data indicating prescriptions written for the patient (including, dosages, amounts, and dates of each prescription, the prescribing physician, etc.), diagnosis data indicating respective diagnosis of the patient (e.g., for which ailments they are being treated), and/or suitable metadata (e.g., age of the patient, height of the patient, weight of the patient, sex of the patient, body fat percentage of the patient, and the like). It is noted that the list of items included in a patient record is provided for example only and may include additional or alternative types of data.


In embodiments, the insurer data store 234 may store insurer-related data. In embodiments, the insurer data store 234 stores an insurer database that stores and/or indexes insurer records. In embodiments, each insurer record may correspond to a respective insurance organization or other healthcare payor. An insurer record may include and/or may be related to an insurer ID that identifies the insurer, a set of clinic IDs that indicate healthcare organizations that the insurer is associated with, a set of patient IDs indicating patients that are customers of the insurer, and the like. It is noted that the list of items included in an insurer record are provided for example only and may include additional or alternative types of data.


In embodiments, the insurer data store 234 may include a claim database that stores and/or indexes claim records. Each claim record may correspond to an insurance-related event. An insurance related event may be any billable or non-billable occurrence that an insurance organization handles on behalf of an insured patient. In embodiments, a claim record may include and/or may be related to a claim ID that identifies the insurance-related event, a patient ID of the patient involved in the event, a clinic ID of the clinic that the patient visited, a physician ID of the provider who treated the patient, diagnosis data that indicates the provider's medical diagnosis, prescription data that indicates any prescriptions that were prescribed in relation to the event, including dosages, amounts, etc., lab test data that indicates any tests that were ordered in relation to the event including the results thereof, and associated metadata (e.g., date of the event on which the insurance-related event occurred). It is noted that the list of items included in a claim record is provided for example only and may include additional or alternative types of data.


In embodiments, the test results data store 238 may store test result-related data. In embodiments, the test results data store 238 stores a test results database that stores and/or indexes test result records. Each test result record may correspond to a respective lab test (e.g., genetic test, blood test, urine test, etc.). A test result record may include and/or be related to a test ID that identifies the test, a lab ID that identifies the testing lab that performed the test, a physician ID that identifies a physician that ordered the test, a test type that indicates the type of test, test result data that indicates the results of the test, an insurer ID that indicates an insurance organization of the patient that underwent the lab test, and any suitable metadata (e.g., a date of the test, an employee that processed the test, the machine that performed the test, etc.). It is noted that the list of items included in a test result record is provided for example only and may include additional or alternative types of data.


In embodiments, the data intake module 202 obtains data from one or more data sources (e.g., healthcare systems 130, pharmacy systems 140, testing lab systems 150 and/or insurance systems 160). The data intake module 202 may implement one or more public or private APIs (e.g., SOAP, RESTful APIs, and the like). The APIs may be passive (i.e., the data sources push data to the data intake module 202) and/or active (i.e., the data intake module 202 pulls data from the data sources).


In embodiments, the data intake module 202 includes an interception module that obtains prescription-related information relating to a clinic or physician. In some embodiments, the interception module may retrieve prescription-related data relating to prescriptions written by a physician or from a clinic. In some of these embodiments, the interception module may obtain prescription-related data from a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), whereby the interception module may obtain information relating to prescriptions of specific classes of medications written by respective physicians. In embodiments, the interception module may output any obtained prescription-related information to the data structuring module 204, including any metadata surrounding the prescription (e.g., the physician that wrote the prescription, the dosage amount, the clinic of the physician, the patient, the date of the prescription, the pharmacy at which the prescription is filled, etc.).


In embodiments, the data intake module 202 includes an interaction monitoring module that monitors communications between testing labs and customers (e.g., healthcare organizations, clinics, and/or physicians). In embodiments, the interaction monitoring module may determine each time a sales or service representative of a lab testing organization interacts with a customer (e.g., healthcare organizations, clinics, and/or physicians). In embodiments, the interaction monitoring module may also determine each time a customer orders a test from a lab. In these embodiments, the interaction monitoring module may output determined instances of interactions and/or orders to the data structuring module 204, including any metadata surrounding the interaction and/or order (e.g., the sales representative, the physician or representative of client that made an order, the date of the order, a patient corresponding to the order, etc.).


In embodiments, the data intake module 202 includes an insurer interface module. In embodiments, the insurer interface module interfaces with insurance systems 160. The insurer interface module may be configured to retrieve insurer-related information from an insurance system 160. The insurer-related information may include events related to a healthcare organization, clinic, and a physician. In some embodiments, the insurer interface module may retrieve physician-related information from the insured data store 1622. For example, the insurer interface module may request all claims and/or prescriptions that a physician, or a clinic thereof, billed to insurance company.


In embodiments, the data intake module 202 includes an EMR interface module that interfaces with healthcare systems 130. In embodiments, the EMR interface module may obtain physician-related data and/or patient-related data from the EMR data stores 132 of a healthcare system. For example, the EMR interface module may obtain prescriptions written by physicians, prescriptions written for patients, tests ordered by physicians and/or for patients, test results of patients, diagnoses of patients, patient metadata (e.g., age, sex, weight, body fat percentage), and/or any other suitable data.


The data intake module 202 may obtain additional or alternative data relating to pharmacies, physicians, clinics, insurers, patients, lab testing facilities, and the like from any suitable data sources. Furthermore, it is noted that the data intake module 202, and the pharmacological tracking platform 100 as a whole, may be configured to conform to regulations concerning patient data privacy and personally identifiable information (PII). For example, the data intake module 202 may be configured to be HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant.


In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 structures data collected by the data intake module 202. In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 structures the data into data records, such as clinic records, physician records, patient records, insurer records, and/or any other suitable types of records. The data structuring module 204 may create new records when necessary (e.g., when a new entity is detected), and can update preexisting records when a record corresponding to the collected data already exists (e.g., a previously detected entity). For example, if a physician that does not have a physician record corresponding thereto writes a new prescription, the data structuring module 204 may generate a new physician record based on the collected data. Likewise, when the physician writes a subsequent prescription, the data structuring module 204 may update the physician record of the physician based on the new prescription.


In embodiments, data structuring module 204 may generate physician profiles (e.g., physician records) based on the collected data. In some of these embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may use data obtained by the data intake module 202 to generate the physician profiles. In embodiments, a physician's name, clinic that he or she operates out of, and other metadata may be obtained from a healthcare system 130 or insurance systems 160 associated with the physician. In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may include prescription-related data obtained by the interception module to track a physician's history of writing prescriptions for controlled medications (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines) in the physician profile. In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may include ordering histories of the physician in the physician profile based on data obtained by the interaction monitoring module, the insurer interface module, and/or the EMR module. The data structuring module 204 may include other suitable data in the physician profile, including discipline events that indicate instances where the physician was previously disciplined. In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may be configured to correlate the obtained data to the proper physician. For example, the data structuring module 204 may analyze the obtained data to identify various instances of data that match the physician's profile in order to properly attribute newly obtained data to the physician's profile.


In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may generate patient profiles (e.g., patient records) based on the collected data. In some of these embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may use data obtained by the data intake module 202 to generate the patient profiles. In embodiments, a patient's name, clinics that the patient has been treated at, physicians that have seen the patient, and other metadata regarding the patient (e.g., age, sex, weight, height, body fat percentage, etc.) may be obtained from healthcare systems 130 or insurance systems 160 associated with the patient. In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may include prescription-related data obtained by the interception module to track the prescriptions of controlled medications (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines) written for the patient in the patient profile. This information may include the medication that was prescribed, the physician who wrote each prescription, when the prescription was written, the pharmacy that filled the prescription, and other relevant prescription-related data items In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may include an ordering history of the patient in the patient profile based on data obtained by the interaction monitoring module, the insurer interface module, and/or the EMR module. The patient profile may indicate which tests were ordered, the physician that ordered the tests, when the tests were ordered, and the results of the tests. In embodiments, the data structuring module 204 may be configured to correlate the obtained data to the proper patient. For example, the data structuring module 204 may analyze the obtained data to identify various instances of data that match the patient's profile in order to properly attribute newly obtained data to the patient's profile.


In embodiments, the reporting module 206 is configured to report notifications and/or recommendations to third parties. Third parties may include healthcare organizations (e.g., hospitals, clinics), pharmacies, testing labs, and/or insurance organizations. Examples of notifications may include a notification that a patient is likely misusing a prescription medication, a notification that a patient has had superfluous tests performed on them, a notification that a physician is prescribing too many controlled medications, a notification that a physician is over ordering lab tests, and the like. Examples of recommendations may include recommendations to order tests for a patient prior to or after a prescribed treatment. In some embodiments, the reporting module 206 reports notifications on behalf of a user (e.g., a sales or service representative of a testing lab). In these embodiments, the reporting module 206 may present the recommendation or notification to a user, whereby the user may select to send the notification or recommendation. In embodiments, the notification module 206 reports notifications and/or recommendations to third parties automatically. In these embodiments, a third party (e.g., healthcare organization or insurer) may request such information from the pharmacological tracking platform 100 and/or a user may elect to have notifications and/or recommendations sent automatically.


In embodiments, the client interfacing module 208 provides an interface for users to contact, message, and communicate with third parties (e.g., customers and potential customers). In some embodiments, the client interfacing module 208 provides a mechanism by which a healthcare supplier (e.g., a lab test facility) may conduct business with its customers and/or potential customers. The client interfacing module 208 may provide a graphical user interface that allows a user to draft messages, set workflows, and share information with third parties.



FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a test management system 104 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the test management system 104 may include a processing system 200, a data storage system 220, and a communication system 240. In some embodiments, a test management system 104 shares these same hardware resources (e.g., executed by the same set of server devices) as the CRM system 102. In some embodiments, a test management system 104 does not share the hardware resources with the CRM system 102 and may be hosted on an independent computing environment that communicate over a public network via one or more APIs.


In embodiments, the processing system 200 may execute an analytics module 302, a testing recommendation module 304, and/or a quality assessment module 306. The processing system 200 may execute additional or alternative modules without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In embodiments, the data storage system 220 may store a clinic data store 222, a physician data store 226, a patient data store 230, an insurer data store 234, and a test results data store 238, as was described with respect to the CRM system 102.


In embodiments, the analytics module 302 performs various analytics tasks relating to ordered lab tests. For example, the analytics module 302 may perform predictive and/or descriptive data analytics on a physician's or clinic's ordering history of lab tests. Such analytics may uncover unnecessary ordering of tests or even fraudulent ordering patterns. In another example, these types of data analytics may identify physicians or clinics that are potentially underutilizing lab tests in their practices.


In embodiments, the analytics module 302 analyzes physician profiles to determine if a physician is over-ordering or under-ordering lab tests. In some of these embodiments, the analytics module 302 performs statistical analytics techniques on a set of physician profiles to determine whether a physician is over-ordering or under-ordering lab tests. In some of these embodiments, the physician records may be clustered using K-nearest neighbors or K-means clustering to identify physician records that appear in the same cluster(s) as physician records that have been deemed to be anomalous (i.e., under-ordering or over-ordering). In these embodiments, the analytics module 302 may cluster the records based on a set of features, which may include the amount of patients seen, the amount of tests ordered during a time period, the types of tests ordered, the amount charged to insurance companies and/or the patient to run the tests, the diagnosis of the patients, and/or other suitable features. As most physicians having the same or similar specialties, they will have consistent ordering histories, physicians deviating from the normal patterns may be identified based on the clusters to which they belong. The analytics module 302 may perform other types of statistical analysis on physician records, such as deep learning and statistical regressions, amongst others.


In embodiments, the analytics module 302 may analyze the ordering practices of clinics as well. In these embodiments, the analytics module 302 (or another suitable module of the platform 100) may group physician records together based on which clinic they operate from (or primary clinic they operate from) to obtain a clinic profile. In embodiments, the analytics module 302 may then perform statistical analysis on the clinic profiles to identify clinics that are collectively over-ordering or under-ordering lab tests (e.g., as described with respect to physician profiles). Furthermore, if a clinic is found to have a statistical anomaly, the physician records corresponding to the individual physicians of the clinic may be analyzed individually to ensure that the anomaly is not attributable to a single or small set of physicians.


Upon determining that a physician and/or a clinic exhibits an anomalous ordering history, the analytics module 302 may output a notification indicating the anomaly. In some embodiments, the analytics module 302 may output the notification to the reporting module 206 of the CRM platform 102. In other embodiments, the analytics module 302 may output notifications directly to third parties, such as insurance companies or regulatory agencies.


In embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 recommends lab tests for patients. In some embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 recommends one or more tests for patients given a prescribed treatment, so as to improve the likelihood that the treatment is effective to the patient. In these embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may receive a proposed prescription for a patient from an external system (e.g., a healthcare system or healthcare organization of a patient being prescribed or an insurance system of an insurer of the patient) or from the CRM system 102. In embodiments, the proposed prescription may indicate the patient being prescribed and/or may include information relating to the patient. In the former scenario, the testing recommendation module 304 may retrieve the relevant information relating to the patient from the patient datastore 2C30 based on an identifier of the patient.


In response to the proposed prescription and the patient information, the testing recommendation module 304 may determine whether to recommend preliminary lab tests before the patient undergoes the prescribed treatment based on the proposed prescription and information relating to the patient. In embodiments, a recommendation may indicate one or more tests that are recommended for the patient given the proposed prescription.


In embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may employ a machine learning approach to determine whether to recommend one or more preliminary lab tests. In some of these embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may generate a set of features (e.g., a feature vector) based on the proposed prescription (e.g., a medication identifier, a dosage amount, a number of pills, etc.) for the patient and the patient information (e.g., a patient's age, a patient's sex, a patient's weight, a patient's body type, a patient's medication history). In these embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may input these features into one or more machine learned models that determine whether a particular test (e.g., a genetic test, a blood test, etc.) or set of tests should be performed. The machine learned model may be any suitable type of machine learned model, such as a neural network, a deep neural network, a recurrent neural network, a Hidden Markov Model, a regression based model, a decision tree (e.g., a classification tree), and the like. In some embodiments, different machine learned models may be trained for different types of medication or classes of medications. In this way, the testing recommendation module 304 may select one or more models to leverage based on the type of medication in the potential prescription.


In some embodiments, a machine learned model may correspond to a specific type of test (e.g., a genetic test, a blood test, or a urine analysis test) and may output a recommendation as to whether the specific type of test should be performed. In these embodiments, the test management system 104 may leverage multiple models, such that each respective model may correspond to a different type of test and may output a recommendation corresponding to the respective type of test. In embodiments, the recommendation may include a confidence score that indicates a degree of confidence in the recommendation. The testing recommendation module 304 may determine whether to select a recommendation made by a model based on the confidence score corresponding to the recommendation (e.g., when the confidence score exceeds a threshold).


In some embodiments, a machine learned model may be trained to recommend multiple types of tests. In these embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may input the set of features to the model, which outputs a confidence score for each type of potential test given the features (e.g., the features extracted from the proposed prescription and the patient information). In response, the testing recommendation module 304 may select one or more tests based on the respective confidence scores thereof (e.g., any test having a confidence score greater than a threshold).


In embodiments, the test management system 104 may be configured to employ a rules-based approach to determine whether any tests should be performed on a patient given a prescribed medication. In these embodiments, test management system 104 may assess the patient with a set of rules that are determined for a respective medication. The conditions which trigger certain rules may be learned using analytics that are derived from outcomes pertaining to the medication. For example, a certain medication may be ineffective for people over the age of sixty having a certain genetic characteristic, but effective for all other segments of the population. In this example, if the patient is over the age of sixty, the test management system 104 may determine that the patient should undergo genetic testing to determine whether the patient exhibits the certain genetic characteristic.


Upon determining one or more recommended tests for the patient given the proposed prescription, the testing recommendation module 304 may output a recommendation that includes a respective test type indicator for each respective test that is being recommended. In some embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may output the recommendation to the reporting module 206 of the CRM system 102. In other embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 may output recommendations directly to third parties, such as healthcare providers (e.g., physicians, nurses, etc.). In embodiments, a computing device associated with one or more third parties may provide outcome data, indicating whether the test was performed, the prescription that was ultimately prescribed to the patient, and whether the prescription was effective in treating the patient. For example, this information may be obtained from the healthcare system 130 and/or the insurance system 160. In embodiments, this outcome data may be used to reinforce the models that are used to make the recommendation.


In some embodiments, the testing recommendation module 304 recommends one or more tests for patients undergoing or having undergone a treatment, so as to improve the post-treatment monitoring of the patient.


In embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 measures the quality and/or effectiveness of respective lab testing organizations. The quality assessment module 306 may utilize machine learning, statistical analysis, and/or rules-based analysis to assess the quality of a lab testing organization.


In embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may generate a lab quality profile of a testing lab. In some of these embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may aggregate transaction histories of a collection of testing lab organizations (e.g., order histories of respective testing labs) over a period of time. The quality assessment module 306 may analyze the volumes and types of the tests indicated in each respective transaction history, and may compile data sets relating to pre-analytical, analytical, and/or post-analytical laboratory issues. The quality assessment module 306 may receive and parse human-input information relating to each laboratory issue. In some embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may combine differently worded descriptions that have similar meanings or the same meaning. The quality assessment module 306 may then automatically generate a plain-language textual summaries (e.g., using natural language generation) corresponding to the testing lab, where the summaries are grouped by aggregated laboratory issues.


In embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 is configured to generate a lab quality profile of a testing lab that includes a textual summary of the testing lab. In some of these embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may aggregate transaction histories of a collection of testing lab organizations (e.g., order histories of respective testing labs) over a period of time. The quality assessment module 306 may analyze the volumes and types of the tests indicated in each respective transaction history, and may compile data sets relating to pre-analytical, analytical, and/or post-analytical laboratory issues. The quality assessment module 306 may receive and parse human-input information relating to each laboratory issue. In some embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may combine differently worded descriptions that have similar meanings or the same meaning. The quality assessment module 306 may then automatically generate a plain-language textual summaries (e.g., using natural language generation) corresponding to the testing lab, where the summaries are grouped by aggregated laboratory issues.


In embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 is configured to generate an improvement plan for a testing lab. In some of these embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may aggregate transaction histories of a collection of testing lab organizations (e.g., order histories of respective testing labs) over a period of time. The quality assessment module 306 may analyze the volumes and types of the tests indicated in each respective transaction history, and may compile data sets relating to pre-analytical, analytical, and/or post-analytical laboratory issues. The quality assessment module 306 may receive and parse human-input information relating to each laboratory issue. In some embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may combine differently worded descriptions that have similar meanings or the same meaning. The quality assessment module 306 may then automatically generate a plain-language textual improvement plan (e.g., using natural language generation) corresponding to the testing lab based on the identified laboratory issues.


In embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 is configured to identify a primary cause of an identified lab issue. In some of these embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may aggregate transaction histories of a collection of testing lab organizations (e.g., order histories of respective testing labs) over a period of time. The quality assessment module 306 may analyze the volumes and types of the tests indicated in each respective transaction history, and may compile data sets relating to pre-analytical, analytical, and/or post-analytical laboratory issues. The quality assessment module 306 may receive and parse human-input information relating to each laboratory issue. In some embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may combine differently worded descriptions that have similar meanings or the same meaning. The quality assessment module 306 may then map the identified issues to an ontology that includes different types of entities that relate to the platform 100 (e.g., testing labs, physicians, clinics, etc.). The quality assessment module 306 may then automatically generate an indication of the most likely entity that was the cause of each respective issue.


In embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 is configured to generate statistics relating to the employees of the testing lab. In some of these embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may aggregate transaction histories of a collection of testing lab organizations (e.g., order histories of respective testing labs) over a period of time. The quality assessment module 306 may analyze the volumes and types of the tests indicated in each respective transaction history, and may compile data sets relating to pre-analytical, analytical, and/or post-analytical laboratory issues, test speeds, and/or performance metrics. The quality assessment module 306 may then compile time utilization and/or workload statistics for each testing lab and/or the lab workers employed therein. In some embodiments, the quality assessment module 306 may activate a workflow that identifies a source of a respective test that proceeded a drop in productivity and activates a quality review of the source. Additionally or alternatively, the quality assessment module 306 may activate a workflow that identifies one or more pieces of equipment used during a test that resulted in an issue, and activates a quality review of the one or more pieces of equipment.


The test management system 104 may include additional or alternative components that perform various tasks related to the oversight and/or management of lab tests.



FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a prescription monitoring system 106 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the prescription monitoring system 106 may include processing system 200, a data storage system 220, and a communication system 240. In some embodiments, a test management system 104 shares these same hardware resources (e.g., executed by the same set of server devices) as a CRM system 102 and/or a test management system 104. In some embodiments, a prescription monitoring system 106 does not share the hardware resources with a CRM system 102 and/or a test management system 104, and may be hosted on an independent computing environment.


In embodiments, the processing system 200 may execute a patient monitoring module 402 and/or a physician monitoring module 404. The processing system 200 may execute additional or alternative modules without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In embodiments, the data storage system 220 may store a clinic data store 222, a physician data store 226, a patient data store 230, an insurer data store 234, and a test results data store 238, as was described with respect to the CRM system 102.


In embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 monitors test results associated with patients that are prescribed controlled medications, such as opiates, amphetamines, and/or benzodiazepines to determine whether a patient is misusing the prescribed medication. In these embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may begin monitoring a patient's use of a controlled medication when the patient is initially prescribed the controlled medication. The patient monitoring module 402 may determine a patient is initially prescribed a controlled medication from, for example, a PDMP, a healthcare system 130, and/or an insurance system 160. In certain scenarios, the treating physician may require the patient to undergo testing (e.g., urine analysis or blood testing) while prescribed the medication. In embodiments, the results of the test corresponding to a patient may be stored in the test results data store 238, and may be associated with the patient record of the patient. Each time new test results are received for a patient, the patient monitoring module 402 may analyze the test results to determine if the patient is likely misusing the medication. As previously discussed, misusing a medication may refer to overusing/abusing the medication and/or underusing the medication.


In some embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may generate a usage profile of the patient based on the collection of the prescriptions of the controlled medication that have been written for the patient, a collection of test results corresponding to the patient during the time period where the patient was taking the medication, and patient information of the patient (e.g., patient's age, weight, body type, sex, activity rate). In these embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may determine if a patient is misusing the controlled medication based on the usage history of the patient. The patient monitoring module 402 may identify misuse in any suitable manner.


In embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may employ machine learned classification models that are trained to classify misuse of controlled medications. In some of these embodiments, the machine learning system 108 may train the machine learned classifications on training data sets that include usage profiles of patients that were deemed to be using a controlled medication properly and patients that were deemed to be misusing the controlled medication (e.g., usage profiles of patients) that were deemed to be underusing the medication (which may suggest selling of medication or no need for the medication) and/or usage profiles of patients that were deemed to be overusing/abusing the medication. In embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may generate a set of features (e.g., a feature vector) from the usage profile of the patient being monitored and may input the set of features into the classification model. The classification model may output a classification corresponding to the patient that indicates whether there is potential misuse detected, and in some of these embodiments, a type of misuse (e.g., overuse/abuse or underuse). In embodiments, the classification may include a confidence score in the classification, whereby the patient monitoring module 402 may select a classification based on the confidence score thereof (e.g., when the confidence score exceeds a threshold). In the event the patient monitoring module 402 determines that the classification indicates misuse, the patient monitoring module 402 may output a notification indicating the potential misuse (which may also include the type of misuse).


In embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may perform analytics to identify potential misuse. In some of these embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may perform a statistical analysis on the usage profile to determine trends in the patient's dosage amounts and test results that would indicate overuse or underuse. In some embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may analyze the usage profile of the patient in relation to the usage profiles of other patients, including patients deemed to be misusing the medication that the patient is prescribed and patients deemed to be using the medication properly. In some of these embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may implement a clustering technique (e.g., K-nearest neighbors or K-means clustering) to determine whether the patient belongs to a cluster where the usage profiles indicated misuse or to a cluster where the usage profiles indicated proper use. In the event the usage profile of the patient is clustered to a cluster where the usage profiles indicated misuse, the patient monitoring module 402 may determine that the patient is likely misusing the medication and may output a notification indicating the potential misuse (which may also include the type of misuse).


The patient monitoring module 402 may monitor patients for potential misuse of a medication in other suitable manners. For example, the patient monitoring module 402 may implement a rules-based approach to identify potential misuse.


Upon determining that a patient is likely misusing a controlled medication, the patient monitoring module 402 may output a notification indicating that the patient is likely misusing the controlled medication (which may also indicate the type of misuse). In some embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may output the notification to the reporting module 206 of the CRM system 102. In other embodiments, the patient monitoring module 402 may output notifications directly to third parties, such as the treating physician of the patient.


In embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 monitors a physician's prescribing history and/or the lab tests of the physician's patients to determine if a physician is likely overprescribing controlled medications. In some of these embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may generate a prescribing profile for any physician that prescribes controlled medications. In embodiments, the prescribing profile may indicate each instance that the physician prescribed a controlled medication and, in some of these embodiments, the diagnosis leading to the prescription. In some of these embodiments, the prescribing profile may also indicate test results of patients of the physician that were prescribed the controlled medication and/or the determinations made by the patient monitoring module 402 as to whether the patient was misusing the medication or properly using the medication. In these embodiments, a physician who has higher ratios of patients who are likely misusing the medication versus patients that are likely using the medication properly may be more likely to be flagged as overprescribing the medication.


In embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may determine whether a physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication based on the prescribing profile of the physician. The physician monitoring module 404 may implement any suitable technique to determine whether the physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication.


In embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may implement machine learning techniques to determine whether the physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication. For example, the physician monitoring module 404 may generate a set of features based on the physician's prescribing profile and may input the set of features into a machine learned classification model that is trained to identify instances where a physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication. In some of these embodiments, the machine learned classification model may be trained on training data sets that include prescribing profiles where the respective physician was deemed to be overprescribing controlled medications and prescribing profiles where the respective physician was deemed not to be overprescribing (e.g., the physician's practices were deemed normal or less than normal).


In embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may implement statistical analysis to determine whether the physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication. In some of these embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may cluster (e.g., K-nearest neighbors or K-means clustering) prescribing profiles of physicians to determine whether the physician being monitored is likely overprescribing the medication. The physician monitoring module 404 may use additional or alternative statistical analysis techniques to determine whether the physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication. In some embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may implement a rules-based approach to determine whether the physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication.


Upon determining that a physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication, the physician monitoring module 404 may output a notification indicating that the physician is likely overprescribing a controlled medication. In some embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may output the notification to the reporting module 206 of the CRM system 102. In other embodiments, the physician monitoring module 404 may output notifications directly to third parties, such as insurance companies or regulatory agencies.


Various example implementations of the report generation and outputting function of the pharmacological tracking platform 100 will be described in reference to FIGS. 5-10. As mentioned above, the present disclosure provides for generating an enhanced toxicology report corresponding to a patient that is a simple and easy to understand summary of the use and potential misuse of controlled substances for a patient. An example reporting system environment 500 can include the pharmacological tracking platform 100, a laboratory or laboratory system 510 (referred to herein as “laboratory 510”), a user or user system 520 (referred to herein as “user 520”), a PDMP or PDMP system 530 (referred to herein as “PDMP 530”), and an EMR or EMR system or database 540 (referred to herein as “EMR 540”). Each of the pharmacological tracking platform 100, the laboratory 510, the user 520, the PDMP 530, the EMR 540 can comprise one or computing devices operating to perform the techniques described herein. Further, the pharmacological tracking platform 100, the laboratory 510, the user 520, the PDMP 530, the EMR 540 can be in communication with any of the other components of the environment 500, for example, via a network (such as network 380). In some aspects, the pharmacological tracking platform 100, the laboratory 510, the user 520, the PDMP 530, and the EMR 540 can share various information, assessments, calculations, records, determinations, etc. (as described below) to assist in the creation, storage, and maintenance of an enhanced toxicology report 600, which is described more fully below.


The pharmacological tracking platform 100 can receive laboratory test results from the laboratory 510, e.g., based on an order from the user 520 for a toxicology screen of a patient. The laboratory test results received by the pharmacological tracking platform 100 can correspond to the patient and be indicative of the toxicology screen of the patient. The toxicology screen can be one or more of the various known drug tests that determine the type and approximate amount of certain drugs and medications that the patient has taken. In certain circumstances, the user 520 will be a healthcare care professional (a doctor, a nurse, a dentist, a physician's assistant, or the like) that has ordered the toxicology screen to assist in the treatment of the patient, although other possibilities are within the scope of the present disclosure. The laboratory 510 can proactively provide the laboratory test results to the pharmacological tracking platform 100. Alternatively, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 can request the laboratory test results from the laboratory 510, e.g., upon being notified by the user 520 of the toxicology screen.


The pharmacological tracking platform 100 can further retrieve controlled substance prescription data for the patient from the PDMP 530. The controlled substance prescription data can include prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period (e.g., the previous two or more years). In some aspects, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 can retrieve the controlled substance prescription data upon being notified by the user 520 of the toxicology screen and/or upon receiving the laboratory test results for the patient from the laboratory 510.


The pharmacological tracking platform 100 can analyze the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results to determine various factors, measurements, calculations, etc. relating to the use and potential misuse of controlled substances for the patient. For example only, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 can determine a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment. The daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period can correspond to a cumulative intake of opioid class drugs by the patient on a daily basis for the given time period. The overdose risk score can be a number, grade, or other scoring index that is indicative of a likelihood of an unintentional overdose by the patient, as further described below. The drug consistency assessment is representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient.


In certain aspects, the pharmacological tracking platform 100 can also or alternatively obtain patient attributes of the patient from one or more patient data sources (e.g., such as a data storage system 220). Examples of such patient attributes can correspond to an age of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body type of the patient, an activity level of the patient, and a diagnosis of the patient, although this is not an exhaustive list of patient attributes. In such implementations, the enhanced toxicology report can be further based on any or any combination of these patient attributes, which may assist the pharmacological tracking platform 100 in more accurately determining the various indications relating to the use and potential misuse of controlled substances for the patient.


Based on the determined factors relating to the use and potential misuse of controlled substances for the patient (e.g., the daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, the overdose risk score, and the drug consistency assessment), the pharmacological tracking platform 100 can generate an enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient. An example of such an enhanced toxicology report 600 is illustrated in FIGS. 6-10. While each of FIGS. 6-10 shows a specific view or presentation of the information in the enhanced toxicology report 600, it should be appreciated that the enhanced toxicology report 600 can include more or less information depending on the specific implementation of the pharmacological tracking platform 100.


Referring now to FIG. 6, a first view of the example enhanced toxicology report 600 is shown. The example enhanced toxicology report 600 can include patient identification information 610, such as the patient name, date of birth, medical record number, and/or social security number. Further, the example enhanced toxicology report 600 can include one or more of the determined overdose risk scores 620. As shown in FIG. 6, the illustrated overdose risk scores 620 include individual overdose risk scores for various drug types (e.g., narcotic, sedative, stimulant), as well as an overall overdose risk score that is independent of drug type. As more fully described below, the enhanced toxicology report 600 shown in FIG. 6 can also include a drug consistency assessment 630 that is representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient.


The drug consistency assessment 630 shown in FIG. 6 includes multiple drug consistency scores based on the drug consistency assessment, wherein each particular drug consistency score is indicative of a match between a particular drug identified in either or both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient. For example only, a particular drug consistency score can indicate one of the following circumstances: (i) a prescribed and detected condition in which the particular drug is identified in both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient; (ii) a detected but not prescribed condition in which the particular drug is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient but not the controlled substance prescription data; (iii) an inconsistent condition in which (a) the particular drug is a drug metabolite of a parent drug and is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient and the controlled substance prescription data indicates a prescription for the parent drug, or (b) the particular drug is identified in the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient indicate that the particular drug is not present at a prescribed amount in the patient; and (iv) a particular drug is identified in the controlled substance prescription data but no corresponding laboratory test was ordered to detect the particular drug. A recommendation to the user could be made to order a lab test to check for the presence of the particular drug. As shown in FIG. 6, each of these conditions can be separately indicated, e.g., by a number and/or by a color or other indication. For example only, in some implementations, the drug consistency assessment 630 can also include a confidence score indicative of a confidence level in the determined assessment of drug consistency.


With further reference to FIG. 7, which illustrates a second view of the example enhanced toxicology report 600, in certain aspects the enhanced toxicology report 600 can include a toxicology screen report breakdown 640. The toxicology screen report breakdown 640 can include a detailed list 641 of the various drugs/controlled substances that were tested by the laboratory 510, as well as the results 643 of those tests. The toxicology screen report breakdown 640 can further include a panel name of the test 645, a type of the panel tested 647, and a PDMP prescription section 649. The PDMP prescription section 649 can be indicative of the correlation between the tested drugs/controlled substances and the controlled substance prescription data from the PDMP 530.


In yet another view (illustrated in FIG. 8), the enhanced toxicology report 600 can include a graphical element 650 that is indicative of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period. The graphical element 650 as shown includes a list 651 of prescribers that issued the prescriptions, a legend 653 for identifying the drug identity for each prescription, as well as a graph 655 that illustrates the overlap of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period from multiple prescribers. The enhanced toxicology report 600 shown in FIG. 8 also includes a different representation of the overdose risk score 620 in which one or more additional risk indicators 625 are included. These additional risk indicators 625 are risk categories to which the patient may match and can include, for example only, drug inconsistency, doctor shopping, and/or dangerous drug combinations.


With further reference to FIG. 9, the enhanced toxicology report 600 can include an indication of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient for a given time period. For example only, the enhanced toxicology report 600 can include a historical trend 660 of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient for a given time period (such as over the previous two years). In some aspects, this historical trend 660 of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient can be presented in a graphical format as shown in FIG. 9, in which the historical trend 660 is shown in a bar graph. Other formats for indicating the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient for a given time period are contemplated by the present disclosure. In certain implementations, the enhanced toxicology report 600 can also include a detailed prescription history 670 of the patient. The detailed prescription history 670 can include various details of the prescriptions issued to the patient, including but not limited to the date of prescription, the drug type/name, the quantity, the number of days of prescription provided, the prescriber, the filling pharmacy, an indication of the number of refills, and the strength.


In certain implementations, the enhanced toxicology report 600 can also or alternatively include a historical trend 680 of the determined overdose risk scores 620 of the patient as shown in FIG. 10. The historical trend 680 of the overdose risk score 620 can be a line graph (as shown in FIG. 10) or any other suitable format that provides a simple, visual indication of the changes in the determined overdose risk scores 620 of the patient. It should be appreciated that the enhanced toxicology report 600 can include any one or any combination of the features illustrated in FIGS. 6-10. Further, in some aspects a recipient of the enhanced toxicology report 600 can originally be presented with a brief summary of the information contained within the enhanced toxicology report 600. Through interaction with links, tabs, or other user interface elements similar to a webpage, the recipient may switch between various views and information in the enhanced toxicology report 600. The ability to switch between various views and presentations of the information can be beneficial to the various recipients of the enhanced toxicology report 600, e.g., in order to quickly and simply find the information most relevant to a particular recipient.


Referring now to FIG. 11, a diagram of an example computing system 1100 is illustrated. The computing system 1100 can be configured to implement the pharmacological tracking platform 100 described herein, e.g., amongst a plurality of users 1105 via their computing devices. The computing system 1100 can include one or more example computing devices 1110 and one or more example servers 1120 that communicate via a network 380 (as described above) according to some implementations of the present disclosure. For ease of description, in this application and as shown in FIG. 11, one example computing device 1110 and two example server computing devices 1120 (server computing devices 1120-1 and 1120-2) are illustrated and described. It should be appreciated, however, that there can be more computing devices 1110 and more or less server computing devices 1120 than is illustrated. While illustrated as a mobile phone (a “smart” phone), each computing device 1110 can be any type of suitable computing device, such as a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable computing device such as eyewear, a watch or other piece of jewelry, or clothing that incorporates a computing device. A functional block diagram of an example computing device 1110 is illustrated in FIG. 12.


The computing device 1110 is shown as including a communication device 1200, one more processors 1210, a memory 1220, a display device 1230, and the pharmacological tracking platform 100. The processor(s) 1210 can control the operation of the computing device 1110, including implementing at least a portion of the techniques of the present disclosure. The term “processor” as used herein is intended to refer to both a single processor and multiple processors operating together, e.g., in a parallel or distributed architecture.


The communication device 1200 can be configured for communication with other devices (e.g., the server computing devices 1120 or other computing devices 1110) via the network 380. One non-limiting example of the communication device 1200 is a transceiver, although other forms of hardware are within the scope of the present disclosure. The memory 1220 can be any suitable storage medium (flash, hard disk, etc.) configured to store information. For example, the memory 1220 may store a set of instructions that are executable by the processor 1210, which cause the computing device 1110 to perform operations (e.g., such as the operations of the present disclosure). The display device 1130 can display information to the user 1105. In some implementations, the display device 1230 can comprise a touch-sensitive display device (such as a capacitive touchscreen and the like), although non-touch display devices are within the scope of the present disclosure.


It should be appreciated that the example server computing devices 1120 can include the same or similar components as the computing device 1110, and thus can be configured to perform some or all of the techniques of the present disclosure. Further, while the techniques of the present disclosure are described herein in the context of the pharmacological tracking platform 100, which is illustrated as being a component of the computing device 1110, it is specifically contemplated that each feature of the techniques may be performed by a single computing device 1110 alone, a plurality of computing devices 1110 operating together, a server computing device 1120 alone, a plurality of server computing devices 1120 operating together, and a combination of one or more computing devices 110 and one or more server computing devices 1120 operating together.


Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.


The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open transition).


While only a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as described in the following claims. All patent applications and patents, both foreign and domestic, and all other publications referenced herein are incorporated herein in their entireties to the full extent permitted by law.


The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in whole through a machine that executes computer software, program codes, and/or instructions on a processor. The present disclosure may be implemented as a method on the machine, as a system or apparatus as part of or in relation to the machine, or as a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium executing on one or more of the machines. In embodiments, the processor may be part of a server, cloud server, client, network infrastructure, mobile computing platform, stationary computing platform, or other computing platforms. A processor may be any kind of computational or processing device capable of executing program instructions, codes, binary instructions and the like. The processor may be or may include a signal processor, digital processor, embedded processor, microprocessor or any variant such as a co-processor (math co-processor, graphic co-processor, communication co-processor and the like) and the like that may directly or indirectly facilitate execution of program code or program instructions stored thereon. In addition, the processor may enable execution of multiple programs, threads, and codes. The threads may be executed simultaneously to enhance the performance of the processor and to facilitate simultaneous operations of the application. By way of implementation, methods, program codes, program instructions and the like described herein may be implemented in one or more thread. The thread may spawn other threads that may have assigned priorities associated with them; the processor may execute these threads based on priority or any other order based on instructions provided in the program code. The processor, or any machine utilizing one, may include non-transitory memory that stores methods, codes, instructions and programs as described herein and elsewhere. The processor may access a non-transitory storage medium through an interface that may store methods, codes, and instructions as described herein and elsewhere. The storage medium associated with the processor for storing methods, programs, codes, program instructions or other type of instructions capable of being executed by the computing or processing device may include but may not be limited to one or more of a CD-ROM, DVD, memory, hard disk, flash drive, RAM, ROM, cache and the like.


A processor may include one or more cores that may enhance speed and performance of a multiprocessor. In embodiments, the process may be a dual core processor, quad core processors, other chip-level multiprocessor and the like that combine two or more independent cores (called a die).


The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in whole through a machine that executes computer software on a server, client, firewall, gateway, hub, router, or other such computer and/or networking hardware. The software program may be associated with a server that may include a file server, print server, domain server, Internet server, intranet server, cloud server, and other variants such as secondary server, host server, distributed server and the like. The server may include one or more of memories, processors, computer readable media, storage media, ports (physical and virtual), communication devices, and interfaces capable of accessing other servers, clients, machines, and devices through a wired or a wireless medium, and the like. The methods, programs, or codes as described herein and elsewhere may be executed by the server. In addition, other devices required for execution of methods as described in this application may be considered as a part of the infrastructure associated with the server. In embodiments, the server may be a virtual machine that is executed by a processing system of a cloud-services platform (e.g., Amazon AWS). In these embodiments, the cloud-services platform may offer computing resources that host and support various aspects of a third-party's software systems.


The server may provide an interface to other devices including, without limitation, clients, other servers, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers, communication servers, distributed servers, social networks, and the like. Additionally, this coupling and/or connection may facilitate remote execution of programs across the network. The networking of some or all of these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a program or method at one or more location without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, any of the devices attached to the server through an interface may include at least one storage medium capable of storing methods, programs, code and/or instructions. A central repository may provide program instructions to be executed on different devices. In this implementation, the remote repository may act as a storage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.


The software program may be associated with a client that may include a file client, print client, domain client, Internet client, intranet client and other variants such as secondary client, host client, distributed client and the like. The client may include one or more of memories, processors, computer readable media, storage media, ports (physical and virtual), communication devices, and interfaces capable of accessing other clients, servers, machines, and devices through a wired or a wireless medium, and the like. The methods, programs, or codes as described herein and elsewhere may be executed by the client. In addition, other devices required for execution of methods as described in this application may be considered as a part of the infrastructure associated with the client.


The client may provide an interface to other devices including, without limitation, servers, other clients, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers, communication servers, distributed servers and the like. Additionally, this coupling and/or connection may facilitate remote execution of programs across the network. The networking of some or all of these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a program or method at one or more location without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, any of the devices attached to the client through an interface may include at least one storage medium capable of storing methods, programs, applications, code, and/or instructions. A central repository may provide program instructions to be executed on different devices. In this implementation, the remote repository may act as a storage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.


The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in whole through network infrastructures. The network infrastructure may include elements such as computing devices, servers, routers, hubs, firewalls, clients, personal computers, communication devices, routing devices and other active and passive devices, modules and/or components as known in the art. The computing and/or non-computing device(s) associated with the network infrastructure may include, apart from other components, a storage medium such as flash memory, buffer, stack, RAM, ROM and the like. The processes, methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere may be executed by one or more of the network infrastructural elements. The methods and systems described herein may be adapted for use with any kind of private, community, or hybrid cloud computing network or cloud computing environment, including those that involve features of software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and/or infrastructure as a service (laaS).


The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere may be implemented on a cellular network having multiple cells. The cellular network may either be frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network or code division multiple access (CDMA) network. The cellular network may include mobile devices, cell sites, base stations, repeaters, antennas, towers, and the like. The cell network may be a GSM, GPRS, 3G, EVDO, mesh, or other networks types.


The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere may be implemented on or through mobile devices. The mobile devices may include navigation devices, cell phones, mobile phones, mobile personal digital assistants, laptops, palmtops, netbooks, pagers, electronic book readers, music players and the like. These devices may include, apart from other components, a storage medium such as a flash memory, buffer, RAM, ROM and one or more computing devices. The computing devices associated with mobile devices may be enabled to execute program codes, methods, and instructions stored thereon. Alternatively, the mobile devices may be configured to execute instructions in collaboration with other devices. The mobile devices may communicate with base stations interfaced with servers and configured to execute program codes. The mobile devices may communicate on a peer-to-peer network, mesh network, or other communications network. The program code may be stored on the storage medium associated with the server and executed by a computing device embedded within the server. The base station may include a computing device and a storage medium. The storage device may store program codes and instructions executed by the computing devices associated with the base station.


The computer software, program codes, and/or instructions may be stored and/or accessed on machine readable media that may include: computer components, devices, and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time; semiconductor storage known as random access memory (RAM); mass storage typically for more permanent storage, such as optical discs, forms of magnetic storage like hard disks, tapes, drums, cards and other types; processor registers, cache memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory; optical storage such as CD, DVD; removable media such as flash memory (e.g., USB sticks or keys), floppy disks, magnetic tape, paper tape, punch cards, standalone RAM disks, Zip drives, removable mass storage, off-line, and the like; other computer memory such as dynamic memory, static memory, read/write storage, mutable storage, read only, random access, sequential access, location addressable, file addressable, content addressable, network attached storage, storage area network, bar codes, magnetic ink, and the like.


The methods and systems described herein may transform physical and/or intangible items from one state to another. The methods and systems described herein may also transform data representing physical and/or intangible items from one state to another.


The elements described and depicted herein, including in flowcharts and block diagrams throughout the figures, imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented on machines through computer executable media having a processor capable of executing program instructions stored thereon as a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these, and all such implementations may be within the scope of the present disclosure. Examples of such machines may include, but may not be limited to, personal digital assistants, laptops, personal computers, mobile phones, other handheld computing devices, medical equipment, wired or wireless communication devices, transducers, chips, calculators, satellites, tablet PCs, electronic books, gadgets, electronic devices, devices having artificial intelligence, computing devices, networking equipment, servers, routers and the like. Furthermore, the elements depicted in the flowchart and block diagrams or any other logical component may be implemented on a machine capable of executing program instructions. Thus, while the foregoing drawings and descriptions set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems, no particular arrangement of software for implementing these functional aspects should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the various steps identified and described above may be varied and that the order of steps may be adapted to particular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an order for various steps should not be understood to require a particular order of execution for those steps, unless required by a particular application, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.


The methods and/or processes described above, and steps associated therewith, may be realized in hardware, software or any combination of hardware and software suitable for a particular application. The hardware may include a general-purpose computer and/or dedicated computing device or specific computing device or particular aspect or component of a specific computing device. The processes may be realized in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or other programmable devices, along with internal and/or external memory. The processes may also, or instead, be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, programmable array logic, or any other device or combination of devices that may be configured to process electronic signals. It will further be appreciated that one or more of the processes may be realized as a computer executable code capable of being executed on a machine-readable medium. The computer executable code may be created using a structured programming language such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++, or any other high-level or low-level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description languages, and database programming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of processors, processor architectures, or combinations of different hardware and software, or any other machine capable of executing program instructions.


Thus, in one aspect, methods described above and combinations thereof may be embodied in computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps thereof. In another aspect, the methods may be embodied in systems that perform the steps thereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, or all of the functionality may be integrated into a dedicated, standalone device or other hardware. In another aspect, the means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above may include any of the hardware and/or software described above. All such permutations and combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.


While the disclosure has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing examples but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.


The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitations of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.


While the foregoing written description enables one skilled in the art to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.


Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). In particular, any use of “step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).


Persons skilled in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.

Claims
  • 1. A computer implemented method for prescription drug management program reporting, comprising: receiving, at a computing device having one or more processors, laboratory test results from a laboratory, the laboratory test results corresponding to a patient and being indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient;retrieving, by the computing device and from a prescription drug management program data source, controlled substance prescription data for the patient, the controlled substance prescription data including prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period;analyzing, by the computing device, the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results to determine a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment, wherein: the daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period corresponds to a cumulative intake of opioid class drugs by the patient on a daily basis for the given time period,the overdose risk score is indicative of a likelihood of an unintentional overdose by the patient, andthe drug consistency assessment is representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient;generating, by the computing device, an enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient based on the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period, the overdose risk score, and the drug consistency assessment; andoutputting, by the computing device, the enhanced toxicology report to a requestor computing device.
  • 2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining, by the computing device, patient attributes of the patient from one or more patient data sources, the patient attributes corresponding to one or more of an age of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body type of the patient, an activity level of the patient, and a diagnosis of the patient,wherein the enhanced toxicology report is further based on the patient attributes.
  • 3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient includes a historical trend of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient.
  • 4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the historical trend is presented in a graphical format.
  • 5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced toxicology report includes one or more drug consistency scores based on the drug consistency assessment, wherein each particular drug consistency score is indicative of a match between a particular drug identified in either or both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient.
  • 6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein each particular drug consistency score indicates: (i) a prescribed and detected condition in which the particular drug is identified in both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient; (ii) a detected but not prescribed condition in which the particular drug is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient but not the controlled substance prescription data; and (iii) an inconsistent condition in which (a) the particular drug is a drug metabolite of a parent drug and is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient and the controlled substance prescription data indicates a prescription for the parent drug, or (b) the particular drug is identified in the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient indicate that the particular drug is not present at a prescribed amount in the patient.
  • 7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient includes a graphical element indicative of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period.
  • 8. The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein the graphical element includes a list of prescribers that issued the prescriptions.
  • 9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the graphical element illustrates overlap of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period from multiple prescribers.
  • 10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient includes a historical trend of the overdose risk score for the patient.
  • 11. A computing system, comprising: one or more processors; anda non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: receiving laboratory test results from a laboratory, the laboratory test results corresponding to a patient and being indicative of a toxicology screen of the patient;retrieving, from a prescription drug management program data source, controlled substance prescription data for the patient, the controlled substance prescription data including prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for a relevant time period;analyzing the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results to determine a daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for a given time period, an overdose risk score, and a drug consistency assessment, wherein: the daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period corresponds to a cumulative intake of opioid class drugs by the patient on a daily basis for the given time period,the overdose risk score is indicative of a likelihood of an unintentional overdose by the patient, andthe drug consistency assessment is representative of a match between the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient;generating an enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient based on the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent of the patient for the given time period, the overdose risk score, and the drug consistency assessment; andoutputting the enhanced toxicology report to a requestor computing device.
  • 12. The computing system of claim 11, further comprising: obtaining patient attributes of the patient from one or more patient data sources, the patient attributes corresponding to one or more of an age of the patient, a weight of the patient, a body type of the patient, an activity level of the patient, and a diagnosis of the patient,wherein the enhanced toxicology report is further based on the patient attributes.
  • 13. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient includes a historical trend of the determined daily morphine milligram equivalent for the patient.
  • 14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the historical trend is presented in a graphical format.
  • 15. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the enhanced toxicology report includes one or more drug consistency scores based on the drug consistency assessment, wherein each particular drug consistency score is indicative of a match between a particular drug identified in either or both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient.
  • 16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein each particular drug consistency score indicates: (i) a prescribed and detected condition in which the particular drug is identified in both of the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient; (ii) a detected but not prescribed condition in which the particular drug is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient but not the controlled substance prescription data; and (iii) an inconsistent condition in which (a) the particular drug is a drug metabolite of a parent drug and is identified in the laboratory test results for the patient and the controlled substance prescription data indicates a prescription for the parent drug, or (b) the particular drug is identified in the controlled substance prescription data and the laboratory test results for the patient indicate that the particular drug is not present at a prescribed amount in the patient.
  • 17. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient includes a graphical element indicative of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period.
  • 18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the graphical element includes a list of prescribers that issued the prescriptions.
  • 19. The computing system of claim 18, wherein the graphical element illustrates overlap of prescriptions of controlled substances issued to the patient for the relevant time period from multiple prescribers.
  • 20. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the enhanced toxicology report corresponding to the patient includes a historical trend of the overdose risk score for the patient.
  • 21.-43. (canceled)
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/716,090, filed on Aug. 8, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in its entirety.

Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
62716090 Aug 2018 US