WO2018018127A1

WO2018018127A1 - A dynamic quality control workforce management system, device, method, and computer-readable medium

Info

Publication number: WO2018018127A1
Application number: PCT/CA2017/000179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian FINE
Original assignee: Fio Corporation
Priority date: 2016-07-26
Filing date: 2017-07-26
Publication date: 2018-02-01

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system, method and/or computer readable medium for managing a quality control workforce that includes a manager and one or more team members. Communication within the system, method and/or computer readable medium occurs via a network. The system, method and/or computer readable medium includes a manager device local to the manager for creating customized work assignments, one or more workforce devices local to the one or more workforce team members to carry out the work assignments, a server to receive and validate completed work assignments, and a database to store the validated completed work assignments.

Description

A DYNAMIC QUALITY CONTROL WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, DEVICE, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of the earlier filed United States Patent Provisional Application No. 62/367,037 filed on July 26, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a quality control resource management system, device, method, computer-readable medium, and/or cooperating environment, and more particularly to a quality control resource management system, device, method, computer-readable medium, and/or cooperating environment for use in association with the management of a workforce.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the prior art, the manager of a workforce team working remotely may have been constrained and/or had limitations with respect to the knowledge of the daily activities of the remote workforce. Due to the inability to directly observe all of the team members, the manager may not know how efficiently the workforce members are carrying out their daily tasks / assignments and/or the trustworthiness of the workforce (e.g., are the remote team members actually working out in the field?; are the remote team members actually visiting the locations that they indicate they will, or have, visited? etc.)

[0004] These limitations may be especially problematic in healthcare settings - particularly in remote and/or developing countries - where workforce members may be tasked with going - - out into the field in order to train local healthcare workers on the collection of health information data and/or the delivery of health care.

[0005] As a result, there may be a need for, or it may be desirable to provide, a system, device, method, and/or computer readable medium which enables a resource manager to dynamically manage a remote workforce to promote quality control.

[0006] It may be an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more disadvantages and/or shortcomings associated with the prior art, to meet or provide for one or more needs and/or advantages, and/or to achieve one or more objects of the invention ~ one or more of which may preferably be readily appreciable by and/or suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings and/or disclosures hereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present disclosure provides a device, method, computer-readable medium and system for dynamic quality control of resource. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system for the dynamic management of the quality control of a workforce working remotely, comprising a manager and one or more team members, via a network comprising: (a) a manager device, local to the manager, operative to generate and transmit one or more work assignments; (b) one or more workforce devices, local to the one or more team members, operative to (i) receive the one or more work assignments, (ii) generate one or more completed work assignment based on information received by the one or more team members, and (iii) transmit the one or more completed work assignments via the network; (c) a server, remote from the one or more team members, to (i) electronically receive the one or more completed work assignments, and (ii) generate one or more validated completed work assignments; and (d) a database, remote from the one or more team members, to electronically store the validated completed work assignment; whereby the system is operative to facilitate cost reduction and increased efficiency for the completion of the work assignments by the one or more team members.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising: (a) providing a manager device, local to the manager, to (i) generate one or more work assignments having a common characteristic using a sorting algorithm, and (ii) transmit one or more work assignments; (b) providing one or more workforce devices, local to the one or more team members, to (i) receive the one or more work assignments, (ii) generate one or more completed work assignment based on information received by the one or more team members, and (iii) transmit the one or more completed work assignments via the network; (c) providing a server, remote from the one or more team members, to (i) electronically receive the one or more completed work assignments, and (ii) generate one or more validated completed work assignments; and (d) providing a database, remote from the one or more team members, to electronically store the validated completed work assignment.

[0009] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising: (a) providing a manager device, local to the manager, to (i) generate one or more work assignments having a common characteristic using a sorting algorithm, and (ii) transmit one or more work assignments; (b) providing one or more workforce devices, local to the one or more team members, to (i) receive the one or more work assignments, (ii) generate one or more completed work assignment based on information received by the one or more team members, and (iii) transmit the one or more completed work assignments via the network; (c) providing a server, remote from the one or more team members, to (i) electronically receive the one or more completed work assignments, and (ii) generate one or more validated completed work assignments; and (d) providing a database, remote from the one or more team members, to electronically store the validated completed work assignment.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that the one or more work assignments comprises providing supportive supervision to one or more community health workers having a common characteristic.

[0011] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that the one or more work assignments comprises contact tracing for individuals having a common characteristic.

[0012] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that the one or more work assignments comprises monitoring and evaluating one or more facilities having a common characteristic. [0013] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that the common characteristic is a number of errors made with respect to a protocol, location, an illness, symptom severity, proximity, relationship, time elapsed since communication with the one or more team members., and/or a FHV within a predetermined range. [0014] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that the one or more completed work assignments are transmitted within a predetermined time frame. [0015] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that the location of the one or more team members, identity of the one or more team members and/or the date and time is collected when the one or more completed work assignments are generated. [0016] In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above noted system, method and/or computer readable medium further provides that wherein an alert is presented to the one or more team members if one or more work assignments is altered.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a quality control events monitoring subsystem for use with the system for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising generating a list of potential corrective actions using: quality control events from a quality control events database; corrective actions from a corrective actions database; communication tools from a communication tools database; and/or knowledge management database.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a Dynamic Quality Control Monitoring Improvement Subsystem for use with the system for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising monitoring and generating a list of potential improvements to a workforce using: quality control events; quality control corrective actions; follow-up tools for quality control corrective actions; communication tools; reporting of quality control corrective actions follow-up; and/or the availability, assignment and performance management of the one or more team members.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a submethod for monitoring Quality Control Events for use with the method for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising: (a) analyzing, using a QC events algorithm, quality control events from a quality control events database and corrective actions from a corrective actions database to generate corrective actions; (b) analyzing, using a communication tools algorithm, the corrective actions and the communication tools from a communication tools database to generate a corrective actions package; (c) analyzing, using a follow-up report algorithm, the corrective actions packages to generate a follow-up report; and (d) storing the follow-up report in a knowledge management database.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a submethod for dynamic quality control monitoring improvement for use with the method for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising: (a) analyzing, using an improvement algorithm, a follow-up report from a knowledge management database to generate a list of potential improvements; (b) analyzing, using an approval process decision algorithm, the list of potential improvements to generate an implementation of the improvements package; and (c) storing the implementation of the improvements package in one or more of: a HW/HWL2 database; a QC events database; a QC corrective actions database; a communication tools database; and a knowledge management database.

[0021] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the system, method and computer readable medium, and the combination of steps, parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which are briefly described hereinbelow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the system, device and methods according to the present invention, as to their structure, organization, use, and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be better understood from the following drawings in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention may now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of an example dynamic quality control workforce management system in which aspects of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; and [0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0026] The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, may be provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain embodiments and features of the invention. [0027] The present disclosure may be described herein with reference to system architecture, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, and computer program products according to various aspects of the present disclosure. It may be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions.

[0028] These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer (including a server), or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer- implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. In some preferable embodiments, for example, a special purpose computer (e.g., a server) may be loaded with computer program instructions that can direct a computer or other programmable data process apparatus, remote from the special purpose computer, to function in a particular manner (e.g., generate an output such as a page to a graphical user interface). [0029] Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagram illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It may also be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by either special purpose hardware- based computer systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0030] The present disclosure may be now described in terms of an exemplary system in which the present disclosure, in various embodiments, would be implemented. This may be for convenience only and may be not intended to limit the application of the present disclosure. It may be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the present disclosure in alternative embodiments.

[0031] In this disclosure, a number of terms and abbreviations may be used. The following definitions and descriptions of such terms and abbreviations are provided in greater detail.

[0032] As used herein, a person skilled in the relevant art may generally understand the term "comprising" to generally mean the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, or components as referred to in the claims, but that it does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. [0033] It should also be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, method, an apparatus, a system, a device, a method, or a computer readable medium such as a computer readable storage medium or a computer network wherein program instructions are sent over a network (e.g., optical or electronic communication links such as a cellular network, bluetooth, satellite, etc.). In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as processes. In general, the order of the steps of the disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention.

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in numerous configurations depending on implementation choices based upon the principles described herein. Various specific aspects are disclosed, which are illustrative embodiments not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. One aspect of the disclosure is a method, computer program product, apparatus, and system for dynamic quality control workforce management. Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to standards and protocols known to a person skilled in the art, the present disclosures as well as the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any specific standard or protocol. Each of the standards for non- mobile and mobile computing, including the Internet and other forms of computer network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, and HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

[0035] As those of ordinary skill in the art would generally understand, the Internet is a global computer network which comprises a vast number of computers and computer networks which are interconnected through communication links. A person skilled in the relevant art may understand that an electronic communications network of the present invention, may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: a local area network, a wide area network, peer to peer communication, an intranet, or the Internet. The interconnected computers exchange information using various services, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Gopher, web-services, application programming interface (API), -

File Transfer Protocol (FTP). This network allows a server computer system (a Web server) to send graphical Web pages of information to a remote client computer system. The remote client computer system can then display the Web pages via its web browser. Each Web page

(or link) of the "world wide web" ("WWW") is uniquely identifiable by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). To view a specific Web page, a client computer system specifies the URL for that Web page in a request (e.g., a Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP") request). The request is forwarded to the Web server that supports the Web page. When the Web server receives the request, it sends the Web page to the client computer system. When the client computer system receives the Web page, it typically displays the Web page using a browser. A web browser or a browser is a special-purpose application program that effects the requesting of web pages and the displaying of web pages and the use of web-based applications. Commercially available browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer and

Firefox, Google Chrome among others. It may be understood that with embodiments of the present invention, any browser would be suitable. [0036] A person skilled in the relevant art would generally understand that a reference to "Internet of Things (IoT)" or "IoT device" refers to networked or interconnected objects, typically, but not limited to, everyday objects, more technically purposed objects (i.e., medical devices) and devices (e.g., a refrigerator, washing machine, routers, satellite dish, smart speakers, televisions, etc.). It is described as a self-configuring wireless network of sensors whose purpose would be to interconnect all such connected devices. The concept may be attributed to the former Auto-ID Center, founded in 1999, based at the time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

[0037] Web pages are typically defined using HTML. HTML provides a standard set of tags that define how a Web page is to be displayed. When a provider indicates to the browser to display a Web page, the browser sends a request to the server computer system to transfer to the client computer system an HTML document that defines the Web page. When the requested HTML document is received by the client computer system, the browser displays the Web page as defined by the HTML document. The HTML document contains various tags that control the displaying of text, graphics, controls, and other features. The HTML document may contain URLs of other Web pages available on that server computer system or other server computer systems.

[0038] A person skilled in the relevant art may generally understand a web-based application refers to any program that is accessed over a network connection using HTTP, rather than existing within a device's memory. Web-based applications often run inside a web browser or web portal. Web-based applications also may be client-based, where a portion of the program is downloaded to a user's desktop, but processing is done over the Internet on an external server. Web-based applications may also be dedicated programs installed on an internet-ready device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or other portable devices. A person skilled in the relevant art may understand that a web site may also act as a web portal (e.g., Fionet™ offered by Fio Corporation of Toronto, Ontario, Canada). A web portal may be a web site that provides a variety of services to users via a collection of web sites or web based applications. A portal is most often one specially designed site or application that brings information together from diverse sources in a uniform way. Usually, each information source gets its dedicated area on the page for displaying information (a portlet); often, the user can configure which ones to display. Portals typically provide an opportunity for users to input information into a system. Variants of portals include "dashboards" which may in some embodiments be extended to host third party dashboards. The extent to which content is displayed in a "uniform way" may depend on the intended user and the intended purpose, as well as the diversity of the content. Very often design emphasis is on a certain "metaphor" for configuring and customizing the presentation of the content and the chosen implementation framework and/or code libraries. In addition, the role of the user in an organization may determine which content can be added to the portal or deleted from the portal configuration.

[0039] It may be generally understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that the term "mobile device" or "portable device" refers to any portable electronic device that can be used to access a computer network such as, for example, the Internet. Typically a portable electronic device comprises a display screen, at least one input/output device, a processor, memory, a power module and a tactile man-machine interface as well as other components that are common to portable electronic devices (e.g., a camera that may be used to capture images including a barcode or identification, a speaker, a microphone, etc.) individuals or members carry with them on a daily basis. Examples of portable devices suitable for use with the present invention include, but are not limited to, smart phones, cell phones, wireless data/email devices, tablets, PDAs and MP3 players, test devices, etc.

[0040] It may be generally understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that the term "network ready device" or "internet ready device" refers to devices that are capable of connecting to and accessing a computer network, such as, for example, the Internet, including but not limited to an IoT device. A network ready device may assess the computer network through well-known methods, including, for example, a web-browser. Examples of internet- ready devices include, but are not limited to, mobile devices (including smart-phones, tablets, PDAs, etc.), gaming consoles, and smart-TVs. It may be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that embodiment of the present invention may be expanded to include applications for use on a network ready device (e.g., a cellphone). In a preferred embodiment, the network ready device version of the applicable software may have a similar look and feel as a browser version but that may be optimized to the device. It may be understood that other "smart" devices (devices that are capable of connecting to and accessing a computer network, such as, for example, the internet) such as medical or test devices, including but not limited to smart blood pressure monitors, smart glucometers, IoT devices (as previously described, including smart refrigerators), etc.

[0041] It may be further generally understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that the term "downloading" refers to receiving datum or data to a local system (e.g. a mobile device) from a remote system (e.g. a client) or to initiate such a datum or data transfer. Examples of remote systems or clients from which a download might be performed include, but are not limited to, web servers, FTP servers, email servers, or other similar systems. A download can mean either any file that may be offered for downloading or that has been downloaded, or the process of receiving such a file. A person skilled in the relevant art may understand the inverse operation, namely sending of data from a local system (e.g., a mobile device) to a remote system (e.g. a database) may be referred to as "uploading". The data and/or information used according to the present invention may be updated constantly, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or any other desired interval depending on the type of data and/or the level of importance inherent in, and/or assigned to, each type of data. Some of the data may preferably be downloaded from the Internet, by satellite networks or other wireless or wired (and made available to mobile devices via a wireless network) networks.

[0042] Elements of the present invention may be implemented with computer systems which are well known in the art. Generally speaking, computers include a central processor, system memory, and a system bus that couples various system components including the system memory to the central processor. A system bus may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The structure of a system memory may be well known to those skilled in the art and may include a basic input/output system ("BIOS") stored in a read only memory ("ROM") and one or more program modules such as operating systems, application programs and program data stored in random access memory ("RAM"). Computers may also include a variety of interface units and drives for reading and writing data. A user of the system can interact with the computer using a variety of input devices, all of which are known to a person skilled in the relevant art. [0043] One skilled in the relevant art would appreciate that the device connections mentioned herein are for illustration purposes only and that any number of possible configurations and selection of peripheral devices could be coupled to the computer system.

[0044] Computers can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers or other devices, such as a server, a router, a network personal computer, a peer device or other common network node, a wireless telephone or wireless personal digital assistant. The computer of the present invention may include a network interface that couples the system bus to a local area network ("LAN"). Networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks and home computer systems. A wide area network ("WAN"), such as the Internet, can also be accessed by the computer or mobile device (wired or wireless).

[0045] It may be appreciated that the type of connections contemplated herein are exemplary and other ways of establishing a communications link between computers may be used in accordance with the present invention, including, for example, mobile devices and networks. The existence of any of various well-known protocols, such as TCP/IP, Frame Relay, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like, may be presumed, and computer can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve and send data to and from a web-based server. Furthermore, any of various conventional web browsers can be used to display and manipulate data in association with a web based application. [0046] The operation of the network ready device (i.e., a mobile device) may be controlled by a variety of different program modules, engines, etc. Examples of program modules are routines, algorithms, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. It may be understood that the present invention may also be practiced with other computer system configurations, including multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCS, personal computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.

Furthermore, the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by a software program for processing data through a computer system. It may be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that the computer system can be a personal computer, mobile device, notebook computer, server computer, mainframe, networked computer (e.g., router), workstation, and the like. In one embodiment, the computer system includes a processor coupled to a bus and memory storage coupled to the bus. The memory storage can be volatile or non-volatile (i.e., transitory or non-transitory) and can include removable storage media. The computer can also include a display, provision for data input and output, etc. as may be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art.

[0048] Some portion of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic block, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed step, logic block, process, etc. is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations or instructions leading to a desired result. The operations are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.

[0049] It may be generally understood that in establishing a user interface, a task bar may be preferably positioned at the top of a screen to provide a user interface. Preferably, a textual representation of a task's name is presented in this user interface, preferably as a button, and the task names may be shortened as necessary if display space of the button is constrained. The labelled button having the task's name preferably operate as a type of hyperlink, whereby the user/viewer can immediately switch to the activity, view, etc. of each of the tasks by selecting the button containing the applicable name from the task bar. In other words, the user or viewer is redirected by the application to the function represented by the task button by selecting the labelled hyperlink. Preferably, the task entry associated with the currently-displayed work unit view may be shown in a different graphical representation (e.g., using a different color, font, or highlighting). In preferred embodiments, there may be provided a display having a selectable "X" in the task bar entry for each task: if the user clicks on the "X", then its associated task may be ended and the view of its work unit may be removed. A user interface may be web-based, application based, or a combination.

[0050] In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, a person skilled in the relevant art would generally understand the term "application" or "application software" to refer to a program or group of programs designed for end users. While there are system software, typically but not limited to, lower level programs (e.g. interact with computers at a basic level), application software resides above system software and may include, but is not limited to database programs, word processors, spreadsheets, etc. Application software may be grouped along with system software or published alone. Application software may simply be referred to as an "application". [0051] It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as "receiving", "creating", "providing", "sending", "communicating" or the like refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, including an embedded system, that manipulates and transfers data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. As used herein, reference to the "transmission", "processing", "interpretation" or the like of data associated with a cloud may refer to advancing through logic contained in the guideline. This may be accomplished, among other methods, by running on a processor one or more computer programs representative of the careflows, workflow, clinical guidelines, etc.

[0052] According to the invention, one or more dynamic quality control workforce management systems, platforms, devices, methods, computer-readable media, and/or cooperating environments may be disclosed.

[0053] The invention is contemplated for use in association with one or more cooperating environments, to afford increased functionality and/or advantageous utilities in association with same. The invention, however, is not so limited. [0054] Certain novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the dynamic quality control workforce management system, platform, device, method, computer readable medium, and/or certain features of the engine, platform, device, system, method, computer readable medium which are novel in conjunction with the cooperating environment, according to the present invention, as to their organization, use, and/or method of operation, together with further objectives and/or advantages thereof, may be better understood from the accompanying disclosure in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the accompanying disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and/or description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0055] Naturally, in view of the teachings and disclosures herein, persons having ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that alternate designs and/or embodiments of the invention may be possible (e.g., with substitution of one or more steps, algorithms, processes, features, structures, parts, components, modules, utilities, etc. for others, with alternate relations and/or configurations of steps, algorithms, processes, features, structures, parts, components, modules, utilities, etc).

[0056] Although some of the steps, algorithms, processes, features, structures, parts, components, modules, utilities, relations, configurations, etc. according to the invention are not specifically referenced in association with one another, they may be used, and/or adapted for use, in association therewith.

[0057] One or more of the disclosed steps, algorithms, processes, features, structures, parts, components, modules, utilities, relations, configurations, and the like may be implemented in and/or by the invention, on their own, and/or without reference, regard or likewise implementation of one or more of the other disclosed steps, algorithms, processes, features, structures, parts, components, modules, utilities, relations, configurations, and the like, in various permutations and combinations, as may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the pith, marrow, and spirit of the disclosed invention.

[0058] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of an example dynamic quality control workforce management system 100. Community Health Workers 10a, 10b, 10c ("CHW 10a, 10b, 10c") may preferably use a device 12a, 12b, 12c (e.g., a network ready device) loaded with Fio™ software that provides the CHW 10a, 10b, 10c (alternately "10a,b,c") with features including, but not limited to, (i) protocol guidance (e.g., the steps the CHW 10a, b,c should follow in a community health situation including the order by case / disease / illness classification) and/or (ii) assistance with data capture (e.g., the types of questions the CHW 10a, b,c should ask an individual), all while delivering health care and recording the CHW actions in the background. All of the data (e.g., protocols, data capture assistance, etc.) is preferably stored locally on the device 12a, 12b, 12c (alternately "12a,b,c") and then forwarded to a server 50 for analysis at a predetermined time such as, for example, a data connection between the device 12a, 12b, 12c and the server 50 is established. The system 100 preferably comprises at least one network 102, which is the medium used to provide communication between a Resource Manager Application Subsystem 200, a Worker Application Subsystem 300, the server 50 and database 52, and/or the CHWs 10a,b,c. Persons skilled in the art may understand that in remote and/or developing countries, the data connection (e.g., internet availability via a local cellular network or satellite) may be intermittent and/or limited. The data is preferably used by a resource manager 20 (alternately "manager 20"; managing HWL2 workers 30a,30b) to, for example, target supportive supervision towards a CHW 10a,b,c in need of additional training or to receive a phone call for guidance or support.

[0059] Each CHW 10a,b,c may be associated with a Facility 14a,b,c (e.g., where healthcare is delivered by the CHW 10a,b,c such as a hospital or a clinic). Facility names and locations (e.g., Global Positioning System coordinates) are preferably stored in the database 52. Each

Facility 14 a,b,c may preferably be associated with a unique Facility Identification ("FID"; for example, "Facility No. 1" or "Facility A", etc.). Each Facility 14a,b,c may also preferably be associated with a Facility Health Value ("FHV"), which is a number / score / factor assigned or determined by the present system 100 to indicate the relative trust or reliability that the particular Facility 14a,b,c is operating at a predetermined performance level (e.g., below a threshold level of errors, etc.). The FHV is preferably determined based on, for example, CHW error scores, number of mistakes in filling out forms manually, timeliness of report filings, inventory losses, availability of workers, observations and subjective / objective assessments by the RM 20 and HWL2 workers 30a,b. FHVs may, for example, be represented as a percentage (e.g., 100% to represent perfect performance level), a letter grade (e.g., A+ to represent an outstanding performance level), etc. FHVs are preferably stored in the database 52 and/or stored in (or retrieved from) a remote database (e.g., located in a different country) comprising information on all Facilities in a particular region (e.g., a country).

[0060] The manager 20 may require a platform to assign work to a workforce comprising one or more HWL2 workers 30a,b (i.e., Contact Tracer or Supportive Supervision Personnel, Monitoring Personnel - a worker sent by the Ministry to go into the field with a specific assignment) and the members 30a,b of the workforce are preferably tracked (e.g., global positioning system, etc.) similar to the CHWs 10a,b,c. A workforce may comprise one or more Supportive Supervision Workers ("SSWs") and/or one or more Contact Tracers ("CTs"). The workforce is preferably provided with a worklist of items 22a,b (alternately "work assignments 22a,b" or "assignments 22a,b") to complete within a predetermined time (e.g., each day, week, month, etc.). Preferably the HWL2 workers 30a,b receive the assignments 22a,b using a workforce device 32a,b. [0061] The ability to manage the effectiveness of the workforce may preferably result in cost reductions and an increase in other efficiencies. Some of the possible data or organizational items that may enhance the effectiveness of the workforce include:

• organizing the travel time of individual members of the workforce to preferably reduce costs (e.g., visits may be bundled together for efficiency);

• recording transportation method and expenses (e.g., bus, taxi, car and fuel) for expense management and reporting;

• recording location and work completed to provide the manager with an ability to determine whether work assignments (e.g., visits and/or training) are performed as assigned; and/or

• revising assignments on an as-needed basis based on various factors including, for example, travel (e.g., road) conditions, staff availability, disease outbreak, etc.

[0062] Resource Manager Application Subsystem

[0063] The Resource Manager Application Subsystem 200 is adapted to facilitate the transmission of work assignments 22a,b to the workforce 30a,b. For example, a resource manager 20 may send one or more work assignments 22a,b to specific HWL2 workers 30a,b (e.g., name of location to visit, name of person to visit, contact information of person to visit, GPS location of person to visit, etc.). The work assignments 22a,b may preferably be transferred to the workforce 30a,b via the Internet 102 (e.g., using the Fionet™ portal).

[0064] i. Mode One - Supportive Supervision

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, the manager 20 is provided with a list of CHWs 10a,b,c sorted by location and/or proximity (e.g., using Facility locations and/or FID) relative to members of the workforce 30a,b, the list preferably including additional information such as the number of errors associated with each CHW 10a,b,c with respect to a protocol. The list is preferably generated by the server 50, accessing the database 52, and transmitted to the manager 20 for presentation as a web page and/or report. [0066] In preferable embodiments, the CHWs 10a,b,c may be sorted by a sorting algorithm executed by a manager device 24 to display the CHW with the highest number of errors, or other condition(s) reported by the system 100 as may be determined by a system rule (e.g., generated by a protocol rules engine), at the top of the list. The manager device 24 is preferably a mobile device, portable device, or computer local to the manager 20. The sorting or organization of the CHWs 10a,b,c on the list facilitates the selection and/or assignment of groups of CHWs 10a,b,c by the manager 20 to one or more HWL2 workers 30a,b to visit for Support Supervision. The grouping of CHWs (e.g., common location, high number of errors, etc.) preferably allows for the efficient deployment of HWL2 workers 30a,b by, for example, reducing costs associated with personnel and transportation or assigning more experienced HWL2 workers to CHWs having a higher number of errors. Once a sorted and/or organized list is presented to the manager 20, the manager 20 can assign a HWL2 worker 30a,b to each of the CHWs 10a,b,c requiring Supportive Supervision. Once the selections are saved in the database 52, a message and/or worklist 22a,b is preferably transmitted to the assigned HWL2 worker 30a,b via the workforce device 32a,b. The workforce device 32a,b is preferably a mobile device or portable device local to the HWL2 workers 30a,b. Persons skilled in the art will understand that a variety of orders and/or arrangements for the CHWs are possible depending on the needs of the manager and/or the characteristics of interest. [0067] ii. Mode Two - Contact Tracing

[0068] In another preferred embodiment, a manager 20 is provided with a list of individuals (not shown) who have come in contact with a particular disease / illness (e.g., Ebola, Zika, etc.). The individuals may be patients (e.g., infected by the disease / illness) or may have come in direct or indirect contact with a patient / carrier of the disease / illness (e.g., reside in the same residence, shared a common space such as a bus or airplane, etc.). The list is preferably sorted by location, proximity, relationship, the number of days since the individual was seen in person by a HWL2 worker 30a,b and/or the number of days since the individual has communicated with an HWL2 worker 30a,b (e.g., phone, text, email, etc.). The list is preferably generated by the server 50, accessing the database 52, and transmitted to the manager 20 for presentation as a web page and/or report.

[0069] In preferable embodiments, the individuals may be sorted by a sorting algorithm executed by a manager device 24 to display the individuals with the highest number of days (or other time frame and may depend on the severity and range of symptoms shown by the individual) since contact with an HWL2 worker 30a,b at the top of the list. The manager device 24 is preferably a mobile device, portable device, or computer local to the manager 20. The sorting or organization of the individuals on the list facilitates the selection and/or assignment of groups of individuals (or "Contacts") by the manager 20 to one or more HWL2 workers 30a,b to visit for follow-up and data collection. The grouping of Contacts (e.g., common location, case severity, etc.) preferably allows for the efficient deployment of HWL2 workers 30a,b by, for example, reducing costs associated with personnel and transportation of assigning more experienced HWL2 workers 30a,b to Contacts presenting with more severe illness / disease symptoms. Once a sorted and/or organized list is presented to the manager, the manager 20 may assign a HWL2 worker 30a,b to each Contact requiring follow-up (i.e., in person or by telephone, email, etc.). Once the selections are saved in the database 52 (or contemporaneously with saving the selections in the database 52), a message and/or worklist 22a,b is preferably transmitted to the assigned HWL2 worker 30a,b via the workforce device 32a,b. The workforce device 32a,b is preferably a mobile device or portable device local to the HWL2 workers 30a,b. Persons skilled in the art will understand that a variety of orders and/or arrangements for the Contacts are possible depending on the needs of the manager 20 and/or the characteristics of interest.

[0070] iii. Mode Three - Monitoring and Evaluation ("MandE") or Other Management Visits

[0071] In yet another preferred embodiment, a manager 20 is provided with a list of Facilities 14a,b,c. The list is preferably sorted by location, proximity, by FHV, or by the last date of an on-site visit by an HWL2 worker 30a,b. The list is preferably generated by the server 50, accessing the database 52, and transmitted to the manager 20 for presentation as a web page and/or report.

[0072] In preferable embodiments, the Facilities 14a,b,c, operating based on predetermined conditions, may be sorted by a sorting algorithm executed on the manager device 24 to display the Facilities 14a,b,c having a combination of the lowest FHV and highest number of days since an on-site visit by a HWL2 worker 30a,b at the top of the list. The manager device 24 is preferably a mobile device, portable device, or computer local to the manager 20. The sorting or organization of the Facilities 14a,b,c on the list facilitates the selection and/or assignment of groups of Facilities 14a,b,c by the manager 20 to one or more HWL2 workers 30a,b (e.g., an MandE specialist) to visit for follow-up and data collection. The grouping of Facilities 14a,b,c (e.g., FHV, number of days since an on-site visit by a HWL2 worker 30a,b, etc.) preferably allows for the efficient deployment of HWL2 workers 30a,b by, for example, reducing costs associated with personnel and transportation or assigning more experienced HWL2 workers 30a,b to Facilities 14a,b,c having a very low FHV. Once a sorted and/or organized list is presented to the manager 20, the manager 20 may assign a HWL2 worker 30a,b to each Facility 14a,b,c requiring follow-up (e.g., those Facilities 14a,b,c having a FHV below a predetermined value). Once the selections are saved in the database 52 (or contemporaneously with saving the selections in the database 52), a message and/or worklist

22a,b is preferably transmitted to the assigned HWL2 worker 30a,b via the workforce device 32a,b. The workforce device 32a,b is preferably a mobile device or portable device local to the HWL2 workers 30a,b. Persons skilled in the art will understand that a variety of orders and/or arrangements for the Facilities 14a,b,c are possible depending on the needs of the manager 20 and/or the characteristics of interest.

[0073] Managing the Workforce [0074] In preferable embodiments, the system 100 may be used to create a list of HWL2 workers 30a,b associated with a manager 20. HWL2 workers 30a,b may be registered with a manager 20 (i.e., creating a workforce) by using the following information: name, contact information (e.g., telephone number, email address), role definition (e.g., Contact Tracer, Supportive Supervision, MandE, other), assigned working region(s), etc.). The registration information may preferably be obtained by the server 50 from the iHRIS (Open Source Human Resources Information Solutions) database offered by IntraHealth International either directly or through an interface layer. Preferably, the list may include HWL2 workers 30a,b from multiple regions.

[0075] The HWL2 worker list, generated by the server 50 accessing the database 52, may also preferably be used to create an account or registry of devices 32a,b (e.g., cellphones, smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) running applications used by the HWL2 worker 30a,b and of interest to the manager 20 (e.g., Fionet™ applications).

[0076] In another preferred embodiment, the system 100 may be used (e.g., using the Fionet™ Portal) to generate a report (for example by the server 50 or manager device 24 - accessing the database 52) to view the work assignments 22a,b of a particular HWL2 workforce 30a,b by a manager 20. The report preferably includes the current assignments, if any, for each member of the HWL2 workforce 30a,b and the state of completion of said current assignment(s) 22a,b. As an example, the state of completion of each assignment may be shown as follows: "completed" / "done" in green; "unknown" in yellow; and "unfinished"

/ "incomplete" in red. In addition, the system 100 may preferably display the elapsed time

(e.g., days, hours, minutes, etc.) since a given assignment was assigned to a HWL2 worker

30a,b. The sorting algorithm executed on the manager device 24 may preferably be adapted to sort the list of current assignments by elapsed time since being assigned to a HWL2 worker 30a,b, specify a date range to review assignments within the desired date range, etc. The manager device 24 is preferably a mobile device, portable device, or computer local to the manager 20. In some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to provide the manager 20 with the ability to edit the list and/or work assignments 22a,b (e.g., incomplete assignments may be updated). In some further embodiments, there may be a cut-off date for editing.

[0077] In yet a further preferred embodiment, the work assignment(s) 22a,b of a HWL2 workforce 30a,b may be edited, revised and/or updated by a manager 20 (e.g., using the Fionet™ Portal). This may be achieved, for example, by updating current selections of the HWL2 assignments 22a,b using a selection box. The system is preferably adapted to provide a warning if a specific HWL2 worker 30a,b is not from the same region or indicate to the manager 20 (or user) whether a given HLW2 worker 30a,b is reasonable to select (e.g., the HLW2 worker 30a,b is responsible for the region of the work assignment). In some embodiments, an assignment may be removed (i.e., left blank). Revisions to an assignment 22a,b are sent to the associated HWL2 worker(s) 30a,b. In preferable embodiments, the revisions only (i.e., not the entire assignment) are sent to the associated HWL2 worker(s) 30a,b via the workforce device 32a,b to reduce any data transmission costs and to minimize the potential for confusion.

[0078] In still a further preferred embodiment, the assigned and completed work assignments 22a,b of a particular HWL2 workforce 30a,b may be viewed by a manager 20 (e.g., using the Fionet™ Portal). Completed values 34a,b are preferably sent from the field to the database 52 by the HWL2 worker 30a,b when an assignment 22a,b is completed and the value is collected from the database 52 when the completed report is refreshed, validated for accuracy, and shown along with the time of completion of the assignment to generate a validated completed assignment 54a,b. [0079] In yet another preferred embodiment, the completed value 34a,b may be overridden (e.g., using the Fionet™ Portal). In one example, the completed value 34a,b may include (or be based on) information that is incomplete, incorrect or not completed properly (e.g., updated information from HWL2 workers, error by manager, error by HWL2 workers, incorrect values, etc.). Preferably, when a completed value 34a,b is revised, the reason for the revision, the date and time of the revision, and the user ID over-riding the value is recorded in the database 52. An override may include a change of the status value between complete, incomplete, and cancelled.

[0080] In another preferred embodiment, the history of a particular assignment 54a,b may be viewed by the manager 20 (e.g., using the Fionet™ Portal). The manager 20 can preferably select a single assignment to expand (i.e., obtain further details) to include information displayed, for example, along a timeline from most recent to oldest actions (e.g., created, assigned, completed, modified, cancelled, etc.). The detailed information is preferably obtained from the database 52 by the server 50 and presented to the manager 20 via the manager device 24. A detailed history of the assignment would preferably also include information on a time stamp and the identity of who may have modified a record, system rule

(i.e., protocol rules engine created this item), manager and/or HWL2 name, etc.

[0081] In a further preferred embodiment, new events / items created by a HWL2 workforce 30a,b may be viewed by the manager 20 (e.g., using the Fionet™ Portal). The manager 20 may preferably view items created by HWL2 workers 30a,b (e.g., contacts, cases, etc.). Data entry by HWL2 workers 30a,b is preferably categorized differently than data entries by the manager 20. The data collected by the HWL2 workers 30a,b is preferably obtained from the database 52 by the server 50 and presented to the manager 20 via the manager device 24.

[0082] In another preferred embodiment, the system 100 may be used to create a list of the number of contacts created by each manager 20 and/or HWL2 worker 30a,b. The contact information is preferably obtained from the database 52 by the server 50 and presented to the manager 20 via the manager device 24. A sorting algorithm executed on the manager device 24 may preferably arrange the information such that the manager 20 and/or HWL2 worker 30a,b who is creating the most contacts appears at the top. [0083] Worker Application Subsystem

[0084] The Worker Application Subsystem 300 is adapted to facilitate acknowledgement by an HWL2 workforce member 30a,b that a work assignment has been completed 34a,b. In preferable embodiments, the HWL2 worker 30a,b may toggle a value on the mobile application executed by the workforce device 32a,b. In an embodiment, the HWL2 worker 30a,b may acknowledge completion by a single action or two actions (to reduce potential errors). Acknowledgement options may preferably include values such as "completed", "not completed", and/or "cancelled". In addition, preferable embodiments may include comments associated with the "completed", "not completed, and/or "cancelled" values (e.g., reasons for not completing or cancelling an assignment). [0085] In a preferable embodiment, when an HWL2 workforce member 30a,b acknowledges the completion of a work assignment 34a,b, the GPS location of the HWL2 member 30a,b / assignment completion 34a,b, the time and other data items identified for collection by the respective manager 20 are stored locally on the device 32a,b until transmission to the server

50 and/or database 52 at a desired time (e.g., when a data transmission connection is established). Some of the types of information collected by the HWL2 worker 30a,b in the field include:

• Contact tracing survey (create, update, convert to case, cannot locate) information for a disease / illness (e.g., Ebola);

• A survey for a disease / illness (e.g., Zika); and/or

• Facility review for MandE creating input for the FHV (preferably quarterly reviews completed by one or more roaming teams).

[0086] In another preferred embodiment, the data recorded by the HWL2 workforce member 30a,b is preferably sent to the server 50 for presentation and analysis based upon the communication policy of the application (and, for example, stored in an HWL2 database). The server 50 may include various features, such as the ability to view, manage, sort, export, and/or report based on dashboards and reports (e.g., which may be proprietary, such as those designed by Fio Corporation, prepared by a manager, or prepared by a third party, such as the World Health Organization or the United States Agency for International Development) for resource management. In addition, background algorithms for machine learning - such as machine learning algorithms (not shown) - may preferably analyze the data in the database 52 for trends, patterns, anomalies, etc., using methods that may be known by persons skilled in the art including cluster, linear regression, etc. The resulting data of the machine learning analysis is preferably presented to a manager (e.g., as a report and/or webpage on the manager device 24). The manager may then preferably implement an action based on the report and generate assignments 22a,b to the workforce taking into account the results of the machine learning analysis. In preferable embodiments, once trained, the machine learning algorithms do not need to be re-trained and may identify, within a set of unanalyzed (i.e., raw) data, any trends, patterns, anomalies, etc. learned from the analysis of previously analyzed data.

[0087] In a further preferred embodiment, events based on the application running on the device 32a,b may be created by the HWL2 workforce member 30a,b. Some of the types of information created by the HWL2 member 30a,b occur when the member 30a,b is collecting survey information when they are in the field, including:

• Contact tracing survey (create) information for a disease / illness (e.g., Ebola);

• A survey for a disease / illness (e.g., Zika) involving going door-to-door to collect information from individuals, water sources, spraying (e.g., insecticides) activities, entomology information, etc.; and · Facility review for MandE (impromptu visits) that are unplanned and conducted by one or more roving teams, created from a facility list (take update GPS).

[0088] In another embodiment, an alert is received by the HWL2 workforce member 30a,b (e.g., via the member's device 32a, b) when there is an update to the work list 22a,b. The alert may preferably comprise an audible tone or a notification on the graphical user interface of the device 32a,b. Preferably, a message is sent back from the device 32a,b to the server 50 when the new work assignments 22a,b are received by the HWL2 workforce member 30a,b. Concurrently, the message may preferably also be transmitted to the manager 20 via the manager device 24. [0089] QC Events Monitoring Subsystem

[0090] As shown in FIG. 2, the QC Events Monitoring Subsystem 400 is preferably adapted to support, monitor and/or manage healthcare activities and clinical protocols that may be conducted by a CHW in a low IT resource environment and low qualified human resource environment (e.g., remote locations and/or developing countries). Preferably, the QC Events Monitoring Subsystem 400 is used with the dynamic quality control workforce management system 100.

[0091] A primary function of the subsystem 400 may preferably be to suggest and implement tasks and activities to improve specific clinical protocols with potential quality issues and/or dysfunctional issues. The criteria used by the QC events monitoring subsystem 400 to identify, manage and correct potential issues preferably include but may not be limited to:

• Results from a QC event 402 (i.e., QC Parameters);

• Corrective actions stored in the subsystem (e.g., in the QC Corrective Actions Database 460); and/or · Communications tools (e.g., stored in the Communication Tools Database 470) available to provide efficient corrective actions.

[0092] Based on these criteria the subsystem 400, which may be via the server 50, preferably generates a list of potential corrective actions 406 using a QC Events Algorithm 404 which could be sequential, dependent or independent, mandatory or not mandatory. The analysis and/or associations of these elements by the Communications Tools Algorithm 408, following validation and approval by the resource manager, becomes a corrective actions package 410. The corrective actions package 410 preferably comprises two components:

• The corrective actions tasks; and • The Follow-Up tools for corrective actions.

[0093] The corrective actions package 410 is preferably associated or linked to metrics to facilitate monitoring of the appropriate implementation of the corrective actions.

[0094] The metrics are preferably measured by the Follow-Up tools for corrective actions using a Follow-up Algorithm 412, which can provide short-term, mid-term and long-term measurements of the previously delivered corrective actions. A Follow-up Report 414 may be generated based on the results generated by the Follow-up Algorithm 412.

[0095] The QC Events Monitoring Subsystem 400 is preferably associated with and/or accesses four distinct databases, including: (i) the QC Events Database 450;

(ii) the QC Corrective Actions Database 460;

(iii) the Communication Tools Database 470; and

(iv) the Knowledge Management Database 480. [0096] (T) The PC Events Database [0097] The QC events Database 450 preferably stores several components, including:

• a list of QC events;

• QC parameters associated with the QC Events, such as Invalid Rate or test re-run ratio, etc.; and/or

• the level of QC parameter which triggers a QC Event, a QC Parameter can have several values based on the QC events attached to the QC parameter. [0098] (iO The QC Corrective Actions Database

[0099] The QC Corrective Actions Database 460 preferably comprises two main components, including:

• a corrective actions list associated with QC events; and/or · the Follow-up tools for Corrective Actions.

[00100] The Corrective Actions list is preferably a list of tasks and activities related to a QC event that are designed to improve a clinical protocol and/or a healthcare activity carried out by a CHW.

[00101] The Follow-up tools preferably provide tasks and activities required to verify the correct implementation of the corrective actions by the HWL2 workers.

[00102] (iii) The Communications Tools Database

[00103] The Communications Tools Database 470 preferably stores:

• the communications methods and processes to efficiently communicate with the HWL2 worker and/or the CHW; · the Communications tools database combined and linked information and data from the Facilities;

• the type of corrective actions and follow-up tools; and/or

• the communication infrastructure available to deliver the information. [00104] (iv) The Knowledge Management Database

[00105] The Knowledge Management ("KM") database 480 is preferably used to store the results of the corrective actions, the follow-up tools, and/or the type of communications tools used by the CHW and/or the HWL2 workers. [00106] In preferred embodiments, the foregoing stored data sets can be used for process improvements in the Dynamic QC Monitoring Improvement Subsystem 500 described below.

[00107] Dynamic QC Monitoring Improvement Subsystem

[00108] As shown in FIG. 3, the Dynamic QC Monitoring Improvement Subsystem 500 (alternately "D-QC-MIS 500") is preferably integrated into the workforce management workflow in order to monitor and improve the use of the overall workforce in the context of healthcare system.

[00109] The D-QC-MIS 500 can preferably manage and monitor a variety of types of activities and/or tasks using an improvement algorithm 502, including:

(i) The QC events (defined by the QC system); (ii) The QC corrective Actions (related to the QC events);

(iii) The Follow-up Tools for QC corrective actions (including defined metrics for QC monitoring); and/or

(iv) The Communication Tools (which are linked to the type of QC corrective actions, the follow-up tools and the CHW/HWL2 availability (program and country specific))\ (v) The reporting of QC corrective Actions Follow up (driving Metrics for QC monitoring); and/or -

(vi)CHW HWL2 availability, assignment and performance management.

[00110] While six types of activities and/or tasks are listed above, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that additional activities and/or tasks may also be managed and/or monitored by the D-QC-MIS 500. [00111] Preferably, the expected outputs 504 generated by the Improvement Algorithm 502 of the D-QC-MIS 500 may include:

• Improvements of definition of a QC events;

• Improvements of QC corrective actions;

• Improvements of QC corrective actions follow-up tools; · Improvements of use and implementation of the communication tools; and/or

• Improvements of use of the CHW/HWL2 skills and experiences.

[00112] The outputs 504 are evaluated by an approval process decision algorithm 506 and the optimal potential improvement is preferably implemented 508 and stored in one or more of the QC Events Database 450, QC Corrective Actions Database 460, Communication Tools Database 470, KM Database 480, and/or CHW / HWL2 Database 490.

[00113] The critical data output from the D-QC-MIS 500 is preferably the Knowledge Management Database 480 ("KM-DB 480"). The KM-DB 480 preferably includes various Meta Data, as follows:

(i) QC events data set; (ii) QC Corrective actions data set; (iii) The follow-up tools for corrective actions data set;

(iv) The communication Tools data set;

(v) The results from the follow-up tools; and/or

(vi) The CHW/HWL2 profiles. [00114] The associations and combinations of the foregoing meta data may preferably provide a data platform for dynamic improvement of the workforce management workflow.

[00115] In some preferable embodiments, the database 52 of FIG. 1 may comprise one or more of the QC Events Database 450, the QC Corrective Actions Database 460, the Communications Tools Database 470, the KM Database 480, and/or the CHW/HWL2 Database 490.

[00116] In preferable embodiments, the algorithms (i.e., sorting algorithm, encryption algorithm, QC events algorithm 404, communications tools algorithm 408, follow-up algorithm 412, improvement algorithm 502, approval process decision algorithm 506) of the present invention may be algorithms adapted to perform machine learning and associated analysis of the respective data.

Γ001171 Encryption

[00118] Preferably, the foregoing data is encrypted or de-encrypted (or decrypted) for secured transmission by the devices using an encryption algorithm which may include encryption methods known to persons skilled in the art. Following transmission, the encrypted data is preferably automatically de-encrypted by the server processors using the encryption algorithm. HUH 191 Data Store

[00120] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system comprising data storage (e.g. databases 52, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490 in FIGS. 1 and 2) that may be used to store all necessary data required for the operation of the system. A person skilled in the relevant art may understand that a "data store" refers to a repository for temporarily or persistently storing and managing collections of data which include not just repositories like databases (a series of bytes that may be managed by a database management system (DBMS)), but also simpler store types such as simple files, emails, etc. A data store in accordance with the present invention may be one or more databases, co-located or distributed geographically. The data being stored may be in any format that may be applicable to the data itself, but may also be in a format that also encapsulates the data quality.

[00121] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, various data stores or databases may interface with the system of the present invention, preferably including, without limitation, a QC Events Database 450, a QC Corrective Actions Database 460, a Communications Tools Database 470, a KM Database 480, and/or a CHW/HWL2 Database 490.

[00122] Although not shown, some additional databases may be associated with the present system 100, including: proprietary databases, epidemiologic databases, medical records databases, UN and major/international healthcare institution databases, healthcare and emergency infrastructure databases, education and economic databases, news databases, demographic databases, communication and military infrastructure databases, and weather, travel, topographic databases.

[00123] A clinical and healthcare database may preferably contain, among other things, diagnostic and medical data (clinical information), such as, for example, one or more of the following, which may or may not be related to medical events: (a) test results from diagnostic devices equipped with remote data transfer systems and/or global positioning or localization features; (b) information from UN databases and major healthcare international institutions

(public and/or private); and/or (c) scenarios and knowledge data. [00124] A sociological database may preferably contain, among other things, sociological data (human information), such as, for example, one or more of the following: (a) population information from local and/or international demographic databases; (b) political and/or organization systems in the area and/or from international databases; (c) education and/or economic systems in the area and/or from international databases; and/or (d) information from news and/or newspapers, drawn from the Internet or elsewhere.

[00125] An infrastructure database may preferably contain, among other things infrastructure data or information, such as, for example, one or more of the following: (a) information concerning healthcare infrastructure; (b) information concerning communication infrastructures; and/or (c) information concerning emergency and/or military infrastructure; all preferably drawn from local and/or international databases.

[00126] A geophysics database may preferably contain, among other things, geophysics data or information, such as, for example, one or more of the following: (a) weather and/or climatic information from local databases; and/or (b) topographic information from local and/or international databases. [00127] The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration and maybe not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Other modifications, variations and alterations are possible in light of the above teaching and may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be used in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It may be intended the scope of the invention be limited not by this description but only by the claims forming a part of this application and/or any patent issuing herefrom.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, wherein the system comprises:

(a) a manager device, local to the manager, operative to generate and transmit one or more work assignments;

(b) one or more workforce devices, local to the one or more team members, operative to (i) receive the one or more work assignments, (ii) generate one or more completed work assignment based on information received by the one or more team members, and (iii) transmit the one or more completed work assignments via the network;

(c) a server, remote from the one or more team members, to (i) electronically receive the one or more completed work assignments, and (ii) generate one or more validated completed work assignments; and

(d) a database, remote from the one or more team members, to electronically store the validated completed work assignment; whereby the system is operative to facilitate cost reduction and increased efficiency for the completion of the work assignments by the one or more team members.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more work assignments comprises providing supportive supervision to one or more community health workers having a common characteristic.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more work assignments comprises contact tracing for individuals having a common characteristic.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more work assignments comprises monitoring and evaluating one or more facilities having a common characteristic.

5. A system according to any one of claims 2 - 4 wherein the common characteristic is a number of errors made with respect to a protocol, location, an illness, symptom severity, proximity, relationship, time elapsed since communication with the one or more team members., and/or a FHV within a predetermined range.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 - 5 wherein the one or more completed work assignments are transmitted within a predetermined time frame.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 - 6 wherein the location of the one or more team members, identity of the one or more team members and/or the date and time is collected when the one or more completed work assignments are generated.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1-7 wherein an alert is presented to the one or more team members if one or more work assignments is altered.

9. A Quality Control Events Monitoring Subsystem for use with the system according to any one of claims 1-8 wherein the subsystem generates a list of potential corrective actions using: quality control events from a quality control events database; corrective actions from a corrective actions database; communication tools from a communication tools database; and/or knowledge management database.

10. A Dynamic Quality Control Monitoring Improvement Subsystem for use with the system according to any one of claims 1 -8 wherein the subsystem monitors and generates a list of potential improvements to a workforce using: quality control events; quality control corrective actions; follow-up tools for quality control corrective actions; communication tools; reporting of quality control corrective actions follow-up; and/or the availability, assignment and performance management of the one or more team members.

1 1. A method for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, wherein the method comprises:

(a) providing a manager device, local to the manager, to (i) generate one or more work assignments having a common characteristic using a sorting algorithm, and (ii) transmit one or more work assignments;

(b) providing one or more workforce devices, local to the one or more team members, to (i) receive the one or more work assignments, (ii) generate one or more completed work assignment based on information received by the one or more team members, and (iii) transmit the one or more completed work assignments via the network;

(c) providing a server, remote from the one or more team members, to (i) electronically receive the one or more completed work assignments, and (ii) generate one or more validated completed work assignments; and

(d) providing a database, remote from the one or more team members, to electronically store the validated completed work assignment.

12. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more work assignments comprises providing supportive supervision to one or more community health workers.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more work assignments comprises contact tracing for individuals.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more work assignments comprises monitoring and evaluating one or more facilities.

15. The method of any one of claims 12-14 wherein the common characteristic is a number of errors made with respect to a protocol, location, an illness, symptom severity, proximity, relationship, time elapsed since communication with the one or more team members., and/or a FHV within a predetermined range.

16. The method of any one of claims 1 1-15 wherein the one or more completed work assignments are transmitted within a predetermined time frame.

17. The method of any one of claims 1 1 -16 wherein the location of the one or more team members, identity of the one or more team members and/or the date and time is collected when the one or more completed work assignments are generated.

18. The method of any one of claims 1 1-17 wherein an alert is presented to the one or more team members if one or more work assignments is altered.

19. A submethod for monitoring Quality Control Events for use with the method according to any one of claims 1 1 -18 wherein the submethod comprises the generation of a list of potential corrective actions by:

(a) analyzing, using a QC events algorithm, quality control events from a quality control events database and corrective actions from a corrective actions database to generate corrective actions; (b) analyzing, using a communication tools algorithm, the corrective actions and the communication tools from a communication tools database to generate a corrective actions package;

(c) analyzing, using a follow-up report algorithm, the corrective actions packages to generate a follow-up report; and

(d) storing the follow-up report in a knowledge management database

20. A submethod for dynamic quality control monitoring improvement for use with the method according to any one of claims 11-18 wherein the submethod comprises the monitoring and generation of a list of potential improvements to a workforce by:

(a) analyzing, using an improvement algorithm, a follow-up report from a knowledge management database to generate a list of potential improvements;

(b) analyzing, using an approval process decision algorithm, the list of potential improvements to generate an implementation of the improvements package; and

(c) storing the implementation of the improvements package in one or more of: a HW HWL2 database; a QC events database; a QC corrective actions database; a communication tools database; and a knowledge management database.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions for managing a quality control workforce via a network comprising a manager and one or more team members, comprising (a) providing a manager device, local to the manager, to (i) generate one or more work assignments having a common characteristic using a sorting algorithm, and (ii) transmit one or more work assignments;

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more work assignments comprises providing supportive supervision to one or more community health workers.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the one or more work assignments comprises contact tracing for individuals.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the one or more work assignments comprises monitoring and evaluating one or more facilities.

25. The computer readable medium of any one of claims 22-24 wherein the common characteristic is a number of errors made with respect to a protocol, location, an illness, symptom severity, proximity, relationship, time elapsed since communication with the one or more team members., and/or a FHV within a predetermined range.

26. The computer readable medium of any one of claims 21-25 wherein the one or more completed work assignments are transmitted within a predetermined time frame.

27. The computer readable medium of any one of claims 21-26 wherein the location of the one or more team members, identity of the one or more team members and/or the date and time is collected when the one or more completed work assignments are generated.

28. The computer readable medium of any one of claims 21 -27 wherein an alert is presented to the one or more team members if one or more work assignments is altered.