Step Therapy Weight Loss Program System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current weight loss programs often lack efficiency and effectiveness, leading to high costs for treating obesity-related conditions, and there is a need for a systematic approach to promote successful weight loss and reduce healthcare expenditures.

Innovation Solution

A weight loss step therapy program system that includes a therapy manager device and a benefit manager device, which administer and manage participation in sequential weight loss programs such as behavior modification, drug therapy, and surgical programs, based on prior participation and criteria, to optimize resource allocation and improve outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If higher-cost weight loss interventions are used immediately, then weight loss effectiveness is improved, but healthcare costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight loss effectivenessVSAvoidhealthcare costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment and enrollment in lower-cost programs before escalating to higher-cost interventions. Members are first enrolled in behavioral modification programs, and only after failing to meet weight loss targets do they progress to pharmacotherapy or surgery, ensuring cost-effective care while maintaining effectiveness through systematic escalation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of intervention intensity based on member response to treatment. Weight loss programs are structured with progressive parameters where members start with less intensive (lower cost) interventions and advance to more intensive (higher cost) interventions only when previous parameters prove insufficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a comprehensive weight loss program is implemented, then weight loss success is improved, but program complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight loss successVSAvoidprogram complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The comprehensive weight loss program is segmented into distinct phases: behavioral modification programs, pharmacotherapy programs, and surgical programs. Each phase is a separate, manageable component with specific criteria for entry and exit, reducing overall program complexity while maintaining comprehensiveness through structured progression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The program structure is dynamic rather than static, allowing members to progress through different levels of intervention based on their individual response. The system adapts the program intensity and type for each member based on measured outcomes, making the complex program manageable through personalized, flexible pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If sequential weight loss programs are administered, then resource utilization is improved, but administrative processes become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidadministrative processes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a universal administrative platform that handles multiple functions: enrollment in behavioral programs, monitoring of weight loss progress, determination of program failure, and automatic referral to pharmacotherapy or surgery. This multi-functional system improves resource utilization while managing administrative complexity through integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The administrative process incorporates continuous feedback loops where member progress is monitored and automatically fed back into the system to determine next steps. This feedback mechanism streamlines administrative processes by automating decisions about program continuation or escalation, improving resource utilization while reducing manual administrative burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9196172B1Weight loss systems and methods

Publication Date: 2015.11.24 EXPRESS SCRIPTS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INC

AI summary

Weight loss methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, behavior modification program data indicating participation in a weight loss behavior modification program is recorded. Drug therapy program data indicating drug fulfillment of a weight loss drug therapy program drug is recorded, in which the drug fulfillment of the weight loss drug therapy program drug occurs after participation in the weight loss behavior modification program. Whether a weight loss surgical program criterion has been met is determined based on analysis of the behavior modification program data and the drug therapy program data. The weight loss surgical program criterion is based on the participation in the weight loss behavior modification program and the drug fulfillment of the weight loss drug therapy program drug. A surgical weight loss program approval is generated based on a determination that the surgical weight loss program criterion has been met. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.