Abstract: An information management system produces a standard bill of resources based on bills of resources that include a list of resources to be utilized in performing a procedure. The system includes a general purpose computer system with storage means, processing means, display means, and input means. Information management software installed on the general purpose computer includes node software objects providing a health care information management function, including a clinical pathway node software object, a case management node software object, and a standardization review node software object. The clinical pathway node software object creates clinical pathway module software objects, including resource software objects and container software objects.

Abstract: An information management system produces a standard bill of resources based on bills of resources that include a list of resources to be utilized in performing a procedure. The system includes a general purpose computer system with storage means, processing means, display means, and input means. Information management software installed on the general purpose computer includes node software objects providing a health care information management function, including a clinical pathway node software object, a case management node software object, and a standardization review node software object. The clinical pathway node software object creates clinical pathway module software objects, including resource software objects and container software objects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the analysis and standardization of bills of resources to be used during the performance of a given procedure. Bills of resources to be analyzed are converted to models for manipulation. The models are manipulated according to a mathematical algorithm which highlights their relative similarities and dissimilarities. The manipulated models are then expressed in a manner in which the highlighted similarities and dissimilarities are perceptible. Based upon this expression the utilization, consumption, or other characteristic of the bills of resources or the resource listed therein may be analyzed. In one embodiment of the invention, the expression of the manipulated models is utilized to identify groups of similar bills of resources and a standard bill of resources for each group of similar bills of resources is calculated. This standard bill of resources is then substituted for the different bills resources in each defined group.