A case study for patient workload analysis of an outpatient clinic

Mozhdeh Sadighi, Paul Componation, Susan Ferreira, Gary Reed, Ethan Halm, Patrice Griffith

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A healthcare clinic, like other service-based businesses, requires effective personnel resource planning to achieve its objectives. In addition to other aims, the plan serves two purposes. First, it communicates what the roles and responsibilities are for the team members, and second, it can serve to evaluate areas for possible improvement. This paper reports on a study that analyzes a tactical personnel resource schedule plan, which is called 'game plan' by clinic team, for a general internal medicine outpatient clinic. The game plan is distributed every morning to the clinic's healthcare providers and staff to provide them with a better understanding of the schedule, workload, responsibilities, contact information, and absentees and coverage for the day. This study was undertaken to develop to identify areas for possible improvements. Three months of daily game plans were analyzed. The analysis included planned patient throughput per physician, for each of the clinic's four 'Pods', and differences in physician workload for each day of the week. Significant differences were noted in the throughput for the individual physicians, between the four Pods, and during different days of the week. Some of the Pods and physicians had significant variances in throughput. In-depth analysis indicated that how the scheduling is performed and individual physician approach to patient care are the main causes for existing variances. The paper concludes by noting areas for future work.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2019 International Annual Conference Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Management and 40th Meeting Celebration
Subtitle of host publicationA Systems Approach to Engineering Management Solutions, ASEM 2019
EditorsE. Schott, H. Keathley, C. Krejci
PublisherAmerican Society for Engineering Management
ISBN (Electronic)9780997519563
StatePublished - 2019
Event2019 International Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Management and 40th Meeting Celebration: A Systems Approach to Engineering Management Solutions, ASEM 2019 - Philadelphia, United States
Duration: Oct 23 2019Oct 26 2019

Publication series

Name2019 International Annual Conference Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Management and 40th Meeting Celebration: A Systems Approach to Engineering Management Solutions, ASEM 2019

Conference

Conference2019 International Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Management and 40th Meeting Celebration: A Systems Approach to Engineering Management Solutions, ASEM 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia
Period10/23/1910/26/19

Keywords

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Efficiency
  • Level-loading
  • Patient satisfaction
  • Resource scheduling
  • Waiting time
  • Workload

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Management of Technology and Innovation
  • Strategy and Management
  • Information Systems and Management

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