Use of patient flow analysis to improve patient visit efficiency by decreasing wait time in a primary care-based disease management programs for anticoagulation and chronic pain: a quality improvement study.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Patients with chronic conditions require frequent care visits. Problems can arise during several parts of the patient visit that decrease efficiency, making it difficult to effectively care for high volumes of patients. The purpose of the study is to test a method to improve patient visit efficiency.

METHODS:
We used Patient Flow Analysis to identify inefficiencies in the patient visit, suggest areas for improvement, and test the effectiveness of clinic interventions.

RESULTS:
At baseline, the mean visit time for 93 anticoagulation clinic patient visits was 84 minutes (+/- 50 minutes) and the mean visit time for 25 chronic pain clinic patient visits was 65 minutes (+/- 21 minutes). Based on these data, we identified specific areas of inefficiency and developed interventions to decrease the mean time of the patient visit. After interventions, follow-up data found the mean visit time was reduced to 59 minutes (+/-25 minutes) for the anticoagulation clinic, a time decrease of 25 minutes (t-test 39%; p < 0.001). Mean visit time for the chronic pain clinic was reduced to 43 minutes (+/- 14 minutes) a time decrease of 22 minutes (t-test 34 %; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:
Patient Flow Analysis is an effective technique to identify inefficiencies in the patient visit and efficiently collect patient flow data. Once inefficiencies are identified they can be improved through brief interventions.

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Author information

Author/s: Potisek, Nicholas M (NM); Malone, Robb M (RM); Shilliday, Betsy Bryant (BB); Ives, Timothy J (TJ); Chelminski, Paul R (PR); DeWalt, Darren A (DA); Pignone, Michael P (MP);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Letter

Journal: BMC health services research (BMC Health Serv Res), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-; vol 7 (issue ) : pp 8

Dates: Created 2007/01/31; Completed 2007/02/13; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 17224069, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Anticoagulants - therapeutic use
Chronic Disease
Disease Management
Efficiency, Organizational - standards; statistics & numerical data
Female
Hospitals, University
Humans
Internal Medicine - organization & administration

Internal Medicine - organization & administration
Male
Middle Aged
North Carolina
Office Visits - statistics & numerical data
Outpatient Clinics, Hospital - organization & administration; utilization
Primary Health Care - organization & administration; utilization
Process Assessment (Health Care) - methods
Time and Motion Studies
Total Quality Management - methods

Associated Chemicals: Anticoagulants (0)

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