title: How residents spend their time in clinic and the effects of clerical support.
abstract: The authors conducted a time study of residents in clinic to determine the effects of providing clerical assistance. The residents recorded their activities at 5-minute intervals at baseline and six months after hiring three clerical assistants. Before and after introduction of the clerical assistants, approximately 40% of the time was devoted to direct interaction with patients. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the availability of medical records (89% vs 100%) and the time spent looking up test results (5% vs 3% of the clinic time). The residents felt the clerical assistants greatly improved their clinic experience and the quality of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Seattle Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington 98108.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wipf
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fihn
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008499:Medical Records; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D000078329:Workforce