The use of time study results in a system model for presenting dental care outcome.
The documentation of dental care outcome and dental clinic efficiency is based on variables for the patient's dental health and on resources in time and costs concerning the dental treatment. The aim of this paper was to measure dental clinic activities using a time study method in relation to a model for a system for presenting dental care outcome, and the dental clinic's output and efficiency. For efficiency reporting of dental care related effects, the documentation should be based on rules for input costs related to dental clinic activities, based on valid country-wide criteria for work times of the dental personnel; dental care economics; and current epidemiological indices. Additional use of results from time studies made it possible to adapt the need of resources in dental care, and to obtain essential information concerning the choice of dental team models. For reporting, a dental health related patient group system, based on the patients' dental health and need of dental treatment, should be used. In the proposed model for a system for presenting dental care, knowledge of patients, and of what services the dental personnel can perform was used.
Swedberg
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Y
Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Göteborg, Sweden.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003726:Dental Assistants; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D003815:Dentists; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000458:organization & administration; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013598:Systems Theory; D013996:Time and Motion Studies