title: Anatomy of an outpatient visit. An evaluation of clinic efficiency in general and subspecialty clinics.
abstract: The time spent in outpatient visits to a Veteran's Administration medical center was measured to determine clinic efficiency. Patient flow through the outpatient department of the medical center was studied to: 1) evaluate how time is spent in VA outpatient settings as compared to non-VA outpatient settings, including waiting time, checking of vital signs, seeing the doctor, etc., 2) develop a baseline to gauge the comparison of the effects of management changes; and 3) develop a mechanism for collecting clinic activity efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center, CA 91343, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lanto
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002140:California; D003625:Data Collection; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006123:Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D013996:Time and Motion Studies