title: Using computer simulations and focus groups for planned change in prenatal clinics.
abstract: The Colleges of Nursing and Engineering in a southwest Florida university combined efforts to design a project to use time/motion techniques and focus groups to assess patent flow and effective and efficient use of human resources in public health clinics. Data for 877 observations were entered into a computer simulation program that displayed alternative configurations for health resource management. Information from focus groups was used to plan for ways to use clinic wait time more effectively. This article describes data collection and findings.
authors.affiliation: East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA. docbury@aol.com
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philippe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013996:Time and Motion Studies