Patients arrive at a clinic at a rate of 30 patients per hour. Patients must first check in at one of the 3 check in stations, this step takes 4 minutes. The clinic has two different flu shot options, Shot X takes 5 minutes to deliver and there is 1 nurse available to administer it. Shot Y takes 8 minutes to deliver and there are 4 nurses available to administer it. Patients can choose which shot they prefer and 20% them select Shot X and 80% choose Shot Y. After patients receive their flu shot, they must be observed in a waiting room for 15 minutes to ensure there are no adverse reactions to the shot. The observation room has 10 seats but the 15 minute observation period does not start until the patient actually gets a seat in the observation room. Waiting time to get a seat in the observation room does not count toward the required 15 minute observation period. Question 1 - What are the average throughput times at the following steps of the process: Check-in station Shot X station Shot Y station Observation Room Question 2 – What is the total number of patients waiting to get a seat in the observation room, on average? Question 3 – Patients suffer a cost of $20/hr that they spend in the clinic. The hourly cost to the clinic of adding one additional staff member is $15. Which station (check in, Shot X, or Shot Y) would you add an additional employee to gain the maximum benefit? To calculate this take the reduction in patient waiting cost per hour subtracted by the hourly cost of a staff member. Does adding an additional staff member at that station justify the $15/hr cost?
Patients arrive at a clinic at a rate of 30 patients per hour. Patients must first check in at one of the 3 check in stations, this step takes 4 minutes. The clinic has two different flu shot options, Shot X takes 5 minutes to deliver and there is 1 nurse available to administer it. Shot Y takes 8 minutes to deliver and there are 4 nurses available to administer it. Patients can choose which shot they prefer and 20% them select Shot X and 80% choose Shot Y. After patients receive their flu shot, they must be observed in a waiting room for 15 minutes to ensure there are no adverse reactions to the shot. The observation room has 10 seats but the 15 minute observation period does not start until the patient actually gets a seat in the observation room. Waiting time to get a seat in the observation room does not count toward the required 15 minute observation period.
Question 1 - What are the average throughput times at the following steps of the process:
- Check-in station
- Shot X station
- Shot Y station
- Observation Room
Question 2 – What is the total number of patients waiting to get a seat in the observation room, on average?
Question 3 – Patients suffer a cost of $20/hr that they spend in the clinic. The hourly cost to the clinic of adding one additional staff member is $15. Which station (check in, Shot X, or Shot Y) would you add an additional employee to gain the maximum benefit? To calculate this take the reduction in patient waiting cost per hour subtracted by the hourly cost of a staff member. Does adding an additional staff member at that station justify the $15/hr cost?
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