Measuring the efficiency of the outpatient process with queuing theory model

Objective The paper analyzes the operating patterns of the outpatient process and identifies the links needing reengineering so as to provide scientific basis for the optimal allocation of outpatient resources and process reengineering and prove the rationality and feasibility of using the queuing theory. Methods Using the methods of the queuing theory, the service time and the patients' arrival time at such service links as registration, billing and accounting, internal medicine, and gynecology in the outpatient department of a certain hospital were measured and the operational indexes at various links such as service intensity, average queuing length, average queuing time, average stay, probability of the service desks being idle, and the probability of the patients having to wait were calculated so as to estimate the rational number of service desks and the optimal value of the sum of the cost of waiting and the cost of service. Results Registration, billing and accounting , service intensity in internal medicine, personnel allocation, and queuing time were basically rational in the outpatient department of the hospital surveyed. One more physician should be added to the gynecology department so as to improve efficiency and reduce patients' waiting time and queuing length. There was currently a shortage of medical staff in the hospital. The cost of hospital input was moderate while the cost of waiting was on the high side. Conclusion It is rational and feasible to evaluate the efficiency of the outpatient process with the methods of the queuing theory. The method deserves to be spread.