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Experience-based demand scheduling: a more efficient model for radiation oncology.
J J Beitler1, A Garcia, B Vikram
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10467-2490, USA.
American Journal of Clinical Oncology
|December 22, 1999
Summary
Optimizing radiation therapist staffing by accounting for an 11% patient no-show rate can increase revenue. This model focuses on scheduling efficiency, not medical care quality.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Radiation Oncology Operations
Background:
- Decreasing reimbursements and increasing radiation therapist supply necessitate operational efficiencies.
- Current staffing models may not align with fluctuating patient demand for radiation therapy services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the financial impact of different staffing models for radiation therapists.
- To develop a more efficient scheduling model incorporating patient no-show rates.
Main Methods:
- Economic analysis of full-time versus per diem staffing models.
- Correlation of scheduled versus actual radiation therapy treatments.
- Development of an experience-based scheduling model using a "no-show" factor.
Main Results:
- Reducing full-time therapists and relying on per diem staff did not yield significant revenue increases.
- An 11% patient "no-show" rate was identified (95% CI: 1%).
- The experience-based model indicated potential revenue gains through optimized scheduling.
Conclusions:
- An experience-based model can predict marginal revenue by leveraging patient no-show data.
- Optimized scheduling, considering no-shows, can improve therapist utilization and revenue.
- The model's impact on medical care quality remains unaddressed.