An Example of a Good but Partially Successful OR Engagement: Improving Outpatient Clinic Operations

Joanne C. Bennett and D. J. Worthington
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Joanne C. Bennett: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, 31 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2YE, Scotland
D. J. Worthington: Department of Management Science, The Management School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YX, United Kingdom

Interfaces, 1998, vol. 28, issue 5, 56-69

Abstract: We undertook a study to improve the running of hospital outpatient clinics that were regularly overbooked, overrun, and had excessive patient waiting times. The methodology adopted entailed a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches, but was problem-driven and so only emerged as the project developed. We generated a number of proposals for the improved running of the clinics during the project, some implemented and some not. For future studies we would recommend that a flexible and open-minded approach is adopted. This may well involve an initial, mainly qualitative, study followed by the application of a series of modest models—occasionally more sophisticated modeling may be appropriate. We would also recommend that the benefits of such studies are not judged solely in terms of one-off implementation leading to measurable improvements in performance. They should also be seen as part of an overall process of improving health care practices.

Keywords: health care; hospitals; production/scheduling; applications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orinte:v:28:y:1998:i:5:p:56-69

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