Assignment: Productivity Metrics (WEEK 5)
Note: For the Weeks 5 and 6 Assignments you will use Case 3: Physician Care Services, Inc., from the Middleboro Casebook.
In the Middleboro Physician Care Services, Inc. case, you are asked to examine the operations of an ambulatory, non-emergent care clinic which treats private and occupational health patients and provides services which do not include continuing or specialized medical care. Physician Care Services, Inc. is currently facing a number of challenges and opportunities which will impact their profitability.
To prepare for this Assignment:
Read Case 3: Physician Care Services, Inc., including Tables 3.2 and 3.3. Review the issues that surround provider productivity, to evaluate whether the organization can be successful in the new era of health care reform.
The Assignment:
In 2–3 pages, describe the metric(s) you will use to evaluate the organization’s productivity. Explain how you will use the metric in evaluating productivity, and how the data will help measure the potential of the organization’s success in the new era of health care reform.
Note: You will use the metric in the Week 6 Assignment.
Assignment: Productivity Recommendations (WEEK 6
Last week, you familiarized yourself with the Physician Care Services, Inc. case and selected metrics that would help you to evaluate the organization’s productivity, with an eye to determining whether they could be successful in the current environment of health care reform. Based on your conclusions, you will have at least identified one or two areas of need which could benefit from change.
To prepare for this Assignment:
Review Case 3: Physician Care Services, Inc. from Week 5, and the Assignment you submitted at the end of that week.
Now, you will develop recommendations to improve productivity and patient satisfaction. Consider what you know of Lean Management and Six Sigma principles and practices. Based on this understanding, ask yourself: What would the president and medical director want to know before making any financial and organizational decisions?
The Assignment:
- Based on the metrics you selected in Week 5, analyze opportunities for improvement using Lean Management and Six Sigma principles (2 pages).
- Develop five measurable stretch goals (2 pages).
- Create a presentation with speaker notes, 5–7 slides in length (200–400 words per slide), that defines a culture of accountability and quality excellence and recommends how to foster this in the emergency department.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this medical college course, two assignments have been given to evaluate the productivity and patient satisfaction of Physician Care Services, Inc. The first assignment requires the students to select appropriate metrics to measure the organization’s productivity and describe their relevance in evaluating productivity. For the second assignment, students must analyze opportunities for improvement using Lean Management and Six Sigma principles, develop measurable stretch goals, and create a presentation that defines a culture of accountability and quality excellence.
Answer for Assignment 1:
The metrics that we will use to evaluate Physician Care Services, Inc.’s productivity are the number of patients treated per hour, the percentage of occupancy rate, and the average time to complete patient treatment. These metrics will help us measure the organization’s efficiency, utilization, and effectiveness. We will measure productivity by comparing the target level of each metric against the actual level achieved. This will help us identify the areas where improvement is required to meet performance standards. By monitoring these metrics, we can measure the potential success of the organization amid the new era of health care reform.
Answer for Assignment 2:
Based on the metrics selected in the previous assignment, we can analyze some opportunities for improvement using Lean Management and Six Sigma principles. First, a team can be created to streamline the patient flow process for improved patient throughput. Second, the frequency of unnecessary tests can be eliminated to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Third, communication should be enhanced among staff members to increase productivity. Fourth, the staff can be trained to provide high-quality care. Fifth, the performance standards should be set to enhance accountability.
The five measurable stretch goals are reducing wait times, increasing patient satisfaction, increasing patient throughput by ten percent, reducing medical errors by 20 percent, and reducing the length of stay by 15 percent. These goals will improve the productivity and profitability of the organization.
In the presentation, we define a culture of accountability and quality excellence by emphasizing the importance of leadership and employee involvement in achieving high performance. The presentation will recommend creating a comprehensive training program, implementing performance accountability indicators, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The presentation will highlight the importance of learning from mistakes and implementing corrective measures.
