Publication:

The time motion study of an out-patient department in a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu

Background The time taken by the patients during their visit to the hospital out-patient department (OPD) at various service delivery points, the time motion study and by assessing the patient satisfaction regarding the hospital out-patient department, the present study was conducted. This study established the clinical workflow of various events and the operational efficiency of the out-patient department in a busy tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu.

Methods The data pertaining to the time motion study was recorded in hours, minutes and seconds. The patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-10 item questionnaire) was requested by interviewing the patients. The data was statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the SPSS v26.0.

Results The maximum time spent was at the investigation counter 00:15:12 and SD was ±00:08:56. The total average waiting time spent during the hospital visits was 00:32:25±00:18:17. The patient satisfaction questionnaire revealed that the overall satisfaction was found to be good in 38 (62.3%) and excellent in 10 (16.4%).

Conclusions The time spent at the investigation counters which was at the peak can be reduced by prioritization and faster case work-up. The staffing pattern was adequate except on government holidays, there were no particular delay in the OPD care setting.