Abstract
IntroductionStaff time is a relevant resource in the delivery of health care interventions. Its measurement is a prerequisite for unit costing but usually complex. The aim of this study was to analyse the distribution of surgeons' work time among types and places of activities. A second aim was to use these data to calculate costs per unit of output.MethodsA self-reporting work sampling study was carried out at a department of Urology. All of twelve surgeons involved in clinical care participated in a two-week analysis of their work time.ResultsA total of 2,485 data-points were collected, representing about 1,242 hours of work time. Surgeons spent the greater part of their work time in direct patient care, but substantial shares were required for documentation and organisation. Assistants were mainly required at the wards and consultants at the operating theatre and the outpatient unit. Staff costs of surgeons were 32 € and 29 € per patient day at the wards, respectively, 1.30 € per minute at the operating theatre and 32 € per visit at the outpatient unit.ConclusionResults provided a basis for costing of health care interventions at the study site. However, future research should focus on the establishment of standardised terminology in order to increase transferability of results.
Highlights
Staff time is a relevant resource in the delivery of health care interventions
Surgeons spent the greater part of their work time in direct patient care, but substantial shares were required for documentation and organisation
Results provided a basis for costing of health care interventions at the study site
Summary
Staff time is a relevant resource in the delivery of health care interventions. Costing of health care interventions requires an adequate measurement of relevant resource use [1]. An estimate of time allocation is a prerequisite for costing of output if staff is not solely located at one functional unit of care but changes frequently. This is the case in disciplines at the intersection of surgery and internal medicine, such as Urology. The relevance of studies aiming to quantify staff time decreased in industrial economics since automation has mainly reduced dispersion in resource use [4]. Health care processes are less standardised than industrial processes, due to factors such as professional discretion, complexity and unpredictable needs of patients [5]
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