Forecast Capacity Levels Review the information in Exhibit 13–1. The exhibit ass

Question

Forecast Capacity Levels

Review the information in Exhibit 13–1. The exhibit assumes three chairs and one 40-hour RN, for a realistic capacity level of seven patients infused per day.

Exhibit 13–1 Capacity Level Checkpoints for an Outpatient Infusion Center

Outpatient Infusion Center Capacity Level Checkpoints

# infusion chairs

---------------------3 chairs

# staff

---------------------1 RN

# weekly operating hours

---------------------40 hours

# of hours per patient infusion

---------------------average 2 hours (for purposes of this example)

Work Flow Description

For each infusion the nurse must perform the following steps (generalized for this purpose; actual protocol is more specific):

1. Obtain and review the patient’s chart

2. Obtain and prepare the appropriate drug for infusion

3. Interview the patient

4. Prepare the patient and commence the infusion

5. Monitor and record progress throughout the ongoing infusion

6. Observe the patient upon completion of the infusion

7. Complete charting

Work Flow Comments

It is impossible for one nurse to start patients’ infusions in all three chairs simultaneously. Thus the theoretical treatment sequence might be as follows:

• Assume one half-hour for patient number one’s Steps 1 through 4.

• Once patient number one is at Step 5, the nurse can begin the protocol for patient number two.

• Assume another one half-hour for patient number two’s Steps 1 through 4.

• Once patient number two is at Step 5, theoretically the nurse can begin the protocol for patient number three.

This sequence should work, assuming all factors work smoothly; that is, the appropriate drugs in the proper amounts are at hand, the patients show up on time, and no one patient demands an unusual amount of the nurse’s attention. (For example, a new patient will require more attention.)

Daily Infusion Center Capacity Level Assumption

Patient scheduling is never entirely smooth, and patient reactions during infusions are never predictable. Therefore, we realistically assume the following: Chair #1 = 3 patients per day, Chair #2 = 2 patients per day, and Chair #3 = 2 patients per day, for a daily total of 7 patients infused.

Prepare another Infusion Center Capacity Level Forecast as follows:

Assume the same three infusion chairs, but add another nurse for either four or six hours per day. How would this change the daily capacity level for number of patients infused per day?

# infusion chairs

---------------------3 chairs

# staff

---------------------1 RN

# weekly operating hours

---------------------40 hours

# of hours per patient infusion

---------------------average 2 hours (for purposes of this example)

Explanation / Answer

Adding another nurse for 6 hours the infusion Center Capacity Level Forecast is:

# infusion chairs

---------------------3 chairs

# staff

---------------------2 RN

# weekly operating hours

---------------------80 hours

# of hours per patient infusion

---------------------average 2 hours (for purposes of this example)

Assuming one half-hour for patient number one’s Steps 1 through 4. Once patient number one is at Step 5, the nurse can begin the protocol for patient number two. But here we have two nurses which means that simultaneous infusions can be started in two chairs by two nurses. nurse 1 starts infusion in chair # 1 while nurse 2 at the same time starts the infusion in chair # 2. In such a case the infusion in chair # 3 will be started once patients in chairr # 1 and 2 reach step 5. After the infusion in chair # 3 begins, one of the nurses will have to look at two patients just as described in the earlier case when the second infusion started.

Thus, if such a routine is followed the number of patients infused will be:

Chair #1 - 3 patients, Chair #2- 3 patients and chair # 3- 3 patients. So the number of patients infused each day will increase from 7 per day to 9 per day.

# infusion chairs

---------------------3 chairs

# staff

---------------------2 RN

# weekly operating hours

---------------------80 hours

# of hours per patient infusion

---------------------average 2 hours (for purposes of this example)

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse F
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.