2012 Volume 68 Issue 10 Pages 1340-1345
In order to manage relationship between patients’ movements and operating efficiency, we developed a special software which can make patient flow visible on a display monitor by use of actual data obtained from the radiology information system (RIS). In this software, a simple floor map of the radiology department in our hospital was drawn on the monitor and each patient was indicated with a small figure. This software was developed with commercialized computer software [Excel 2007 visual basic applications (VBA) Microsoft]. Movements of the patient figures were simulated by use of actual time data such as registration of radiology department, and start and ending time of examinations. The patient figures were moved along with predetermined flow lines every second. The movements of the patient figures were controlled by several buttons (i.e., play and stop) and setting switches for determining reproduction date and time. In conclusion, by use of this software, the patient flows could be analyzed systematically by checking efficient operation such as average waiting time of the patients and/or standby time of radiological technologists.
