Computer model aims to make colonoscopy facilities more efficient
October 9th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
The high cost of colonoscopies and hours in the waiting room can be a real pain in the bum for most people. But a new tool developed by researchers from North Carolina State University, Mayo Clinic and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass) may help colonoscopy facilities operate more efficiently, thus lowering costs and wait times for patients.
The computer model helps hospitals and clinics find the best combination of staff, equipment and rooms for the number of patients the facility expects. This, in turn, helps facilities determine the optimum number of patients it can see on any given day. This formula can be difficult for facility managers to determine because issues such as how long it takes to perform a procedure or how long it takes patients to recover can vary depending on the patient and the procedure.
Researchers used mathematics as the basis of studying systems in order to make them more efficient and effective. The model will benefit colonoscopy facilities, making them better able to handle scheduling. But the real beneficiaries will likely be the participating facilities’ patients, who will likely spend less money for the procedures and spend less time sitting in the waiting room because of it.
Researchers are currently working with the University of North Carolina hospitals to implement the model with plans to eventually make it available for general use.
Source: Science Centric