Patient flow and utilization of resources in a diagnostic radiology department.

Operation of the radiology department in a large university hospital has been analyzed in terms of patient movement and the utilization of technicians and examination rooms. Analysis of patient movement involved collating and statistically evaluating data on the time patients spent at each stage of the process, while utilization required the accounting for technician activities and examination room occupancies during all periods of the day. Comparison of the results with data from other similar institutions shows good agreement and indicates the possibility of increasing the utilization of available resources while decreasing the time patients spend in the department.