Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Improving Clinical Access And Continuity Through Physician Panel Redesign, Hari Balasubramanian, Ritesh Banerjee, Brian Denton, James Naessens, James Stahl

Hari Balasubramanian

BACKGROUND: Population growth, an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic disease are projected to increase demand for primary care services in the United States. OBJECTIVE: Using systems engineering methods, to re-design physician patient panels targeting optimal access and continuity of care. DESIGN: We use computer simulation methods to design physician panels and model a practice’s appointment system and capacity to provide clinical service. Baseline data were derived from a primary care group practice of 39 physicians with over 20,000 patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for the years 2004–2006. Panel design specifically took into account panel …