1Researcher, Department of Community Medicine, BJGMC, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Online published on 29 December, 2017.
A time and motion study is used to determine the amount of time required for a specific activity, work function, or mechanical process. In the immunization clinic, time motion study helps to know time taken in different service delivery points in the immunization clinic.
To determine the activity time at the service points in the immunization clinic
The present observational cross sectional study was done in the immunization clinic of BJ Medical College, Pune over a period of 1 month. The Study population was all the beneficiaries attending immunization clinic during study duration. Pre-synchronized stopwatches were used to record service delivery time at the different activity points.
The total median duration for immunization was 61 mins. Of this, maximum median time i.e. 15 mins each was required for initial registration and for immunization registration (history, Treatment and HMIS entry) and the vaccination and post vaccination advice took comparatively less time (5mins and 2mins respectively). Median time for pediatric reference(if required)was 9 mins. Maximum median time spent on the vaccination was on Friday (68 mins).
A simple time and motion study of an OPD system and suitable inexpensive interventions can go a long way to improve the efficiency of a hospital. Separate arrangement for immunization OPD registration and up-gradation and increase number of computers for fast HMIS entry and prescription.
Time motion study, Immunization clinic, Tertiary care hospital
