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How's Your "BIC" Time?

FROM THE CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR, Paul S. Koch, M.D.

With this issue of Ophthalmology Management, I face the challenge of taking on the position of Chief Medical Editor, as a wonderful previous Chief Medical Editor, Alan Aker, steps down.

Dr. Aker, a friend and colleague, shepherded this magazine through its inception and development as it became one of the most popular publications of its type. We're grateful for his excellent work, dedication and insights into the field of medical management. I'm honored to follow in his footsteps.

BUTT-IN-CHAIR TIME

It was at Dr. Aker's suggestion that we examine the important issue of patient throughput this month. It occurs to me that airlines make money only when their planes are flying with passengers in the seats. They don't make money when passengers are sitting in the gate area or planes are stuck on the runway. Airline efficiency comes by reducing what I call the BIC time -- the Butt-In-Chair time -- the time a passenger is sitting but not being transported.

Our medical offices are similar in this regard. They make money only when a patient is receiving medical services, not when he's sitting in the waiting room or in the examination room waiting for the doctor. Therefore, good office management depends heavily on the patient's BIC time throughout the facility. How much BIC time is wasted while staff is preparing a chart, waiting for an open room, or waiting for the doctor to catch up? How do we reduce BIC time to match, as closely as possible, the time the patient actually receives medical care?

For this month's cover story, which begins on page 40, we asked several offices known for their efficiency how they've shortened their Butt-In-Chair times. We hope their answers will help us all to carefully assess processes that emphasize patient care and de-emphasize patient waiting.