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gregory.mccarthy
BIAC Alum
USA
26 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 08 2006 : 5:23:56 PM
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As is evident to all, there has been increasing use of the 3T scanner to the point where scheduling has become tight. Several groups are under pressure to complete studies this summer before their grants expire, and this has exacerbated the problem. We are asking our users to help reduce the schedule crunch by cooperating in the following two ways:
1. There has been an increase in the popularity of one hour scan sessions. We ask users who schedule one hour scans to try to avoid leaving intervening 30 minute or one hour blocks on the schedule. These small blocks are almost never scheduled and, if two or more occur in a day, result in the loss of a full size imaging block. We are hopeful that attention to this potential problem when scheduling will help eliminate it. However, if the problem persists, we are considering a policy where groups are asked to change the start of times of particular subjects by 30 minutes so that we can defragment the schedule and thus increase our daily throughput.
2. There continues to be too many cancellations within a two day window – primarily because a subject does not show up. It is rare that these blocks are reused by others. We ask users to emphasize to their subjects the importance of showing up for their scheduled appointments. A reminder call the night before the scan should be routine procedure.
BIAC has been unusual among imaging centers in not charging for cancelled studies. However, it is clear to us that some protocols cancel far more of their scheduled sessions than others. This means that users who rarely cancel are subsidizing the costs of these cancelled scans, in that the revenue needed to recoup BIAC’s operating expenses is borne by fewer paying scans. BIAC is strongly considering a change in our policy concerning cancellations, and it likely that charges for cancelled scans within a two-day time window will be instituted. However, before we implement any policy changes, we ask that users voluntarily implement procedures to reduce the numbers of cancellations.
Finally, we have noticed that some groups have claimed cancellations for sessions in which a subject has, in fact, appeared at the scanner but has either withdrawn from the study before its completion, or has failed eligibility for the protocol. These do not qualify as cancellations, or for lost time. It is the responsibility of the PI and not BIAC to ensure that subjects are adequately screened and prepared for imaging.
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Edited by - gregory.mccarthy on Jun 08 2006 5:26:51 PM |
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Scheduling issues
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