From a purely economic or industrial model of efficiency, I can see Robert Burney's point about the inefficiencies of the breast care center I wrote about (Nov 2011). I do not have inside economic knowledge about the functioning of the center. My observations as a patient, however, interpreted the "efficiency" I saw at the level of the physician, the most highly trained and highly paid staff member. The system seemed set up to minimize physicians' time with patients. Presumably other staff members were expected to work at a certain pace, and the patient's time seemed to be the least important piece of the equation.
展开▼
