In 2006, approximately 16,500 procedures were performed at the center by the 16-strong physician medical staff. Operating from 7.00A.M. to 3.30P.M. daily out of five rooms within the 9,800-square-foot facility, this performance equates to a utilization rate of 3,300 procedures per room annually. In August 2007, the remaining sixth procedure room began to be used (mornings only), and the facility is expected to perform 18,500 procedures annually from this point forward.

In the most recent time study analysis (Q2 2007) performed by Networking Nurses for benchmarking purposes, the average patient turnaround time—as measured from entry into the facility’s waiting room until the exit/discharge process—is approximately 97 minutes. In a 37-facility benchmarking study of clinical indicators and quality measures, MEC performed favorably across a broad spectrum of factors typically considered to be indicators of clinical excellence.

The following are the critical components we monitor to maintain a highvolume, quality-focused clinical program at our endoscopy facility:

• physical plant design;
• staffing design;
• sedation methodology;
• electronic medical records;
• administration and local management;
• national management support;
• comprehensive physician participation;
• governance structure; and
• room utilization analysis.

These components are discussed in more detail below.