The clinic had grown from one to three providers in the last 8 years and was severely overcrowded. Based on patient surveys and staff discussions, the optometry clinic operating hours were expanded 25 percent, from 0700 to 1800. The clinic staff operated on a flex schedule, maintaining the same number of weekly hours worked by each person. For most of the duty day, only two optometrists examined patients at any one time. This increased support staff efficiency, decreased patient inprocessing times and allowed walk-in services such as spectacle ordering and driver s license renewals outside of the normal 18th Wing duty hours.
Inspectors identify potential best practices during the inspection process.
Further research upon return from the field determines if inclusion into the final report is appropriate.