Productivity and Time Standards Development Resource Center
The AARC is revising its Uniform Reporting Manual this year for the first time since 2004. Time standards for procedures and activities based on relative value units (RVUs) are the foundation of all accurate productivity systems that evaluate the efficiency of delivering respiratory therapy services.
Now and in the future, hospital administrators will continue to focus on reducing operational cost in respiratory care. Because typically 70% or more of expenses are labor, managers must have both skills to manage labor resources and tools that clearly identify the need and demand for services. Productivity management is essential to insure adequate numbers of qualified respiratory therapists are assigned based on patient need, and justify staffing levels when faced with challenges to reduce expenses.
Accurate time standards are the foundation of a productivity system based on relative value units (RVU’s). The information in these 4 documents can help managers develop or refine time standards for the services they provide.
The AARC is providing these complimentary resources to encourage managers who have not developed time standards for their services to do so. Those with time standards are encouraged to selectively evaluate the need for updating them and to use these resources to do so.
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Productivity Systems—The Importance of Accurate Time Standards
This document explains the commonly used productivity systems and metrics used to support staffing decisions. It explains why metrics used commonly by consultants cannot accurately define staffing levels required for respiratory therapy services and provides rationale for a system based on relative value units (RVU’s).
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Developing Time Standards—Collecting Data
This document provides a step-by-step approach to gathering data required to develop time standards. It also discusses the importance of getting buy in from administration in development and adoption of time standards.
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Example Worksheet For Collecting Time Standards Data
This Excel spreadsheet is a basic template for procedure data collection. It contains formatted cells and is intended to be modified as required.
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Statistical Methodology For Developing Time Standards
This reference document provides basic statistical information to assist in developing valid time standards from collected data.
