Economic scheduling
Which exams sit in the appointment book, and when, determines the economics of a radiology practice. This is where the calculation turns into planning: slot templates, case mix and the question of which exam types fit which part of the day.
Slot allocation and capacity
Section titled “Slot allocation and capacity”- Slot templates per scanner and operating window, derived from measured durations and their spread rather than from a single experience value
- Buffer placement: where reserve for urgent cases, repeats and overruns is planned so the day does not tip over
- Utilisation picture: free, blocked and overbooked time by scanner, weekday and time of day
- No-shows and late cancellations: how freed-up time can be refilled
Case mix
Section titled “Case mix”- Current mix: distribution of exam types by scanner, weekday and time of day
- Weighting by economic contribution: which exam types are over- or under-represented relative to their contribution margin per scanner hour
- Revenue mix and budget state: how the share of budget-bound EBM services (RLV/QZV), extrabudgetary EBM services and GOÄ develops through the quarter, and from when marginal revenue collapses
- Scenarios: how changes to slot templates or mix affect utilisation, contribution margin and lead times
Slots across the day
Section titled “Slots across the day”Below capacity level, too, the view is about exam types: which exam types and slot lengths fit which part of the day, judged by contribution margin per scanner hour and scanner fit – including the range their duration falls in.
This view is a decision aid for capacity management, not an instruction for booking appointments on the phone. The guardrails below apply.
Guardrails
Section titled “Guardrails”- Medical urgency always comes first. It outranks any economic consideration; your mandate to provide care and the obligations of statutory health insurance practice remain the framework.
- Waiting times are monitored as a guardrail. Lead times and waiting times are tracked continuously, so that economic planning does not come at the expense of patient care.
- Decisions are auditable and documented. Weightings, rules and their changes are recorded so they can be reviewed afterwards. We make proposals; your practice decides which appointments are given.
The same principles apply across all engagements; they are described under Approach.
Data we typically use
Section titled “Data we typically use”- Appointment book and RIS exports, pseudonymised
- Results from cost and revenue per scanner hour
- Your volume notifications from the KV and the rules of the applicable fee distribution scheme (HVM)
RLV and QZV rules differ between KVs and change regularly – background in RLV and QZV explained.
How it runs
Section titled “How it runs”- Analysis: evaluation of slot allocation, case mix and volume utilisation in past quarters.
- Report and workshop: proposals for slot templates and case mix, each with its expected effect as a range, discussed with you and the scheduling team.
- Implementation (optional): quarterly monitor and planning support with ongoing updates and adjusted HVM rules.