Question

The primary reason for calculating productive hours paid instead of simply calculating work paid per year is that productive hours enable the manager to:

a. Anticipate total costs for patient care.
b. Know how much time staff will likely be unavailable because of illness.
c. Determine when orientation needs to occur for new staff.
d. Determine the number of hours available for patient care.

Answer 1

The primary reason for calculating productive hours paid is to determine the number of hours available for patient care, allowing managers to better manage resources and staffing levels for sufficient patient coverage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary reason for calculating productive hours paid instead of simply calculating work paid per year is that productive hours enable the manager to determine the number of hours available for patient care. This measure takes into account the actual time workers can contribute to delivering healthcare services, excluding the time lost due to illness, absence, or other non-productive activities. By focusing on productive hours, managers can better allocate resources, manage staffing levels, and ensure sufficient coverage for patient care.

In terms of measuring productivity, besides the amount produced per hour of work, other methods can include assessing the quality of the output, customer satisfaction, the impact of labor on health outcomes, and the integration of technology to assist labor.