AN APPLICATION OF QUEUING THEORY TO A CONGESTION PROBLEM IN AN OUTPATIENT CLINIC*

The purpose of this paper is to discuss an application of queuing theory as an analytical framework for evaluating the adequacy of physician capacity in an outpatient clinic for medically indigent patients. Specific attention is given to the problems of parameter estimation including service and waiting cost. A method is also discussed whereby the relationship of physician cost and patient waiting cost may be imputed after the fact from observation of actual clinic operations.