Queuing theory provides robust methods to evaluate alternative designs for the organization of PACs. In this article, we show that queuing modeling is an adequate approach for redesigning processes in PACs.

SummaryForty-three surgical patients were, during general anaesthesia, presented (via headphones) with either statements about common facts of some years ago (group A ) , or new verbal associations, i.e. the names of fictitious. nonfamous people (group B ) . None had any recall of intra-operative events. In a postoperative test of indirect memory, patients in group A answered more questions about the 'common facts' correctly than those in group B ( p < 0.005), which reflects the activation of pre-existing knowledge.Furthermore, patients in group B designated more 'nonfamous names' as famous (thus falsely attributing fame) than patients in group A ( p < 0.001) , which demonstrates that information-processing during anaesthesia can also take place as unconscious learning.

This study shows that the organization of patient flow is an important aspect of the logistic processes of the preoperative assessment clinic. It might influence patient flow times as well as the number of preoperative tests requested. Together with other aspects of logistic performance, patient satisfaction and quality of medical assessment, patient flow logistics can be used to assess the quality of a preoperative assessment clinic.

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