Analysis of the arrangement of outpatient units for patients receiving multiple consultations at a university hospital.

This study analyzed the arrangement (floor locations) of outpatient units for patients receiving multiple consultations. The Hospital Information System data from November 1, 2009 to September 30, 2012 of the Gunma University Hospital were used. The floor arrangements of the outpatient units were analyzed for outpatients who had received multiple consultations. A total of 168,193 outpatients who had received 1,260,307 consultations were included in the analysis. A total of 1,160,066(92.0%) outpatients had received 1 consultation, 93,763(7.4%) had received 2 consultations, and 6,478(0.6%) had received 3 or 4 consultations. Data from outpatients who had received 2 consultations were analyzed, and the data from the top 20 consultation combinations are shown. There were 12 different floor arrangements for outpatients undergoing 2 consultations. It is clear that outpatients who undergo multiple consultations must frequently move between different floors.