Productivity of mental health professionals in a prepaid health plan.

To determine staff productivity in the psychiatry department of a prepaid health plan, the authors compared hours of direct service with professional time available. Psychiatrists exceeded the time standards set, and other staff achieved about three-fourths of the initial standards. The findings provided a basis for refining the standards for each professional discipline. Establishing flexible productivity standards in a system that promotes open discussion and provides continuing positive feedback promotes more efficient scheduling, which can significantly increase service time in the face of limited resources.