Background of the story:
Patti found that dividing input-output by non-material assembly costs (NMAC iO) was a good measure in her research, and after validating it at five ACME facilities, Patti confidently reported to ACME's CEO, Mike, with a new productivity improvement plan. But as soon as the debriefing ended, Patti was told that her husband, Rob, had been injured and hospitalized.
When Claire Perkins tells Patty that Rob is in the hospital, Patty freezes where she is, her face pale. But she quickly calmed down and took out her phone to call Rob's mother.
Mom, what's wrong with Rob? Patty's voice trembled.
Rob's mother, Hilde Gunther, replied: "He hurt his back when the barbell was pressed down while he was working out, he couldn't walk, he also injured his head, he was in a short coma for five minutes, and I'm almost in the hospital now." ”
See you at the hospital. Patty hung up**.
Sam and Mike hear that they insist on sending a car to take Patty to the hospital, but Patty refuses.
Patty looked at her watch, and it was 9 a.m. Rob worked the middle shift for six weeks and started work at 10 a.m., so he usually went to the gym from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Patty noticed that Rob was exercising too much and reminded him a few times. It was later revealed that Rob was making a bet with his friend Fred to see who would reach the 250-pound snatch first. She vaguely felt that Rob's injury had something to do with it.
The time on the road was very painful, and after parking the car, Patty rushed to the emergency room. Rob was seen awake, but his face was blue and purple. Patty pounced on Rob's side, not noticing the mother-in-law beside him.
Rob, what's going on? Patti asked, crying.
The good news was that I won Fred and managed to snatch 250 pounds! He smiled, frowning bitterly. "But at 260 pounds, I was crushed. ”
What do doctors say? Is it badly hurt? Patty asked, a little annoyed by Rob's understatement.
I had back pain, I could barely walk, I also had injuries on my face, I didn't know anything else, I was going to have an MRI later, and the doctor said it might be a displaced. Rob replied, in a much more serious tone.
Just then, the doctor from the MRI department came.
Sir, we will arrange for you to do an MRI today but you need to wait in line. It usually takes two or three hours. The doctor said.
When Rob is pushed away, Patty kisses Rob after avoiding his mother and the bruises on his face. Patty chatted with her mother-in-law for about 30 minutes. Seeing that the hospital had wifi, Patty turned on the computer to do some work. But in my heart I silently prayed for Rob, hoping that he would be okay. This is Patty's own way of doing things, though it may seem strange to some.
Patti Nmaci O still had some details to work out of, and she wrote an email to plant managers who used poor pause response and cheap solder paste that needed to be remixed after a pause, suggesting that they switch to a company-certified solder paste that is free of these problems. I also wrote an email to the person in charge of the factory who used full wave soldering for two through-hole components, suggesting that wave soldering should be eliminated and replaced by printed solder paste at the through-hole position, which can greatly improve production efficiency.
After writing the email, Patti observed the MRI department at the hospital. After looking at it for a while, she realized that the patient's MRI scan was similar to assembling electronics, except that the former used an MRI machine, and the latter used a printing press, placement machine, and reflow oven. Medical technicians operate MRI machines, like technicians in an electronics assembly line. Medical technicians are like process engineers, and doctors are like managers or executives in a company. However, the MRI department does not produce electronic products, but scans of the patient's body, and there is almost no difference between the two.
Patty was curious, so she chatted with the front desk.
Hello, my husband is doing an MRI and I have a few questions I would like to ask you. She said to Sarah Carter.
Of course. Sarah said, "Please." ”
How much does an MRI cost? Patty asked.
Sarah replied, "It depends on the location and complexity of the scan, but it's usually around $3,000." ”
Patti asked a few other questions and learned that the hospital had five MRI rooms, each of which could perform an average of nine patient scans per day. Then estimate the number of employees and floor space required. Turn on your computer and use the ProfitPro software to estimate the cost of an MRI scan. Under the guidance of her professors, she has become very good at estimating labor burdens and other indirect costs. A few minutes later, it was estimated that the cost of an MRI at the hospital was only $390!
So why are we paying $3,000? She thought.
Patty remembered that her college classmate, Emily, was a radiology resident at the hospital. She wrote an email to Emily and asked about the cost of the MRI scan, in addition to telling her about Rob's condition. After sending the email, I went to the cafeteria of the hospital with my mother-in-law for a cup of coffee. Before they left, Rob began a 45-minute MRI.
Fifteen minutes later, when they return to the waiting area, Patty turns on her computer and is surprised to find that Emily has already replied to her email.
Emily wrote in the email: "Patty, I'm sad to hear that Rob is injured. The MRI results usually don't come out until tomorrow, but I'll take a look at it later and give it to you later today**. By the way, my boyfriend works in the finance department of the hospital, and I came to ask him about the cost, but the number you said sounds a little outrageously high. ”
Twenty minutes later, Rob finished the check. The doctor prescribed him some painkillers and muscle release agents, Rob felt better after taking it, and the doctor ordered Rob to stay in the hospital for observation**, and soon Rob fell asleep under the effect of the drug, and Patty decided to stay with the bed. At 4 p.m., she asked her mother-in-law to pick up her child from the daycare center.
At 4:30 p.m., Emily sent another email.
"Patti, good news. I looked at Rob's MRI results. The bones were not injured, only the muscles were severely strained. "I asked my boyfriend to look up the cost of an MRI scan at the hospital, and the figure was close to what you calculated — $410." We both found it hard to believe that we didn't know what the extra $2,600 was. ”
Dr. Ron's Note:
I did some research on the cost of an MRI exam. Although the results are quite surprising, the figures are roughly correct. Hospital MRIs cost around $400, but they had to charge $3,000 to break even. This is even more confusing considering that many hospitals are non-profit and many are losing money. I'm not saying that I understand the hospital's operations and cost structure. Some people believe that one of the key points to solve the current problem of high medical costs in the United States is to first understand the reason why the $400 test is charged for $3,000.
Rob's health is fine, what are the wonderful stories in the future? Stay tuned for the next episode of "Case Study (33): Is the Lowest "Cost of Ownership" the Best Indicator for Electronic Manufacturing? 》