23. A large hospital is experiencing significant delays in endoscopy… average procedure time is 47 minutes. How were descriptive statistics applied?

Answer: D

Explanation:

Descriptive statistics were applied by calculating the average procedure duration time.

The average procedure duration time of 47 minutes provides a clear measure of the central tendency of the endoscopy procedures, which is a key aspect of descriptive statistics.

A) Average number of patients in waiting room

While knowing the average number of patients in the waiting room may offer insights into patient flow, it does not directly relate to the calculation of average procedure time, which is the focus of the question regarding descriptive statistics.

B) Additional procedures performed

The total number of additional procedures performed may indicate efficiency or capacity but does not represent a descriptive statistic concerning the duration of individual procedures, which is critical to understanding process delays.

C) Additional endoscopy rooms

The number of additional endoscopy rooms could impact the overall throughput of procedures but does not pertain to the descriptive statistic of average procedure time, which specifically addresses how long each procedure takes.

D) Average procedure duration time

This option is correct as it directly reflects the application of descriptive statistics by summarizing the typical length of procedures, thereby highlighting potential areas for improvement in efficiency and resource allocation.

Conclusion

The correct answer, average procedure duration time, illustrates a fundamental use of descriptive statistics to quantify and assess the efficiency of endoscopy procedures. In contrast, the other options, while relevant to hospital operations, do not specifically address the statistical analysis of procedure time, making them less applicable in this context.