Showing papers on "Service level objective published in 1982"

Medical insurance verification and processing system

Abstract: A medical claim verification and processing system reads a medical information card (MEDICARD) to determine a patient's background medical and insurance information. The validity of the card is rapidly determined by accessing a central brokerage computer. A local service provider enters into a local terminal the medical and MEDICARD information services provided or to be provided to the patient by using a patient service code and transmits this information to a central brokerage computer. The central brokerage computer converts the patient service code input by the service provider or MEDICARD into a particular service code for the patient's insurance carrier. This service code is then utilized to determine the insurance claim payment for that particular patient service. The claim payment amount for the medical service is then transmitted back to the local entry terminal for use by the service provider and patient. The service provider and patient can then determine the amount of payment which will be made for the particular insurance claim. The provider can then prepare an electronic claim form and, together with the patient's and/or the provider's determination whether or not the assignment provision of the insurance claim will be invoked, the electronic claim form is then transmitted to a central brokerage computer which in turn transmits the claim form to the appropriate insurance carrier. The patient's insurance carrier processes the claim form, and, based upon the assignment decision, transfers the payment check to the patient or makes an electronic funds transfer to an account for the service provider, the patient or a central brokerage computer.

The Optimality of Full Service Policies

Abstract: The structure of optimal service rate adjustment policies is considered here for single server, multiple server, and arborescence network models. It is shown that a full service policy, namely, always using the highest effective service rate, is optimal under general conditions. The criteria are the long-run averages of the cost per customer served and the cost per unit time. Underlying costs are assumed to include waiting time penalties and rates depending on the number of customers in the system and on the pace at which service is proceeding. The only essential restriction on probability distributions or costs is that the highest service rate minimizes the expected cost of serving a customer.

An RSM Investigation of the Profit Potential of Customer Service Variables in Physical Distribution

Abstract: This paper presents a methodology for examining the profit-generating potential of customer service variables. Through the use of a case study, the proposed methodology is shown to provide a means for estimating the optimum customer service mix and assessing the sensitivity of the profit-customer service relationship. Results of the investigation indicate that service levels can be adjusted so as to enhance the profit performance of the firm.

Decision procedures for paratransit market selection and service evaluation: executive summary

Abstract: This research addresses the transit manager's basic problem of deciding how to increase transit service availability while at the same time improving its efficiency by implementing new services to attractive market areas and discontinuing existing services to unproductive markets in a timely manner. These decisions depend upon good marketing information on the one hand and good service evaluation data on the other. This study focuses on both sides of this transit management decision problem, and presents unified procedures that simultaneously deal with both the marketing and service evaluation problems. In the marketing problem, transit service opportunities in growing suburban markets are identified. For the service evaluation problem, the focus is on analysis of existing services and justification of the elimination of unproductive services. A service development process that illustrates the joint use of the evaluation procedures in conjunction with a market analysis is identified.

Making Community Service into Service for the Community

Abstract: Community service can be relevant both to the offender and the community. Here the authors describe the operation of a CS scheme which underlines the importance of positive thinking and related practice.

Services for the Elderly Some Empirical Findings on Agency Managers' Preferences

Abstract: The end result of any service provision program is critically dependent on the preferences of the managers of service provision agencies. The theoretical concept of managerial utility provides a potentially useful device for examining the impact of managerial preferences on service provision, but the value of this approach in practice is limited by a paucity of information on the actual nature of managerial preferences. This article presents results from a recent study that provide an empirical basis for constructing a model of agency managerial behavior. These results apply specifically to services provided to the elderly.

Using operational standards to enhance system performance

Abstract: There are only three reasons for a data center to vary from service level objectives, i.e., volume, mix, and efficiency. The first two are aspects of user behavior, while only the third is under the full control of the data center. With the proliferation of online systems, user behavior is affecting the data center in realtime. Management processes, technology and software tools exist to provide the basis for scientific management of the data center. Key to this endeavor is the ability to model the system and present in graphic form the relationship between the system and user behavior characteristics. This paper points out the source of data, existing software tools, and graphic methods and includes data and the results from a study and simulation of a data center.