NCJ Number
17619
Date Published
1974
Length
50 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHORS PROVIDE A METHODOLOGY FOR CHARACTERIZING THE QUALITY OF A SCREENING PROGRAM AND FOR ESTABLISHING THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE INTRODUCTION OF SCREENING CAN IMPROVE SERVICE.
Abstract
THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR URBAN EMERGENCY SERVICES RAISES THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED MIGHT BE IMPROVED BY A BETTER MATCHING OF RESOURCES TO NEEDS THROUGH A PROCESS OF SCREENING. BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF ERRORS ON THE PART OF THE SCREENER, THERE IS A NATURAL RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO UNDERTAKE SUCH A PROGRAM. WHILE IT IS PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OF SCREENERS THEORETICALLY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO ANALYZE MATHEMATICALLY A RATHER SIMPLE PROCESS CALLED 'CATEGORICAL SCREENING'. WE HAVE DETERMINED THE OPTIMAL CATEGORICAL SCREENING POLICY UNDER TWO CONDITIONS: 'LOSS SCREENING', IN WHICH SCREENED CALLS RECEIVE SECONDARY RATHER THAN PRIMARY SERVICE; AND 'PRIORITY SCREENING', IN WHICH SCREENED CALLS ARE ASSIGNED LOW PRIORITY IN ANY QUEUES THAT FORM. THE FACT THAT A SCREENING METHOD AS CRUDE AS CATEGORICAL SCREENING CAN IMPROVE SERVICE SUGGESTS THAT TRAINED PERSONNEL SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO MUCH BETTER. SCREENING IS ALSO COMPARED TO ADDING RESPONSE UNITS AS AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR IMPROVING SERVICE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)