Model 8300 Telemetry system used at Wesley Long Community Hospital, Greensboro, North Carolina, is a completely self-contained, wireless, one-patient cardiac monitor.6 The system provides wireless transmission of a patient’s heartbeat to a receiver either at a central station or at the bedside. A study was undertaken to analyze the service provided by the 18 currently held telemetry units and to investigate the cost/benefit of any additional units. During a 38-day reviewing period, there were 156 requests for service (telemetry units are requested and used 24 hours a day). The average service duration was 93.6 hours per patient. Both inter-arrival and service durations had Exponential distributions.
a. What is the average arrival rate per day of patients needing telemetry?
b. What is the average service rate per day of patients needing telemetry?
c. If tire average wait time before service Is desired to be less than 5 hours, are 18 telemetry units enough?