A pediatric practice has 5 physicians. They have a stable pool of patients that they see and the practice is not accepting new patients. Historically, patients were assigned to one physician and these patients were always treated by the same physician. For example, Alice's patients always visited her (for "well visits" and "sick visits") and never interacted with the other physicians. (You can assume that each physician had approximately the same number of patients assigned.)

However, the practice has decided to change how they see patients. Now patients will be seen by whoever is available (i.e., not treating patients). Assume no other change on either the demand or the service side. Based on our discussion of queuing theory, which of the following statements, if any, are true?

I. The utilization of each physician will increase.

II. The average number of patients actually with a physician (that is, "total average inventory in process") will increase.

III. The average waiting time for a patient will decrease.

I only

II only

III only

I and II only

I and III only

II and III only

All of the above

None of the above