Table 2

 Examples of calculating the costs of personnel time devoted to a quality improvement programme

YearPersonnelHourly wage + fringe/opportunity cost of personnelSpecific activities undertakenHours/week spent(not including overtime)Total costs/week
*QI, quality improvement.
2001Licensed practical nurse$14.00Planning QI activities, patient registry maintenance, attending meetings20$14.00×20 h =  $280
2002$14.42Same25$14.42×25 h  =  $360.50
2003$14.85Same20$14.85×20 h  =  $297
2001Family practice physician (general practitioner)53.92/visit×4 visits/h =  $215.68Planning QI activities, patient registry maintenance,attending meetings, writing grants0.46$215.68×0.46 h  =  $99.21
200260.22×4  =  $240.88Same1.15$240.88×1.15 h  =  $277.01
200367.21×4  =  $268.84Same0.69$268.84×0.69 h  =  $185.50