In “diagnostic divisions”, activity centers were defined
based on the kind of the service. For example, the
laboratory service is based on the number of
“accomplished tests” or radiology division is the
number of “accomplished radiography”. Therefore,
the laboratory and radiology divisions are defined as
two separate units. Of course, each activity center is
divided into some sub centers with specific outputs.
For example, the laboratory activity center is divided
into hematology activity center, cytology activity center
etc.
Activity centers in “operational divisions” were defined
according to the kind of service it offered to patients.
For example, the hospitalized departments offering
services to patients’ pre and post surgery operation
were considered as an activity center. Activity center
output in such units was identified based on the “occupancy
bed day”.
Step 4:Activity analysis in activity centers
The purpose of activity analysis is to acquire necessary
information about the kind of activity, activity
level, activity purpose, resources, and the time of activity
accomplishment. Activity analysis is an important
and fundamental stage in ABC method. In this
stage, activities related to goals were identified. In addition,
the amount of consumed materials and the
equipment deprecation were calculated.
Step 5: calculating activity center costs
In this stage, by using the information of activity
analysis and the accounting data, costs of each activity
center consisting of material, manpower, equipment
depreciation cost etc., were identified based on
unit level, batch level, hospital level and sustaining
level costs (Fig. 3).
Step 6: Allocating costs of administrative activity
centers
In this stage, costs of administration center were
allocated to other activity centers based on services.
For example, the cost of drugstore activity center
was allocated according to the "number of prescriptions"
or costs of technical services were allocated
according to the “space” of each activity center.
Regarding the use of numerous bases to allocate costs
in ABC method, in this research, “concurrent equations”
was used to determine service loads in each
activity center. Finally, allocated costs to other activity
centers were identified regarding collected costs of
each activity center.