John Fleming, chief administrator for Valley View Hospital, is concemed about the costs for tests in the hospital's lab. Charges for lab tests are consistently higher at Valley View than at other hospitals and have resulted in many complaints. Also, because of strict regulations on amounts reimbursed for lab tests, payments received from insurance companies and govemmental units have not been high enough to cover lab costs. Mr. Fleming has asked you to evaluate costs in the hospital's lab forthe past month. The following information is available: a. Two types oftests are performed in the lab-blood tests and smears. During the past month, 250 blood tests and 2,100 smears were performed in the lab. b. Small glass plates are used in both types of tests. During the past month, the hospital purchased 10,500 plates at a cost of $35 910.1,100 ofthese plates were unused at the end of the month; no plates were on hand at the beginning of the month. c. During the past month, 1,100 hours of labor time were recorded in the lab at a cost of $11,385 d. The lab's variable overhead cost last month totaled $7,370. Valley Mew Hospital has never used standard costs. By searching industry literature, however, you have determined the following nationwide averages for hospital labs: Plates: Three plates are required per lab test. These plates cost $3.60 each and are disposed of after the test is completed Labor: Each blood test should require 0.4 hours to complete, and each smear should require 0.20 hours to complete. The average cost of this lab time is $11.10 per hour. Olertread: Overhead cost is based on direct labor-hours. The average rate for variable overhead is $6 20 per hour. Required: 1. Compute a materials price variance for the plates purchased last month and a materials quantity wariance for the plates used last month.(hput all amounts as positive values. Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "F for favorable, "U' for unfavorable, and "None" for no effect (i.e, zero variance).) Materials price variance Materials quantity variance 2. For labor cost in the lab: a. Compute a laborrate variance and a labor efficiency variance. (Input all amounts as positive values. Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "F" for favorable, "U' for urfavorable, and" None" for no effect (i.e, zero variance).) Labor rate variance Labor eficiency variance b. h most hospita one-half of the workers in the lab are senior technicians and one-half are assistants. In an effort to reduce costs, Valley Vew Hospital employs only one-fourth senior technicians and three-fourths assistants. Would you recommend that this policy be continued? Yes No 3-a. Compute the variable overhead rate and efficiency variances. (Input all amounts as positive values. Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "F" for favorable, "O" for unfavorable, and "None" for no effect (ie, zero variance).) Variable overhead rate variance Variable overhead efficiency variance 3-b. Is there any relation between the variable overhead efficiency variance and the labor eficiency wariance? Yes No
