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Improving operating room efficiency in academic children's hospital using Lean Six Sigma methodology
Edward P Tagge1, Arul S Thirumoorthi1, John Lenart2
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA.
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|April 9, 2017
Summary
Lean Six Sigma (LSS) improved efficiency in an academic children's hospital's operating rooms. This process improvement methodology reduced patient turnover and turnaround times without adding staff or technology.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Process Improvement
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a data-driven methodology for process optimization.
- Hospitals often face challenges in operational efficiency, particularly in surgical settings.
- Academic children's hospitals require tailored strategies for complex patient care and resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of applying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) across all services in an academic children's hospital.
- To determine if LSS can enhance overall operational efficiency without specific service preselection.
- To assess the impact of LSS on key performance indicators within the perioperative environment.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary committee was established at a tertiary academic medical center.
- The entire perioperative process was mapped using tools like fishbone diagrams and Pareto analysis.
- Data from 612 main operating room cases over six months were analyzed for a prospective comparative study (Level II).
Main Results:
- Operating room Turnover Time decreased from a median of 41 minutes to 32 minutes (p<0.0001).
- Operating room Turnaround Time decreased from a median of 81.5 minutes to 71 minutes (p<0.0001).
- Significant improvements were observed across all seven operating rooms studied.
Conclusions:
- A coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to process improvement can significantly enhance efficiency in academic children's hospitals.
- Lean Six Sigma implementation led to measurable reductions in perioperative delays.
- The study demonstrates successful efficiency gains without requiring additional personnel, technology, or service-specific focus.