Improved Clinic Flow and Satisfaction After Lean Implementation in a Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic

To report outcomes using Lean concepts (FlowOne Lean Consulting, LLC) and implemented changes in a single academic pediatric ophthalmology practice.

Lean principles such as patient flow, wasted movement, and non-value added visit time were taught to clinic staff. Spaghetti maps to document patient and staff movement during examinations, patient simulation, and clinic flow exercises were performed prior to implementing clinic changes. Clinic changes included maximizing easily reachable equipment and standardizing equipment in each examination room, physician-controlled doorbells to notify staff for help, and implementing a visual real-time electronic board of patients throughout the entirety of their examination. Patient surveys before and after Lean and staff feedback were obtained.

Four years of data were collected of patient examination visits after Lean principles were introduced. Prior to Lean implementation, mean pediatric ophthalmology clinic visit times were 120 minutes. Within 3 months of Lean clinic changes, mean visit times reduced to 75 minutes. Four years later, this was sustained at 69 minutes. Clinic templates were modified and increased by 17%. Patient satisfaction surveys before and after demonstrated improved scores from 6.5 to 9.0. Patient survey comments included satisfaction with shorter patient examination visits, less shuffling between examination rooms, less non-value added time, and perception of happier clinic staff. Staff survey comments included receiving fewer parent complaints, feeling less disorganized, being able to troubleshoot in real time, and leaving at an earlier time at the end of the clinic day.

Lean improved clinic efficiency, reduced patient visit times, and improved patient and staff satisfaction. These improvements were sustained 4 years after Lean principles were implemented. [.