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[Streamlining of patient discharge and intra-hospital transfer processes using Lean methodology]
L Manzanedo-Basilio1, S Arias-Rivera2
1Supervisora de la Unidad de Hospitalización de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
Journal of Healthcare Quality Research
|November 19, 2023
Summary
Implementing a visual management tool in hospitals effectively reduces unnecessary trips and waste, improving patient transfer and discharge processes. This Lean strategy enhances efficiency and interprofessional communication.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Operations Research
- Process Improvement
Context:
- Hospitals face challenges with inefficient patient transfers and discharges, leading to wasted resources and time.
- Lean methodology offers strategies to optimize hospital operations and reduce non-value-adding activities.
- Interprofessional communication is crucial for effective patient flow and care coordination.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a visual management tool in reducing staff travel time during intra-hospital transfers (ITH) and discharges.
- To assess the impact of the visual management tool on real-time patient location tracking.
- To determine if the tool helps minimize waste in hospital patient movement processes.
Summary:
- A before-and-after study was conducted in a hospital internal medicine unit to address time waste in patient transfers and discharges.
- A multiprofessional team developed and implemented a visual management tool, training staff on its use.
- Data collected included staff displacement (travel) and tool completion rates before and after implementation.
Impact:
- The visual management tool demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the number of staff trips.
- Tool completion rates improved over time, indicating successful adoption and integration into workflows.
- The study concludes that visual management tools, when applied across care processes with staff involvement, are effective in saving resources and reducing waste.
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