Optimizing Operational Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction in Tumor Day Wards: An HFMEA-Based Process Redesign Study

To explore the application of Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) in optimizing the operational workflow of oncology day wards.

A retrospective controlled study was conducted with 658 patients treated in our day ward from August 2021 to March 2022. The control group (n=344, August to November 2021) received standard care, while the experimental group (n=314, December 2021 to March 2022) underwent HFMEA-based process redesign. Key interventions included establishing a multidisciplinary team, developing a patient admission assessment tool, optimizing infusion chair allocation, creating a WeChat-based communication platform, and implementing electronic health education. Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) were calculated using a severity-occurrence matrix. Primary outcomes included RPN reduction rates, treatment waiting times, and patient satisfaction scores.

Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in several key metrics. The RPN improvement rates for the treatment, evaluation, and treatment processes were 48.01%, 52.94%, and 61.59%, respectively. The experimental group also demonstrated higher satisfaction scores from 3 to 4 points in waiting time, infusion process, health education, service attitude aspects. Additionally, the median waiting time decreased from 16 minutes to 7 minutes (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in patients' satisfaction with the admission process, diagnosis and treatment technology, technical operation, treatment environment, and discharge environment (P>0.05).

The optimized day ward operation process based on HFMEA has demonstrated significant benefits in reducing medical risks, shortening patient treatment waiting time, and improving patient satisfaction. These improvements are particularly relevant for healthcare institutions facing similar challenges.