Utilizing Process Mapping as a Framework for Identifying and Prioritizing Barriers to Antibiotic Delivery in...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Healthcare providers in resource-limited settings encounter significant structural barriers affecting antibiotic delivery.
• Timely antibiotic initiation is crucial for managing infections, especially in vulnerable populations like those with neutropenic fever.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a guide for developing antibiotic delivery process maps using a 5-phase framework.
• To systematically identify and prioritize barriers hindering timely antibiotic initiation.
• To demonstrate the application of process mapping in a real-world setting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 5-phase process mapping (PM) framework to analyze antibiotic delivery.
• Applied PM to identify barriers to antimicrobial delivery for neutropenic fever patients at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
• Employed low-cost supplies and open-access software for process map development and analysis.

Main Results:

• Process mapping effectively identified specific structural barriers to antibiotic delivery in the case study.
• The study outlines a systematic approach to prioritizing identified barriers for intervention.
• Guidance is provided on using accessible tools for process map creation and analysis.

Conclusions:

• Process mapping is a valuable, low-cost tool for understanding and improving antibiotic delivery systems.
• Systematic identification and prioritization of barriers are essential for targeted interventions.
• Healthcare providers can leverage process mapping to enhance antimicrobial access and patient care in resource-limited environments.