Surgical Scheduling: A Lean Approach to Process Improvement

Abstract

A large teaching hospital in the northeast United States had an inefficient, paper-based process for scheduling orthopedic surgery that caused delays and contributed to site/side discrepancies. The hospital's leaders formed a team with the goals of developing a safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and accurate orthopedic scheduling process; smoothing the schedule so that block time was allocated more evenly; and ensuring correct site/side. Under the resulting process, real-time patient information is entered into a database during the patient's preoperative visit in the surgeon's office. The team found the new process reduced the occurrence of site/side discrepancies to zero, reduced instances of changing the sequence of orthopedic procedures by 70%, and increased patient satisfaction.

An integrative review of a preoperative nursing care structure

“…); orthopaedic surgery (Russell et al . , Simon & Canacari ); and cardiac surgery (Sobolev et al . ).…”

Lean E-Health Care: Its Performance Improvement Based on Brazilian University Hospital Case Study

“…Furthermore, it is possible to develop plans to enhance safety, effectiveness and reliability of process focused on patients' needs and hospital goals (Simon et Canacari, 2014). Aguilar-Escobar and Garrido-Vega (2013) as well as Aguilar- cite the majority of academic scholars on lean healthcare focuses on topics as implementation barriers, the usage of IT systems, process redesign, and activities integration.…”

Lean Healthcare Application in a Surgical Procedures Appointment Scheduling Center in a Maternity

“…Time reduction gains were identified, revenue growth, cost reduction and greater efficiency of radiology services. Simon and Canacari (2014) reported a case of scheduling surgical procedure, describing the methodological procedures and results.…”