Realization of process improvement at a diagnostic radiology department with aid of simulation modeling.

Autor: Oh HC; Centre for Health Services Research of Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd. oh.hong.choon@singhealth.com.sg, Toh HG, Giap Cheong ES
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal for healthcare quality : official publication of the National Association for Healthcare Quality [J Healthc Qual] 2011 Nov; Vol. 33 (6), pp. 40-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Mar 01.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1945-1474.2011.00133.x
Abstrakt: Using the classical process improvement framework of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), the diagnostic radiology department of a tertiary hospital identified several patient cycle time reduction strategies. Experimentation of these strategies (which included procurement of new machines, hiring of new staff, redesign of queue system, etc.) through pilot scale implementation was impractical because it might incur substantial expenditure or be operationally disruptive. With this in mind, simulation modeling was used to test these strategies via performance of "what if" analyses. Using the output generated by the simulation model, the team was able to identify a cost-free cycle time reduction strategy, which subsequently led to a reduction of patient cycle time and achievement of a management-defined performance target. As healthcare professionals work continually to improve healthcare operational efficiency in response to rising healthcare costs and patient expectation, simulation modeling offers an effective scientific framework that can complement established process improvement framework like PDSA to realize healthcare process enhancement.
(© 2011 National Association for Healthcare Quality.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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