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In healthcare patients move in a different pattern depending on what the specific patient needs to have done. This pattern is also called a flow, where the flow which this article mentions describes how the patient flows. To offer the best healthcare service, it is important that the patient flow is effective. That the flow being effective means to work towards a logistical, quality and cost-effective flow. This also matches the patient care given in private clinics, where similar patient flows can be seen. The purpose with this study is to identify what affects the patient flow and how the patient flow can be more efficient both quality wise and cost wise. To answer the purpose this study performed a case study on a private clinic in the Stockholm area who work with cosmetic as well as reconstructive surgery. To follow a patient flow this study performed a flow mapping of a patient flow, the study also performed interviews with an employee of the private clinic. To collect information that supports this study's conclusion several previous articles were used along with information from literature and necessary internet websites. The study identifies capacity, information transparency and logistics as causes of inefficiency. This study comes to the conclusion that lean tools could be implemented in an organization whose operations are active in healthcare. Out of those tools presented in the analysis three different categories occur where the lean tools are placed. The different categories are planning tools, improvement tools and preventive measures. With the help of previous research where similar, if not the same tools were used, positive results could be seen with consequent results being empathized. This study comes to the conclusion that a combination of tools from the three different categories is the best alternative to ensure an improvement of the efficiency long term. Planning for the future, while improving existing waste and at the same time using tools that act as an aid towards future waste is the best way to improve efficiency on the patient flow long term. Keywords: Lean, efficiency, improvement, healthcare, logistics, patient flow |
