Lean Healthcare, Simplified

Applying lean concepts to health care is all the rage these days, but you don't necessarily need to hire high-priced consultants to get started. The essence of "lean" is finding and eliminating "non-value added" work, or "waste." To get started, just follow these five simple steps:

1. Look closely at each of the tasks performed in a particular process (drawing blood, processing an MRI order, etc.) This is done by carefully documenting each step either in flowchart or list form. Your goal is to have a list of steps that is so complete that a new employee could use it as a guide. Sometimes the best way to accomplish this is to have someone unfamiliar with the process do it. They are unable to make assumptions and tend to ask more questions, resulting in fewer missed steps and more detail. Also, estimate the amount of time and/or cost is associated with each step.

2. Once each step is documented, ask this question of each: Does this task directly contribute to the service being performed or the patient being treated? In other words, does it add value to the patient? For example, if you're looking at a lab draw process ask, "is this directly related to testing the patient's blood? Does the patient care about it?" Indicate whether the task is value added or not next to each.

3. Now that you've identified the non-value-added steps in your process, your goal is to eliminate or reduce the amount of time spent on each. Think creatively and approach each step with an open mind. Are each of these steps absolutely required? Are they essential to the entire process? Is there a way to perform them more efficiently? Is there improved technology that can help you perform the task faster and more efficiently? Can you automate the task? Cross out all the steps you can eliminate and note changes next to steps that can be improved.

4. Document your new, highly-efficient process and compare it to the old. Determine how many steps, how much time and how much cost you saved by eliminating the waste.

5. Implement the new process and monitor the results. Check periodically to make sure the process is working and that staff are adhering to it. If there are problems, reassess the process and make corrections.

See, lean isn't so complicated! Sure, some complex processes can be daunting, but break them down into smaller processes whenever possible. Follow these basic steps and you'll be on your way to improving your organization's bottom line in no time.

If you need any help, our process improvement experts can guide you or tackle the project for you. Contact Enovasis Healthcare Solutions to boost your profitability.