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PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PHILOSOPHIES ANDTECHNIQUES

Definition: These are problemsolving tools used in the form of six sigma, these are aninitiatives quality improvement procedures. These are data drivenmethod of analysing business. The six sigma which are to be founddata based are (define, measure, analyze, design, verify).

The six sigma in health careindustry has following considerations (define, measure, analyse,improve and control).

Health care industry is anaccumulation and combination of various sectors that are focused totreat patients with curative, preventive and rehabilitativeservices. This industry is a focused driven and largest humanresource generator. The health industry has many concepts andaspects that fill the goals of economic development some nationssee health sector as important part of economy as a healthy youngcountry prospers more than its counterparts.

The six sigma has an enormousopportunity and potentiality to improve the health care industrywhen used in right terms and right hands. If the problems of thehealth care industry are properly defined and managed then it comesout to be the next biggest revolution of the time.

The six sigma has many benefits theyare

a. It helpsidentify the break in chain of events and helps locate the site ofproblem

b. It helps reducewaiting time of patients

c. It helps reducemedication errors

d. It helps insimple procedures to large scale operations

e. It improves thepurchasing and supply chain and reduces the single lineopportunistic errors

f. It boostsclinical research

g. It decodes thebilling sector

h. It improves theCSSD

i. It intiates fastdisposal of laboratory results

j. It improves thelaboratory efficiency

k. It saves livesas the process of emergeny management becomes easy

l. It improves theover all infrastructure management

m. It schedules thecleaning and maintenance process

n. It overallimproves the customer / patient satisfaction

o. It decodesmedical transcription

p. It helps inpatient education and community improvement.

Examples:

The North Indian Hospital inManipur, India experienced high wait times in its OPD’s outpatientdepartments. Patients waited on the average of 90 minutes to see adoctor and receive treatment. The department was understaffed.

By applying Six Sigma’s rigoroustechniques for data gathering and analysis, The North IndianHospital in Manipur, India was able to find how patients were goingthrough different check points before coming to doctor. Analysisrevealed several major blockades which were not necessary in thepatient flow process. Hence, variation in the process was done as asingle point check point and this made the accessibility tophysician and reduced delays that were caused. The chief medicalofficer on duty would personally see that all doctors are availableand no one is overburdened, if needed special officer doctors areappointed to meet the demand.

Six Sigma analyses helped inidentification of the delays which were not caused by understaffingbut unnecessary check points and inefficient processes. Once theSix Sigma team identified and addressed the root cause of theproblem, wait times decreased by 60%

Define – long waiting time in OPD,i.e. 90 min before reaching physician

Measure – causes of waiting time

Analyse – steps followed by patientstill they reach physician

Improve – findings stated that thereare more than one check point for patients before they reachphysicians.

Control – one point check point forall the necessary requirements of patients

Repeat – 60% reduction in waitingtime