Six Sigma - Pain
Lean Six Sigma: The Pursuit of a Perfect Emergency Department
Brandon D’Aloiso (bdd31@pitt.edu), Seth Young (say19@pitt.edu)
Abstract— This paper will focus on the use of the Lean Six Sigma principles in an emergency room setting. The current level of efficiency of emergency rooms will be examined and we will discuss the ways in which Lean Six Sigma principles can be implemented. Ways to lower infection rates and still keep wait times down will also be explored. Six Sigma methodologies are currently used in industry and are now being applied in hospital settings. Lean Six Sigma focuses on continuous improvement and waste reduction practices that can be used to achieve near perfection or “Six Sigma,” which is defined as six standard deviations from perfection. The focus of Lean, on the other hand, is on total elimination of waste, while still respecting the employees and their jobs by not firing personnel already in the system. The current status of emergency rooms is intolerable to patients and the need for reform practices, such as Lean Six Sigma, is apparent and growing. By bringing industrial engineers into the medical scene, hospitals can cut down on the level of waste tremendously. The goal of this paper will be to examine the intricate details of an emergency room, then move on to consider the implementation of a feasible solution that would ideally eliminate the current level of waste that could be life threatening.
Key Words— Continuous Improvement, Emergency Department, Healthcare, Lean, Six Sigma, Waste Elimination
Lean Six Sigma: Overview
On average the wait time in emergency departments is alarmingly high. On top of that, the number of accidents by care professionals continues to rise. These issues are not due to a lack of knowledge or skill by the medical staff, but rather a faulty process by which they operate. Over recent years, hospitals, especially emergency departments, have been taking advantage of the combination of
Brandon D’Aloiso (bdd31@pitt.edu), Seth Young (say19@pitt.edu)
Abstract— This paper will focus on the use of the Lean Six Sigma principles in an emergency room setting. The current level of efficiency of emergency rooms will be examined and we will discuss the ways in which Lean Six Sigma principles can be implemented. Ways to lower infection rates and still keep wait times down will also be explored. Six Sigma methodologies are currently used in industry and are now being applied in hospital settings. Lean Six Sigma focuses on continuous improvement and waste reduction practices that can be used to achieve near perfection or “Six Sigma,” which is defined as six standard deviations from perfection. The focus of Lean, on the other hand, is on total elimination of waste, while still respecting the employees and their jobs by not firing personnel already in the system. The current status of emergency rooms is intolerable to patients and the need for reform practices, such as Lean Six Sigma, is apparent and growing. By bringing industrial engineers into the medical scene, hospitals can cut down on the level of waste tremendously. The goal of this paper will be to examine the intricate details of an emergency room, then move on to consider the implementation of a feasible solution that would ideally eliminate the current level of waste that could be life threatening.
Key Words— Continuous Improvement, Emergency Department, Healthcare, Lean, Six Sigma, Waste Elimination
Lean Six Sigma: Overview
On average the wait time in emergency departments is alarmingly high. On top of that, the number of accidents by care professionals continues to rise. These issues are not due to a lack of knowledge or skill by the medical staff, but rather a faulty process by which they operate. Over recent years, hospitals, especially emergency departments, have been taking advantage of the combination of
References: [1] J. Arthur. (2011). Lean Six Sigma for Hospitals. New York, NY: The McGraw Hill Companies. [2] M [5] T. Pyzdek. (2003). “Six Sigma Training From the Source.” [Online]. Available: www.sixsigmatraining.org/dmaicdmadv [6] (2012) UPMC Mercy Hospital [7]Valerian, Christopher. (2004). “Six Sigma in Healthcare: Redefining the Emergency Room Process.” Healthcare Information and Management Information System Society:The Virgina Chapter. [Online]. Available: http://www.vahimss.org/index.html [8] Z J. Antony, B. Sezen, and M. Tanner. (2007). “An Overview of Six Sigma Applications in Healthcare Industry.” International Journal of Health Care. [Online]. Available: www.emraldinsight.com/0952-6862.htm. J. Arthur. (2011). Lean Six Sigma for Hospitals. New York, NY: The McGraw Hill Companies. R. Holden, (2011, March). “Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review”, Annals of Emergency Medicine, [Online]. Available: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196064410013223 R T. Pyzdek. (2003). “Six Sigma Training From the Source.” [Online]. Available: www.sixsigmatraining.org/dmaicdmadv “Six Sigma Online.” Aveta Business Group Belt Certification (2012) UPMC Mercy Hospital. Pamphlet/Poster. Valerian, Christopher. (2004). “Six Sigma in Healthcare: Redefining the Emergency Room Process.” Healthcare Information and Management Information System Society:The Virgina Chapter. [Online]. Available: http://www.vahimss.org/index.html Acknowledgments