Enhancing performance of the health information department of a hospital using lean Six Sigma methodology. (1st January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bhat, Shreeranga; Jnanesh, N.A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of six sigma and competitive advantage. Volume 8:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2013-01-01
• Subjects: lean -- Six Sigma -- hospital -- HID -- health information department -- health records -- TAT -- turn around time.; Six sigma (Quality control standard) -- Periodicals; Quality control -- Periodicals; 658.4013
• DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2013.059776
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-2494

Abstract

The study addresses the issue of longer turn around time (TAT) of health records preparation process in the health information department (HID) of a corporate hospital in India. Because of the longer TAT of the health records preparation process, other activities of the department were held up, creating a work in process inventory of records in the department. This paper explores how a small-capacity corporate hospital can use a systematic methodology to move towards world-class quality level. A rigorous Lean thinking and Six Sigma define-measure-analyse-improve-control (DMAIC) approach was used to analyse the existing process and root causes of longer TAT. Lean operational principles were used to improve and sustain the process. As a result of the project, average TAT was reduced from 52 min to 39 min and standard deviation was reduced to 0.43 min from 2.33 min for a batch of 10 health records.