The Application of Lean Methodology to Improve The Process of Outpatient Chemotherapy

Chu, YY ； Tung, WL ； Kao, PJ ； Wang, YH

《The Proceedings of the 8th AHLA International Conference: Health Literacy in Social Resilience》 2022 (2022/12) Pp. 89-89

https://doi.org/10.30181/AHLA.202210.0059

摘要

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy in outpatient unit is one of the cancer treatment method, but clients often complain of long waiting time and inconvenience, which also causes disturbance in working for members. The services provided by medical institutions must be satisfied with the expectations and requirement from clients. We would like to improve the process of chemotherapy in outpatient unit in order to enhance the quality of care.
OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the outcomes of lean management system in process of outpatient chemotherapy
METHODS: This study was collected data base on random with 40 clients in outpatient chemotherapy unit on a regional hospital of southern Taiwan. The study period is from April 2021 to February 2022. The questionnaire was compiled by semi-structured to aggregate satisfaction, and analyze suggestion with affinity diagram.
We had conducted a hazard analysis on high-risk operations by observing, measuring working time, drawing value stream map in actual, which not only rationalize working process on intervening in elimination, simplification, reorganization, but also improve strategies by using elimination, simplification, visual management, redecoration, cross training, bypass management.
RESULTS: Satisfaction for clients in process have raised from 3 to 4.7, which reach to significant difference(p＜0.01); waiting time have dropped from 64.1 minutes to 27.9 minutes, which reach to significant difference(p＜0.05); error rates of chemotherapy administration have decreased from 0.06% to 0%.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that using of lean management in process of outpatient chemotherapy can enhance working efficiency, reduce unnecessary waste, balance patient safety , which would not only just on the purpose of the value demand of clients, but also lower the burden on staff at the same time.