Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2017

Publication Title

IIE Annual Conference. Proceedings

Pages

1288-1293

Conference Name

2017 Industrial and Systems Engineering Conference, May 20-23, 2017, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Abstract

Continuous quality improvement tools have caught the attention of the Health Care Industry as a solution to process efficiency, patient safety and cost reduction. This research explores the impact of a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) process improvement initiative in overall process efficiency and patient safety in two Labor and Delivery (L+D) units of two large hospital providers. This study focuses on the application of modeling and simulation methodology to investigate the influence of a localized process improvement intervention on the overall L+D unit output, by considering patient flow, system capacity and unit performance. The simulation models capacity profiles and patient flow through the system to determine patient throughput and waiting times. Baseline data was obtained from information systems logs from two large hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic region. Finally, the results of the simulation analysis provide evidence to support decision making regarding broad implementation of proposed process improvement across a large number of health care providers.

Rights

© 2017 Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. All rights reserved.

Included with the kind written permission of the copyright holders.

ORCID

0000-0003-4348-7798 (Pazos)

Original Publication Citation

Gil, L., Pazos, P., Seck, M., & DelAguila, R. (2017). Impact of a localized lean six sigma implementation on overall patient safety and process efficiency. In K. Coperich, E. Cudney, & H. Nembhard (Eds.), IIE Annual Conference. Proceedings (pp. 1288-1293). Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.

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