What are some Examples of Lean Principles in Healthcare?

In the healthcare industry, lean principles provide a powerful framework to help improve processes, identify inefficiencies, and cut costs without compromising on the quality of care provided. In this article, we discuss some examples of how lean principles can be applied to healthcare facilities to provide a better service of care while maintaining organizational efficiency.

Standardized processes

Looking at Lean processes within healthcare facilities, standardization is paramount to ensure that consistency is achieved, guaranteeing the correct treatment for different medical conditions. For example, a surgeon must adhere to standardized processes so that the procedure is carried out safely and effectively. As well as the medical procedures themselves, standardization helps to ensure that all workers are carrying out sufficient checks and hygiene measures.

Accurate medication administration

Lean principles help to streamline the process of administering medication to patients in a way that minimizes the risk of error. Providing the incorrect dose, or the wrong medication completely, can have serious implications so utilizing lean principles creates an organized system that boosts care quality and patient safety.

Reduced wait times

Emergency departments tend to face an ongoing struggle with long wait times from an influx of patients, leaving them waiting hours before seeing a professional. Lean principles help medical facilities improve flow by improving scheduling processes and maximizing operations. In turn, this can reduce waiting time and provide a better service of care, enhancing the overall patient experience.

Minimize administrative time

Paperwork and other administrative tasks can swallow up a lot of time for employees and eat into time that should be spent on patient care. Lean principles help to streamline processes so that medical workers can free up more time and boost their productivity in other areas. Many facilities have begun automating certain processes, utilizing digital capabilities to modernize their system and free up time.

Just-in-time inventory management

By only ordering in medication and materials as and when they are needed, waste is reduced and the inventory can be kept more organized. Staying on top of inventory management has been proven to save significant costs from unusable products and extra storage needs. As well as this, the automatic data analysis helps reduce the likelihood of human error, minimizing the risk of running out of important stock.

Efficient testing processes

When it comes to diagnosing patients, accuracy is critical to ensure they are receiving the right treatment for their problem. By implementing comprehensive diagnosis processes and ensuring the efficient operation of laboratory testing, lean principles can help ensure the workflow continues to run smoothly. Staff allocation is another area which can be improved, assigning specialist teams to patients based on their diagnosis, providing them with the best possible care.

Prevent contagious infections

With so many different illnesses in one building, healthcare facilities continue to battle against the spread of infection. Especially with many of the patients being vulnerable and dealing with weakened immune systems, implementing measures to control the spread is necessary. Thorough hygiene measures are a must, sanitizing all surfaces and medical devices to kill off bacteria and minimize further contamination.