Journal
JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Volume 21, Issue 4, Pages 662-672Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/jep.12361
Keywords
efficiency of care; health care management; health economics; health services research; Lean Six Sigma; public health; reducing length of stay
Funding
- DRIVE IN2 project - Italian National Program Piano Operativo Nazionale Ricerca e Competitivita
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Rationale, aims and objectivesIn 2012, health care spending in Italy reached Euro114.5 billion, accounting for 7.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 14.2% of total public spending. Therefore, reducing waste in health facilities could generate substantial cost savings. The objective of this study is to show that Lean Six Sigma represents an appropriate methodology for the development of a clinical pathway which allows to improve quality and to reduce costs in prosthetic hip replacement surgery. MethodsThe methodology used for the development of a new clinical pathway was Lean Six Sigma. Problem solving in Lean Six Sigma is the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) roadmap, characterized by five operational phases which make possible to reach fixed goals through a rigorous process of defining, measuring, analysing, improving and controlling business problems. ResultsThe following project indicated several variables influencing the inappropriate prolongation of the length of stay for inpatient treatment and corrective actions were performed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the process of care. The average length of stay was reduced from 18.9 to 10.6 days (-44%). ConclusionThis article shows there is no trade-off between quality and costs: Lean Six Sigma improves quality and, at the same time, reduces costs.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available