An application of lean management on capacity and operational processes in a comprehensive epilepsy program
by Deepak Madhavan; Marc J. Schniederjans; Dara G. Schniederjans
International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research (IJLER), Vol. 2, No. 2, 2016

Abstract: The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) comprehensive epilepsy program has faced challenges accompanying the growth of the centre focused on optimising patient throughput and minimising wait times. Wait times in particular have been a problem due to deficiencies in infrastructural organisation and capacity for diagnostic testing. This paper focuses on the outcomes of the implementation of lean management in the UNMC comprehensive epilepsy program. Performance comparisons on wait times from the initial patient visit to VEEG monitoring (the first critical diagnostic step in determining the proper intervention for patients) are made to a post state where specific strategies drawn from lean management are utilised to construct patient flow maps that maximise value-added activities. The results show the lean management approach during the period of this study was ideal for uncovering methods to maintain clinical services while decreasing wait times as a complementary strategy for increasing diagnostic testing capacity.

Online publication date: Thu, 15-Jun-2017

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research (IJLER):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com