Title: How to measure a process in the cardiac invasive procedures?: The frame of reference for a hospital unit

Authors: Ville Tuomi, Timo Keistinen, Kari Korpilahti, Marjo-Riitta Himanen

Addresses: University of Vaasa, 65101-FI Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, Finland. ' Vaasa Hospital District, Vaasa Central Hospital, Hietalahdenkatu 2-4, 65130-FI, Finland. ' Vaasa Hospital District, Vaasa Central Hospital, Hietalahdenkatu 2-4, 65130-FI, Finland. ' Vaasa Hospital District, Vaasa Central Hospital, Hietalahdenkatu 2-4, 65130-FI, Finland

Abstract: The aim of this research is to consider how to measure the process of the invasive procedures in the heart unit of Vaasa Central Hospital. This research question could be divided into the following sub questions: what is the aim or the aims of the measurement and what should we measure and in what way? The main result of the study was a new frame of reference for process measurement for the heart unit. There were five groups of measures which were developed: quality, time, efficiency, utilisation rate and effectiveness. It is strongly suggested that in the future the research should aim at finding out how to measure processes which cross the borders of hospital units and also the borders of other service providers in a process. This research was a single case study which means that the results of the study can be generalised only partially.

Keywords: process measurement; healthcare; cardiac invasive procedures; surgery; heart units; hospitals; Vaasa Central Hospital; Finland; quality management; time measurement; efficiency; utilisation rates; effectiveness; service providers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2010.033427

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2010 Vol.3 No.3, pp.327 - 340

Published online: 02 Jun 2010 *

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