Title: Enhancing performance of the health information department of a hospital using lean Six Sigma methodology

Authors: Shreeranga Bhat; N.A. Jnanesh

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph Engineering College, Vamajoor, Mangalore 575 028, Karnataka, India ' KVG College of Engineering, Sullia 574 327, Karnataka, India

Abstract: The study addresses the issue of longer turn around time (TAT) of health records preparation process in the health information department (HID) of a corporate hospital in India. Because of the longer TAT of the health records preparation process, other activities of the department were held up, creating a work in process inventory of records in the department. This paper explores how a small-capacity corporate hospital can use a systematic methodology to move towards world-class quality level. A rigorous Lean thinking and Six Sigma define-measure-analyse-improve-control (DMAIC) approach was used to analyse the existing process and root causes of longer TAT. Lean operational principles were used to improve and sustain the process. As a result of the project, average TAT was reduced from 52 min to 39 min and standard deviation was reduced to 0.43 min from 2.33 min for a batch of 10 health records.

Keywords: lean six sigma; LSS; corporate hospitals; HID; health information departments; health records; TAT; turn around time; India; DMAIC; healthcare management; patient recods.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2013.059776

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2013 Vol.8 No.1, pp.34 - 50

Received: 31 Aug 2013
Accepted: 16 Dec 2013
Published online: 03 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article