Title: Applying Lean Six Sigma tools to reduce the rate of slips, trips and falls for Joint Commission field staff

Authors: Andrius Kubilius; Keith Winfrey; Carrie Mayer; Gregory Johnson; Teena Wilson

Addresses: Center for Data Management and Analysis, Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, USA ' Strategic Planning, Business Process Analysis, Innovation, and User Experience, Information Technology, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181, USA ' Robust Process Improvement, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, USA ' Human Resources, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, USA ' Robust Process Improvement, Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare, 1 Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, USA

Abstract: This paper presents how the Lean Six Sigma DMAIC methodology and change management tools are used to reduce the rate of slips, trips and falls (STFs) for Joint Commission field staff. The data sources included Workmen's Compensation claims data and an online survey (N = 453, response rate = 64%) administered to field staff who reported workplace STFs. The metric for this project: "Falls per opportunity based upon 1,000 surveyor days" had a pre-intervention (1/2007-4/2010) rate of field staff STFs of 0.339 and a post-intervention (5/2010-2/2014) rate of field staff STFs of 0.116 per 1000 surveyor days. Multiple risk factors are associated with field staff STFs consisting of environmental factors and individual behaviours. Targeted solutions included seasonal e-mails to raise staff awareness on footwear and changing weather conditions, as well as an informational pamphlet about the risks associated with walking surface conditions, carrying work-related or personal items, and type of luggage used.

Keywords: workplace falls; fall reduction; slips trips falls; STF; healthcare organisations; hospitals; quality; lean six sigma; define measure analyse improve control; DMAIC; change management; field staff; risk factors; environmental factors; individual behaviour; staff awareness; footwear; weather conditions; walking surfaces; carrying items; luggage types; risk management; occupational health and safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2015.070089

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2015 Vol.9 No.1, pp.37 - 55

Received: 02 Apr 2014
Accepted: 28 Jan 2015
Published online: 26 Jun 2015 *

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