{"id":1384976,"date":"2020-07-17T08:11:52","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T06:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.supplyvalueconsulting.com\/?p=1384976"},"modified":"2024-02-16T08:43:28","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T07:43:28","slug":"lean-management-voor-efficientere-en-effectievere-processen-in-de-gezondheidszorg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supplyvalueconsulting.com\/nl\/lean-management-for-more-efficient-and-effective-processes-in-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Lean management voor effici\u00ebntere en effectievere processen in de gezondheidszorg"},"content":{"rendered":"

The pressure on healthcare workers is higher than ever in part due to the COVID-19 outbreak; there is a shortage of healthcare workers and a peak, but also structurally increasing demand for care due to COVID-19. What can be done to (partially) reduce this pressure? Here, the high administrative burden of caregivers is also mentioned as a bottleneck. How can we reduce this administrative burden? Using lean management, which focuses on continuous improvement, can be the answer to both questions. In this insight, we briefly take you through what lean management is and how it can be applied in healthcare.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lean management<\/h4>\n

Lean management focuses on creating the highest possible value for the customer at the least possible waste in the process, or in other words, working as efficiently and effectively as possible. Through the use of lean management, the processes in an organization are continuously improved. This starts with raising the problem and recognizing the associated process. Using a value stream analysis, all steps of the process are mapped out and any wastes are revealed. By scrutinizing the process and eliminating ‘superfluous’ steps, the process becomes more efficient and effective.<\/p>\n

Lean management in healthcare<\/h4>\n

Lean management can also make processes in healthcare more efficient and effective. Examples include improving patient and client satisfaction, optimizing schedules and optimizing the ratio of primary tasks to secondary tasks of healthcare providers. For example, a common “complaint” of healthcare providers is that they spend a lot of time on secondary tasks, such as filling out patient or client records, preparing reports and consultations or handovers. The time spent on these is at the expense of the primary task of providing care. By deploying lean management here and thus analyzing the process, it is possible to see if there is any “waste” here and if it can be eliminated.<\/p>\n

For example, what does the entire process of nursing a patient look like? Are there steps in this process that a nurse performs that do not add direct value? Are there steps that can be arranged in a different way, for example, by moving them to an employee for whom this work is more of a primary task than for the nurse? By looking at all processes in this way and eliminating any unnecessary steps, the process runs more efficiently and effectively, adding more value to the overall process for the patient as well as the healthcare staff and the healthcare facility. A result of a process improvement, for example, could be that less time is spent on administrative burdens and more time is left for providing care, which means more patients can be treated and waiting lists will also decrease.<\/p>\n

By applying the lean philosophy, suggestions for improvement are not only made from the administrative level but are intended to be shared by all employees, from the receptionist to the specialist who is treated and the caregiver. Allowing people to suggest areas for improvement for their own work gives them the opportunity to improve their own work, which will motivate them to put in the effort.<\/p>\n

To continue to encourage the use of lean management, it is important to provide insight into the results. This includes not only the financial side but also the patient and employee perspective: what do they see of the results achieved through the use of lean management? How to make these results insightful, you can read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Download insight: Lean management for more efficient and effective processes in healthcare<\/h3>\n