six sigma
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ecsbcs2102416.pptx_.pptxPOCONO MEDICAL CENTER USING SIX SIGMA TO PRODUCE
FASTER LAB RESULTS
Elizabeth Kalbacher
Steven Carson
WSU Dayton ME-4850-01
ecsbcs2102416
COMPANY PROFILE
Pocono Medical Center is a not for profit community hospital
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization
Located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Employs 1,400 people
Laboratory provides 300 procedures for hospital and surrounding area
DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
Director of Laboratory service and Chief of Pathology attend automation conference
Introduced to Six Sigma and Lean quality improvement
Wanted to automate lab initially
Management shifted to Six Sigma pilot project
SIX SIGMA PROJECT
Followed DMAIC framework.
Focus on delivering lab results by 7 AM with special focus on Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care Unit, and Progressive Care Unit
Hired consultant to provide guidance
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
SIX SIGMA PROJECT: Define
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
Physicians required lab results by 7 AM
Within the lab
Unknown number of blood draws scheduled for the next day
Scheduled draw times or medical reasons for early morning blood draw
Phlebotomist
Performed multiple blood draws before sending to lab
SIX SIGMA PROJECT: Measure and Analyze
Analyzed location of every sample throughout the process
Physically tracked samples
Talked to stakeholders
4 Problems:
Collection of Samples
Delivery to lab
Front end processing
Actual tests
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
SIX SIGMA PROJECT: Measure and Analyze
Used regression analysis to determine largest cause of delays
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
SIX SIGMA PROJECT: Improve
One sample could be drawn in 7 ½ minutes
Solution: Designate runner for 15 minute interval
Use flashing light to clearly identify phlebotomist location
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
SIX SIGMA PROJECT: Control
Measurement continues daily with corrective actions
Percent of results delivered on time
Number of late tests and reason for delay
Variance between actual versus expected number of samples at every 15 minute interval pick up
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
SIX SIGMA TOOLS USED
Control Charts
Cause and Effect Diagram
Hypothesis testing
Regression analysis
Pareto charts
KPIV AND KPOV
Key Process Input Variables:
Variation in collection time of patient samples
Variation in number of tubes delivered to lab
Variation in time to complete front end processing
Variation in time to perform test
Key Process Output Variables:
Deliver all lab results by 7 AM
RESULTS ACHIEVED
On time delivery increased from 68% to 98%
For care units, delivery at 6 AM increased from 18% to 92%
Decrease in overall length of stay
LESSONS LEARNED
Process maps will not always capture the same results as physical inspections
Buy in from participants critical to fast progress
Continued measurement crucial to maintaining success
QUESTIONS?
REFERENCES
Hayes, Walter, T. , Cerra, Carmine J., & Williams, Mary. “Pocono Medical
Center: Faster Lab Results Using Six Sigma and Lean” American Society
for Quality.
Pocono Medical Center. “About Us.” Pocono Health System. Accessed from:
https://www.poconohealthsystem.org/?id=2&sid=1.
