Seattle Children's Hospital is taking up new measures to improve the hospital's efficiency, according to a report published by the New York Times. Simply put, the hospital set in place the same tactical measure that automotive and aerospace industries have used in order to maintain high levels of productivity and efficiency. The model follows the "kaizen" notion of reducing waste and thusly improving customer satisfaction.
However, Seattle Children's Hospital isn't the only one to adopt this new program, also known as "continuous performance improvement" or CPI. Hospitals across the country following after Seattle are starting to spring up in cities such as Boston and Minneapolis.
Some of the new processes that have been implemented are better re-supplying, better storage, better hospital layouts to reduce walking distances for both patients and staff members and minimizing unnecessary tasks. Small improvements like these allow hospital staff to work quickly and more efficiently and increase patient satisfaction. CPI also helps hospital expenses by cutting costs. Seattle Children's Hospital itself cut cost per patient by 3.7 percent, which ultimately amounted to a savings of $23 million, according to the New York Times.
Read the New York Times report on Seattle Children's Hospital adopting CPI methods.
Read other Becker's coverage on lean processes.
3 Best Practices for Implementing Lean Processes at Your Hospital With the Author of Lean Hospitals
5 Key Principles for Hospitals From Toyota's Lean Production System
However, Seattle Children's Hospital isn't the only one to adopt this new program, also known as "continuous performance improvement" or CPI. Hospitals across the country following after Seattle are starting to spring up in cities such as Boston and Minneapolis.
Some of the new processes that have been implemented are better re-supplying, better storage, better hospital layouts to reduce walking distances for both patients and staff members and minimizing unnecessary tasks. Small improvements like these allow hospital staff to work quickly and more efficiently and increase patient satisfaction. CPI also helps hospital expenses by cutting costs. Seattle Children's Hospital itself cut cost per patient by 3.7 percent, which ultimately amounted to a savings of $23 million, according to the New York Times.
Read the New York Times report on Seattle Children's Hospital adopting CPI methods.
Read other Becker's coverage on lean processes.
3 Best Practices for Implementing Lean Processes at Your Hospital With the Author of Lean Hospitals
5 Key Principles for Hospitals From Toyota's Lean Production System