Lean Healthcare systematically applied to improve mobility accessibility in the medical clinic of a medium-sized hospital

Abstract

Paper aims

The purpose of this paper is to applied systematically Lean Healthcare to improve mobility accessibility in the medical clinic ward of a medium-sized hospital.

Originality

The study focuses on the wheelchair’s availability, as well as their provisions in the hospital, since this approach was not identified in the literature. In addition, this study is part of a branch of a project, based on the non-identification of applications in the medical clinic ward of hospitals, in order to formalize a systematic application of Lean Healthcare in the wing worked.

Research method

The study's methodology was divided into two phases, Survey and Lean Proposal, following a systematic approach established in prior papers, with a focus on addressing various hospital waste scenarios that affect patient mobility. The Survey phase aimed to identify the root cause of waste related to wheelchair use within the hospital, while the Lean Proposal phase sought to mitigate this waste using Lean tools, ultimately improving patient mobility in the medical clinic by reducing non-added value.

Main findings

The implementation of systematically Lean Healthcare led to a 72.2% reduction in the total activity time, dropping from 20 to 7 minutes, primarily by cutting non-value-added time from 18 to 5 minutes. This change increased the value-added time by 19%. Additionally, the unnecessary movement to retrieve wheelchairs decreased by 83%, with occurrences reducing by 100%. Furthermore, Lean Healthcare improved mobility and demonstrates how this effective approach not only enhanced the quality of medical services but also created a more favorable work environment and inspired a culture of continuous improvement within the hospital.

Implications for theory and practice

For the theory, this research highlights a hospital wing previously unexamined within the context of Lean Healthcare, thereby reinforcing a culture of systematic application and continuous improvement within the hospital. Furthermore, it delves into the hospital's accessibility, specifically focusing on mobility accessibility, addressing a gap in the literature. In practice, the research has significant implications, as it effectively reduces non-added value elements within an actual process in a medium-sized hospital, ultimately enhancing the quality of clinical healthcare delivery in the Brazilian public healthcare system.

Keywords:
Lean Healthcare; Public health; Medical clinic wing; Mobility accessibility