NHS Tayside - Using Lean To Improve Diagnostic Services

Key Message:

The power of taking dedicated time away from normal working duties to concentrate on key issues, and to make significant improvement to patient journets, cannot be underestimated.

Background:

NHS Tayside in Scotland, undertook Rapid Improvement work, using Lean Principles, in the following specific areas of our diagnostic services:- Urology, Endoscopy and Radiology.

Urology Aim:

• Develop a one-stop service from frank haematuria (blood in urine) patients in Perth Royal Infirmary.

Methodology:

Multi-disciplinary team from Urology, e.g. staff, patients, GP’s, took part in a five-day Rapid Improvement Event.  Activities included Value Stream Mapping, interviewing staff and patients, analysis of Demand, Activity, Capacity and Queue.

Result of the Rapid Improvement Event:

Other improvements as a result of the RIE:

• Consultant daily vetting of all electronic referrals.
• All patients in Tayside with frank haematuria have access to a one-stop service – shorter pathway end to end.
• Two letters generated per patient instead of ten.
• Better co-ordination of patient appointments has led to less variation of the patient journey.