Urology Service Line Improvement Project Using Lean Six Sigma Methodologies

A local urology department partnered with the performance improvement department to identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance the patient experience. Using Lean Six Sigma process improvement methodologies and several rapid improvement events, the team created standard work for the surgical preparation process, room layout and equipment usage, and the intraoperative process for opening supplies. Specific attention was paid to identifying high-usage supplies that should be stored close to the point of use to decrease delays and room traffic. Additionally, physicians were able to decrease the number of unnecessary ureteroscopy preference cards from 160 to 16, a 90 percent improvement, which greatly streamlined the process for scheduling procedures.

This case study is part of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association's annual Quality Excellence Achievement Awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals and health systems in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These organizations are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim—improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction), improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of health care—and the Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement—safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. To learn more, visit https://www.ihaqualityawards.org/javascript-ui/IHAQualityAward/