The implementation of lean in emergency hospital screening during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Healthcare services, in particular, are one of the areas in which Lean can be applied and benefits can be reached through it. In order to analyze the suitability of Lean implementation in healthcare units, this research focused on a case study, namely in Hospital of Santo António emergency area, in the city of Porto, Portugal. The study was conducted in the year 2020, during the pandemic of COVID-19, which forced the change of screening processes. This research analyses and compares the new and previous sorting model and discusses if Lean methodology was applied. It was concluded, through data collected in the interview to the leading nurse, that despite de fact she is not familiar with the Lean concept and methodology, as process simplification and time reduction were taken into account, the new process can be considered Lean. The flow charts that reflect both the sorting structure used in the urgencies before and after were developed. Hospital culture, lack of communication before the new process implementation, and the facilities were some of the identified barriers. © 2021, IGI Global.