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1.
BMJ Open Qual ; 13(3)2024 Sep 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39284680

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Implementing guidelines for chronic opioid management during a clinic merger posed significant challenges. Our aim was to increase the percentage of chronic pain evaluations and urine toxicology tests in patients on chronic opioid therapy from the baseline rate of less than 20% to 50% within 1 year at an academic, primary care clinic. METHODS: We applied the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) approach of Lean Six Sigma for this quality improvement (QI) project. The QI tools included the creation of stakeholder mapping, root cause analysis, process flow mapping and a driver diagram. Lack of patient and provider education emerged as a significant barrier. The outcome measures were percentage of chronic pain evaluations and urine drug toxicology with an increase in controlled substance agreement completion rates as our process measures. Major interventions included patient and provider education, leveraging health information technology, care coordination and implementing new clinic protocols. Data analysis was performed by monthly run charts. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise clinical variables, while χ2 analyses were employed to determine statistically significant differences between preintervention and postintervention measures. RESULTS: We observed an increase in completion rates of clinic visits for chronic pain, rising from 19.0% to 51.9% (p<0.001). During study period, we observed a steady increase in chronic pain evaluations with a median of 4.5. Urine toxicology completion rates increased from 19.9% to 65.8% (p<0.001) during the preintervention and postintervention periods. We observed variable changes in urine toxicology rates with a median of 5.19. Furthermore, we observed an increase in controlled substance agreement completion rates, increasing to 50% from the baseline rate of <10%. CONCLUSIONS: Education to patients and providers, shared decision-making using a patient-centred approach, enhancement of health information technology and system-based interventions in clinic protocols and workflows contributed to the success of this QI project. The DMAIC approach may facilitate the implementation of practice guidelines for chronic opioid therapy and enhance providers' opioid prescribing practices.


Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid , Chronic Pain , Primary Health Care , Quality Improvement , Total Quality Management , Humans , Chronic Pain/drug therapy , Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Primary Health Care/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pain Management/methods , Pain Management/standards , Pain Management/statistics & numerical data , Female , Male
2.
J Health Organ Manag ; ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print)2024 Sep 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39290065

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of the social contexts of sustainable Lean culture in healthcare by examining self-efficacy (SE) as a fundamental construct related to the value of perceived readiness, prior education of Lean and the importance of leadership's system-level support. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A descriptive correlational study was conducted to identify the relationships between SE and Lean readiness factors, SE and prior Lean training, SE and clinical vs administrative roles and SE and perceived system-level support in a large health system. FINDINGS: There was a statistically significant difference in self-reported readiness to use Lean tools between individuals who had received Lean training during their academic education and those who had not; however, their level of education did not impact SE. Lastly, and perhaps most important, the learner who embodies SE also has system-level support. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Future directions of this research, in addition to assessing team readiness as other studies suggest, would be to evaluate individual team member readiness by gauging SE and addressing deficits prior to the deployment of process improvement (PI) projects to promote success and sustainability. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This contributes to the ongoing scholarship of Lean management systems, providing clinical and non-clinical leaders with a contextual understanding of their supportive role in the SE of teams. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study demonstrates the value of understanding SE of individual team members and how it can contribute to overall improved team outcomes, directly impacting the sustainability of Lean change culture and its promotion of improved patient safety, cost efficiencies and access to care.


Subject(s)
Self Efficacy , Humans , Organizational Culture , Leadership , Quality Improvement , Total Quality Management , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Efficiency, Organizational , Male , Female
3.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 24(1): 1088, 2024 Sep 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39294661

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The benefits of lean adoption in healthcare include improved process efficiency and quality of patient care. However, research indicates that lean implementation in healthcare, and specifically hospitals, is often not sustained. Furthermore, there is a need for maturity models that guide lean implementation, specifically in hospitals. This study develops a prescriptive maturity model named the Sustaining of Lean Adoption in Hospitals Roadmap (SOLAR) that acts as a practical guideline for the sustainable adoption of lean in hospitals. METHODS: The SOLAR has three theoretical foundations, namely lean implementation success factors in hospitals, implementation science, and change management theory. A systematic literature review was conducted to determine the lean implementation success factors in hospitals as the first building block. Secondly, practices from implementation science were used to create the action items in the SOLAR. Ten change steps were elicited from change management theory as the third theoretical building block of the roadmap. We refined the roadmap through three Delphi rounds that verified its useability in hospitals. RESULTS: The final SOLAR consists of four maturity phases (prepare, plan, experiment and learn, and sustain) and includes action items for each phase related to the hospital's strategy, resources, engaging of people, and culture. The action items and change management steps shown in the SOLAR are not intended as an exhaustive list but provide guidelines on aspects hospitals must consider when they aim to adopt lean sustainably. CONCLUSIONS: The strong theoretical base of the SOLAR enables hospitals to safely experiment and learn which implementation methods are best suited to their unique environment. The SOLAR is, therefore, an actionable guideline that informs both academics and practitioners involved in lean adoption in hospitals. This roadmap can guide future retrospective longitudinal or action research.


Subject(s)
Delphi Technique , Humans , Quality Improvement , Total Quality Management , Hospital Administration , Hospitals/standards , Change Management , Efficiency, Organizational
4.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 24(1): 1121, 2024 Sep 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39334368

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheters (CVC) are used for dialysis in end-stage renal disease patients, presenting a significant risk for Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSI). While Lean Six Sigma has been effective in reducing CRBSI, its efficacy outside intensive care units (ICU) remains less explored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Lean Six Sigma in mitigating CRBSI risks among non-ICU hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The study was conducted in a nephrology department, focusing on patients undergoing hemodialysis with temporary CVC from February to December 2021. The Lean Six Sigma method, using Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) methodology, was implemented in 2022 to reduce CRBSI incidence. The 2021 CRBSI rate served as the benchmark, with a goal to reduce it by the end of 2022. Value-stream mapping, Fishbone Diagrams, and Root Cause Analysis identified potential CRBSI causes. After implementing targeted improvements, CRBSI rates before and after the intervention were compared. RESULTS: The Lean Six Sigma method significantly decreased CRBSI incidence from 12.79 to 2.32 per 1,000 catheter-days following the implementation of targeted interventions ([Formula: see text]=4.60, P = 0.05). This improvement was observed comparing February-December 2021 with January-December 2022. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the Lean Six Sigma method in non-ICU settings, suggesting broader applicability in hemodialysis patient care.


Subject(s)
Catheter-Related Infections , Quality Improvement , Renal Dialysis , Total Quality Management , Humans , Catheter-Related Infections/prevention & control , Catheter-Related Infections/epidemiology , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Male , Central Venous Catheters/adverse effects , Incidence , Female , Catheterization, Central Venous/adverse effects , Middle Aged
5.
Stud Health Technol Inform ; 316: 1494-1498, 2024 Aug 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39176487

ABSTRACT

For quality management of healthcare, various ISO-standards are important such as ISO 9001 (quality management systems), ISO 13940 (concepts of continuity of care) and ISO 21298 (functional and structural roles). For concurrent, integrated use of the standards, this paper proposes a unifying conceptual model that integrates essential elements of the standards. The model may be useful to clarify basic concepts such as collaboration, systems-and-structures and realization, as well as the interrelations between these concepts.


Subject(s)
Models, Organizational , Humans , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Continuity of Patient Care , Quality of Health Care , Delivery of Health Care/standards , Total Quality Management
6.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 24(1): 899, 2024 Aug 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39107762

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Continuous improvement is based on fostering practitioners' suggestions to modify their own work processes This improvement strategy is widely applied in healthcare but difficult to maintain. The cross-disciplinary nature of many care processes constitutes an extra impediment. METHODS: The study had an explorative design with a qualitative single-case approach. The case presents a project to improve the treatment of patients with thrombotic stroke. Data was obtained via hands on involvement, documents, observations, and interviews with participants in a cross-functional improvement group. A thematic analysis method was employed. RESULTS: Through learning how tasks were carried out in other disciplines, the participants developed a common understanding of why it took so long to provide treatment to stroke patients. These insights were used to implement practical changes, leading to immediate improvements in stroke care delivery. The results were fed back so that successes became visible. Participants' understandings of the local context enabled them to convince peers of the rationale of changes, setting in motion a permanent improvement structure. The participants considered that mapping and then assessing the entire workflow across disciplines were relevant methods for improving the quality of patient care. CONCLUSION: Starting an improvement project in a cross disciplinary environment requires deep engagement on the part of professionals. A quintessential prerequisite is therefore the realization that the quality of care depends on cross-disciplinary cooperation. A facilitated learning arena needs to (1) create insights into each other's colleagues' tasks and process interdependencies, (2) increase understanding of how the distribution of tasks among specialist units affects the quality of care, and (3) frequently report and provide feedback on results to keep the process going.


Subject(s)
Hospitals, General , Quality Improvement , Stroke , Humans , Stroke/therapy , Qualitative Research , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Interviews as Topic , Total Quality Management
7.
Int J Qual Health Care ; 36(3)2024 Jul 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38955670

ABSTRACT

Beta-lactam antibiotics are widely used in the intensive care unit due to their favorable effectiveness and safety profiles. Beta-lactams given to patients with sepsis must be delivered as soon as possible after infection recognition (early), treat the suspected organism (appropriate), and be administered at a dose that eradicates the infection (adequate). Early and appropriate antibiotic delivery occurs in >90% of patients, but less than half of patients with sepsis achieve adequate antibiotic exposure. This project aimed to address this quality gap and improve beta-lactam adequacy using the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control Lean Six Sigma quality improvement framework. A multidisciplinary steering committee was formed, which completed a stakeholder analysis to define the gap in practice. An Ishikawa cause and effect (Fishbone) diagram was used to identify the root causes and an impact/effort grid facilitated prioritization of interventions. An intervention that included bundled education with the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM; i.e. drug-level testing) was projected to have the highest impact relative to the amount of effort and selected to address beta-lactam inadequacy in the critically ill. The education and TDM intervention were deployed through a Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle. In the 3 months after "go-live," 54 episodes of beta-lactam TDM occurred in 41 unique intensive care unit patients. The primary quality metric of beta-lactam adequacy was achieved in 94% of individuals after the intervention. Ninety-four percent of clinicians gauged the education provided as sufficient. The primary counterbalance of antimicrobial days of therapy, a core antimicrobial stewardship metric, was unchanged over time (favorable result; P = .73). Application of the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control Lean Six Sigma quality improvement framework effectively improved beta-lactam adequacy in critically ill patients. The approach taken in this quality improvement project is widely generalizable to other drugs, drug classes, or settings to increase the adequacy of drug exposure.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Critical Illness , Intensive Care Units , Quality Improvement , Total Quality Management , beta-Lactams , Humans , Critical Illness/therapy , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , beta-Lactams/therapeutic use , Sepsis/drug therapy , Drug Monitoring/methods
8.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39063445

ABSTRACT

Healthcare makes a significant contribution to the social, economic and environmental benefits of communities. It is correspondingly a significant employer and consumer of both energy and consumables, often at high costs. Lean, a quality improvement methodology focuses on the elimination of non-value add (NVA) activities (steps that do not add value from the perspective of the customer) to improve the flow of people, information or goods. Increasingly, Lean thinking is evolving from its initial focus on eliminating NVA to a more holistic approach that encompasses sustainability. However, little work has been undertaken intentionally, including environmental sustainability outcomes in Lean healthcare interventions. Realist review methodology facilitates an understanding of the extent to which an intervention works, for whom, in what context, why and how, and has proven useful in research relating to Lean interventions in healthcare settings. This protocol provides details for a realist review that will enable an understanding of the specific contexts in which certain mechanisms are activated that enable the inclusion of environmental sustainability outcomes in the design of Lean healthcare improvement interventions.


Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Quality Improvement , Humans , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Total Quality Management , Review Literature as Topic
9.
BMC Med Educ ; 24(1): 781, 2024 Jul 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39030576

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accreditation and regulation are meant for quality assurance in higher education. However, there is no guarantee that accreditation ensures quality improvement. The accreditation for Caribbean medical schools varies from island to island, and it could be mandatory or voluntary, depending on local government requirements. Caribbean medical schools recently attained accreditation status to meet the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) requirements by 2024. Literature suggests that accreditation impacts ECFMG certification rates and medical schools' educational processes. However, no such study has examined accreditation's impact on continuous quality improvement (CQI) in medical schools. This study aims to gather the perceptions and experiences of faculty members and academic leaders regarding the impact of accreditation on CQI across Caribbean medical schools. METHODS: This qualitative phenomenological study inquiries about the perceptions and experiences of faculty and academic leaders regarding accreditation's impact on CQI. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview method. Fifteen participants were interviewed across ten Caribbean medical schools representing accredited medical schools, accreditation denied medical schools, and schools that never applied for accreditation. Interviews were audio recorded, and thematic data analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Thematic analysis yielded six themes, including accreditation and CQI, CQI irrespective of accreditation, faculty engagement and faculty empowerment in the CQI process, collecting and sharing data, ECFMG 2024 requirements, and organizational structure of CQI. CONCLUSIONS: There is ongoing quality improvement at Caribbean medical schools, as perceived by faculty members and academic leaders. However, most of the change process is happening because of accreditation, and the quality improvement is due to external push such as accreditation rather than internal motivation. It is recommended that Caribbean medical schools promote internal quality improvement irrespective of accreditation and embrace the culture of CQI.


Subject(s)
Accreditation , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Faculty, Medical , Quality Improvement , Schools, Medical , Accreditation/standards , Humans , Education, Medical, Undergraduate/standards , Schools, Medical/standards , Faculty, Medical/standards , Caribbean Region , Qualitative Research , Leadership , Male , Female , Total Quality Management
10.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis ; 110(2): 116451, 2024 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39053050

ABSTRACT

Sigma metric analysis was conducted across two New Zealand Blood Services (NZBS) laboratories (Auckland and Christchurch) to optimize quality control (QC) procedures. We evaluated five assays (anti-HCV, HIV Ag/Ab combo, HTLV-I/II, HBsAg, and Syphilis) using internal quality control (IQC) and third-party daily QC data extracted from four Architect i2000SR instruments during Jan 2 -31st, 2023. Mean, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV%) were calculated, assuming zero bias. Sigma metrics were determined using the Total Allowable Error (TEa %) based on difference between positive control mean and signal-to-cutoff (s/co) cut-off. Most assays exhibited CV% values ≤10 % except for HBsAg IQC (18.5 %) and anti-HCV third-party QC (13.4 %) at Christchurch. TEa % ranged from 38 % to 90 %. Overall, the assays demonstrated Six Sigma performance (σ > 6), except for HBsAg IQC (3.97) and anti-HCV third-party QC (5.46) at Christchurch. These high-quality serology assays can benefit from simplified QC design without compromising blood safety.


Subject(s)
Serologic Tests , Humans , New Zealand , Serologic Tests/standards , Serologic Tests/methods , Quality Control , Syphilis/diagnosis , Total Quality Management , Mass Screening/methods , Mass Screening/standards , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood
11.
Int J Health Plann Manage ; 39(5): 1642-1651, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38961610

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Medicines are the cornerstone of healthcare. Lean methodology approach such as Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is being used in healthcare to manage resources wisely to ensure sustainability of medicines and resources. The aim of this quality improvement study was to evaluate and improve the medication management and hospital imprest supply processes in Australia's first dedicated cardiology hospital using VSM. METHOD: We conducted a review of our medicine supply processes at a 180-bed cardiology hospital in Australia. We followed a lean methodology approach over a 4-month period from February to May 2023 and evaluated the outcome of our improvements for another 4 months from July to October 2023. We used VSM to identify non-value adding activities. Cost of medicines holding was calculated, as well as time taken to complete supply processes, pre and post. RESULTS: Pharmacy department stockholdings reduced by 51%; p = 0.000121 (from $539,662 to $275,406). Time taken to manage the inventory system also reduced by 42%; p = 0.025762 (from 148 h/month to 62 h/month). Lean methodology such as VSM can facilitate cost-effective and sustainable system improvements for pharmacy procurement systems.


Subject(s)
Quality Improvement , Quality Improvement/organization & administration , Australia , Humans , Total Quality Management , Efficiency, Organizational , Pharmacy Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Pharmacy Service, Hospital/standards , Inventories, Hospital/organization & administration , Medication Systems, Hospital/organization & administration , Cardiac Care Facilities/standards , Cardiac Care Facilities/organization & administration
12.
Rev Bras Enferm ; 77(2): e20230431, 2024.
Article in English, Portuguese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38896715

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evidence on the influence of Lean and/or Six Sigma for process optimization in the perioperative period. METHODS: Integrative review carried out in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and LILACS databases on the use of Lean and/or Six Sigma to optimize perioperative processes. The studies included were analyzed in three thematic categories: flow of surgical patients, work process and length of stay. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of ten studies, which covered all operative periods. Lean and/or Six Sigma make a significant contribution to optimizing perioperative processes. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Lean and/or Six Sigma optimize perioperative processes to maximize the achievement of system stability indicators, making it possible to identify potential problems in order to recognize them and propose solutions that can enable the institution of patient-centered care.


Subject(s)
Total Quality Management , Humans , Efficiency, Organizational/standards , Perioperative Period/methods , Perioperative Period/standards , Perioperative Care/methods , Perioperative Care/standards
13.
BMJ Open ; 14(5): e074207, 2024 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38749681

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Waste in medical research is a relatively well-known issue. However, only a few initiatives exist to address this issue. Lean Management methods (Lean) were developed in industrial manufacturing and later applied within healthcare improvement. Overall, the results from studies of the application of Lean to healthcare appear to be positive in terms of greater efficiency regarding treatment outcomes and patient care. Nevertheless, the application of Lean to improve research processes is not well studied and, given that research alongside clinical practice and experiential knowledge provides the foundation for the treatment and care of patients, it is paramount to identify approaches and review the degree to which they increase efficiency within research procedures. Therefore, this review will scope the landscape of studies that investigated Lean and how to implement Lean in research processes, particularly regarding healthcare research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Our approach follows the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley for conducting scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The search strategy for this scoping review was developed using the PCC model. We will identify the relevant literature by searching four search databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier and Business Source Complete. Next, we will use citation pearl growing to identify all relevant published literature. The data charting process will follow the PRISMA-ScR checklist and will be organised using NVivo. We will generate qualitative and quantitative assessments of the extracted data by using NVivo, RStudio and Excel. We will follow the PRISMA-ScR guideline when reporting the results. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The review will comprise existing published studies and no primary data will be collected. Our findings will be shared through open access peer-reviewed journals, national and international conferences and emails to all relevant collaborative relationships. We plan to disseminate our findings via academic social media platforms, newspaper articles and blogposts.


Subject(s)
Research Design , Humans , Total Quality Management/methods , Health Services Research/methods , Quality Improvement/organization & administration , Efficiency, Organizational
14.
Rev Bras Enferm ; 77(2): e20230322, 2024.
Article in English, Portuguese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38747811

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the contributions of applying the Lean methodology to improve work processes in health and nursing and its impact on associated financial aspects. METHOD: an integrative review, carried out in six databases, whose sample of ten (100.0%) studies was analyzed and summarized descriptively. RESULTS: the outcomes obtained were stratified into: benefits/barriers to Lean Healthcare implementation; economic aspects involving Lean Healthcare implementation; and process improvements through Lean Healthcare implementation. The majority of studies (60.0%) were carried out in university hospitals, contexts that need to continually improve the quality of services provided, generally with scarce and limited resources, which support the viability of maintaining the teaching, research and extension tripod. CONCLUSION: three (30.0%) studies highlighted the financial aspects associated with Lean methodology application. The others only mentioned the possibility of financial gains through improving processes and reducing waste.


Subject(s)
Total Quality Management , Humans , Total Quality Management/methods , Quality Improvement , Efficiency, Organizational/standards , Nursing/methods , Nursing/standards
15.
Ann Biol Clin (Paris) ; 82(2): 215-224, 2024 06 05.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38702909

ABSTRACT

The Westgard quality control (QC) rules are often applied in infectious diseases serology to validate the quality of results, but this requires a reasonable tradeoff between maximum sensitivity to errors and minimum false rejections. This article, in addition to illustrate the six sigma methodology in the QC management of the (anti-HCV Architect®) test, it discusses the main influencing factors on sigma value. Data from low positive and in-kit control materials spreading over 6 months and using four reagent kits, were used to calculate the precision of the test. The difference between the control material reactivity and the cut-off defined the error budget. Sigma values were > 6, which indicates that the method produces four erroneous results per million tests. The application of the six sigma concept made it possible to argue the choice of the new QC strategy (use of 13S rule with one positive control) and to relax the existing QC rules. This work provides a framework for infectious diseases serology laboratories to evaluate tests performances against a quality requirement and design an optimal QC strategy.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis C , Quality Control , Serologic Tests , Total Quality Management , Humans , Hepatitis C/blood , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Total Quality Management/standards , Serologic Tests/standards , Serologic Tests/methods , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis C Antibodies/analysis , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Hepacivirus/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic/standards , Reproducibility of Results , Quality Assurance, Health Care/standards , Quality Assurance, Health Care/methods , Laboratories, Clinical/standards
16.
Eval Health Prof ; 47(2): 154-166, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38790107

ABSTRACT

In healthcare and related fields, there is often a gap between research and practice. Scholars have developed frameworks to support dissemination and implementation of best practices, such as the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation, which shows how scientific innovations are conveyed to practitioners through tools, training, and technical assistance (TA). Underpinning those aspects of the model are evaluation and continuous quality improvement (CQI). However, a recent meta-analysis suggests that the approaches to and outcomes from CQI in healthcare vary considerably, and that more evaluative work is needed. Therefore, this paper describes an assessment of CQI processes within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Technology Transfer Center (TTC) Network, a large TA/TTC system in the United States comprised of 39 distinct centers. We conducted key informant interviews (n = 71 representing 28 centers in the Network) and three surveys (100% center response rates) focused on CQI, time/effort allocation, and Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) measures. We used data from each of these study components to provide a robust picture of CQI within a TA/TTC system, identifying Network-specific concepts, concerns about conflation of the GPRA data with CQI, and principles that might be studied more generally.


Subject(s)
Quality Improvement , Technology Transfer , United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration , Humans , United States , Quality Improvement/organization & administration , Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Mental Health Services/standards , Total Quality Management/organization & administration , Substance-Related Disorders/therapy
17.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 31(27): 39285-39302, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38814557

ABSTRACT

This study seeks to explore the intricate relationship between total quality management (TQM) and environmental performance (EP), incorporating the mediating role of green manufacturing practices (GMPs). Additionally, the study examines the moderating impact of environmental strategy on the connections between GMPs and EP. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to managers of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and were subjected to analysis using structural equation modeling. The results reveal a positive and significant impact of TQM on EP. Furthermore, the findings suggest that GMPs partially mediate the association between TQM and EP, while the anticipated moderating effect of environmental strategy between GMPs and EP is also supported in this study. These outcomes hold valuable implications for enhancing the environmental performance of SMEs through the integration of TQM and GMPs. It is important to note that this research exclusively focuses on manufacturing SMEs; therefore, future studies should extend their examination of this concept to other industries. Additionally, the study's findings provide a valuable roadmap for SME administrators aiming to elevate their environmental performance.


Subject(s)
Total Quality Management , Surveys and Questionnaires , Manufacturing Industry , Environment , Humans , Industry , Conservation of Natural Resources
18.
PLoS One ; 19(5): e0299498, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38758749

ABSTRACT

This article experimentally examines methods for implementing the philosophies of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a High-Mix Low-Volume (HMLV) manufacturing environment. HMLV environments present unique challenges to LSS paradigms because of the need for extraordinary operational flexibility and customer responsiveness. The subject HMLV manufacturer for this experimentation manufactures (among 8500 others) an example component for which 3 machines work independently to perform the necessary operations to manufacture this component. The experiment that is the subject of this research seeks to adapt LSS philosophies to develop treatments to improve the performance of the manufacturing of this component. These LSS-inspired treatments included 1) using cellular manufacturing methods, and the 3 machines as a single work cell to manufacture the component, and 2) using a single multipurpose machine to perform all operations required to manufacture the component. The results of this experiment demonstrate that the cellular manufacturing method was the most effective to reduce costs, to standardize operations at a process level, and to increase throughput. The single machine processing method improved production rates and on-time delivery relative to the baseline, but greatly increased lead time, thereby increasing total cost per part. These results highlight the importance of critically assessing the application of LSS within HMLV environments compared to the Low-Mix High-Volume (LMHV) environments where LSS is traditionally successful. HMLV manufacturers and researchers can use these findings to identify the most effective methods for their specific needs and to design interventions that will improve system-level manufacturing performance in high mix environments.


Subject(s)
Total Quality Management , Humans , Manufacturing Industry
19.
Health Care Manage Rev ; 49(3): 161-175, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38709000

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although all hospitals aim to deliver high-quality care, there is considerable variation in their adoption of quality management (QM) practices. Organizational and environmental factors are known to drive strategic decision-making in hospitals, but their impact on the adoption of QM practices remains unclear. PURPOSE: Our study aims to identify multiple organizational and environmental factors that explain variation in the adoption of QM practices among hospitals and to explore mechanisms underlying these relationships. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a two-phase, sequential mixed-methods study of German acute care hospitals. The quantitative phase used between-effects regressions to identify factors explaining variation in the number of QM practices adopted by hospitals from 2015 to 2019. The qualitative phase used semistructured interviews with quality managers to gain in-depth insights. RESULTS: The number of QM practices adopted by a hospital was significantly associated with factors like hospital size and the presence of an emergency department or QM steering committee. Our qualitative findings highlighted potential mechanisms such as the presence of an emergency department serving as a proxy for organizational complexity or urgency of case-mix. CONCLUSION: We provide an overview of factors driving QM adoption in hospitals, extending beyond the focus on single factors in previous research. Future studies could explore additional factors highlighted by our interviewees. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our results can inform interventions to strengthen QM in hospitals and guide future research on this topic.


Subject(s)
Hospitals , Humans , Hospitals/standards , Germany , Hospital Administration , Qualitative Research , Interviews as Topic , Quality of Health Care , Quality Improvement , Total Quality Management
20.
Enferm. foco (Brasília) ; 15: 1-5, maio. 2024.
Article in Portuguese | LILACS, BDENF - Nursing | ID: biblio-1570818

ABSTRACT

Objetivo: Avaliar a percepção da Cultura de Segurança dos profissionais de saúde de um hospital filantrópico. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo do tipo survey com amostra retrospectiva, a partir da análise de respostas ao questionário Pesquisa sobre Segurança do Paciente em Hospitais em um hospital filantrópico de alta complexidade cardiovascular. Para análise dos dados foi empregada a análise descritiva e a estatística inferencial através do teste de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: A amostra é composta por 288 profissionais, dos quais 70,49% são mulheres. A equipe de enfermagem mostrou maior expressividade totalizando 58,33% dos entrevistados. A avaliação da cultura de segurança de acordo com a unidade de atuação foi considerada como muito boa por 138 dos 288 participantes (47,92%). Conclusão: A cultura de segurança foi classificada como muito boa, entretanto, ainda é um ponto a se fortalecer na instituição. Os resultados podem servir para o planejamento das ações com intervenções expressivas, fortalecendo o clima de segurança e a adoção de boas práticas institucionais. (AU)


Objective: To evaluate the belief of the Safety Culture of health professionals in a philanthropic hospital. Methods: Quantitative survey-type study with a retrospective sample, based on the analysis of responses to the questionnaire Research on Patient Safety in Hospitals in a philanthropic hospital of high cardiovascular complexity. Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics were used for data analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis' test. Results: The sample is composed of 288 professionals, of which 70.49% are women. The nursing team showed greater expressiveness, totaling 58.33% of respondents. The evaluation of the safety culture according to the unit of operation was considered very good by 138 of the 288 participants (47.92%). Conclusion: The safety culture was classified as very good; however, it is still a point to be strengthened in the institution. The results can be used to plan actions with significant interventions, strengthening the security climate and the adoption of good institutional practices. (AU)


Objetivo: Evaluar la percepción de la Cultura de Seguridad de los profesionales de la salud en un hospital filantrópico. Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo tipo encuesta con muestra retrospectiva, basado en el análisis de las respuestas al cuestionario Investigación sobre Seguridad del Paciente en Hospitales en un hospital filantrópico de alta complejidad cardiovascular. El análisis descriptivo y la estadística inferencial se utilizaron para el análisis de datos mediante la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: La muestra está compuesta por 288 profesionales, de los cuales el 70,49% son mujeres. El equipo de enfermería mostró mayor expresividad, totalizando el 58,33% de los encuestados. La evaluación de la cultura de seguridad según la unidad de operación fue considerada muy buena por 138 de los 288 participantes (47,92%). Conclusión: La cultura de seguridad fue catalogada como muy buena, sin embargo, aún es un punto por fortalecer en la institución. Los resultados pueden ser utilizados para planificar acciones con intervenciones significativas, fortaleciendo el clima de seguridad y la adopción de buenas prácticas institucionales. (AU)


Subject(s)
Organizational Culture , Total Quality Management , Quality Indicators, Health Care , Patient Safety
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