Shrinking budgets, improving care: Simplify processes and engage with patients
BMJ 2010; 340 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c1251 (Published 17 March 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;340:c1251- Graham Rich, project director
- 1University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 3NU
- graham.rich{at}uhbristol.nhs.uk
The National Health Service contains an immense amount of waste, and systematic ways to engage staff to review and simplify care are needed. Analysis of processes with the lean method of improvement shows that up to 40% of steps can be eradicated because they do not add anything to the end result.1 The lean method identifies overproduction (such as repeating the same questions to patients), unnecessary waiting, unnecessary transportation, too much processing, too much stock, unnecessary movement of staff and patients, and defective work as types of waste. Improvements in processes result in a more efficient service with higher quality built in.
Stop creating dependent patients
Despite decades of concern, the …
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