Lean Healthcare management model for a pilot project at the Neurology Outpatient Clinic

Abstract

Lean Thinking provides the ability to build a health care system in which processes are patient-focused, based on respect for people, to continuous improvement through the elimination of waste. Thus, problems are seen as opportunities for improvement, changing the culture of the entire organization. Based on Lean Management, healthcare professionals from the Neurology Outpatient Clinic structured a multidisciplinary group to start an improvement project, applying SWOT, A3 planning and rapid improvement events. When applying these tools, countless problems were transformed into a clear and simple plan for the team to follow. By gathering factors as qualified and committed professionals, providing them autonomy and guidance to identify opportunities for improvement, along with solutions built by staff; the project presented the potential to link the principles of organization and administration to excellence in clinical care, further increasing the quality of services provided by the University. This report covers the period between April and December 2015 and intends to continue the implementation of Lean Healthcare. But it is not just about applying tools. Changes in the mindsets of professionals, when perceiving problems as opportunities for improvement, will inevitably promote a change in the rationale of care processes. Thus, the work will focus on what really matters: the patient.