Reducing inefficiencies in the healthcare sector by using lean principles : a South African case study

Abstract

Healthcare organizations all around the world have many wasteful activities that causes inefficiencies in their day-to-day operations which contribute to poor service delivery, rising costs, poor patient experience, medical errors, and a lackluster work environment. In this regard, there is a dire need for innovative methods for improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. The lean healthcare (LH) concept is a highly recommended approach in improving efficiency because it focuses on reducing non-value-added (NVA) activities, man power, waste of resources, time and money whilst ensuring safety standards and regulations are adhered to. However, LH has it its fair of challenges with regards to achieving long-term results in which there’s a lack of studies that addressed this to which it has been reported that up 90% of lean projects fail long-term which goes against the concept of pursuing perfection through continuous improvement. Hence, the aim of this research project is to propose how lean techniques will be used to solve inefficiencies but through a Quality Improvement Methodology (QIM) decision tree which is a framework that will act as a catalyst for sustaining lean improvements. The study utilized secondary data in achieving the objective of the research project through the use of a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flow chart within the context of quality and lean in healthcare organizations in South Africa (SA). The study achieved 38.33% reduction rate of non-value adding (NVA) activities and an approach on how to sustain the lean efforts through visual control charts of the waiting times which measure any deviations from the standard stability rate of 99.7%. However, the current measured stability rate is 87.5% which is a signal for further improvement to achieve the standard rate. The significance behind this is to ensure a cycle of continuous improvement through measurable indicators and visual charts.