Taner Mehmet Tolga, Sezen Bulent, Atwat Kamal M
Department of Health Care Management, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Int J Health Care Qual Assur. 2012;25(4):274-90. doi: 10.1108/09526861211221482.
This paper aims to apply the Six Sigma methodology to improve workflow by eliminating the causes of failure in the medical imaging department of a private Turkish hospital.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Implementation of the design, measure, analyse, improve and control (DMAIC) improvement cycle, workflow chart, fishbone diagrams and Pareto charts were employed, together with rigorous data collection in the department. The identification of root causes of repeat sessions and delays was followed by failure, mode and effect analysis, hazard analysis and decision tree analysis.
The most frequent causes of failure were malfunction of the RIS/PACS system and improper positioning of patients. Subsequent to extensive training of professionals, the sigma level was increased from 3.5 to 4.2.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The data were collected over only four months.
Six Sigma's data measurement and process improvement methodology is the impetus for health care organisations to rethink their workflow and reduce malpractice. It involves measuring, recording and reporting data on a regular basis. This enables the administration to monitor workflow continuously.
The improvements in the workflow under study, made by determining the failures and potential risks associated with radiologic care, will have a positive impact on society in terms of patient safety. Having eliminated repeat examinations, the risk of being exposed to more radiation was also minimised.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper supports the need to apply Six Sigma and present an evaluation of the process in an imaging department.
本文旨在应用六西格玛方法，通过消除一家土耳其私立医院医学影像科的故障原因来改进工作流程。
设计/方法/途径：采用设计、测量、分析、改进和控制（DMAIC）改进周期、工作流程图、鱼骨图和帕累托图，并在该科室进行严格的数据收集。在确定重复检查和延误的根本原因之后，进行失效模式与效应分析、危害分析和决策树分析。
最常见的故障原因是放射信息系统/图像存档与通信系统（RIS/PACS）出现故障以及患者体位不当。在对专业人员进行广泛培训之后，西格玛水平从3.5提高到了4.2。
研究局限/影响：数据仅收集了四个月。
六西格玛的数据测量和流程改进方法促使医疗保健机构重新思考其工作流程并减少医疗事故。它涉及定期测量、记录和报告数据。这使管理层能够持续监控工作流程。
通过确定与放射护理相关的故障和潜在风险，所研究的工作流程改进将在患者安全方面对社会产生积极影响。消除了重复检查后，接触更多辐射的风险也降至最低。
原创性/价值：本文支持应用六西格玛的必要性，并对影像科的流程进行了评估。
