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Using quality improvement methodology and tools to reduce patient wait time in a paediatric subspecialty rheumatology clinic.
| Content Provider | Europe PMC |
|---|---|
| Author | Garay, Bayardo Erlanson, Denise Binstadt, Bryce A Correll, Colleen K Fitzsimmons, Nora Hobday, Patricia M Hudson, Allison Mahmud, Shawn Riskalla, Mona M Kramer, Sara Xiong, Sheng Vehe, Richard K Bullock, Danielle R |
| Copyright Year | 2021 |
| Abstract | Our paediatric rheumatology clinic has experienced inefficient patient flow. Our aim was to reduce mean wait time and minimise variation for patients. Baseline data showed that most waiting occurs after a patient has been roomed, while waiting for the physician. Wait time was not associated with a patient’s age, time of day, day of the week or individual physician. We implemented a checkout sheet and staggered start times. After a series of plan–do–study–act cycles, we observed an initial 26% reduction in the variation of wait time and a final 17% reduction in the mean wait time. There was no impact on patient–physician contact time. Overall, we demonstrate how process improvement methodology and tools were used to reduce patient wait time in our clinic, adding to the body of literature on process improvement in an ambulatory setting. |
| Journal | BMJ Open Quality |
| Volume Number | 10 |
| PubMed Central reference number | PMC8705210 |
| Issue Number | 4 |
| PubMed reference number | 34949581 |
| e-ISSN | 23996641 |
| DOI | 10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001550 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| Publisher Date | 2021-12-01 |
| Publisher Place | BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Rights License | This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. |
| Subject Keyword | ambulatory care paediatrics quality improvement |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
| Subject | Health Policy Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Leadership and Management |
