David M. Paushter MD, Presenter: Advisory Panel, AIM Specialty Health

1) Understand the meaning of "waste" when applied to health care in lean terminology. 2) Learn the basic methods of value stream mapping to gain improvements in efficiency of flow and patient throughput. 3) Understand the organizational imperatives required to successfully implement value stream mapping. 4) Learn the critical role of direct, collaborative observation of processes in understanding waste and improving function. (This course is part of the Quality Improvement Symposium)

Value Stream Mapping is an important Lean tool that has been applied successfully to improve flow and patient throughput in healthcare environments.  Applications of this technique require mapping by direct observation the complex pathways of patient care that occur from the perspectives of all participants, including physicians, nurses, technologists, receptionists, supply chain, space design, environmental services and most importantly, patients.  This requires defining the terms "waste",  "product" and "customer", and describing all facets of patient, care team, materials and product flows involved in care situations.  Ultimately significant improvements in communication, wait times, efficiency of movement, utilization of resources and quality of service can be achieved.  The goal of this session is to provide an introduction to Value Stream Mapping, its role in Lean transformation and its application to common clinical situations.

https://www.radiology.uchicago.edu/sites/radiology.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/Lectures/Paushter RSNA VSM Nov12finaL.pdf

http://media.rsna.org/media/abstract/2014/14002419/MSQI33C sec.pdf

Paushter, D, Improving Flow and Patient Throughput: Value Stream Mapping.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14002419.html