6 Sigma Healthcare Study Shows Benefits

Healthcare association sees benefits from the application of Six Sigma methods to identify the critical levers for patient care. ...

... "In a retrospective study, Ms. Gamerdinger and colleagues from Mercy Medical Center evaluated the outcomes of a Six Sigma performance improvement project focused on compliance with JCAHO CAP Core Measures to ensure that each measure of care was met. Utilizing Six Sigma methodology, researchers identified critical processes and key stakeholders in patient care and utilized specific tools for process flow, cause/effect matrices, and outcomes analysis. The hospital also dedicated several full-time positions to the new methodology and trained more than 100 individuals in the Six Sigma program. When deviations from the Six Sigma protocol occurred, timely feedback was provided to care providers. After program implementation, researchers collected and analyzed data related to core measures, length of stay, and mortality in 1,550 patients with CAP admitted to the hospital during the study period. Results indicated that compliance scores for each JCAHO Core Measure improved from 70% to over 90%. CAP order usage improved from 40 %to 73%, yielding an 82.5% increase. Mean length of stay was reduced from 5.9 days to 5.1 days, a 13.56% reduction, which was associated with over $300,000 in cost savings. By the end of the study period, in-hospital mortality rates also decreased from 6.7% to 3.5%, a 47.8% reduction. " ...

6 Sigma decreases mortality in hospitalized patients