Medco Health Six Sigma

Medco CEO discusses the transformation of its enterprise business model over the lifecycle of the company. ...

... "Later we created and then perfected mail-order pharmacy, using proprietary robotics in tandem with technologies guided by six sigma disciplines that set a new standard for dispensing accuracy ... " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: David B. Snow, Jr., CEO, MedcoHealth

Virtua Six Sigma Benefits Healthcare

GE provides advisory services, using Six Sigma methods, to healthcare systems. Virtua has seen significant tangible benefits from its Six Sigma program. ...

... "But that doesn't mean hospitals can't run more efficiently than they do today, as Virtua's case makes clear. The nonprofit chain was one of the first U.S. hospitals to adopt Six Sigma, a system inspired by Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor Corp, named by mobile phone maker Motorola Inc and refined by American industrial giants including GE and Caterpillar Inc. " ...

Via KGMI: Healthcare Improvements

Virtua integrates its Six Sigma problem solving into an employee toolkit. ...

Six Sigma at Virtua Health in New Jersey: "The Six Sigma Tool Kit is a statistical problem-solving approach driven by patient/customer expectations in order to improve business operations. "

The company's Six Sigma program focuses on improving patient care. ...

Virtua Health Six Sigma Improves Patient Care: "Measurable results having a positive impact on patient care, employee morale and the organization's bottom line have been realized through the use of the tool kit ... "

Six Sigma Perfect for Healthcare

Six Sigma has strong role in health care improvement now and in future, as it can be focused on reducing defects in the quality of patient care, ultimately improving and saving lives. What better payback is there? ...

... "Six Sigma stands apart from other process improvement methods because it focuses on reducing variability thereby reducing errors or achieving defect free products or services. It's seems like the perfect methodology to apply in reducing medical errors in our country. " ...

Via ADVANCE for Health Information: Healthcare Process Improvement

Six Sigma Healthcare Optimizes Availability

Healthcare industry transformation benefits from Six Sigma methodology to improve the patient experience. ...

... "Six Sigma best management principles are guiding the company’s initiatives, Kief said. Currently, the focus is on creating greater same-day availability for a patient to see his or her doctor, if sick ... " ...

Via Northwood News: Healthcare providers

Virginia Mason Lean Production System Creates Value

Healthcare application of lean manufacturing principles leads to creation of the Virginia Mason Institute. Virginia Mason Medical Center has created value for the enterprise through its Lean Production System and will offer its services to others through training, education, and consulting. ...

... "VMI has been created in response to an overwhelming number of requests for Virginia Mason staff to share their experience and knowledge in applying lean principles to health care. In 2001, Virginia Mason adopted the business case for quality as its key strategy with a clear and unequivocal focus on the patient. At the time, VM was one of the first organizations in the world to adapt the Toyota Production System to health care to improve care, reduce waste and allow medical staff and the entire care-delivery team to spend more value-added time with patients. " ...

Via Virginia Mason: VM Institute

Six Sigma Hospital Care Efficiency

A balance of Six Sigma and improved workforce practices can contribute to an efficient and effective healthcare process. ...

... "Six-sigma enhances both efficiency as well as the promotion of improvement. A system that has players who are burnt-out is inefficient. Even the best of residents can’t serve three patients with emergency care needs at the same time. " ...

Via Workplace Health Examiner: Doctors

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

Patient Care Improvement Through Six Sigma

Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen is ranked number one in the US for treatment of heart failure, by the federal government. Six Sigma is their ingredient for success. Valley Baptist is one of the first health care organizations in the country to use the Six Sigma quality improvement program to maximize performance and customer satisfaction. Valley Baptist extends many of its services beyond its facilities and into local communities. ...

... "Valley Baptist was able to improve patient care for heart failure and heat attack patients through a process improvement program called Six Sigma. The Six Sigma method was pioneered in high-tech companies such as General Electric, with Valley Baptist being one of the first organizations in the nation to apply the program to health care. Under the leadership of its President and CEO James Springfield, Valley Baptist has made Six Sigma quality one of its top corporate initiatives in order to maximize performance and patient satisfaction throughout the health system. A total of 115 top-performing hospitals in the country will receive reward bonuses for their performance. Valley Baptist in Harlingen will receive $140,951 because of its performance in treating heart failure management and heart attack patients. " ...

Via Valley Baptist: Valley Baptist-Harlingen Ranked #1 in Nation for Heart Failure Management; Six Sigma Leads to Improvements ...