Leap Technologies

> HEALTHCARE

> SOLUTION
REPLICATION

> PHARMACEUTICAL

> GOVERNMENT

> ERP SYSTEM
DEPLOYMENT

> HEALTHCARE
BENCHMARKING
OPPORTUNITY

Mining Gold in Specialty Services
(Using Lean To Drive Big Improvements
in Revenue and Patient Throughput)



	> MINING GOLD IN SPECIALTY SERVICES

	> UNLEASHING EMPLOYEE KNOW-HOW

	> HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SYSTEM ROI

The ultimate goal of healthcare providers is to improve the performance of every patient process. However, when faced with budget and staffing constraints the key to leveraging the power of Lean Six Sigma tools is to start where the money is.

Leap Technologies has helped a number of leading hospitals whet their appetite to accelerate process improvement by focusing first on high demand/revenue positive specialty services.

Deploying Leap Technologies’ unique Breakthrough Project approach, these hospitals have achieved remarkable gains in patient throughput which in turn have generated excitement among their healthcare professionals and senior leadership commitment for expanding process improvement efforts.

Practically speaking, the immediate profit improvement from focusing on the right specialty services generated enough extra “gold” to fund more projects. Click on the menu below for details on these applications.

Radiology (CT) Throughput

Gastro Interology Productivity

The Tale of Two CTs; Breaking Through on
Radiology (CT) Throughput

A Wisconsin based Healthcare System applied Leap Technologies’ Breakthrough Project method to break the log jam on access to CT Services. The result: More than 40% improveemnt in patient access, over $2 million annual revenue increase and close to $5M capital expense avoidance …all accomplished in 90 days using an internal cross-functional team of hospital administrative and professional staff.

Background
Poor access to Radiology, specifically CT services at the main two hospitals, was creating dissatisfaction among referring providers and their patients. Identified issues included:

•	Poor communication and inefficient hand-offs between central scheduling and the two CT units.
•	Wide variation in the supporting processes between the CT units at each hospital preventing the sharing of resources.
•	Unacceptable levels of “no shows” and “redos”.
•	Unacceptable number of delays between appointment time and exam.

After several attempts at improvement which delivered modest gains, the organization was considering the purchase of an additional machine – a multi-million dollar expense including facility modifications to accommodate new equipment.

Breakthrough Team Delivers Results in 90 Days
Leap Technologies Breakthrough Project methodology quickly mobilized senior leadership support and assembled key process stakeholders to take a fresh look at the CT process. In just three days, the team accomplished what they had not been able to accomplish over many months of effort, including:

•	Identification of the key constraints that were choking throughput and productivity in the current process.

•	Consensus on the “should be” process for achieving breakthrough results.
•	A 60-day action plan for implementing high payoff process changes.

Armed with Leap Technologies’ easy-to-understand package of Lean Six Sigma tools the CT Breakthrough Team was able to develop, pilot test and install solutions for making the “should be” process a reality in 60 days.

Examples of Solutions Implemented (How hospitals can apply the Lean principles of constraints analysis, process customization, error proofing and more)

•	Removed bottlenecks from the scheduling process through an innovative “flex-schedule” approach.
•	Improved patient prep process to reduce “redo’s”
•	Redefined roles and responsibilities to balance work loads and smooth patient flow.
•	Redesigned prep room and reading room layout to reduce wasted effort.

Results

•	43% improvement in CT throughput.
•	Access improved from 2.8 days to third next available appointment to first call completion.
•	$2.1 million increase in annual revenue from CT.

For more information on this case example and Leap Technologies’ Breakthrough Project methodology email us at info@actionworkout.com.

Curing Indigestion In GI Services: Dramatically Improving Gastro Interology Productivity
A Midwest Healthcare Provider dramatically improved access as well as staff and patient satisfaction while achieving a 33% increase in throughput in GI services… accomplished in 90 days by equipping hospital staff close to the problem with Leap Technologies’ Breakthrough Project tools and methodology.

Background
A healthcare provider serving a large metropolitan area was experiencing difficulty in meeting increased demand for GI services – particularly preventive screenings. Identified issues included:

•	A multi-month backlog of patients awaiting routine screenings.
•	An overworked, frustrated staff – “A good day is when we actually get to take lunch”.
•	A loss of credibility with the referral base and potential leakage of procedures to other area providers due to access problems.

Conventional wisdom suggested that the solutions were to build more procedure rooms and add more staff.

The Lean Path to Breakthrough Results
The Provider’s Lean Steering Committee chartered a cross-functional project team supported by two Leap Technologies Breakthrough Coaches to analyze the process problems and develop a game plan for accelerated change.

The project kicked off with an intensive three-day workshop to analyze the current process, develop the business case for change and drive to consensus on how to redesign the process from “end-to-end” for breakthrough levels of performance improvement.

Following the workshop the team used Leap Technologies’ highly-structured approach to implement improvements in 90 days from project launch.

Examples of Solutions Implemented
(Here are a few examples of applying the Lean principles of 5S, constraints analysis, visual management and more to hospitals):

•	Developed a “reality based” scheduling model that reduced back-ups and opened up access for additional procedures.
•	Improved the patient preparation instructions and process to reduce failed procedures.
•	Completely redesigned patient flow from reception through procedure and discharge (see diagram) to eliminate wasted effort by staff.
•	Redefined roles and responsibilities to improve accountability and reduce errors.

Results
Highlights of results achieved include:

•	Reduction of the patient backlog to ZERO in 90 days!
•	33% increase in production, with no increase in procedure rooms.

For more information on this case example and Leap Technologies’ Breakthrough Project methodology email us at info@actionworkout.com.

| |