Lean Healthcare Tools for Processes Evaluation: An Integrative Review

Letícia Bianchini de Barros, Letícia de Camargo Bassi, Laura Passos Caldas, Alice Sarantopoulos, Eliete Boaventura Bargas Zeferino, Vinicius Minatogawa and Renata Cristina Gasparino
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Letícia Bianchini de Barros: School of Nursing, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, Brazil
Letícia de Camargo Bassi: School of Nursing, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, Brazil
Laura Passos Caldas: School of Nursing, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, Brazil
Alice Sarantopoulos: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, Brazil
Eliete Boaventura Bargas Zeferino: Hospital de Clínicas, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-888, Brazil
Vinicius Minatogawa: Escuela de Ingeniería en Construcción, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
Renata Cristina Gasparino: School of Nursing, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, Brazil

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: Several health services have used lean healthcare to seek continuous improvement of their processes. Therefore, it is important to investigate the evidence available in the literature about the most used lean tools in the health area to review processes and the main results achieved by the researchers. As an integrative literature review methodology was used, it was conducted in five databases, using the descriptor “quality improvement” and the keyword “Lean Healthcare”. A total of 33 complete articles were selected for analysis. The most recurrent tools were: define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC); value stream map (VSM); suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers analysis (SIPOC), Ishikawa Diagram and 5S. Through the analysis of waste, different interventions were implemented and the main results achieved were reduction in times (processing, waiting, cycle and total), costs, workload and increase in the number of calls. The findings enabled the identification of the main lean tools used in the health area to achieve better results. In particular, we highlight recent studies that have explored the lean six sigma healthcare approach. The results, in addition to contributing to the literature, will also assist managers in choosing the best tool to achieve continuous improvement in hospitals and other health services.

Keywords: quality improvement; process assessment; health care; health services; workflow; total quality management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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