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Health services under siege: the case for clinical process redesign
Author(s) -
O’Connell Tony J,
BenTovim David I,
McCaughan Brian C,
Szwarcbord Michael G,
McGrath Katherine M
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01667.x
Subject(s) - siege , shire , management , health services , health care , executive director , medicine , library science , political science , history , law , archaeology , population , environmental health , computer science , economics
*Public health services are struggling to cope with rising demand. *Strain on health services manifests as longer waiting lists for surgery, queuing in the emergency departments, increased rates of adverse events, and delays in discharge, particularly for older patients. *Traditional responses are not resolving these problems. *Analysis shows that the day-to-day system processes underlying clinical care are poorly designed and do not produce a well planned, well coordinated patient journey. *Numerous disconnections along the continuum of care have a cumulative effect in obstructing patient flow and causing frustration for patients and staff. *Rigorous clinical process redesign methods can significantly improve performance, even in the face of rising demand.