A Lean Six Sigma Quality Improvement Project to Increase Discharge Paperwork Completeness for Admission to a Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

Nathan J. Neufeld, Erik H. Hoyer, Philippines Cabahug, Marlís González-Fernández, Megha Mehta, N. Colbey Walker, Richard L. Powers, R. Samuel Mayer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) process analysis can be used to increase completeness of discharge summary reports used as a critical communication tool when a patient transitions between levels of care. The authors used the LSS methodology as an intervention to improve systems process. Over the course of the project, 8 required elements were analyzed in the discharge paperwork. The authors analyzed the discharge paperwork of patients (42 patients preintervention and 143 patients postintervention) of a comprehensive integrated inpatient rehabilitation program (CIIRP). Prior to this LSS project, 61.8% of required discharge elements were present. The intervention improved the completeness to 94.2% of the required elements. The percentage of charts that were 100% complete increased from 11.9% to 67.8%. LSS is a well-established process improvement methodology that can be used to make significant improvements in complex health care workflow issues. Specifically, the completeness of discharge documentation required for transition of care to CIIRP can be improved.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)301-307
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Quality
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2013

Keywords

  • Lean Thinking
  • Six Sigma
  • discharge summary
  • handoff
  • inpatient
  • quality improvement
  • rehabilitation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy

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