Learn how to apply lean operations principles, such as flow and takt time, to optimize your healthcare delivery and satisfy your patients.

Algumas dicas de como monitorar e melhorar o Takt Time. 1. Utilize sistemas de monitoramento em tempo real ou sistemas de controle de chão de fábrica, que possam acompanhar a produção em andamento e calcular o Takt Time em tempo real. 2. Crie quadros de acompanhamento visual no chão de fábrica que exibam o Takt Time planejado vs Takt Time real. 3. Realize revisões regulares de desempenho, para identificar tendências, desvios e oportunidades de melhoria. 4. Estabeleça um sistema para que os operadores da linha de produção forneçam feedback sobre o ritmo da produção em relação ao Takt Time. 5. Com base no monitoramento do Takt Time, faça ajustes e implemente melhorias contínuas nos processos de produção

Last updated on Sep 7, 2024

How do you align flow and takt time with patient value and satisfaction?

Lean operations aim to deliver value to customers by eliminating waste and improving efficiency. In healthcare, this means providing high-quality care to patients while reducing costs and errors. One of the key concepts of lean operations is flow, which is the smooth and uninterrupted movement of patients, staff, information, and materials through the care process. Another concept is takt time, which is the rate of demand or the time between each patient arrival. By aligning flow and takt time with patient value and satisfaction, you can optimize your healthcare delivery and achieve better outcomes. Here are some tips on how to do that.

1 Understand patient value

Patient value is the benefit that patients receive from your care in terms of health, safety, comfort, convenience, and satisfaction. To understand patient value, you need to listen to their needs, expectations, preferences, and feedback. You also need to map their journey from the first contact to the final discharge, and identify the value-adding and non-value-adding activities along the way. This will help you eliminate or minimize the waste that reduces patient value, such as waiting, overproduction, defects, overprocessing, inventory, motion, and transportation.

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Willya Marcolino

Top Lean Manufacturing Voice. Especialista em Excelência Operacional, líder em Projetos de Redução de Custos e Gestão de Equipes.
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Para mapear eficientemente a jornada do paciente desde a admissão até a alta e identificar as etapas que agregam valor e as que representam desperdícios, utilizo uma combinação de Mapeamento do Fluxo de Valor (VSM) para visualizar os processos, Observação Direta para capturar a experiência do paciente em tempo real, e Entrevistas e Pesquisas para entender suas expectativas e satisfação. A Análise de Processos complementa essa abordagem, avaliando a eficiência e a necessidade de cada etapa. Esses métodos fornecem uma visão holística e detalhada, permitindo identificar oportunidades de melhoria contínua alinhadas aos valores dos pacientes.

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2 Design for flow

Flow is the state where every step in the care process is connected and synchronized, without any delays, interruptions, or bottlenecks. To design for flow, you need to analyze your current process and identify the sources of variation, waste, and inefficiency. Then, you need to redesign your process to eliminate or reduce those factors, and to ensure that each step adds value to the patient. Some of the tools and techniques that you can use to design for flow are standard work, visual management, pull systems, kanban, cellular layout, single-piece flow, and load leveling.

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Mattia Costa

AI Prompt Engineering for Supply Chain Management | Driving E2E Supply Chain Value | Lean Six Sigma
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Start by mapping the journey to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies that disrupt flow. Standardize procedures and eliminate non-value-added steps to reduce wait times and enhance service delivery. Aligning flow with takt time (the pace at which services must be delivered to meet demand) ensures resources are used efficiently, directly supporting value and satisfaction. By optimizing flow, you create a streamlined process that meets the needs promptly, improving overall satisfaction and care quality.

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3 Set takt time

Takt time is the pace of your process that matches the rate of demand from your patients. To set takt time, you need to measure your demand and your capacity, and calculate the ratio between them. For example, if you have 120 patients per day and 8 hours of working time, your takt time is 4 minutes per patient. This means that you need to complete each step in the care process within 4 minutes or less to meet the demand. Setting takt time helps you balance your workload, avoid overproduction or underproduction, and reduce waiting and inventory.

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Mattia Costa

AI Prompt Engineering for Supply Chain Management | Driving E2E Supply Chain Value | Lean Six Sigma
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Calculate takt time by dividing available working time by the number of patients to be served, which helps establish the optimal pace for patient flow. This approach not only balances workload but also identifies staffing needs and potential bottlenecks, allowing for proactive adjustments. By setting takt time thoughtfully, you can better synchronize care delivery with patient expectations, minimize wait times, and enhance overall patient satisfaction, making care more predictable and aligned with patient value.

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4 Monitor and improve

Aligning flow and takt time with patient value and satisfaction is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of monitoring and improvement. You need to collect and analyze data on your performance indicators, such as cycle time, throughput, quality, cost, and patient satisfaction. You also need to solicit feedback from your patients, staff, and stakeholders, and identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement. Then, you need to implement changes using the plan-do-check-act cycle, and evaluate the results. By doing this, you can ensure that your process is always aligned with patient value and satisfaction.

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Daniel Holanda

Business Excellence | Operations | Industrial Engineering | Lean Manufacturing | Operational Excellence
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Algumas dicas de como monitorar e melhorar o Takt Time. 1. Utilize sistemas de monitoramento em tempo real ou sistemas de controle de chão de fábrica, que possam acompanhar a produção em andamento e calcular o Takt Time em tempo real. 2. Crie quadros de acompanhamento visual no chão de fábrica que exibam o Takt Time planejado vs Takt Time real. 3. Realize revisões regulares de desempenho, para identificar tendências, desvios e oportunidades de melhoria. 4. Estabeleça um sistema para que os operadores da linha de produção forneçam feedback sobre o ritmo da produção em relação ao Takt Time. 5. Com base no monitoramento do Takt Time, faça ajustes e implemente melhorias contínuas nos processos de produção

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Willya Marcolino

Top Lean Manufacturing Voice. Especialista em Excelência Operacional, líder em Projetos de Redução de Custos e Gestão de Equipes.
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Para garantir que as etapas do atendimento se encaixem no takt time, especialmente em alta demanda, emprego a simplificação e otimização de processos, gestão visual para acompanhamento imediato, e treinamento cruzado para flexibilizar a alocação de equipe. Sistemas de agendamento adaptativos e uma cultura de melhoria contínua também são fundamentais, permitindo ajustes rápidos e eficientes que asseguram a conformidade com o takt time, mesmo sob pressão.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Mattia Costa

AI Prompt Engineering for Supply Chain Management | Driving E2E Supply Chain Value | Lean Six Sigma
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It's also important to consider variability in patient needs and the complexity of care. Flexibility in staff roles and cross-training can help accommodate fluctuations in demand. Continuously monitor and adjust takt time as patient volumes and needs change, ensuring that care delivery remains responsive. Incorporate patient feedback to refine processes and keep the focus on what adds value from their perspective. Additionally, use visual management tools to keep teams informed of real-time performance, helping maintain the flow and meet takt time consistently.

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How do you align flow and takt time with patient value and satisfaction?

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1 Understand patient value

2 Design for flow

3 Set takt time

4 Monitor and improve

5 Here’s what else to consider

Lean Operations

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