Uplift The Quality Of Care With The Integration Of Lean Methodology In EHR
By Matt Wilson, Aegis HealthTech
Lean is an extensively used quality enhancement methodology newly expanded to the healthcare sector. Lean strategy begins with classifying and ‘eliminating waste’ in order to enhance the value of care offered to the patient. Lean methodology involves specifying value from the perspective of a patient and determining all the actions in the value stream in order to remove the steps which don’t create any value.
The introduction of these ideologies positioned ‘customer value’ and ‘waste removal’ at the core of Lean planning. This way, the process is basically steered by ‘what customers’ desire’. Afterwards, necessary steps are taken by the healthcare industries identify the most useful activities. Lean methodologies etch a great impact on patient satisfaction, health outcomes as well as financial costs.
Companies are adopting lean methodology to eradicate the wastes from the system
Lean production basically refers to the act of eradicating any waste that lessens or hampers the eminent resources such as staff, time, staff or funding. The wastes do not add any value to the organization they do not contribute in improving the quality of care or workflow. Hence, companies are looking to adopt EHRs based on lean methodologies to reduce the inefficiencies and enhance the productivity, efficiency and the quality of care offered.
The connection of EHRs and Lean Methodology
Over the years, healthcare sector has worked really hard to drive the adoption of EHRs (Electronic Health Records). It is a proven fact that the efficient usage of EHRS enhance and accelerate the practice management processes. If we start talking about the advantages of EHRs, we might end up listening too many, because they have literally transformed the way care is delivered.
Now, some of the latest researches suggest that the EHR solutions assist practices in ‘lean production’, which basically means, clearing of spendthrift processes and practices in the healthcare companies.
Lean methodologies are adopted to improve the electronic health record efficiency as well as to enhance the overall patient satisfaction levels.
The advancement of the clinical documentation system has been a key focus of several value-based care initiatives. However, it is not at all easy to become highly efficient, accurate, and quick. However, according to a latest research, Lean methodologies have the power to transform the EHR documentation system.
The used of Lean procedures on electronic health records proved to be a useful way of lessening the time spent in the EHRs. The researchers devises various ways through which the by doctors, can spend less time on EHRs and more on their patients with the adoption of lean methodologies. Also, it resulted in amplified productivity, and improved satisfaction of patients.
Quick adopters of EHR solutions realized that these solutions have inherent design and practice limitations. They have been finding out ways to revamp the old versions of EHRs. The major area of trouble of the old EHRs is just the badly designed documentation template.
The template required a lot of time, and demanded the doctors to select from around from eight forms in the EHRs. The choice was centered on the specialty as well as the geographical location of services. There were a plenty of sections that are not used by the doctors so often. But they are still included in the hospital and clinic templates.
Recently, a researchers’ team from a topnotch medical institute, made use of effective Lean methods to steer quality enhancements within the system. The aim was to simplify the documentation process. Also, they planned to add efforts to decrease the content in the present template as well as incorporate other useful inputs. They also developed very interesting customized documentation templates which are centered on discipline and location.
Conclusion
The use of EHRs is increasing as they are proved to have made the healthcare system better. Effective utilization of the EHRs results in better services. Plus, with the integration of lean methodologies in EHR integration solutions resulted in less wastage of time on the system and a better quality of care.