On-Demand Learning Lab - Exploring Innovative Approaches to Rapid Cycle Process Improvement-Recording - Exploring Innovative Approaches to Rapid Cycle Process Improvement

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The NACU Learning Lab webinar “Exploring Innovative Approaches to Rapid Cycle Process Improvement” features Kim Wiestenberg (Banner Health) presenting how she blends process improvement methodologies and tools to achieve fast, measurable results. NACU opens by describing its role in healthcare quality competencies and the CPHQ certification. Abbott’s Tricia Ravalico introduces the Univance Health Care Excellence Award, which recognizes cross-continuum, “avant-garde” improvements that use laboratory data to drive better outcomes for patients, clinicians, payers, and health systems.<br /><br />Kim reviews the evolution from Total Quality Management (Deming, Juran, Crosby) to today’s Lean Six Sigma approaches, and explains common tools (PDCA/PDSA, Ishikawa/fishbone, Pareto charts, scatter plots, 5 Whys, SIPOC, process mapping, FMEA, Kanban, A3, value stream mapping). She emphasizes organizing tools within the DMAIC structure and adding “innovation” to the Improve/Implement phase for targeted rapid-cycle work.<br /><br />She then presents a Banner Health case from Oct 2021 during a COVID surge and staffing shortages: delayed morning lab results caused duplicate STAT/timed orders, bottlenecks, clinician frustration, and impaired discharge throughput. Using a rapid “sprint/scrum” approach, the team implemented two key changes within days: moving routine AM draws from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. the night before, and adding lab participation in a 3 a.m. hospital bed huddle to coordinate constraints and staffing.<br /><br />Results included reduced STAT (72%) and timed-study orders (33%) during peak hours, improved discharges by 1 p.m. (+35.8%), and improved length of stay metrics. The team sustained gains through PDCA check-ins and reflected on lessons learned, including the value of provider involvement and scalability to other projects.

Keywords

NACU Learning Lab webinar

rapid cycle process improvement

Lean Six Sigma DMAIC

PDCA PDSA continuous improvement

process improvement tools (fishbone Pareto 5 Whys)

innovation in Improve/Implement phase

Banner Health COVID surge case study

laboratory turnaround time and morning draw optimization

sprint scrum healthcare improvement

Univance Health Care Excellence Award