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The Use of Lean Six Sigma Methodology in the Reduction of Patient Length of Stay Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

Author

Listed:
  • Sinead Moffatt

    (Beacon Hospital, Beacon Court, Bracken Rd, Sandyford Business Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 AK68 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Catherine Garry

    (Beacon Hospital, Beacon Court, Bracken Rd, Sandyford Business Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 AK68 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Hannah McCann

    (Beacon Hospital, Beacon Court, Bracken Rd, Sandyford Business Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 AK68 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Sean Paul Teeling

    (UCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education & Innovation in Health Systems, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems UCD Health Sciences Centre, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
    Centre for Person-Centred Practice Research Division of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Queen Margaret University Drive, Musselburgh EH21 6UU, UK)

  • Marie Ward

    (Centre for Innovative Human Systems, School of Psychology, Trinity College, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Martin McNamara

    (UCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education & Innovation in Health Systems, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems UCD Health Sciences Centre, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland)

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to reduce the length of stay of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patients within a private hospital in Ireland, reducing any non-value-added activity in the patient pathway, with the goal of increasing patient flow, bed capacity, and revenue generation within the hospital system, while maintaining patient satisfaction. Methods: We used a pre-/post-intervention design and Lean Six Sigma methods and tools to assess and improve the current process. Results: A reduction in inpatient length of stay by 57%, and a reduction in identified non-value-added activity by 88%, resulted in a new day-case surgery pathway for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patients. The pathway evidenced no re-admissions and demonstrated patient satisfaction. Conclusion: Six months post-project commencement, we had successfully achieved our goals of reducing our anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patient’s length of stay. This study contributes to the growing body of published evidence which shows that adopting a Lean Six Sigma approach can be successfully employed to optimise care and surgical pathways in healthcare.

Suggested Citation

  • Sinead Moffatt & Catherine Garry & Hannah McCann & Sean Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara, 2022. "The Use of Lean Six Sigma Methodology in the Reduction of Patient Length of Stay Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1588-:d:738710
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marie E. Ward & Ailish Daly & Martin McNamara & Suzanne Garvey & Sean Paul Teeling, 2022. "A Case Study of a Whole System Approach to Improvement in an Acute Hospital Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Arianna Scala & Alfonso Maria Ponsiglione & Ilaria Loperto & Antonio Della Vecchia & Anna Borrelli & Giuseppe Russo & Maria Triassi & Giovanni Improta, 2021. "Lean Six Sigma Approach for Reducing Length of Hospital Stay for Patients with Femur Fracture in a University Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Sharon J Williams, 2017. "Improving Healthcare Operations," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-319-46913-3, December.
    4. Lisa O’Mahony & Kerrie McCarthy & Josephine O’Donoghue & Seán Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara, 2021. "Using Lean Six Sigma to Redesign the Supply Chain to the Operating Room Department of a Private Hospital to Reduce Associated Costs and Release Nursing Time to Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Ailish Daly & Seán Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara & Ciara Robinson, 2021. "The Use of Lean Six Sigma for Improving Availability of and Access to Emergency Department Data to Facilitate Patient Flow," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Nicola Wolfe & Seán Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara & Liby Koshy, 2021. "Operation Note Transformation: The Application of Lean Six Sigma to Improve the Process of Documenting the Operation Note in a Private Hospital Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Ailish Daly & Nicola Wolfe & Seán Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara, 2021. "Redesigning the Process for Scheduling Elective Orthopaedic Surgery: A Combined Lean Six Sigma and Person-Centred Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Seán Paul Teeling & Jan Dewing & Deborah Baldie, 2021. "A Realist Inquiry to Identify the Contribution of Lean Six Sigma to Person-Centred Care and Cultures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-21, October.
    9. Patricia Egan & Anthony Pierce & Audrey Flynn & Sean Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara, 2021. "Releasing Operating Room Nursing Time to Care through the Reduction of Surgical Case Preparation Time: A Lean Six Sigma Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Anne Dempsey & Ciara Robinson & Niamh Moffatt & Therese Hennessy & Annmarie Bradshaw & Sean Paul Teeling & Marie Ward & Martin McNamara, 2021. "Lean Six Sigma Redesign of a Process for Healthcare Mandatory Education in Basic Life Support—A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-18, November.
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    1. Martin McNamara & Marie Ward & Seán Paul Teeling, 2023. "Making a Sustainable Difference to People, Processes and Systems: Whole-Systems Approaches to Process Improvement in Health Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-5, March.

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