TY - JOUR
T1 - Applying the principles of lean production to gastrointestinal biopsy handling
T2 - From the factory floor to the anatomic pathology laboratory
AU - Sugianto, Jessica Z.
AU - Stewart, Brian
AU - Ambruzs, Josephine M.
AU - Arista, Amanda
AU - Park, Jason Y.
AU - Cope-Yokoyama, Sandy
AU - Luu, Hung S.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/8/1
Y1 - 2015/8/1
N2 - Objectives: To implement Lean principles to accommodate expanding volumes of gastrointestinal biopsies and to improve laboratory processes overall. Design: Our continuous improvement (kaizen) project analyzed the current state for gastrointestinal biopsy handling using value-stream mapping for specimens obtained at a 487-bed tertiary care pediatric hospital in Dallas, Texas. We identified non-value-added time within the workflow process, from receipt of the specimen in the histology laboratory to the delivery of slides and paperwork to the pathologist. To eliminate non-value-added steps, we implemented the changes depicted in a revised-state value-stream map. Results: Current-state value-stream mapping identified a total specimen processing time of 507 minutes, of which 358 minutes were non-value-added. This translated to a process cycle efficiency of 29%. Implementation of a revised-state value stream resulted in a total process time reduction to 238 minutes, of which 89 minutes were non-value-added, and an improved process cycle efficiency of 63%. Conclusions: Lean production principles of continuous improvement and waste elimination can be successfully implemented within the clinical laboratory.
AB - Objectives: To implement Lean principles to accommodate expanding volumes of gastrointestinal biopsies and to improve laboratory processes overall. Design: Our continuous improvement (kaizen) project analyzed the current state for gastrointestinal biopsy handling using value-stream mapping for specimens obtained at a 487-bed tertiary care pediatric hospital in Dallas, Texas. We identified non-value-added time within the workflow process, from receipt of the specimen in the histology laboratory to the delivery of slides and paperwork to the pathologist. To eliminate non-value-added steps, we implemented the changes depicted in a revised-state value-stream map. Results: Current-state value-stream mapping identified a total specimen processing time of 507 minutes, of which 358 minutes were non-value-added. This translated to a process cycle efficiency of 29%. Implementation of a revised-state value stream resulted in a total process time reduction to 238 minutes, of which 89 minutes were non-value-added, and an improved process cycle efficiency of 63%. Conclusions: Lean production principles of continuous improvement and waste elimination can be successfully implemented within the clinical laboratory.
KW - Anatomic pathology workflow
KW - Gastrointestinal biopsy handling
KW - Histology laboratory
KW - Laboratory processes
KW - Lean principles
KW - Process improvement
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U2 - 10.1309/LMJCUFUN0LT8C6DB
DO - 10.1309/LMJCUFUN0LT8C6DB
M3 - Article
C2 - 26199269
AN - SCOPUS:84949659868
SN - 0007-5027
VL - 46
SP - 259
EP - 264
JO - Laboratory medicine
JF - Laboratory medicine
IS - 3
ER -