Quality Improvement in Ambulatory Anesthesia: Making Changes that Work for You

Christopher J Jankowski; Michael T Walsh

doi:10.1016/j.anclin.2019.01.013

Quality Improvement in Ambulatory Anesthesia: Making Changes that Work for You

Anesthesiol Clin. 2019 Jun;37(2):349-360. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2019.01.013. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Authors

Christopher J Jankowski¹, Michael T Walsh²

Affiliations

¹ Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Charlton 1-145, 200 First Street, Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: jankowski.christopher@mayo.edu.
² Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Charlton 1-145, 200 First Street, Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

PMID: 31047134
DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2019.01.013

Abstract

The pace of busy ambulatory surgical practice makes it difficult to begin and sustain quality improvement efforts. However, evolving patient and payer expectations of high-value care make these endeavors more urgent. Lean, a term coined in 1990 to describe the Toyota Production System, has been applied by large and small health systems to eliminate waste; increase value for customers; and develop the ability of physicians, nurses, and other health care workers to manage and continuously improve their work. This article reviews some of the steps necessary to successfully adopt lean in an ambulatory surgical setting.

Keywords: Continuous improvement; Lean management; Quality; Waste.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / methods*
Anesthesia / methods*
Efficiency, Organizational
Humans
Quality Improvement*