Improving Process Efficiency at Pediatric Hospital Emergency Department Using an Integrated Six-Sigma Simulation Methodology

Inadequate staffing and long waiting times in hospital emergency rooms are key concerns that can have a negative impact on patient safety and health, as well as the hospital’s overall performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the scope of combining the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Processes 2023-01, Vol.11 (2), p.399
Main Authors: Mistarihi, Mahmoud Z, AL-Tahat, Mohammad D, AL-Nimer, Saif H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Case studies
Children's hospitals
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Cycle time
Departments
Design of experiments
Discrete event systems
Efficiency
Emergency medical care
Emergency medical services
Emergency service
Health care industry
Hospitals
Integrated approach
Laboratories
Length of stay
Medical care
Medical research
Methodology
Methods
Pandemics
Patients
Pediatric emergencies
Pediatrics
Simulation
Simulation methods
Six Sigma
Telemedicine
Utilization
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Summary:Inadequate staffing and long waiting times in hospital emergency rooms are key concerns that can have a negative impact on patient safety and health, as well as the hospital’s overall performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the scope of combining the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) methodology with discrete event simulation and to explore its successful deployment in the Jordanian healthcare sector. The study discussed in this paper is based on a case study conducted utilizing the DMAIC and simulation technique and its application in reducing waiting time and enhancing overall system efficiency in Jordan’s Princess Rahma hospital’s pediatric emergency department. The study shows improvements in the performance of the process and thus productivity in the emergency department through adapting the combined Six Sigma DES methodology. The cycle time of the process was reduced by 73% of the present value, while simultaneously enhancing the total performance of the emergency department by 83%.
ISSN:2227-9717
2227-9717
DOI:10.3390/pr11020399