A method to improve a job process at a hospital using the "Unit process flow chart"

Ryoko Shimono*, Satoko Tsuru, Yoshinori Iizuka, Shogo Kato, Masahiko Munechika, Masaaki Kaneko

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The development of methods to improve the quality of services provided at hospitals has been essential owing to the inadequacy of arrangements for standard procedures and the inadequacy of work instructions based on such procedures. In this paper, we propose a method that involves the following steps: description of the job process, analysis of the causes of incidents, and the planning of improvements for the relevant job process. This method describes a healthcare process using a set of unit process flow charts (UPFCs), which are structured and standardized modules represented in the form of flow charts that elucidate the elements of jobs. Describing a job in this manner allows for an appropriate and in-depth analysis of the causes of incidents that occur during a job process, owing to the fact that the structure and description of the characteristics of relevant unit processes are properly designed. In this paper, we provide a detailed explanation of how this method was developed. Lastly, we apply the method to actual cases at a hospital to illustrate its effectiveness in comparison with the systems that are currently in place.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConnecting Health and Humans - Proceedings of NI2009
Subtitle of host publicationThe 10th International Congress on Nursing Informatics
PublisherIOS Press
Pages15-19
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781607500247
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Jan 1
Event10th International Congress on Nursing Informatics: Connecting Health and Humans, NI2009 - Helsinki, Finland
Duration: 2009 Jun 282009 Jul 1

Publication series

NameStudies in Health Technology and Informatics
Volume146
ISSN (Print)0926-9630
ISSN (Electronic)1879-8365

Conference

Conference10th International Congress on Nursing Informatics: Connecting Health and Humans, NI2009
Country/TerritoryFinland
CityHelsinki
Period09/6/2809/7/1

Keywords

  • Improvement of job process
  • Quality of healthcare
  • Unit process

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Health Informatics
  • Health Information Management

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