36x60 poster template

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Lean Kaizen Event Targets Delays in Pre-analytic
Processes Matthew Sergent, Andre Carelock, Renee
White Carolinas Laboratory Network, Carolinas
Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
Carolinas Medical Center Uncompromising
Excellence, Commitment to Care
ABSTRACT

• Non-value added activities and waste included
• Each employee working independently of others
• Waste of motion delivering samples
• Handling phone support
• Excessive traffic in the area
• Lack of structure and organization
• Challenged with how we utilized space

A corporate management assessment of nursing
complaints regarding laboratory related events
identified delays as the single most frequent
event causing concerns with laboratory
performance. Pre-analytic processes were
targeted as a significant contributor to delays.
Our laboratory engaged in a two week Lean Kaizen
event to identify and modify the pre-analytic
processes responsible for the majority of these
delays.
RESULTS
OBJECTIVES
Post-Lean workflow

• Reduce waste in process contributing to delays
• Improve throughput
• Reduce complaints from nursing departments
• Improve core laboratory testing turn around times

INVESTIGATION
CONCLUSIONS
Our pre-Lean workflow presented challenges

This project was our second Lean Kaizen effort
targeting pre-analytic processes and was a
tremendous success. Complaints from nursing
regarding testing delays have decreased on
average by 75 and continue to decline. A
dysfunctional workflow was replaced with our new
process that maintains optimal flow and gives a
sole person responsibility for transport of all
specimens. Remaining processors can stay on task
thus improving our accession per hour production
by more than 125. This ultimately leads to
improved turn around times for our core
laboratory testing.