Case Studies
The ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Association produces case studies on its member organizations across a wide range of health-care topics.
Troponin is a cardiac marker for acute myocardial infarction, making this lab test a key part of emergency management of chest pain patients. The project goal was to reduce turnaround time for troponin in a critical access hospital emergency department using Lean Six Sigma methodologies. Key…
The emergency department (ED) was experiencing extended lengths of stay for psychiatric patients, which was negatively impacting patient care, costs and throughput. These issues also impacted four of the five organizational goals, specifically those related to patient, staff and physician…
The goal of this project was to reduce the incidence of contrast-induced neuropathy (CIN) as a result of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). From January to May 2014, the cardiac catheterization lab completed 735 diagnostic-only procedures and 487 diagnostic and intervention procedures. The…
The organization sought to create a root cause analysis (RCA) structure that endowed greater focus, efficiency and effectiveness in the process. The health system had already broadly implemented a Lean Six Sigma-based (LSS) approach to quality improvement, which led to tremendous gains for the…
The organization used both discrete event and live simulation methodologies to ensure the smooth relocation of a perioperative services department. Within the Lean Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) framework, it examined current state process mapping, future state process…
Evidence-based practice supports early goal-directed therapy for patients with sepsis. Improving identification of and intervention methods for septic patients in the emergency department (ED) and inpatient units enhances patient safety, while reducing costs and mortality. By using Lean Six Sigma…
The 2012 New England Compounding Center tragedy and ongoing drug shortages have caused a dramatic increase in internal compounding at many tertiary hospital pharmacies. These increased demands, coupled with intravenous (IV) compounding room space constraints, exposed significant opportunity to…
Studies show lipase to be as sensitive as and more specific than amylase in diagnosing pancreatitis; performing amylase with lipase adds no value over lipase testing alone. Nonetheless, analysis of a tertiary emergency department (with 70,000 visits per year) between January and April 2014 revealed…
The CK-MB Test is a traditional blood test of a cardiac marker used to assist in the diagnosis of life-threatening acute coronary syndrome. Recent evidence shows that CK-MB testing adds no incremental benefit over troponin in such diagnostic assessments, although the two tests are frequently…
This project has decreased cycle time for medication reconciliation at time of admission and for documentation of the home medication list. The organization utilizes enhanced electronic health record functionality and pharmacy students hired as medication reconciliation technicians, who contact…