Volume 11, Issue 5 (Sep & Oct 2021)
J Research Health 2021, 11(5): 305-312 |
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Sabethosseini Dokht M, Yousefi M, Heidarian Miri H, Fazaeli S, Ebrahimipour H. Strengthening Hospital Capacity for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implementation of Electronic Patient Discharge. J Research Health 2021; 11 (5) :305-312
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1884-en.html
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1884-en.html
Mohaddeseh Sabethosseini Dokht1 
, Mehdi Yousefi 2, Hamid Heidarian Miri3 , Somayeh Fazaeli4 , Hossein Ebrahimipour1
, Mehdi Yousefi 2, Hamid Heidarian Miri3 , Somayeh Fazaeli4 , Hossein Ebrahimipour1
1- Department of Health Economics and Management Science, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2- Department of Health Economics and Management Science, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. , yousefimh@mums.ac.ir
3- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4- Department of Medical Records and Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2- Department of Health Economics and Management Science, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. , yousefimh@mums.ac.ir
3- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4- Department of Medical Records and Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract: (2059 Views)
Background: Increasing hospital capacity to cover the service demands is an important priority during an epidemic or a pandemic. The aim of this study was to increase hospital capacity using the Six Sigma method to improve the patient discharge process.
Methods: This was a quantitative study. The Pre- and post-intervention study was conducted in a big hospital designated for COVID-19 patients. The patient discharge process was evaluated and improved based on seven sub-processes and following the Six Sigma model, including defining the problem, measuring time in each of the discharge stations, analysis times and process, improvement process, and control.
Results: Implementation of the electronic patient discharge led to a 51.9% decrease in discharge time from 7.3 h during the pre-intervention period to 3.8 h post-intervention (P< 0.0001). According to the Sigma level, the yield and defects per million opportunities of the discharge process also improved to 55%.
Conclusion: Increasing hospital capacity by improving the discharge time is a quick action to cover the demand created during pandemics. Also, about 32 beds can be obtained by applying the Six Sigma model to improve the discharge process in a short time and at a very low cost.
Methods: This was a quantitative study. The Pre- and post-intervention study was conducted in a big hospital designated for COVID-19 patients. The patient discharge process was evaluated and improved based on seven sub-processes and following the Six Sigma model, including defining the problem, measuring time in each of the discharge stations, analysis times and process, improvement process, and control.
Results: Implementation of the electronic patient discharge led to a 51.9% decrease in discharge time from 7.3 h during the pre-intervention period to 3.8 h post-intervention (P< 0.0001). According to the Sigma level, the yield and defects per million opportunities of the discharge process also improved to 55%.
Conclusion: Increasing hospital capacity by improving the discharge time is a quick action to cover the demand created during pandemics. Also, about 32 beds can be obtained by applying the Six Sigma model to improve the discharge process in a short time and at a very low cost.
Type of Study: Orginal Article |
Subject:
Health Protection
Received: 2020/06/29 | Accepted: 2021/06/15 | Published: 2021/10/1
Received: 2020/06/29 | Accepted: 2021/06/15 | Published: 2021/10/1
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