Journal of Research and Health
مجله تخصصی پژوهش و سلامت
J Research Health
Medical Sciences
http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir
1
admin
2423-5717
2423-5717
8
10.29252/jrh
14
8888
13
en
jalali
1400
5
1
gregorian
2021
8
1
11
5
online
1
fulltext
en
Strengthening Hospital Capacity for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implementation of Electronic Patient Discharge
Health Protection
مقاله اصيل پژوهشي
Orginal Article
<strong>Background</strong>: 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.<br>
<strong>Methods</strong>: 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.<br>
<strong>Results</strong>: 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%.<br>
<strong>Conclusion</strong>: 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.<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>
COVID-19, Six sigma, Patient discharge, Hospital
305
312
http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1802-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Mohaddeseh
Sabethosseini Dokht
sabetHM1@mums.ac.ir
+98
100319475328460021089
No
Department of Health Economics and Management Science, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mehdi
Yousefi
yousefimh@mums.ac.ir
+98
100319475328460021090
Yes
Department of Health Economics and Management Science, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hamid
Heidarian Miri
heidarianhh@mums.ac.ir
+98
100319475328460021091
No
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Somayeh
Fazaeli
fazaelis@mums.ac.ir
+98
100319475328460021092
No
Department of Medical Records and Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hossein
Ebrahimipour
ebrahimipourH@mums.ac.ir
+98
100319475328460021093
No
Department of Health Economics and Management Science, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.