RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Using quality improvement methodology and tools to reduce patient wait time in a paediatric subspecialty rheumatology clinic
JF BMJ Open Quality
JO BMJ Open Qual
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e001550
DO 10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001550
VO 10
IS 4
A1 Garay, Bayardo
A1 Erlanson, Denise
A1 Binstadt, Bryce A
A1 Correll, Colleen K
A1 Fitzsimmons, Nora
A1 Hobday, Patricia M
A1 Hudson, Allison
A1 Mahmud, Shawn
A1 Riskalla, Mona M
A1 Kramer, Sara
A1 Xiong, Sheng
A1 Vehe, Richard K
A1 Bullock, Danielle R
YR 2021
UL http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/4/e001550.abstract
AB Our paediatric rheumatology clinic has experienced inefficient patient flow. Our aim was to reduce mean wait time and minimise variation for patients. Baseline data showed that most waiting occurs after a patient has been roomed, while waiting for the physician. Wait time was not associated with a patient’s age, time of day, day of the week or individual physician. We implemented a checkout sheet and staggered start times. After a series of plan–do–study–act cycles, we observed an initial 26% reduction in the variation of wait time and a final 17% reduction in the mean wait time. There was no impact on patient–physician contact time. Overall, we demonstrate how process improvement methodology and tools were used to reduce patient wait time in our clinic, adding to the body of literature on process improvement in an ambulatory setting.No data are available. Deidentified participant data were used in this study. Data are not in a repository and are not available for reuse.