New Zealand Bayside Health Lean Team Members Anthony Ball Leanne Smith

Project Aim & Plan Project aim: Reduce the lead time for urgent neurology referrals from ED to outpatients by 20% by 15/11/06 Project Plan: Consultation with owners of process and stakeholders Value stream map Identification of waste Root cause analysis Kaizen Blitz Look to long term IT based solution

Current State Value Stream Map

Key Wastes Motion Rework Missing Information (defects) Misinformation (defects) Waiting

Key baseline statistics Key stats for Neurology referrals: Appointments available per month: 70*  *26 of these appointment are available on the first Tuesday of the month, the remaining appointments are available each Friday Number of total referrals to neurology: 120 Can only see 58% of referrals (assuming every patient arrives for their appointment). It is essential that available slots are allocated to most urgent cases. Hence the importance of a comprehensive referral. Key Stats for ED referrals: ED makes on average 16 referrals to Neurology outpatients per month (4 per week) 100% of referrals from ED have been incomplete in terms of missing information

Kaizen Blitz Actions: Educate clerical staff on importance of updated patient information including address and phone details. Redesign referral form to include tick box for information sheet Education for medical staff on importance of listing investigations done and to give patient information form.

Outcome Education of Medical and Clerical Staff Clerical staff are more confident / assertive in ensuring that medical staff complete all sections of the form A new Outpatient Form Designed – see below