It is estimated that up to $390 billion is lost every year due to inefficient medical procedures. With this in mind, the scientific management theory is one, which looks into workflow systems within organizations (Logan & Angel, 2011). Its objective is to improve efficiency, most especially in the area of labor productivity. This paper looks at routines that are not efficient within healthcare service provision.
Studies have found that one of the most challenging efficiency areas is one of communication. Healthcare professionals face challenges with this aspect because of the unavailability of Wi-Fi in the workplace, the restriction from using text messaging and the ineffectiveness of pagers. It is estimated that secure text messaging could reduce economic loss by up to 50%, resulting in savings of up to $875,000 per hospital (Henry, 2015). Again, duplication of patient documentation is another source of inefficiency. With focus on documentation for up to 40% of the time, care professionals have much less time caring for patients, thereby improving inefficiency within the system. As a result, it is necessary to improve systems of documentation to reduce duplication through the creation of standardized forms (Henry, 2015).
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Again, patient flow issues are also one that concerns the efficiency of the care environment. Having patients who are moving from one department to another will bring about some issue. Nevertheless, the Institute of Healthcare Improvement suggests that redesigning system-wide processes to achieve optimal patient flow is necessary to eliminate these inefficiencies (Henry, 2015). Reviewing parking of patients, flow of patients, operating room scheduling and other services could improve efficiency. Finally, inappropriate hospital admissions are also responsible for inefficiency at the hospital. Where patients do not need to be admitted or are kept longer than necessary, inefficiency is bred. As a result, practitioners can be provided with a list of resources where they can send patients for additional care, if any is required.
Conclusively, care environments inefficiency is one that can be dealt with largely from the practitioner’s end, as much as hospital policy changes are required. Availing necessary information on the economic impacts of poor practices as well as alternatives can go a long way in reducing overall inefficiency and providing economical care.
References
Henry, J. (2015). 5 basic hospital inefficiencies and their quick fixes . Retrieved November 8, 2017, from Healthcare Dive: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/5-basic-hospital-inefficiencies-and-their-quick-fixes/361954/
Logan, P. A., & Angel, L. (2011). Nursing as a scientific undertaking and the intersection with science in undergraduate studies: implications for nursing management. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(3) , 407-417.
