The Six Sigma methodology is becoming increasingly popular across a range of industries, with a particular focus on the healthcare industry. The healthcare sector has recently experienced significant advantages of the Six Sigma methods. Healthcare professionals, including doctors and management, are becoming aware of numerous issues that may negatively affect the quality of the healthcare services offered to the people they serve and are insisting on using this Six Sigma methodology in healthcare for improved results.

Through online Six Sigma certification courses, you will gain the required knowledge to boost the efficiency of your company. This article will give you the knowledge you need about the function and advantages of Six Sigma in healthcare and specific examples.

The Role of Six Sigma in Healthcare

The healthcare industry and stakeholders include hospitals, medical centres, clinics for diagnostic testing, health homes, and care homes. They deal with numerous patient information. Any error or omission in this data could have devastating consequences, which could risk patients' lives. It is, therefore, crucial to ensure the process and the workflow of the healthcare industry is perfect.

The approach based on data offered through Six Sigma for quality improvement in healthcare can provide substantial amounts of correction and improvements to the processes and systems in the field of healthcare. This is where the DMAIC Methodology plays a significant part.

Understanding DMAIC

Through the five steps from DMAIC, Six Sigma healthcare improves the quality of the methods and processes used in the healthcare sector.

Defines

First, you must answer questions regarding the objective to be reached. The goal is identified, and the needs of the customer, which, in this instance, are patients, are taken into account. Furthermore, the processes to be improved or measured are thoroughly studied, and the factors that affect their capabilities, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

Measure

With the help of metrics and statistical data, the level that can be considered adequate is identified. In general, metrics like service level, cost of service and clinical excellence, as well as the satisfaction of patients, are used to determine the quality of an operation within the healthcare industry. A standard to be met is established, as well as the techniques to measure it are also formulated.

Analyze

The required data is collected and analysed using the tools of Six Sigma to see what aspects of loopholes processes reveal.

Improve

Based on the collected and analysed information, a strategy is developed to make changes to the procedure and observe the improvement of these processes.

Control

The simple act of initiating improvement isn't enough. Thus, continuous monitoring must be performed to keep the level of improvement.

With Six Sigma's many methods and tools, patients' healthcare can improve to a satisfactory standard. We'll look at some Six Sigma healthcare examples later that will illustrate what six Sigma has improved patient care.

Six Sigma healthcare plays an important part in improving healthcare by eliminating the errors that occur throughout various processes, like scheduling patient appointments. However, lab turnaround times and patient outcomes increase significantly. The supply chain is now an easy process for insurance claims. Reimbursements are provided to the individual in need in a short time.

Six Sigma in Healthcare - Benefits

Following the corporate and industry, Six Sigma has also offered solutions to revolutionize the healthcare industry. The most well-known advantages of lean Six Sigma in healthcare can be found below.

Intercepting Mistakes

In healthcare, small data mistakes can greatly affect the patient's diagnosis and treatment, ultimately leading to serious health issues. Six Sigma Lean measures multiple operational scenarios using the data from.

From the various scenarios, the most effective option is picked that brings together all the players in the field of healthcare, like infrastructure, biological technology, medical practitioners, infrastructure, etc.

This reduces the chance of errors at their highest levels; it is not more than 4 out of a million observations! The impact of mistakes is detrimental to the entire medical process and therefore provides an advantage for the healthcare industry.

Facilitating Improvement in Patient Care

One of the six-sigma principles most important to the method is focusing on the customer's requirements. In healthcare, patients are the clients, and focusing on the needs of patients can improve healthcare.

Lean Six Sigma healthcare methodology changes the mindset of healthcare professionals, who begin to think of patients as their clients, whose satisfaction is their top goal.

Some of the essential aspects that aid the healthcare facilities in doing this include 24x7 emergency assistance, convenient appointments, accessibility for wheelchairs, a tidy space and so on. Six Sigma in healthcare emphasizes improving existing processes and resources and increasing the quality of healthcare services.

Increased Accessibility To Healthcare Services

Applying the six sigma methods to healthcare providers' processes can make services less expensive for patients and more available to more people. This is accomplished by identifying and eliminating waste to lower costs.

Reviewing the processes in healthcare can reveal actions and processes that lead to a waste of funds and don't contribute to the overall service.

Examples include over-employment of unneeded staff (such as during non-peak times), purchasing health information in large quantities and not being used, etc. Eliminating unnecessary expenses leads to better health care, which allows patients to get affordable and accessible health care.

Reducing The Lengths Of Stay

If you use the Six Sigma methodology to assist the health professionals in delivering more efficient patient care, their time spent in the hospital automatically decreases. The patient will experience an improvement in their health over a shorter period, not having to be there for longer.

This fulfils the purpose of social responsibility in the health facilities and their mission as a business.

Examples of Six Sigma Used Successfully in a Healthcare Setting

Patients have access to more information about healthcare providers than ever before, and the quality of healthcare is now considered one factor determining the healthcare provider that patients will select. Healthcare providers are increasingly looking at patient feedback and their perceptions as essential elements for improving quality, along with Six Sigma as the approach to evaluate and improve these aspects.

How To Get Certification in Lean Six Sigma Healthcare?

Achieving the certification of lean six Sigma in healthcare has become much easier than ever! With the six sigma green belt certification program provided by IMC Institute, you can be a part of improvement initiatives within your healthcare institution. With your knowledge and experience, you can change the company by providing direction to your team.

Through an online course that is not demanding, you can complete the Lean Six Sigma healthcare certification course from the comfort of your own home without no having to travel to a different location to leave your job. With the help of our highly trained trainers and the opportunity to work with real-world issues, it is possible to obtain the green belt certificate from an environment that is in your own home. Learn more about IMC Institute Six Sigma certification courses now!