She shared five steps to implement Lean, and how they can be applied to OR turnover improvement.
1. Identify value. Improved turnover can increase patient and surgeon satisfaction as well as revenue from the ability to add more cases.
2. Identify the value stream. Each step of room turnover, including how patients are transported in and out of the room, needs to be defined and discussed.
3. Improve flow. Develop and test ideas for improving flow in the OR. For example, changing the organization of cleaning supplies may help, Ms. Ferrara wrote.
4. Achieve pull. Hardwire successful changes into everyday practice.
5. Perfect the process. Continually review the process to improve OR turnover.
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