There are numerous applications for Health Information Systems (HIS) that support specific tasks in the clinical workflow. The Lean method has been used increasingly to optimize clinical workflows, by removing waste and shortening the delivery cycle time. There are a limited number of studies on Lean applications related to HIS. Therefore, we applied the Lean method to evaluate the clinical processes related to HIS, in order to evaluate its efficiency in removing waste and optimizing the process flow. This paper presents the evaluation findings of these clinical processes, with regards to a critical care information system (CCIS), known as IntelliVue Clinical Information Portfolio (ICIP), and recommends solutions to the problems that were identified during the study.

Healthcare organisations have started using quality management techniques. These techniques have been put to use in the last ten years to raise the standard of healthcare and its operations. The choice of these strategies is influenced by a variety of elements, including organisational requirements, objectives, and environment, in addition to the knowledge and resources that are accessible. The Lean method, which is one of the most widely used quality improvement techniques, is intended to increase process efficiency by removing wasteful non-value-added operations. Waste consumes resources but does not improve the quality or value of the good or service. Overproduction, waiting, transport, improper processing, superfluous inventory, waste of motion, and flaws are the seven most prevalent contextual synonyms for waste.

The Lean methodology is an effective choice for improving clinical workflow since it focuses on specific process elements, such workflow and issues, and then redesigned the processes by eliminating waste. The Lean approach only keeps the intermediate phases that bring value, eliminating those that waste time or personnel. When inefficient operations are eliminated or minimised, value is produced. By including products and services that are tailored to the needs of the consumer, value can also be raised. Without incurring additional expenditures, this goal could potentially be accomplished by reducing supply batches or cycle times.

To get the intended outcome in lean application design, cultural shifts must be taken into account. Numerous academics have noted the significance of cultural changes. Personnel find it challenging to adopt standardised work requirements because they believe they already know how to do the task correctly. This is especially true for long-tenured employees. When they are aware of the rationale behind standard operating procedures, employees are more likely to adhere to them. The establishment of a culture of continuous improvement and organisational learning is a major benefit of the Lean transformation. Continuous improvement is a crucial activity after the Lean approach has been put in place because it enables the tracking and evaluation of improvements.

By investigating a root cause analysis and identifying both value-added and non-value-added time, the Lean methodology may analyse the issue. We suggested enhancements in the form of greater teamwork and collaboration based on the findings. Additionally, we advocated for anaesthetists to use ICIP because of its interaction with HIS, which is based on a standard method of carrying out duties. We used the Lean methodology as a tool to assist us aligns the process, the people, and the technology with one another in order to improve efficiency and raise the quality of healthcare delivery. The viability of applying the Lean methodology while assessing the clinical procedure using the VSM and A3 tools. Before any clearly discernible effect can be established, we think that more work has to be done and concrete measures need to be implemented into the programme.

Anesthesiology and Clinical Science Research Journal publishes high-impact original work in all branches of anaesthesia, Critical Care Medicine, Translational and Clinical Sciences, Clinical Practice, and Technology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine, Pain Management.

Authors can submit their manuscripts as an email attachment to: aaacsr@alliedjournals.org

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Anesthesiology and Clinical Science Research.