Morales-Contreras MF, Chana-Valero P, Suárez-Barraza MF, Saldaña Díaz A, García García E, et al.
International journal of environmental research and public health. Date of publication 2020 Jul 22;volume 17(15):.
1. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 22;17(15). pii: E5273. doi:
10.3390/ijerph17155273.
Applying Lean in Process Innovation in Healthcare: The Case of Hip Fracture.
Morales-Contreras MF(1), Chana-Valero P(2), Suárez-Barraza MF(3), Saldaña Díaz
A(4), García García E(2).
Author information:
(1)Department of Management, ICADE, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ICADE, 28015
Madrid, Spain.
(2)Fundación San Juan de Dios, Centro de CC de la Salud San Rafael, Universidad
Nebrija, 28036 Madrid, Spain.
(3)International Business Department, School of Business and Economy, Universidad
de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), Puebla 72810, Mexico.
(4)Hospital San Juan de Dios León, 24010 León, Spain.
Academic literature and practitioners acknowledge that there is a need to improve
efficiency and service quality in the healthcare industry. In Spain, osteoporotic
fractures represent a great cost in socio-economic and morbi-mortality terms, hip
fracture being the surgical pathology with the second highest consumption of
resources. The research questions that govern this study concern the use of Lean
principles to identify waste, and an evaluation of the application of an
innovative approach in the hip fracture surgery process. A research design based
on a case study and action research was developed. Findings relate to (i) the
identification of the main types of waste or muda (being the most frequent delay,
transportation, over-processing and defects); (ii) the analysis of existing
processes based on a Lean approach (identifying opportunities for improvement as
a reduction of the number of steps and participants, improving communication,
automation, standardization, etc.); and (iii) the application of an innovative
process based on the Lean approach and action research in the healthcare
industry. This research provides insights for academia, practitioners,
management, and society: waste identification and process redesign helps to
continue the improvement of operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and
enhance services, providing benefits to patients, families, hospital employees,
and the healthcare system.
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17155273
PMCID: PMC7432005
PMID: 32707826 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
