How to implement process improvement in healthcare

Process improvement is the practice of identifying, analyzing, and improving on an organization’s processes. Process improvement in healthcare refers to proactively bettering patient care in your practice or facility, with the overarching goals of better patient outcomes and operational excellence. By using a data-driven approach and improving on business practices that are already in place, you can create a better environment for your patients in the future.

Improving processes in any industry is a long-term, strategic initiative that’s continuous and ongoing. It requires the participation of leadership and frontline employees. Organizations can’t achieve it using a top-down approach. Instead, gathering feedback from all levels of the healthcare organization and implementing iterative process improvement is the best way to reach goals.

1. Choose priorities carefully

One of the major hurdles that organizations face when implementing process improvement in healthcare is that they begin with too many priorities. With dozens of targets and KPIs, it can be challenging to focus on each area with the kind of concentration required to make a difference.

Instead, it’s best to select three to five priorities, such as improving quality of care and becoming financially efficient, and work toward achieving those metrics. Once the organization has met those priorities, it can move on to other goals.

2. Enhance the delivery of patient care

Regardless of the kind of healthcare organization, enhancing patient care should be one of the key objectives of process improvement. KPIs for this objective can include elements such as length of stay, mortality rate, and costs for admitted patients.

It’s vital to understand the entire patient experience — from the moment they call to book an appointment or walk through the doors to the time they’re discharged and no longer require care — and determine which points in the patient journey require streamlining.

3. Improve patient flow

Process improvement in healthcare should consider how to optimize the flow of individual patients within the hospital or clinic. By doing so, healthcare organizations can reduce patient wait times and staff overtime.

This can also lead to better patient outcomes. For example, if a patient has appointments with multiple departments during one visit, what’s the best course of action? Should they visit the obstetrics department first, or is it more efficient to begin in cardiology?

4. Create a common language

Employees in the healthcare field, especially frontline workers, may not be familiar with process improvement methodologies like Six Sigma and Lean. Introducing new ways of working with an unfamiliar language can be stressful and confusing.

In many healthcare organizations, process improvement may be more successful if you use plain language instead, ensuring healthcare staff can relate to process improvement methodologies by translating them into healthcare-specific terms.

5. Prioritize process KPIs

The key KPIs in process improvement are related to patient outcomes. However, it’s also important to keep an eye on metrics related to the processes themselves, such as how long a particular process takes. Through this analysis, healthcare organizations can get a handle on which processes may be negatively affecting patient outcomes and then streamline their workflows.

6. Celebrate early impact

Process improvement in healthcare, as in any industry, is a long-term initiative, not a passing fad. It can take time for staff to get used to a new way of working, and some employees may not initially feel comfortable with the organization’s process changes.

As a result, it’s important to celebrate the initial impact of the process improvements and showcase quick wins publicly. This helps to build more faith in the process improvement initiatives and encourages healthcare staff to continue seeking ways to streamline workflows.

7. Focus on the data

Regardless of which process improvement methodologies the healthcare organization uses, such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen, it’s vital to have a data-driven approach. Measuring process KPIs for the key areas of focus will help organizations detect early wins and potential problems — and work to resolve them expediently.

A data-first approach is also necessary in the continuous improvement methodology, where iterative changes over a long period of time lead the organization to reach its objectives.

Process improvement in healthcare is a long-term journey to better patient care and operational efficiency. By homing in on the priorities and working to improve the entire patient journey through a data-driven approach, healthcare organizations can reach their targets and ensure better patient outcomes.

How Jotform Workflows can help with process improvement in healthcare

In healthcare, efficient processes are crucial for delivering high-quality patient care and ensuring smooth operations. Jotform offers a comprehensive set of tools that help healthcare organizations automate tasks, streamline workflows, and improve data management.

With Jotform Workflows, healthcare teams can set up automated processes without any coding. The platform’s drag-and-drop interface enables users to build custom workflows tailored to their specific needs, from patient intake to appointment scheduling and beyond. Using conditional logic, healthcare providers can create dynamic forms and processes that adapt to different inputs, making workflows smarter and more responsive.

Another key advantage is that Jotform helps healthcare organizations meet compliance standards. Jotform’s HIPAA-enabled forms keep your patients’ data safe and secure. 

Overall, Jotform empowers healthcare providers to automate key processes, reduce manual tasks, and focus on what matters most — delivering quality care to patients.

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