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Nursing

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/24

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Author: search.filters.author.Teeling, Sean PaulSubject: search.filters.subject.Person-centred

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    Using a person-centred model of Lean Six Sigma to support process improvement within a paediatric primary eye care clinic
    (Emerald, 2025-12-11) Bourke, Christine; Mullaniff, Aaron; Tang, Bobby; Waya, Oriyomi; Teeling, Sean Paul
    Purpose Process improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma are increasingly being deployed to address inefficiencies in healthcare. Simultaneously, global policy and strategy development stress the value of person-centredness in healthcare. This paper examines the application of a Person-Centred Lean Six Sigma Model (PCLSSM) to improve processes in a paediatric eye care clinic, specifically focusing on streamlining the referral system and optimising the clinic environment. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental, single-site, pretest–posttest study was conducted over nine months using the Lean Six Sigma define, measure, analyse, improve and control (DMAIC) framework. Data were gathered through Voice of the Customer (VOC) sessions, Gemba observations, process mapping and referral letter audits. Key stakeholders, including clinicians, administrative staff and parents, co-designed the interventions to enhance efficiency and patient experience. Findings The application of the PCLSSM resulted in a 46% increase in right-first-time referral accuracy, a 20% reduction in referral processing time, a 13% increase in staff confidence in the referral system, a 158% improvement in staff satisfaction with workload and a 104% rise in child and parent satisfaction with their clinic experience. The implementation of an electronic referral system and an improved clinic environment contributed to these improvements. Originality/value This study is the first to integrate a person-centred approach with Lean Six Sigma in paediatric ophthalmology. The findings demonstrate the potential of combining process improvement methodologies with person-centred principles to enhance operational efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction. This approach can serve as a model for similar outpatient settings seeking to improve service delivery and patient experience.
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    Using a combined Lean and person-centred approach to support the resumption of routine hospital activity following the first wave of COVID-19
    (MDPI, 2022-02-27) Daly, Ailish; Teeling, Sean Paul; Garvey, Suzanne; Ward, Marie; McNamara, Martin
    The unexpected advent of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden disruption of routine medical care, with a subsequent reorganization of hospital structures and of care. Case studies are becoming available in the literature referring to the logistical difficulties involved in a hospital resuming normal activity following the first COVID-19 lockdown period. This paper details the experience of a study site, a private hospital in Dublin, Ireland, in the redesign of service delivery in compliance with new COVID-19 prevention regulations to facilitate the resumption of routine hospital activity following the first wave of COVID-19. The aim was to resume routine activity and optimize patient activity, whilst remaining compliant with COVID-19 guidelines. We employed a pre-/post-intervention design using Lean methodology and utilised a rapid improvement event (RIE) approach underpinned by person-centred principles. This was a system-wide improvement including all hospital staff, facilitated by a specific project team including the chief operation officer, allied therapy manager (encompassing health and social care professionals), infection prevention and control team, head of surgical services, clinical nurse managers, patient services manager and the head of procurement. Following our intervention, hospital services resumed successfully, with the initial service resumption meeting the organizational target of a 75% bed occupancy rate, while the number of resumed surgeries exceeded the target by 13%. Our outpatient visits recovered to exceed the attendance numbers pre-COVID-19 in 2019 by 10%. In addition, patient satisfaction improved from 93% to 95%, and importantly, we had no in-hospital patient COVID-19 transmission in the study period of July to December 2020.