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Technicians Conquer Swirl of Scratches
This optical lab team reduced scratches to eyeglass lenses by 94% in the first 4 months of the year after performing a step-by-step review of its lens production process.
Details
Why This Matters
- Minimizing scratches to eyeglass lenses during the production process reduces the need to replace them. That helps save costs and improve service to members and patients.
Test of Change
- Reviewing each step of the lens preparation procedure to identify and fix the problem causing scratches to new eyeglass lenses.
Tracking Time Yields Results
Wait time for lab results fell by 56% after team members adjusted their workflow and schedules.
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Why This Matters
- Delivering timely results reduces patient anxiety and enables physicians to diagnose and treat patients sooner.
Test of Change
- Documenting and tracking the time to process tissue specimens
Speedy Slides Boost Service
On-time distribution of pathology slides increased 26 percent in two years, and People Pulse Work Unit Index score improved 30 percent.
Details
Why This Matters
- Physicians rely on analysis of the slides to diagnose and treat patients.
Test of Change
- The team used a visual display board that helped it track turnaround times.
Teams Collaborate to Ease Workload
Processing HPV tests now takes less than half the time, so the workload increase has been absorbed with no extra staff.
Details
Why This Matters
- Colorado labs process two widely used tests central to Kaiser Permanente’s preventive care approach that detect disease early when treatment is highly effective.
Test of Change
- Teams cross-trained each other on new equipment and on the processes within the two departments.
Giving Patients a Voice
Improvements suggested by a parent advisory council ease the stress of new moms and dads whose babies are in the NICU.
Details
Why This Matters
- Unit-based teams make innovations that have a big impact when they include patients in their improvement efforts.
Test of Change
- Members of this NICU host a bimonthly parent advisory council and include moms and dads members in the department’s tests of change