Lean Healthcare - The Use of Value Stream Maps in Healthcare

ISE 468 ETM 568Spring 2015 Dr. Joan Burtner

Spring 2015 ISE 468 ETM 568 Dr. Joan Burtner Slide 2

What is a Value Stream?

Value stream: A sequence of processes that are connected by a common customer, product, or service request.

Value stream map (VSM): The visual representation of the processes (work units and information required) to meet a customer demand

Value-added (VA) time: “The time element that the customer is willing to pay for” *

Non value-added: (NVA) “The part of the process that the customer will not pay for” *

Total cycle time: The time for completion of a process or group of tasks that have a common element. It is calculated by adding up the individual cycle times for the value stream. This includes VA and NVA elements.

*Source: The Lean Healthcare Pocket Guide XL (2008) Authors: Debra Hadfield, RN MSN and Shelagh Holmes, RN

Spring 2015 ISE 468 ETM 568 Dr. Joan Burtner Slide 3

Value Stream Map Examples - Basic

Source: http://blog.minitab.com/blog/real-world-quality-improvement/how-to-use-value-stream-maps-in-healthcare Accessed March 20, 2013

Spring 2015 ISE 468 ETM 568 Dr. Joan Burtner Slide 4

Value Stream Map Examples - Complex

Source: dagazinc.com Accessed March 20, 2013

Spring 2015 ISE 468 ETM 568 Dr. Joan Burtner Slide 5

Value Stream Map Examples - Mixed

Source: http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patient-safety-resources/resources/toolkit/tkfig6.html Accessed March 20, 2013

Spring 2015 ISE 468 ETM 568 Dr. Joan Burtner Slide 6

Healthcare VSM - Basic Method

Draw process flow map

Collect data through observation or examination of historical records

Draw current state value stream map, including identification of value added and non value added processes

Evaluate current state value stream map Reduce time spent on value added steps if possible Eliminate or minimize time spent on value added steps Revise process as needed Develop future state VSM for planning purposes