Standardization of elective hospitalization process in polyclinics of the Moscow region using lean technologies

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of lean technologies for standardization of elective hospitalization process in outpatient polyclinics of the Moscow region. Material and methods. The study was conducted in 2 polyclinics of the Moscow region. Value stream mapping, time tracking, and patient surveys were used. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for elective hospitalization were developed and implemented. Results. Lean technologies enabled creation and adoption of unified SOPs. This resulted in a 5—6-fold reduction of time for patient registration for elective hospitalization, decreased number of polyclinic visits from 6.2 to 2.4, and significant increased patient satisfaction from 31% to 68%. Opening of specialized hospitalization rooms made it possible to achieve a throughput of up to 800 patients per month. Patient pathway standardization eliminated duplicate examinations, reduced time and logistical costs, as well as improved process transparency and manageability. Conclusion. Organizational technology for standardizing the elective hospitalization process based on lean technologies is effective and reproducible at pilot sites in the Moscow region. These results may be recommended for adoption in other regions of Russia, taking into account local conditions.