Hospital Workflow Analysis is a term that many have heard but few can clearly define. The importance of performing hospital workflow analysis prior to any system implementation should not be overlooked. After all, if you do not understand how staff and systems currently work, then how can you properly prepare for change?
Workflow Analysis can be defined as an assessment and evaluation of current operational processes within a system to identify opportunities for improvement, focusing on processes that will likely require redesign.
Some of the benefits of performing a workflow analysis are:
- Saves money by reducing unnecessary rework
- Increases customer satisfaction
- Obtain results quicker as processes have been streamlined
- Increase accountability and transparancy
- Serves as a template that can be applied to similar processes
AMS’ project approach consists of observing current processes and discussing with “affected” staff or end-users their role in the specific process, including administrative staff, RNs, providers, and ancillary services. The key is to understand the current hospital workflow and overarching culture of the environment.
With a new system implementation, for example, current processes are documented via flow charting/process mapping so that AMS can provide documentation on how and where the current processes need to change. AMS may meet with software vendors or perform a site visit to other user hospitals to investigate the successes and issues with similar implementation.
AMS documents any issues that may impact implementation and provides recommendations to assist in ironing out issues prior to Go Live. Once the processes have changed or systems implemented, AMS will assess if the processes outlined prior to Go Live match what is actually being performed and will re-engineer the hospital workflow as needed.
AMS works closely with their clients during the hospital workflow analysis. It has been proven that performing a thorough workflow analysis, combined with careful design, construction, implementation and support, can mitigate the risk of implementing new technology.