Abstract
We often talk about improving or redesigning hospital processes or process chains without having a description of their characteristics in terms of, for example, the volume of patients that they cover and the types and amounts of resources that they consume. This chapter describes an approach and a tool for describing and analysing hospital processes that enables hospital managers and professionals to visualise the process chains followed by patients within a specialty and the interactions of patients with resources such as outpatient facilities, diagnostic facilities, beds, IC beds, operating theatres, nursing staff and specialists. A case study undertaken within a project setting is used to illustrate the approach.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Health Operations Management. Patient flow logistics in health care |
Editors | J. Vissers, R. Beech |
Place of Publication | London and New York |
Publisher | Routledge Taylor & Francis Group |
Pages | 97-115 |
ISBN (Print) | 0-415-32396-7 |
Publication status | Published - 2005 |