| Recommended: If you want to learn more on this topic.. Unless you are willing to commit to a workshop with a TOC Expert, you cannot beat the educational material developed by Eli Goldratt, the originator of the Theory of Constraints. He is an amazing teacher. The 8 Videos in his Satellite Program are a best-buy for a company, intended for use by groups of employees. His provocative coverage of every industrial application of TOC challenges managers to think in new directions, and to recognize the sacred cows in their organization and their own thinking. The 16-CD Self Learning Program is extracted from the same material but intended for use by individuals on their own PCs, rather than groups. The TOC Insights is a new interactive PC-based tool for individuals. As a TOC Expert I thought they were too "cute" ... until I used them with clients. They proved to be highly effective learning tools for the 5 major applications, and the Distribution and Supply Chain solution is documented in detail here for the first time anywhere. |
Planned: a Monthly TOC EZine This EZine is intended to be 100% practical, offering tips, advice and illustrations of users' experiences with the different TOC applications. TOC Experts with practical suggestions to real problems encountered with clients will also contribute. The EZine will promote the use of TOC in combination with other technologies, for improved results. We will be taking subscriptions soon. |
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Turnaround times in A&E slashed and maintained at a high level of performance Beds freed-up Trial in progress: increasing the number of surgeries performed Potential benefits from trial: waiting-lists reduced |
Applying Theory of Constraints to Health Care: fast, major improvements in Emergency & Accident performance (and more)
Please note: data is available to support all claims made below.
When the UK government set a 4-hour standard for Accident & Emergency treatment (as I understand it, in 4 hours you must be back home, in a hospital bed, or dead ... I think I can see some undesirable side effects to this standard, surely I must be stating it incorrectly!) the performance in many hospitals was dismal.
When the first implementation of Theory of Constraints was only 90 days old, in Milton Keynes, the results were already spectacular; and soon more than 90% of all incoming cases were treated within the time guidelines. This subsequently increased ... even as volumes of incoming increased with the 'flu season and the closing of a nearby hospital's department.
Repeatable results
Understandably, more trials were conducted, in another 5 hospitals. Results were virtually identical. So, more hospitals have now undertaken implementations. At the same time, hospitals in several other countries have shown an interest in the Theory of Constraints, and international implementations are imminent.
Not only A&E
Results were not confined to the A&E function. TOC techniques were also applied to the far-end of the process; to the task of getting patients out of hospital beds and into their homes again. The outcome was as predicted by the TOC Experts ... the average stay was substantially reduced, and a high percentage of beds were freed-up.
This then created space for more surgeries to be performed, and the Theory of Constraints is currently being implemented in at least one hospital with the aim of enabling more surgeries to be safely performed, thereby shrinking the waiting list.
Results will be published.