5S, Just in Time (JIT), Action Period, PDSA...See what's happening in Ambulatory Care

Redesign Teams from the Health Centers left our Ambulatory Care Redesign Learning Session One (ACR:LS1) with the IHI ready for continued improvement. The Martinez Health Center Team began their action period (this is a time of testing using PDSA cycles) with a round of 5S in the storage and exams rooms of the Primary Care clinic. We have spread 5S in West County Health Center, North Richmond, Pittsburg and now Martinez.

 

What is 5S? What is Just in Time (JIT) See for yourself in the slides below which offer the 5S Week in Review. It's not a simple clean up, but a well thought out visual management system that begins with a deep understanding of the work and then reworking/designing the environment to support the work. Don't think you have an extra 1000 syringes taking up space in your office? The best way to find the answer is to "Go and See" for yourself. You may be surprised by what you find.
 

If you want to learn more or give feedback on how we can improve the process, contact the 5S team in your clinic or contact the CCRMC Blue Sky Unit/BSU (aka Lean Promotion Office).

Well done Martinez Health Center 5S Team and Team Leaders Cheryl and Amber.

More very soon,
Anna

Ambulatory Care Redesign Learning Session One

I have spent the last two days with frontline staff engaged in our Ambulatory Care Redesign project and I am energized and inspired by their efforts.   

The Ambulatory Care Redesign will improve how we deliver outpatient care by combining best practices with optimal care experiences for the best patient outcomes. Planning for this year-long effort began in early May in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). The IHI joined staff this week as they came together for the first of our group sessions to use improvement tools and share design ideas and best practices for creating patient-centered health homes.

The five teams working on this are made up of staff from a mix of small, medium and large sites and initially includes our Pittsburg, Concord, Martinez, and West County health centers and North Richmond Center for Health. Though the work is challenging, the teams are excited and committed to transforming our system, and so am I.

Below is a slideshow of the teams at work:

I talk more about our Ambulatory Care Redesign effort and other ongoing work at our Regional Medical Center and Health Centers in the July edition of our newsletter, The Update.

More very soon,

Anna