Ken Black

Integrating Six Sigma with Total Quality Management: A Case Example for Measuring Medication Errors

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Six Sigma is a new management philosophy that seeks a nonexistent error rate. It is ripe for healthcare because many healthcare processes require a near‐zero tolerance for mistakes. For most organizations, establishing a Six Sigma program requires significant resources and produces considerable stress. However, in healthcare, management can piggyback Six Sigma onto current total quality management (TQM) efforts so that minimal disruption occurs in the organization. Six Sigma is an extension of the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis that is required by JCAHO; it can easily be integrated into existing quality management efforts. Integrating Six Sigma into the existing TQM program facilitates process improvement through detailed data analysis. A drilled‐down approach to root‐cause analysis greatly enhances the existing TQM approach. Using the Six Sigma metrics, internal project comparisons facilitate resource allocation while external project comparisons allow for benchmarking. Thus, the application of Six Sigma makes TQM efforts more successful. This article presents a framework for including Six Sigma in an organizations TQM plan while providing a concrete example using medication errors. Using the process defined in this article, healthcare executives can integrate Six Sigma into all of their TQM projects.

Integrating Six Sigma and CQI for improving patient care

Examines Six Sigma as a strategy for improving service which tries to reduce defects and therefore improve a firm’s marketing position. Looks at how this as been applied in business and then examines its place in healthcare. Concludes that the few healthcare institutions that have implemented Six Sigma have done so in the interest of business and not so much in the area of patient care, where it is proposed that it will improve things dramatically.

RFIDs can improve the patient care supply chain.

Abstract Technologies that increase efficiency, enhance quality, and improve patient safety are essential for all healthcare organizations. Radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) seem to be right for this challenge. RFIDs can be integrated into all areas of the internal patient supply chain, serving as clearinghouses of information. By providing timely information on patients, processes, and equipment, RFIDs can save time and reduce costs while simultaneously improving quality and patient safety. Healthcare leaders owe it to all constituencies to take a serious look at what RFIDs can offer.

Essential characteristics of Six Sigma Black Belt candidates: a study of US companies

This paper presents the results of a survey designed to help identify the desired personal characteristics of potential Black Belt candidates in organisations. In addition, an attempt was made to find out if there were differences in these desired Black Belt candidate characteristics according to industry, gender, and number of Black Belts already in each organisation. The authors surveyed companies in a wide variety of industries in the USA that claimed to have implemented a Six Sigma programme. The results of the study showed that several characteristics were more essential than others in considering potential Black Belt candidates.

Error proofing healthcare: an analysis of low cost, easy to implement and effective solutions

Purpose – This study aims to provide healthcare managers with a meaningful synthesis of state of the art knowledge on error proofing strategies. The purpose is to provide a foundation for understanding medical error prevention, to support the strategic deployment of error proofing strategies, and facilitate the development and implementation of new error proofing strategies.Design/methodology/approach – A diverse panel of 40 healthcare professionals evaluated the 150 error proofing strategies presented in the AHRQ research monograph using classification systems developed by earlier researchers. Error proofing strategies were ranked based on effectiveness, cost, and ease of implementation as well as based on their aim/purpose, i.e. elimination, replacement, facilitation, detection, or mitigation of errors.Findings – The findings of this study include prioritized lists of error proofing strategies from the AHRQ manual based on the preferred characteristics (i.e. effectiveness, cost, ease of implementation) ...

Marketing child care in an urban setting

The purpose of this article is to present the types of marketing tools used in child care and the extent to which they are used. A study of related literature in service marketing reveals that many of the principles of marketing apply in child care. The results of a survey sent to child care centers in Atlanta, Buffalo, Kansas City, San Antonio, and Seattle are presented. The sample included 167 responses. The results are analyzed by geographic location and type of center. Methods of packaging and promoting child care centers are presented.