A Kaizen Event is a coordinated session designed to make some type of improvement over a set period of time.
The work of our hospital’s obstetrics areas is obviously critical and meaningful. One member of the Antepartum Ultrasound department recently noted that a thing she particularly loves about her work is “when moms bring the babies back to us who weren’t expected to survive.”
When it comes to improving, SHARE members there see that there’s no better time than the present. Staff have long worked in Antepartum Ultrasound with concerns that have kept the department from being the best place to get and give care. A recent Kaizen Event provided a space to be heard and plan workflow improvements.
Sub-groups during the Kaizen Event brought together a mix of roles and got everyone talking. Together, they identified eight areas of opportunity and potential solutions in these categories:
SHARE members said that they thought the event was motivational: they were glad to be involved and listened to.
Staffing & lunches
Operational issues
Bottlenecks
Access
Protocols
Leadership & communication
Standards of respect
And a broader category of miscellaneous opportunities to keep track of space issues, learning, etc.
Although the proof will—as the saying goes—be in the pudding, SHARE members like Sandy Buoniconti and Trina Ratchman see this as a first step they can be optimistic about. We’re rooting for them, and looking forward to continuing to connect them with resources to help them be even better able to do work that makes a difference.
The Kaizen Event brought together High-Risk Obstetric Ultrasound Technologists with physicians and ASR’s in the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine. Together they met with Jonna Dube, the Senior Director of Ambulatory Services newly designated to lead the area; Department Manager Lynne Stewart; SHARE Organizer Bobbi-Jo Lewis; and SHARE Process Improvement Coach Marie Manna. The Event was facilitated by SHARE organizer Will Erickson.