Get Ready For Real Change with Three Simple Questions

November 11, 2019 | Authored by Dopkins Assurance Services Group

November 11, 2019 – Lean/Six Sigma methods (developed in the manufacturing sector) applied to improving processes in the service sector can be dramatically more effective by simply asking for input from the people who actually perform the work.

The process typically includes process mapping the As-Is workflow of problem areas, i.e. documenting how things are currently done. In medical practices for example, those problem areas are often administrative such as medical billing, front desk check-in, collections and patient scheduling.

A process map looks like a flow chart. It shows all the steps performed within a given process and who actually performs them. Populating these maps with accuracy though is key. In the old days a consultant might walk around with a clip-board and stop watch in hand, observing by “looking over the shoulders” of workers doing their day to day activity. For various operational and psychological reasons, this tactic never really generated much accuracy.

An often-over-looked approach to effectively mapping current workflow with accuracy and ultimately uncovering the hidden causes behind the workflow inefficiencies/waste is simply to ask the people doing the work, i.e. your “subject matter experts (SME’s)”.

Three simple questions is often all it takes: 

  1. What slows you down?
  2. What is a waste of your time?
  3. If you were king or queen for the day, what would you change?

With this information in hand, tremendous insight into improvement opportunities ultimately resulting in waste reduction is often gained quickly from your team of experts.  The resources of time and money freed up can then be redirected to activity that adds customer value.

In a similar project within a medical practice, (a few years before EHR), the internal project team discovered that nursing staff was consuming approximately $75,000 of their time looking for lost medical charts. Worse, critical activities were lacking such as triage and patient education. Once the root cause of the problem were understood, the As-Is process was redesigned into a new To-Be workflow and the $75,000 of nursing staff time was redirected to value-added patient care services.

You too can get started improving your workflow by asking your SME’s those three simple questions . . . and get ready for real change!

About the Author

Dopkins Assurance Services Group

Dopkins offers a full range of assurance services that can help improve your financial accuracy. From financial report preparation and audits of historical financial statements to preparation of an array of special attestation reports—we can help translate numbers into accurate management information so you can make knowledgeable decisions. For more information, contact Bart McGloin, CPA, CFE, CFF at bmcgloin@dopkins.com.

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