Applied research of appointment checkup process optimization based on the theory of constraints
	    		
		   		
		   			
		   		
	    	
    	 
    	10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-6672.2018.06.010
   		
        
        	
        		- VernacularTitle:基于约束理论优化预约检查流程的应用研究
 
        	
        	
        	
        		- Author:
	        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Yuhong GONG
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        			1
			        			
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Zengyu JIANG
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Yongmei ZHU
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Yueming ZHANG
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Zhibin XU
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Lulu YANG
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Xiaofang ZHANG
			        		
			        		
		        		
		        		
		        		
		        		
		        			
			        		
			        		Author Information
			        		
		        		
		        		
			        		
			        		
			        			1. 山西医科大学第一医院住院部
			        		
		        		
	        		
        		 
        	
        	
        	
        	
        		- Keywords:
        			
	        			
	        				
	        				
			        		
				        		Theory of constraints;
			        		
			        		
			        		
				        		Medical checkup;
			        		
			        		
			        		
				        		Appointment checkup process;
			        		
			        		
			        		
				        		Optimization
			        		
			        		
	        			
        			
        		
 
        	
            
            
            	- From:
	            		
	            			Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration
	            		
	            		 2018;34(6):477-481
	            	
            	
 
            
            
            	- CountryChina
 
            
            
            	- Language:Chinese
 
            
            
            	- 
		        	Abstract:
			       	
			       		
				        
				        	Objective To discuss the effect of the appointment checkup process optimized with the theory of constraints in shortening the appointment waiting time. Methods The patients who underwent ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging examination, and CT examinations were selected from the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from March 2017 to February 2018. Firstly, we applied the theory of constraints to investigate and analyze the status of medical technology examinations. Secondly, we optimized the process according to the results of the investigation. Finally, we compared the appointment duration of medical examinations before and after the optimization. Results Thanks to support of departments involved, the longest ultrasonography appointment waiting time was reduced from 3. 74 days to 1. 32 days. The longest appointment time for magnetic resonance imaging examination was reduced from 3. 74 days to 1. 33 days. The longest appointment waiting time for CT was reduced from 2. 62 days to 1. 55 days, and the goal of completing the checkup the day after the prescription was reached in the continuous improvement phase. Conclusions The optimization of the medical technology examination appointment process based on the constraint theory can effectively shorten the checkup appointment duration, maximize utilization of medical resources and optimize the services.