Flowchart for a Process Essay

The Pre-Admissions Testing (PAT) department at Good Samaritan Medical Center conducts pre-operative testing on almost every patient scheduled for surgery. The pre-surgical process from start to finish is more time-consuming than it has to be. This paper will identify a specific process, and design a flowchart that gives a visual of the pre-surgical process. The flowchart will show the various factors that affect the design process, and highlight the specific process. By designing a flowchart for the process, the intent is to identify the amount of time, redundancy of calls made to the patient, and initiate ideas to make the process more efficient. Factors Affecting Process Design Factors that affect the process design are 1. Is the patient scheduled as soon as the reservation is received? 2. Is the pre-admissions department notified in a timely manner for next day add- ons? 3. Is the patients contact information correct? Each factor mentioned has a huge impact on the outcome of the pre-admission process. Additional factors that affect the process design are 1. Incorrect spelling of names 2. Incorrect booking status 3. Surgery cancellations and updating surgical schedule in a timely manner Indentified Metric The metrics identified to measure the process is time, efficiency, and productivity. The following data gives a brief description of the daily activities, and the flowchart gives a description of the PAT process. Week# 1 Tuesday – 01/28/13- Scheduled several appointments; two patients showed up for appointments that were not on the schedule and had to be rescheduled due to the schedule being full. Several patients were called two or three times due to lack of communication. Called doctor offices to get correct patient phone numbers. Wednesday- 01/29/13- Had to made several doctor offices to get correct patient phone numbers. Patient was added to the schedule and PAT was not notified. Patients were rushed to come in because he was asked to come in at the last minute. Thursday-01/30/13- Had to call doctors’ offices to get correct phone numbers. Patients arrived that were not on the scheduled and the wait time was over one hour. Patients contacted after their surgery was cancelled because PAT was not notified that the surgery was cancelled. Friday- 01/31/13- Several doctors’ offices had to be contacted to get correct phone numbers. Contacted patients that were added on the schedule. Conversed with scheduling, regarding errors and incorrect information on surgery schedule also mentioned incorrect phone numbers. I work a ten-hour workday and as shown, a large amount of time goes into getting correct phone numbers, rescheduling patients, and re-calling patients that have already been contacted. Due to the inefficiency in the PAT department, the number of patients that are seen on a daily basis are limited. With several minor changes the PAT department could run more efficiently and the employees will have less stress. Pre-Admissions Testing Process Flowchart Missing References – .2 Point When writing academic papers a minimum of one reference should be provided which would be your course text. This demonstrates that you read the course text and can apply it to the topic of the paper. No references indicate a paper that reflects personal opinion only and does not demonstrate application of course concepts covered in the reading material for the week. Week 1 Grading Design a Flowchart for a Process Assignment Content and Development 6 Points| Points Earned6/6| Select a process you perform daily but would like to spend less time doing, such as driving to work. Design a flowchart using an appropriate tool.Comment on the factors that affect the process design. Identify at least one metric to measure the process.Submit your flowchart for the process.| Inez,You have provided: 1. An explanation about the process chosen to improve 2. A flowchart of the process which uses the flow chart symbols appropriately as described in Week 1 readings 3. A discussion about the factors that affect the process design 4. An identification of at least one metric to measure the process that data will be collected against for completion of students Week 5 Statistical Process Control Improvement Plan| Readability and Style 1 Point| Points Earned1/1| The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. Sentences are complete, clear, and concise.| * Central theme/purpose is immediately clear * Structure is clear, logical, and easy to follow| Mechanics 1 Points| Points Earned.8/1| The paper is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles, and white space.Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed.Spelling is correct.| * Rules of grammar, usage, punctuation are followed * Spelling is correct * APA issue as noted in your assignment – .2 Point| Total 8 Points| Points Earned7.8/8| Chapter 5 Page 154 What Is A Process? A process is any part of an organization that takes inputs and transforms them into outputs that are of greater value to the organization than the original inputs. Page 157 How Is A Process Represented? Often the activities associated with a process affect one another so that it is important to consider the simultaneous performance of a number of activities, all operating at the same time. A good way to start analyzing a process is with a diagram showing the basic elements of a process, typically tasks, flows, and storage areas. Tasks are shown as rectangles, flows as arrows, and the storage of goods or other items as inverted triangles. Sometimes flows through a process can be diverted in multiple directions depending on some condition. Decision points are depicted as a diamond with the different flows running from the points on the diamond. Process Flowchart Example Page 162 How Is The Performance Of A Process Measured?