Flowcharting Paul King V. U. School of Engineering Paul King V. U. School of Engineering

Overview This Lecture will overview flowcharting of processes. Elementary to detailed charting will be covered.

Why Flowchart??? Document the process. Allow study of roadblocks Allow display of timing & conditionals. Provide a communication tool.

Examples to follow: Hinge Manufacture Hypertension Clinic #1 Hypertension Clinic #2 The ideal? ABET Diagram Breast Cancer Clinic.

Hypertension Clinic - Flow Study #1 Patient enters, signs in, waits in waiting room until called Patient goes to weigh-in room, weight & pulse rate taken, medications reviewed (RN). Patient goes to new waiting room. Patient is sent to room, put on bed, lights out, 2 minute wait, BP taken (RN). Patient to waiting room Patient to clinic room...

Hypertension Clinic - Flow Study #1, Continued Patient interviewed by MD or Resident/MD, BP taken? Patient medications reviewed, lifestyle, needs. Patient discharged & rescheduled and tests ordered if necessary or admitted...

Delay Delay Delay Delay Overall waiting time: Actual patient interaction 7 Flowchart: Hypertension Clinic # 1

Discussion Using delay symbols for patient wait states stresses delays Each delay is in fact a wait for event, simplified here. Waiting times may be expressed as here, or as color bars for easy identification of outlier cases Actual overall waiting times have ranged up to 100 minutes

Delay Delay Delay Overall waiting time: 9-50 Actual patient interaction 7 Flowchart: Hypertension Clinic #2

Discussion Using delay symbols for patient wait states stresses delays Overall delay time has dropped. Delay 2 & 3 may be combined... Actual overall waiting times have decreased

Time in-out 7-20 Future Clinic Structure?

Discussion While the chart is more complicated, the process is easier for most patients. MD time is utilized for “needy” patients. RN time is used for less needy. Many patients will be status quo. This is approximately the dentist office model..

The Two Loops of EC2000 Establish Indicators that Objectives are Being Achieved Determine How Outcomes will be Assessed Determine How Outcomes will be Achieved Determine Outcomes Required to Achieve Objectives Determine educational objectives Evaluate/Assess Input from Constituencies Formal Instruction Student Activities

Discussion Flowcharting in this fashion is far more powerful than the written text. Flowcharts can be used to make a point of interactions between several factors.

Typical Undergraduate Flowcharting Project Breast center, 50 patients a day Categorize (normal v next step) Interview a subset Observe interactions and flow over three months Walk through the problem. Interview staff. Flowchart data, analyze data, recommend changes.

PATIENT FLOW ANALYSIS OF VANDERBILT BREAST CENTER Michelle E. Kandcer, B.S. Doris Quinn, PhD, Advisor

PROJECT DEFINITION The goal of this project is to assess and to improve the patient flow process in Vanderbilt’s Breast Cancer Center. Patient responses will be of significant consideration.

OBJECTIVES To create a flowchart in (Micrografx Flow-Charter 7.0) that will describe the current patient flow process. To highlight weaknesses of the process. To emphasize (on the flowchart) patients’ feelings regarding the process. To make suggestions as to how to improve the current process.

SIGNIFICANCE The American Cancer Society estimates that 178,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone and that 3,900 of these women will be from Tennessee. Furthermore, another 43,500 women will die because of this disease. * Currently, more than 50 women per day utilize services provided by the Cancer Center.

WORK COMPLETED Flow of Pre -Registration

WORK COMPLETED Flow of Registration

WORK COMPLETED Process Flow for those Needing Mammograms

WORK COMPLETED Process Flow for those Needing Mammograms (continued)

WORK COMPLETED Process Flow for those Not Needing Mammograms

WORK COMPLETED Process Flow for those Not Needing Mammograms (continued)

Summary Flowcharting works!. Flowcharting is a useful tool.