The ABC Hospital has a central laboratory which is located in the basement of OPD (Outpatient Department) block. The patient wards & Intensive care area are located from second floor onwards in IPD (In patient Department) block. The patient blood samples are collected by nursing team in respective ward & blood sample collection tube is labeled with bar-codes. The Hospital had installed fourteen stations Pneumatic chute system for transportation of bar codes blood samples from various patient wards, Intensive care units and operating room to laboratory. This has helped hospital to save transportation time from various places to laboratory so that blood samples reach lab sample collection area well in time. There is no dedicated staff assigned in each department for manual transportation of samples to laboratory. The laboratory design was such that sample collection station where pneumatic chute receiving station was installed was away from various functional areas like Biochemistry, hametatology and there was no visibility possible from sample collection area to respective functional area. There was no dedicated manpower stationed at sample collection area. This has resulted into delay in taking out sample from received pneumatic tube capsule especially at night time when only few technicians are working. The hospital had Laboratory Information system (LIS) as part of Hospital information system (HIS) module. The LIS had interfaced with equipment like chemistry analyzer, Immunoassay system & cell counter unit. The sample received from various areas in Hospital are processed & published in HIS after proper verification & authorization. There is defined turnaround time (TAT) for all tests. The defect of delayed turnaround time for blood report was very frequent despite hospital having pneumatic chute system. Even STAT i.e., urgent orders used to get delayed due to this issue. This delay result in MUDA i.e. wastes due to waiting. The nursing team keeps on calling Lab staff through phone on particular patient test results based on urgency The hospital medical administration team, Nursing team along with Clinical Engineering and laboratory team had detailed brainstorming session on above defect using PDCA. It was noticed that there was no standard SOP to regularly check the arrival of samples by technicians from sample collection area. There was no monitoring of number of defects in week by Laboratory quality team. It was noticed that there is no visual & audible alarm when sample arrives at Lab from Pneumatic chute system. The possibility of shifting sample collection area was not feasible as pneumatic chute receiving station cannot be disturbed in running hospital. The clinical engineer took initiative in further automation in pneumatic chute. The motion sensor was installed in rail through which pneumatic capsule used to come. The motion sensor is used to trigger visual & audible alarm to technician in Biochemistry area. This enabled technician to immediately visit sample collection for sample collection. Question: What are the various problems stated in this case study? If given an opportunity, how would you apply the concept of poka yoke in this situation?

Practical Management Science
6th Edition
ISBN:9781337406659
Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Chapter12: Queueing Models
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The ABC Hospital has a central laboratory which is located in the basement of OPD (Outpatient Department) block. The patient wards & Intensive care area are located from second floor onwards in IPD (In patient Department) block.

The patient blood samples are collected by nursing team in respective ward & blood sample collection tube is labeled with bar-codes. The Hospital had installed fourteen stations Pneumatic chute system for transportation of bar codes blood samples from various patient wards, Intensive care units and operating room to laboratory. This has helped hospital to save transportation time from various places to laboratory so that blood samples reach lab sample collection area well in time. There is no dedicated staff assigned in each department for manual transportation of samples to laboratory.

The laboratory design was such that sample collection station where pneumatic chute receiving station was installed was away from various functional areas like Biochemistry, hametatology and there was no visibility possible from sample collection area to respective functional area. There was no dedicated manpower stationed at sample collection area. This has resulted into delay in taking out sample from received pneumatic tube capsule especially at night time when only few technicians are working.

The hospital had Laboratory Information system (LIS) as part of Hospital information system (HIS) module. The LIS had interfaced with equipment like chemistry analyzer, Immunoassay system & cell counter unit. The sample received from various areas in Hospital are processed & published in HIS after proper verification & authorization. There is defined turnaround time (TAT) for all tests.

The defect of delayed turnaround time for blood report was very frequent despite hospital having pneumatic chute system. Even STAT i.e., urgent orders used to get delayed due to this issue.

This delay result in MUDA i.e. wastes due to waiting. The nursing team keeps on calling Lab staff through phone on particular patient test results based on urgency

The hospital medical administration team, Nursing team along with Clinical Engineering and laboratory team had detailed brainstorming session on above defect using PDCA. It was noticed that there was no standard SOP to regularly check the arrival of samples by technicians from sample collection area. There was no monitoring of number of defects in week by Laboratory quality team. It was noticed that there is no visual & audible alarm when sample arrives at Lab from Pneumatic chute system. The possibility of shifting sample collection area was not feasible as pneumatic chute receiving station cannot be disturbed in running hospital.

The clinical engineer took initiative in further automation in pneumatic chute. The motion sensor was installed in rail through which pneumatic capsule used to come. The motion sensor is used to trigger visual & audible alarm to technician in Biochemistry area. This enabled technician to immediately visit sample collection for sample collection.

Question: What are the various problems stated in this case study? If given an opportunity, how would you apply the concept of poka yoke in this situation? (Explain in 300 words

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