Healthcare is a '3 LOCK BOX'

OK, now maybe that caught your attention or it didn't. For those of you that know, it is a reference to a Sammy Hagar song/ album of the same title. Now, this is pre-Van Halen Sammy, but still pretty good. Man, I could really start in on tackling the age old debate of Dave vs. Sammy. But, that is for another time. :)

I mention 3 Lock Box because I was thinking about the problem of healthcare and my 30 second elevator speech. I see the problem of healthcare as a process that needs some tweaking done to it. Think of the tagline, " OPTIMIZE THE PROCESS, MAXIMIZE THE PROFITS". This can cause some heartburn with folks, because when you add humans and profits into the mix it gets really personal and icky. ( ok, maybe not the most technical term)

So, now you are asking , What is this 3 lock box? Very simply, it is something that requires 3 keys to unlock it. And, this is how I see a path to optimizing our healthcare system. And, I believe that these items should be done regardless of what our 'leaders' in D.C., will hopefully deliver. ( yes, and I think that to would be another blog)

Also, a really interesting coincidence is I have 3 things that I roll out in my elevator speech. So, hear they are:

1. Improve the Quality of the Process, ie. " Do it right the first time"

2. Increase the Efficiency of the Process

3. Eliminate wasted Resources in the Process

And, then you say, "Thanks, and how do we do that?"

Let me take a stab and we can see how the conversation goes from there.

1. Improve the Quality

We need to make sure that correct tests are ordered, and then performed. Asking what the customer (patient) deems to be the true indicator(s) of success and work toward those goals. We need to insure that everyone get the right procedure, test, medication, whatever the very first time. To NOT do so is UNACCEPTABLE, but if it happens then we resolve it IMMEDIATELY and work to prevent it from occurring again. Mistakes happen but the key is to make sure they do not lead to something catastrophic.

Efforts need to be made to have this mindset applied to everyone involved with healthcare, AND this does include the patients.

The patients need to have a bit of self-responsibility for their own well-being. Are they doing everything they can to promote a healthy lifestyle? Are they following the advice of their physician?

Also, I think there needs to be a shift in the mindset of physicians as well. We seem to have a system that focus on dealing more with the symptom rather than the root-cause. From my manufacturing days, if you don't fix the root cause, then the problem keeps coming back. Root-cause analysis is a key focus on any REAL effort to improve the quality of a process. So, I know we need to change the focus of our healthcare to prevention rather than treatment.

2. Eliminate Wasted Resources

Originally, I had this 3rd but I moved it up because I feel it is important to remove "the excess of the system" and then you optimize what is left over.

So, here we need to remove anything that is NOT adding to the patient's experience or care. This is where a lot of savings can be generated. Redundant tests, extra visits that serve no 'real' purpose, tons of paperwork, non-value added tests or medicines and I should say this also impacts the physcians as well. To often you hear the term 'defensive medicine', where physicians are doing extra to prevent from being sued. This has to stop.

Patients need to be a lot more aware of their own health and what is really something that requires medical attention. The internet is a wonderful thing and can give you all sorts of information BUT the human brain is pretty powerful too. Use the two together and try to apply some common sense. ( Somebody in your family has to have some). If you have a cold, take some OJ, hit the gym, have some soup, and go to bed early. See, no medical help needed.

Another aspect would be to get rid of antiquated ways of doing things if there is something better. Now, I am not saving move everything to the latest technology. Take medical records for example, there is no reason why this country is under 2% for electronic medical records. Hell, most people have email, and a debit card....we can move into the glow of technology for communication and banking. ( Sorry, Postal Service and Check Books)

3. Increase the Efficiency

I see this as, well all the wasted stuff is gone, now we just have to maximize the stuff that is left over. One way, is how do hospitals communicate with each other, with other labs, with other regions. If this can be improved, then we are going to make some headway.

Have we optimized the workflows and layouts of various facilities, labs, waiting rooms, etc? Do we have facilities located that be used by people in more remote areas, so they can get attention when they need it.

Are we making it easier for the doctors, nurses, lab techs to do their jobs? Have we made it our goal to help them perform their jobs easier and with less complications? Have we made the system robust enough to allow them to spend the needed time with a patient, to make sure all of their questions or concerns have been addressed?

When I sat down to put my ideas to paper, I realize just how interwoven these 3 keys were. I don't see how you can do them independently, BUT I definitely see that the must be done.

I guess, this was just an attempt to get some ideas down. I can easily see how my experiences would help to realize the concepts mentioned above in the healthcare industry.

Let me know what you think.