Reducing door-to-needle times using Toyota's lean manufacturing principles and value stream analysis.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ford AL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3508290 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Reducing door-to-needle times using Toyota's lean manufacturing principles and value stream analysis.
Ford Andria L AL Williams Jennifer A JA Spencer Mary M McCammon Craig C Khoury Naim N Sampson Tomoko R TR Panagos Peter P Lee Jin-Moo JM
Stroke 20121108 12
<h4>Background and purpose</h4>Earlier tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment for acute ischemic stroke increases efficacy, prompting national efforts to reduce door-to-needle times. We used lean process improvement methodology to develop a streamlined intravenous tPA protocol.<h4>Methods</h4>In early 2011, a multidisciplinary team analyzed the steps required to treat patients with acute ischemic stroke with intravenous tPA using value stream analysis (VSA). We directly compared the t ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundWe sought to determine if a structured educational program for neurology residents can lower door-to-needle (DTN) times at an academic institution.MethodsA neurology resident educational stroke boot camp was developed and implemented in April 2013. Using a prospective database of 170 consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in our emergency department (ED), we evaluated the effect of the intervention on DTN times. We compared DTN times and other process measures preintervention and postintervention. p Values < 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsThe proportion of AIS patients treated with tPA within 60 minutes of arrival to our ED tripled from 18.1% preintervention to 61.2% postintervention (p < 0.001) with concomitant reduction in DTN time (median 79 minutes vs 58 minutes, p < 0.001). The resident-delegated task (stroke code to tPA) was reduced (75 minutes vs 44 minutes, p < 0.001), while there was no difference in ED-delegated tasks (door to stroke code [7 minutes vs 6 minutes, p = 0.631], door to CT [18 minutes in both groups, p = 0.547]). There was an increase in stroke mimics treated (6.9% vs 18.4%, p = 0.031), which did not lead to an increase in adverse outcomes.ConclusionsDTN times were reduced after the implementation of a stroke boot camp and were driven primarily by efficient resident stroke code management. Educational programs should be developed for health care providers involved in acute stroke patient care to improve rapid access to IV tPA at academic institutions.
| S-EPMC5490385 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Better outcomes are obtained with stroke thrombolysis the more rapidly it is given, both in terms of the patient's level of functional ability and also mortality. Current UK performance targets (outside London) aim for a time of 45 minutes or less. Thrombolysis pathways involve multidisciplinary working across departmental boundaries as well as senior level decision making. Our system used telemedicine out of hours adding additional complexity to the pathway. The initial planning stages started by auditing current practice and mapping the existing pathway. The figures for door to needle times were held on a database on the stroke unit and collected in detail for the purposes of national reporting. The pathway was mapped by combining personal experience of working within the stroke service with the experiences of the general medical registrars who worked the system out of hours. The initial action was to present this information throughout the hospital at departmental meetings. Opinions were canvassed at these meetings on where the biggest barriers were within the pathway and how we could address them. An awareness campaign was held by advertising over the intranet. An intervention comprising the following elements was introduced over the period of a year: introduction of an ambulance pre-alert, revision of the existing pathway, and education to all those involved in thrombolysis. The cases where particularly long delays were noted were audited in more depth to identify barriers to flow through the system. This was reported in ward meetings for staff to contribute experience and to offer solutions. We went to commissioning group meetings to gain the support of the local ambulance service, and talked to A&E seniors about the project and the ways in which they could help. Median times were calculated from a stroke database. There was a fall in median door to needle time of 65.5 to 49 minutes over a period of 18 months. A complex intervention to improve door to needle time can and did produce good results with a reduction in times to within the London performance standards of care. The efficacy could be improved with an increased staffing level and provision of a formal setting within which to discuss changes and to keep up the momentum of change.
| S-EPMC4645690 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundIn acute ischemic stroke, timely treatment is of utmost relevance. Identification of delaying factors and knowledge about challenges concerning hospital structures are crucial for continuous improvement of process times in stroke care.ObjectiveIn this study, we report on our experience in optimizing the door-to-needle time (DNT) at our tertiary care center by continuous quality improvement.MethodsFive hundred forty patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) at Hannover Medical School were consecutively analyzed in two phases. In study phase I, including 292 patients, process times and delaying factors were collected prospectively from May 2015 until September 2017. In study phase II, process times of 248 patients were obtained from January 2019 until February 2021. In each study phase, a new clinical standard operation procedure (SOP) was implemented, considering previously identified delaying factors. Pre- and post-SOP treatment times and delaying factors were analyzed to evaluate the new protocols.ResultsIn study phase I, SOP I reduced the median DNT by 15 min. The probability to receive treatment within 30 min after admission increased by factor 5.35 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.46-11.66]. Further development of the SOP with implementation of a mobile thrombolysis kit led to a further decrease of DNT by 5 min in median in study phase II. The median DNT was 29 (25th-75th percentiles: 18-44) min, and the probability to undergo IVT within 15 min after admission increased by factor 4.2 (95% CI: 1.63-10.83) compared with study phase I.ConclusionContinuous process analysis and subsequent development of targeted workflow adjustments led to a substantial improvement of DNT. These results illustrate that with appropriate vigilance, there is constantly an opportunity for improvement in stroke care.
| S-EPMC9486271 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Door-to-needle time (DNT) is a key performance indicator for efficient use of intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to determine whether DNT improved over time in the Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Acute Stroke Study (ENCHANTED) and the clinical predictors of DNT. Temporal trends in DNT were assessed across fourths of time since activation of study centers using generalized linear model. Predictors of long DNT (>60 min) were determined in logistic regression models. Overall mean DNT (min) was 71.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 70.4-73.2), but decreased significantly over time (fourths): 77.9 (74.9-80.9), 69.3 (66.7-72.0), 69.1 (66.5-71.8) and 71.4 (68.7-74.2) (P for trend, 0.003). The reduction in DNT was particularly marked in China (P for trend, 0.001), but was not significant across the other participating countries (P for trend, 0.065). Independent predictors of long DNT were recruitment from China, short onset-to-door time, lower numbers of patients treated per center, higher diastolic blood pressure, off-hour admission, and absence of proximal clot occlusion. DNT in ENCHANTED declined progressively during the trial, especially in China. However, DNT in China is still longer than the key performance parameter of ≤60 minutes recommended in guidelines. Effective national programs are needed to improve DNT in China.
| S-EPMC5658430 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDelays to intra-arterial therapy (IAT) lead to worse outcomes in stroke patients with proximal occlusions. Little is known regarding the magnitude of, and reasons for, these delays. In a pilot quality improvement (QI) project, we sought to examine and improve our door-puncture times.Methods and resultsFor anterior-circulation stroke patients who underwent IAT, we retrospectively calculated in-hospital time delays associated with various phases from patient arrival to groin puncture. We formulated and then implemented a process change targeted to the phase with the greatest delay. We examined the impact on time to treatment by comparing the pre- and post-QI cohorts. One hundred forty-six patients (93 pre- vs. 51 post-QI) were analyzed. In the pre-QI cohort (ie, sequential process), the greatest delay occurred from imaging to the neurointerventional (NI) suite ("picture-suite": median, 62 minutes; interquartile range [IQR], 40 to 82). A QI measure was instituted so that the NI team and anesthesiologist were assembled and the suite set up in parallel with completion of imaging and decision making. The post-QI (ie, parallel process) median picture-to-suite time was 29 minutes (IQR, 21 to 41; P<0.0001). There was a 36-minute reduction in median door-to-puncture time (143 vs. 107 minutes; P<0.0001). Parallel workflow and presentation during work hours were independent predictors of shorter door-puncture times.ConclusionsIn-hospital delays are a major obstacle to timely IAT. A simple approach for achieving substantial time savings is to mobilize the NI and anesthesia teams during patient evaluation and treatment decision making. This parallel workflow resulted in a >30-minute (25%) reduction in median door-to-puncture times.
| S-EPMC4338685 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Controlling for imperfect detection is important for developing species distribution models (SDMs). Occupancy-detection models based on the time needed to detect a species can be used to address this problem, but this is hindered when times to detection are not known precisely. Here, we extend the time-to-detection model to deal with detections recorded in time intervals and illustrate the method using a case study on stream fish distribution modeling. We collected electrofishing samples of six fish species across a Mediterranean watershed in Northeast Portugal. Based on a Bayesian hierarchical framework, we modeled the probability of water presence in stream channels, and the probability of species occupancy conditional on water presence, in relation to environmental and spatial variables. We also modeled time-to-first detection conditional on occupancy in relation to local factors, using modified interval-censored exponential survival models. Posterior distributions of occupancy probabilities derived from the models were used to produce species distribution maps. Simulations indicated that the modified time-to-detection model provided unbiased parameter estimates despite interval-censoring. There was a tendency for spatial variation in detection rates to be primarily influenced by depth and, to a lesser extent, stream width. Species occupancies were consistently affected by stream order, elevation, and annual precipitation. Bayesian P-values and AUCs indicated that all models had adequate fit and high discrimination ability, respectively. Mapping of predicted occupancy probabilities showed widespread distribution by most species, but uncertainty was generally higher in tributaries and upper reaches. The interval-censored time-to-detection model provides a practical solution to model occupancy-detection when detections are recorded in time intervals. This modeling framework is useful for developing SDMs while controlling for variation in detection rates, as it uses simple data that can be readily collected by field ecologists.
| S-EPMC4984523 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceStroke treatment is exquisitely time sensitive. The door-in-door-out (DIDO) time, defined as the total time spent in the emergency department (ED) at a transferring hospital, is an important quality metric for the care of acute stroke. However, little is known about the contributions of specific process steps to delays and disparities in DIDO time.ObjectiveTo quantify process steps and their association with DIDO times at transferring hospitals among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed patients in the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines-Stroke registry with AIS presenting between January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021, and transferred from the presenting hospital ED to another acute care hospital for evaluation of thrombolytics, endovascular therapy, or postthrombolytic care. Data were analyzed from July 8 to October 13, 2023.ExposuresIntervals of ED care of ischemic stroke: door-to-imaging and imaging-to-door times.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was DIDO time. Multivariate generalized estimating equations regression models were performed to compare contributions of interval process times to explain variation in DIDO time, controlling for patient- and hospital-level characteristics.ResultsAmong 28 887 patients (50.5% male; mean [SD] age, 68.3 [14.8] years; 5.5% Hispanic, 14.7% non-Hispanic Black, and 73.2% non-Hispanic White), mean (SD) DIDO time was 171.4 (149.5) minutes, mean (SD) door-to-imaging time was 18.3 (34.1) minutes, and mean (SD) imaging-to-door time was 153.1 (141.5) minutes. In the model adjusting for door-to-imaging time, the following were associated with longer DIDO time: age 80 years or older (compared with 18-59 years; 5.97 [95% CI, 1.02-10.92] minutes), female sex (5.21 [95% CI, 1.55-8.87] minutes), and non-Hispanic Black race (compared with non-Hispanic White 10.09 [95% CI, 4.21-15.96] minutes). In the model including imaging-to-door time as a covariate, disparities in DIDO by age and female sex became nonsignificant, and the disparity by Black race was attenuated (2.32 [95% CI, 1.09-3.56] minutes).Conclusions and relevanceIn this national cohort study of interhospital transfer of patients with AIS, delays in DIDO time by Black race, older age (≥80 years), and female sex were largely explained by the imaging-to-door period, suggesting that future systems interventions should target this interval to reduce these disparities. While existing guidelines and care resources heavily focus on reducing door-to-imaging times, further attention is warranted to reduce imaging-to-door times in the management of patients with AIS who require interhospital transfer.
| S-EPMC11372507 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesDelayed management of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) can lead to an increased morbidity and mortality. We previously established that inefficient treatment of NCSE at our institution stemmed from delayed initiation of emergent anti-seizure medications (ASM). In the present study, we assessed the trajectories of these time parameters and determined patient outcomes following the specific quality improvement (QI) interventions.MethodsThe QI interventions, including the revision of the educational content for trainees and pharmacy workflow optimization were implemented between January 2019 and September 2021 by a dedicated multidisciplinary task force. The times needed to initiate and administer the ASMs for patients with NCSE as well as patient mortality were assessed in comatose and noncomatose patients and compared with the corresponding values prior to the interventions.ResultsThere were 79 occurrences of NCSE in 74 patients. The median time from seizure detection on EEG to the order of the first and second ASM for NCSE was reduced by 4 (p = 0.83) and 8 min (p = 0.52), respectively compared to the times prior to the initiation of interventions. The median times from the order to administration of the first and third ASM for all NCSE occurrences were reduced by 8 and 10 min, respectively (p = 0.28 and p = 0.10). In the present cohort of comatose patients, the median time spent to order the first ASM was reduced by 16.5 min and the time to administer it reduced by 35 min compared to that in our previous study. The overall patient mortality was decreased by 11.1%.SignificanceMore efficient delivery of rescue ASMs in patients with NCSE and improvement in their mortality can be achieved with multidisciplinary team efforts aimed at streamlining the functioning of pharmacy and strengthening the education of trainees and nurses.
| S-EPMC9979156 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceTreatments for time-sensitive acute stroke are not available at every hospital, often requiring interhospital transfer. Current guidelines recommend hospitals achieve a door-in-door-out time of no more than 120 minutes at the transferring emergency department (ED).ObjectiveTo evaluate door-in-door-out times for acute stroke transfers in the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry and to identify patient and hospital factors associated with door-in-door-out times.Design, setting, and participantsUS registry-based, retrospective study of patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke from January 2019 through December 2021 who were transferred from the ED at registry-affiliated hospitals to other acute care hospitals.ExposurePatient- and hospital-level characteristics.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was the door-in-door-out time (time of transfer out minus time of arrival to the transferring ED) as a continuous variable and a categorical variable (≤120 minutes, >120 minutes). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression models were used to identify patient and hospital-level characteristics associated with door-in-door-out time overall and in subgroups of patients with hemorrhagic stroke, acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy, and acute ischemic stroke transferred for reasons other than endovascular therapy.ResultsAmong 108 913 patients (mean [SD] age, 66.7 [15.2] years; 71.7% non-Hispanic White; 50.6% male) transferred from 1925 hospitals, 67 235 had acute ischemic stroke and 41 678 had hemorrhagic stroke. Overall, the median door-in-door-out time was 174 minutes (IQR, 116-276 minutes): 29 741 patients (27.3%) had a door-in-door-out time of 120 minutes or less. The factors significantly associated with longer median times were age 80 years or older (vs 18-59 years; 14.9 minutes, 95% CI, 12.3 to 17.5 minutes), female sex (5.2 minutes; 95% CI, 3.6 to 6.9 minutes), non-Hispanic Black vs non-Hispanic White (8.2 minutes, 95% CI, 5.7 to 10.8 minutes), and Hispanic ethnicity vs non-Hispanic White (5.4 minutes, 95% CI, 1.8 to 9.0 minutes). The following were significantly associated with shorter median door-in-door-out time: emergency medical services prenotification (-20.1 minutes; 95% CI, -22.1 to -18.1 minutes), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score exceeding 12 vs a score of 0 to 1 (-66.7 minutes; 95% CI, -68.7 to -64.7 minutes), and patients with acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy vs the hemorrhagic stroke subgroup (-16.8 minutes; 95% CI, -21.0 to -12.7 minutes). Among patients with acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy, female sex, Black race, and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with a significantly higher door-in-door-out time, whereas emergency medical services prenotification, intravenous thrombolysis, and a higher NIHSS score were associated with significantly lower door-in-door-out times.Conclusions and relevanceIn this US registry-based study of interhospital transfer for acute stroke, the median door-in-door-out time was 174 minutes, which is longer than current recommendations for acute stroke transfer. Disparities and modifiable health system factors associated with longer door-in-door-out times are suitable targets for quality improvement initiatives.
| S-EPMC10427946 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundExisting data and clinical trials could not determine whether faster intravenous thrombolytic therapy (IVT) translates into better long-term functional outcomes after acute ischemic stroke among those treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Patient-level national data can provide the required large population to study the associations between earlier IVT, versus later, with longitudinal functional outcomes and mortality in patients receiving IVT+EVT combined treatment.MethodsThis cohort study included older US patients (age ≥65 years) who received IVT within 4.5 hours or EVT within 7 hours after acute ischemic stroke using the linked 2015 to 2018 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke and Medicare database (38 913 treated with IVT only and 3946 with IVT+EVT). Primary outcome was home time, a patient-prioritized functional outcome. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality in 1 year. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations between door-to-needle (DTN) times and outcomes.ResultsAmong patients treated with IVT+EVT, after adjusting for patient and hospital factors, including onset-to-EVT times, each 15-minute increase in DTN times for IVT was associated with significantly higher odds of zero home time in a year (never discharged to home) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.06-1.19]), less home time among those discharged to home (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93 per 1% of 365 days [95% CI, 0.89-0.98]), and higher all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.02-1.11]). These associations were also statistically significant among patients treated with IVT but at a modest degree (adjusted odds ratio, 1.04 for zero home time, 0.96 per 1% home time for those discharged to home, and adjusted hazard ratio 1.03 for mortality). In the secondary analysis where the IVT+EVT group was compared with 3704 patients treated with EVT only, shorter DTN times (≤60, 45, and 30 minutes) achieved incrementally more home time in a year, and more modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2 at discharge (22.3%, 23.4%, and 25.0%, respectively) versus EVT only (16.4%, P<0.001 for each). The benefit dissipated with DTN>60 minutes.ConclusionsAmong older patients with stroke treated with either IVT only or IVT+EVT, shorter DTN times are associated with better long-term functional outcomes and lower mortality. These findings support further efforts to accelerate thrombolytic administration in all eligible patients, including EVT candidates.
| S-EPMC10356148 | biostudies-literature