Taiwan: improving radiography through application of Six Sigma techniques.
The healthcare industry has shown significant recent growth potential in Taiwan. Associated financial problems have grown considerably since 1995, when national health insurance was implemented. Taiwan's healthcare bureau began to change the primary quantity-based healthcare expense payment method to a case-based payment model. Hospitals are now challenged to minimize healthcare waste. This article examines the application of manufacturing-based Six Sigma methods to an X-ray radiography improvement project to reduce the defect ratio of films for a teaching hospital in Taiwan. It was determined that (1) analysis of customer satisfaction data helped the Six Sigma improvement team identify critical quality elements; (2) the Six Sigma Level in this healthcare project is Lower than that in the manufacturing industry; (3) the improvement opportunity and the time required for the project had a direct correlation to the importance ascribed to the project and the cooperation received; and (4) process change can be made more quickly in the healthcare industry than in the manufacturing industry.
Chen
Yan-Kwang
YK
Department of Loistic Engineering and Management, National Taichung Institute of Technology, Taiwan. ykchen@mail.ltc.edu.tw
Lin
Jerry
J
Chang
Cheng-Chang
CC
D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007324:Institutional Management Teams / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards*; D013624:Taiwan