title: Small changes produce large gains in efficiency: a case study from Ross Memorial Hospital.
abstract: Healthcare is now more challenged to provide excellent care, while also increasing efficiency with more limited resources. The recent introduction of Ontario's funding reform challenges hospitals to increase the efficiency of specific procedures by providing funding based on patient volumes. The cataract surgery program at Ross Memorial Hospital, in Lindsay, Ontario, is an example of how a program designed a few years ago with a focus on patient care and efficiency managed to become substantially more efficient by introducing a series of small changes.
authors.affiliation: David Lane, BA, BSc(M), MD, FRCS(C), is an ophthalmologist at the Ross Memorial Hospital, in Lindsay, Ontario, and a lecturer at the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Lane maintains an interest in continuing education for primary care physicians and resident training, delivering a variety of lectures in cataract surgery, electronic medical records and efficiency. He has designed two instruments used in modern cataract surgery and developed "macro software" used in the OSCAR electronic medical record, now adopted in McMaster University's OSCAR Version 12. You can contact Dr. Lane at 705-320-8080 or by email at dlanelindsay7@gmail.com. www.drdavidlane.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: Carol Findlay, RN, is the resource nurse in ophthalmology at the Eye Centre, Ross Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.affiliation: Lisa Hickey, RN, BScN, works in ophthalmology at the Eye Centre, Ross Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.affiliation: Ann Wehrstein, RN, MBA, is the program director for the Surgical, Woman and Child program, Ross Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wehrstein
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000592:standards*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D019990:Perioperative Care; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*