title: Increasing Therapist Productivity: Using Lean Principles in the Rehabilitation Department of an Academic Medical Center.
abstract: The Department of Rehabilitation Services, within the University of Maryland Medical Center's 650-bed academic medical center, was experiencing difficulty in meeting productivity standards. Therapists in the outpatient division believed they were not spending enough time performing billable patient care activities. Therapists in the inpatient division had difficulty keeping pace with the volume of incoming referrals. Collectively, these issues caused dissatisfaction among referral sources and frustration among the staff within the rehabilitation department. The department undertook a phased approach to address these issues that included examining the evidence, using Lean process improvement principles, and employing transformational leadership strategies to drive improvements in productivity and efficiency. The lessons learned support the importance of having meaningful metrics appropriate for the patient population served, the use of Lean as an effective tool for improving productivity in rehabilitation departments, the impact of engaging staff at the grassroots level, and the importance of having commitment from leaders. The study findings have implications for not only rehabilitation and hospital leadership, but CEOs and managers of any business who need to eliminate waste or increase staff productivity.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kristie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Snedeker
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swoboda
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zalieckas
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dorsey
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nohe
authors.forename: Paige
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Renuka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roche
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010814:Physical Therapy Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*