Developing an evaluation framework for clinical redesign programs: lessons learnt.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present lessons learnt through the development of an evaluation framework for a clinical redesign programme - the aim of which was to improve the patient journey through improved discharge practices within an Australian public hospital. Design/methodology/approach The development of the evaluation framework involved three stages - namely, the analysis of secondary data relating to the discharge planning pathway; the analysis of primary data including field-notes and interview transcripts on hospital processes; and the triangulation of these data sets to devise the framework. The evaluation framework ensured that resource use, process management, patient satisfaction, and staff well-being and productivity were each connected with measures, targets, and the aim of clinical redesign programme. Findings The application of business process management and a balanced scorecard enabled a different way of framing the evaluation, ensuring measurable outcomes were connected to inputs and outputs. Lessons learnt include: first, the importance of mixed-methods research to devise the framework and evaluate the redesigned processes; second, the need for appropriate tools and resources to adequately capture change across the different domains of the redesign programme; and third, the value of developing and applying an evaluative framework progressively. Research limitations/implications The evaluation framework is limited by its retrospective application to a clinical process redesign programme. Originality/value This research supports benchmarking with national and international practices in relation to best practice healthcare redesign processes. Additionally, it provides a theoretical contribution on evaluating health services improvement and redesign initiatives.
School of Business, Western Sydney University , Parramatta, Australia.
Premaratne
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6253-7976
P
Samaranayake
School of Business, Western Sydney University , Parramatta, Australia.
Ann
A
Dadich
Griffith Business School, Griffith University , Southport, Australia.
Anneke
A
Fitzgerald
Patient Pathways, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Kathryn
K
Zeitz
D001315:Australia; D019985:Benchmarking; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000592:standards*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D058996:Quality Improvement
Balanced scorecard; Business process management; Clinical design; Evaluation; Patient journey