LEARNING ACTIVITY

Academic Learning Activity

[Name of Student]

Academic Learning Activity

Kaizen and Lean

Kaizen, a Japanese word, has widely been adopted today for enhanced and continuous improvement in working and performance of organisations. In health care, Kaizen benefits the organisation by identifying and eliminating waste and enhance the quality of services that are a vital part of health care practice. The model helps the professional caregivers provide quality services and care to patients to ensure optimum health and wellbeing (Graban & Swartz, 2012, p. 4).

It was started in automobile industries at first, later it was implemented in other organizations as well to attain proficient and proactive outcomes. Recently programs that use Kaizen and lean are being implemented in health care services to enhance the efficiency of staff and overall health care services provided to the patients (Whnt.nhs.uk, n.d, p. 2).

Background

Nursing staff at Medicare Health Centre had difficulties in providing efficient care and keeping themselves organized due to work pressure and unorganized management of staff. This had an adverse impact on the outcome of patients' health, and nurses could not spend quality time with patients at bedside (Health Care Performance Partners, 2011, p.1). Nurses were found to be occupied in activities that were less significant and were considered to be a waste in clinical settings. This was due to the poor management of the staff and improper check and balance on nurses and their performances. This compromise the quality of services provided to patients.

According to a survey made 45% nurses were involved in providing quality care and services to patients at their bedside while the other 55% nurses were involved in activities that were found to be a waste. This was a lot of valuable time that could have been used constructively in providing quality care to patients was wasted (Health Care Performance Partners, 2011, p.1). Nurses were said to be involved in spare supply trips, looking around for utensils and tools along with waiting for medications were significant factors interrupting and suspending the nurse's flow. This has resulted in nurses spent less time with patients and providing poor quality of health care services to the patients under their supervision (Health Care Performance Partners, 2011, p.1).

Problem Statement

At present unorganized staff and poor quality of health care services provided to patients has influenced the health, well being of patients and overall performances of hospitals in a negative manner. Divided attention and involvement of nurses in activities that are less important has become a concerning issue. This has also affected the performance of nurses. The unavailability of nurses for patients' bedside increases pressure on those nurses who are dedicatedly involved in providing care to patients at bedside (Health Care Performance Partners, 2011, p.1).

Healthcare Organization and Kaizen

Medicare Health Centre is a well established healthcare hospital that has been serving its loyal patients for the past 2 decades. The emergency department of the hospital is always under constant pressure and workload that is increasing with time. For any hospital, organized staff and management that perform ...