Design of workflow for bone bank management in hospital operating room

• Main Authors: Hsiu Ling Chang, 張秀玲
• Other Authors: J. J. Hwang
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/20155922734132295665

碩士 === 長庚大學 === 管理學院碩士學位學程在職專班資訊管理組 === 99 === Hospital management has always been a focus of the public, yet very little attention has been given to the management of bone banks in the operating room. Clinical practices have found that problems with the bone banks can harm both the patient and the healthcare personnel while decreasing the quality of medical services. This paper is a case study on the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital bone bank that analyzes and redesigns the workflow. We analyzed the workflow to find the activities that were valuable (for the patients, hospital, and healthcare personnel) and which were not valuable and were wasteful. The analysis showed that the freezers are a mess, and the space needs to be better utilized. This paper also suggests using automatic identification technology to improve the workflow. Also, this paper suggests using two dimensional code, including QR code, as the bone identification code for automatic identification. Tests showed that QR code printed on the water-proof bags stored in freezers at low temperatures (-80℃) was not corrupted or rendered unreadable. The system discussed in this paper has a search function, a function to provide positioning information, an identification function and a prompting function. A redesigned workflow with this system can help healthcare personnel effectively find bones and store bones in an orderly fashion. By shortening storage and search times, systematizing use of freezer space, and providing correct identification and complete medical records, the quality of bone management is improved, and patients are safer. Key words: Bone bank, workflow management, patient safety