The Six Sigma has had a great impact on many sectors including the health sector. If implemented properly, the Six Sigma can enhance efficiency in most organizations and ultimately lead to high profits (Pyzdek & Keller, 2009). As a consultant, I would seek some information from Colin before designing the Six Sigma implementation for Southwest Louisiana Regional Medical Centre (SLRMC).
The first thing I would ask Colin is why he thinks that the medical center needs this process-improvement strategy. I would also like to know what he hopes for SLRMC to achieve by adopting the Six Sigma strategy. In this way, I will have a clear understanding of how the continuous improvement methodology will benefit the organization both in the short-term and long-term. Based on this information, I will undertake steps to ensure that the Six Sigma framework is implemented successfully. The first step would involve identifying key departmental directors who will oversee the implementation. Already, Colin has identified four departments that would benefit from the Six Sigma framework, viz. patient services, finance, human resources, and quality assessment. The leaders will keep the implementation of the projects on track.
The next step will involve educating the staff at all levels regarding the Six Sigma framework and what role they will play in the implementation. An informed staff will ensure the effective implementation of projects. As such, I would establish a system that updates all employees on the project’s progress as well as reward good employees. This approach will motivate team members and encourage their participation at the start of the program and during the implementation stage. I will then identify a leadership structure complete with the job description of each person participating in this project. It would be prudent to establish a clear governance structure to oversee the integration of the Six Sigma framework into the organizational structure of SLRMC. I will also develop a list of items that should be prioritized in the Six Sigma implementation and evaluation criteria for each item after which I will then proceed to design the Six Sigma framework for SLRMC.
In a bid to ensure successful implementation of the six-sigma methodology in SLRMC’s organizational structure, I will incorporate some quality control measures and ensure a wide-scale implementation in this hospital. With quality control and efficient management of the projects in the four departments, the framework will achieve the intended results. In the patient services department, quality control will result in optimized technical utilization and better patient scheduling while in the finance department it will minimize the accounts receivable and ultimately save on costs.
In a bid to measure how the Six Sigma implementation has improved healthcare services offered by SLRMC, a customer feedback system would be necessary, which will help find out whether the hospital’s services meet customer expectations. Each aspect of process and service in the four departments will be evaluated to determine if there is a commitment to quality. Constituent communication to employees and other stakeholders regarding the operations and progress of the Six Sigma implementation will help in enhancing the transparency and credibility of the programs. In addition, a system that recognizes and rewards good employees will promote teamwork and participation of employees in the programs.
Reference List
Pyzdek, T., & Keller, P. (2009). The Six Sigma Handbook (3rd ed.). Burr Ridge, IL: McGraw-Hill.