Application of process management in improving surgical patients′ handover and transfer efficiency

Objective To strengthen the management of the handover and transfer process of surgical patients in the department of thoracic surgery, improve surgery and transfer efficiency and ensure transfer safety. Methods In 2015, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University reconstructed a nursing team by building the surgical handover and transfer process, analyzed the needs of transferees and transferees and the factors contributing to low efficiency and high safety risks in transfer, rebuilt, optimized and standardized the existing surgical handover and transfer process in the department of thoracic surgery, and enhanced relevant training after the process was rebuilt. Totally 1 591 transferred patients who received thoracic surgery between January and March 2015 were selected as a control group, while 2 126 patients who received thoracic surgery from January to March 2016 were selected as an observation group. The handover and transfer efficiency before and after the rebuilt process was then compared, including time of handover delay for the first surgery, time of delay for consecutive surgery, the number of patients detained in operation rooms postoperatively as well as doctors and nurses′ satisfaction to the rebuilt process. Results After the process was rebuilt, the delay rate for the first surgery was 1.7%; the delay rate for consecutive surgery was 2.7%; the retention rate in recovery rooms was 2.8%, lower than the figures before the process was rebuilt (χ2=24.059, 63.146, 53.675; P 90%. Conclusions Management optimization by process reengineering helps to improve surgical handover and transfer efficiency, safety as well as doctors and nurses′ satisfaction. Key words: Process management; Department of thoracic surgery; Surgical efficiency; Transfer safety; Satisfaction degree