| Summary: | Ophthalmology has become the specialty with the largest number of outpatient appointments. Nine million (10%) of all appointments are for eye clinics in 2018-19. The demand is set to increase by 40% in the next 20 years due to increase in eye conditions affecting the elderly such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataract to name the few. Given the increased demand, it is essential that healthcare - the NHS in the UK - needs to find ways to ensure that all patients have adequate and timely access to an effective and efficient system.
One of the stumbling blocks has been the appointment systems and the structure of outpatient clinics. A decrease in the waiting time for the appointment and to see the clinician will improve patient satisfaction. Quality improvements are used in healthcare just as in other industries - lean being one. Lean is a widely used improvement methodology. Lean has been implemented in healthcare since the 2000s. The literature shows that the use of lean techniques in ophthalmology has had successes.
This paper aims to look at how lean can be applied in ophthalmology outpatients to streamline the appointment system and patient flow in outpatient clinics. The paper suggests ways of implementing lean and changing the way the patients are seen in clinics, especially in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic. In summary, lean has been identified as a useful strategy to reduce patient waiting times, reduce costs, improve outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.
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