Essay Title Improving a Clinical Process Using Kaizen Methods- A Critical Discussion (1800 words) Structure Introduction (250 words) A Case Example (350 to 400 words) A BRIEF outline of the Kaizen process and how it works to achieve change. With references. (200 words) DISCUSSION EITHER A Lean Triad Method OR the Future State Map (400 words) A Short Reflective Section

Essay Title

Improving a Clinical Process Using Kaizen Methods- A Critical Discussion (1800 words)

Introduction (250 words)
A Case Example (350 to 400 words)
A BRIEF outline of the Kaizen process and how it works to achieve change. With references. (200 words)
DISCUSSION EITHER A Lean Triad Method OR the Future State Map (400 words)
A Short Reflective Section (300 words) Conclusion (200-300 words)

State the importance of transformational change, leadership, and teamwork in delivering safer, better faster and cheaper care.
Berwick’s quadruple aim
Methods of process improvement in the NHS • Signpost what this essay is about

Here you can give a brief description of your chosen health process. State that this was part of a team case study.
You are now writing this individually-
But you can base this on the slides and data you were preparing with your team. You could include this info as appendices
Set out the type of unit you are studying and the issues in it, using your VOC data Pareto Chart, Fishbone Diagram Spaghetti Diagram, and Current State Map- whatever you judge as appropriate to say.
Remember–you could be linking these problems to the 8 wastes
As was happening in your team, you can–and should-highlighting areas needed for improvement on the map and mention these in this section. These are the kaizen bursts

Explain how the Kaizen preparation, tools and meeting structure works in generating the current state map
Then go on to outline the RIPW week and how this contributes to the FUTURE state map, and how the Kaizen process is managed in the post kaizen period

State the importance of transformational change, leadership, and teamwork in delivering safer, better faster and cheaper care.
Berwick’s quadruple aim
Methods of process improvement in the NHS • Signpost what this essay is about

Discussion

EITHER

Discussion 3a

Here you can choose ONE of the kaizen bursts you have identified in your current state
Hint – 5S and Poka-yoke will be “easiest” due to lots of literature
Individually- recap what the issue is and what waste(s) it generates in the process.
Individually state how and why the chosen method will help and what are the anticipated benefits- to the process box, but also upstream and downstream (the other processes)
Individually consider the issues in managing the post kaizen process for this project, teamwork, leadership, etc

Discussion 3b

Here you can create your own INDIVIDUAL Future State Map of the process. If you do it should be shown as an appendix.
Discuss how you would redesign the process to improve the flow overall and address the 8 wastes.
You could highlight flow and bottlenecks and the notion of push and batch of patients into waiting rooms, creating queues and long delays
Chiefly, you would be bringing in concepts here like pulled flow, U, I, Z or T Shaped Work Cells, FIFO.
State the likely benefits/disbenefits of this- will it work?
Individually consider the issues in managing the post kaizen process for this project, teamwork, leadership, etc

Discussion 3c

Here you could focus on:
leadership in the kaizen process- your own
experience plus supporting references
teamwork in the kaizen process- your own experience plus supporting references
NB There won’t be room for a full model like Gibbs anymore, but you could perhaps use Driscoll if it helps you reflect. (What?, Now What?, SO What?)