Abstract:
The objectives of this study is to provide evidences that Six Sigma is an
appropriate method for quality management in diagnostic radiology
departments by proving that the methodology is effective in achieving
acceptable results of defect reduction, cost reduction, good return of
investment (ROI) and customer satisfaction. The study also provide
evidences that the results achieved by six sigma compared to traditional
quality approaches were superior.
The research methods were based on an empirical study of implementing Six
Sigma model of quality in Madinat Zayed Hospital Radiology Department.
Five Projects have been selected on critical to customer bases and typically
represents quality problems in radiology. The Six Sigma approaches of
(DMAIC) define measure, analyze, improve, and control and (DFSS) design
for Six Sigma were adopted in solving the quality problem. The results
obtained from the empirical experience were discussed analyzed and
benchmarked with results from other quality models done on similar healthcare
institutions.
The first project is about Computerized Tomography (CT) and Ultra sound
patient flow improvement is customer satisfaction, cost reduction and a cycle
time reduction type of improvements. The results are an increase in CT
scanning throughput by 30% and in US throughput by 35%, a reduction of
53.4% and 45% in the process time for CT and Ultra sound simultaneously is
achieved. The result from the second project which is, the Report Turn- around
Time R.T.T. initiative, is a reduction in reporting time from 72-hour to 18-hour
(87.04%) reduction. The third project was on trans-vaginal Ultra sound (TVs).
It is a cycle time, customer impact improvement. The process level improved
from 2.5 sigma to 3.5 sigma
