Appropriateness of Six Sigma Model to Quality Management inMedical Imaging Departments

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