Implementing lean methods in the Emergency Department: The role of professions and professional status

Timmons, Stephen; Coffey, Frank; Vezyridis, Paraskevas

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of lean methods in an Emergency Department (ED) and the role of the professions in this process.

Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with ED staff in a UK NHS hospital.

Findings
Lean was met with more engagement and enthusiasm by the professionals than is usually reported in the literature. The main reasons for this were a combination of a national policy, the unique clinical environment and the status of the professional project for doctors in emergency medicine.

Research limitations/implications
Single site, one-off study.

Practical implications
The status and development of professionals involved may play a big part in the acceptability of initiatives like lean methods in health care. The longer term sustainability of the organisational changes introduced remains open to question.

Originality/value
This paper analyses the success of lean methods in health care with reference to the professional status and stage of development of the professions involved, using the sociology of professions. This approach has not been used elsewhere.

Citation

Timmons, S., Coffey, F., & Vezyridis, P. (2014). Implementing lean methods in the Emergency Department: The role of professions and professional status. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 28(2), 214-228. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhom-10-2012-0203

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 11, 2013
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2014
• Publication Date: May 13, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 21, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Health Organization and Management
• Print ISSN: 1477-7266
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 214-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/jhom-10-2012-0203
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1295025
• Publisher URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHOM-10-2012-0203/full/html