Improving Care Continuity in Oncology Settings: A Lean Management Approach to Minimize Discharges Without Follow-Up Appointments

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to reduce the number of patients discharged without scheduled follow-up appointments by implementing lean management principles. Methods: Conducted at the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Center in Muscat, Oman, the research utilized a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of lean management interventions on the rate of patient discharges without follow-up appointments. Strategies such as the Kaizen principle, Gemba Walks, cross-functional collaboration, standard work procedures, and waste reduction were employed to enhance operational efficiency. Results: Spanning from Quarter 3 of 2022 to Quarter 2 of 2023, the study demonstrated a significant decrease in the percentage of patients discharged without planned follow-up appointments. The rate dropped from 9% in September 2022 to 0% in March 2023, with statistically significant differences observed (X 2 = 65.05, p value=<.0001). Conclusion: By effectively implementing lean management principles, this research successfully enhanced care continuity for oncology patients after being discharged.