Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference
The Lean method entails a set of standardized processes intending to optimize resources, reduce waste, and improve results. Lean has been proposed as an operative model for the COVID-19 outbreak. Herein, we summarized data resulted from the Lean model adoption in an Emergency Department of the Lomba...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Applied System Innovation |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-5577/4/3/55 |
| _version_ | 1797520258504851456 |
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| author | Antonio Desai Giulia Goretti Mauro Giordano Antonio Voza |
| author_facet | Antonio Desai Giulia Goretti Mauro Giordano Antonio Voza |
| author_sort | Antonio Desai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Lean method entails a set of standardized processes intending to optimize resources, reduce waste, and improve results. Lean has been proposed as an operative model for the COVID-19 outbreak. Herein, we summarized data resulted from the Lean model adoption in an Emergency Department of the Lombardy region, the Italian epicenter of the pandemic, to critically appraise its effectiveness and feasibility. The Lean algorithm was applied in the Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Milan, north of Italy. At admission, patients underwent outdoor pre-triage for fever, respiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms, with a focus on SpO<sub>2</sub>. Based on these data, they were directed to the most appropriate area for the COVID-19 first-level screening. High-risk patients were assisted by trained staff for second-level screening and planning of treatment. Out of 7.778 patients, 21.9% were suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mortality was 21.9% and the infection rate in health workers was 4.8%. The lean model has proved to be effective in optimizing the overall management of COVID-19 patients in an emergency setting. It allowed for screening of a large volume of patients, while also limiting the health workers’ infection rate. Further studies are necessary to validate the suggested approach. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:54:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74e216885ca84ecda302d832f919c9ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-5577 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:54:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied System Innovation |
| spelling | doaj.art-74e216885ca84ecda302d832f919c9ef2023-11-22T11:58:48ZengMDPI AGApplied System Innovation2571-55772021-08-01435510.3390/asi4030055Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes DifferenceAntonio Desai0Giulia Goretti1Mauro Giordano2Antonio Voza3Emergency Department, Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, ItalyQuality Department, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Naples, ItalyEmergency Department, Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, ItalyThe Lean method entails a set of standardized processes intending to optimize resources, reduce waste, and improve results. Lean has been proposed as an operative model for the COVID-19 outbreak. Herein, we summarized data resulted from the Lean model adoption in an Emergency Department of the Lombardy region, the Italian epicenter of the pandemic, to critically appraise its effectiveness and feasibility. The Lean algorithm was applied in the Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Milan, north of Italy. At admission, patients underwent outdoor pre-triage for fever, respiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms, with a focus on SpO<sub>2</sub>. Based on these data, they were directed to the most appropriate area for the COVID-19 first-level screening. High-risk patients were assisted by trained staff for second-level screening and planning of treatment. Out of 7.778 patients, 21.9% were suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mortality was 21.9% and the infection rate in health workers was 4.8%. The lean model has proved to be effective in optimizing the overall management of COVID-19 patients in an emergency setting. It allowed for screening of a large volume of patients, while also limiting the health workers’ infection rate. Further studies are necessary to validate the suggested approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-5577/4/3/55COVID-19emergency departmentleanmanagement algorithmSARS-CoV-2 |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Desai Giulia Goretti Mauro Giordano Antonio Voza Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference Applied System Innovation COVID-19 emergency department lean management algorithm SARS-CoV-2 |
| title | Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference |
| title_full | Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference |
| title_fullStr | Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference |
| title_short | Lean-ing Method in an Emergency Department of the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: When the Algorithm Makes Difference |
| title_sort | lean ing method in an emergency department of the italian epicenter of the covid 19 outbreak when the algorithm makes difference |
| topic | COVID-19 emergency department lean management algorithm SARS-CoV-2 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-5577/4/3/55 |
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