Journal of the American College of Surgeons
The most recent articles from:
J. Am. Coll. Surg.
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Observational Study
Using Process Flow Disruption Analysis to Guide Quality Improvement.
Process flow describes the efficiency and consistency with which a process functions. Disruptions in surgical flow have been shown to be associated with an increase in error. Despite this, little experience exists in using surgical flow analysis to guide quality improvement (QI). ⋯ The use of process flow analysis to direct surgical quality initiatives is a novel approach that emphasizes system-level strategy. Resolving flow disruptions can lead to effective QI that embraces reliability by focusing attention on common processes rather than adverse events that may be unique and therefore difficult to apply broadly.