Quality Improvement in Critical Care Areas using the Lean Six Sigma approach

Abstract

Background: An intensive care unit provides critical lifesaving care and as such, this study is done to understand
the compliance of the nursing staffs working in the ICUs of a 350 bedded urban tertiary care hospital in India,
towards the quality indicators functional in its critical area areas using the Lean Six Sigma approach and studying
the deviation between the knowledge and practice.
Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was done among the nursing staffs of different
ICUs, using google form questionnaire and checklists. Lean Six Sigma was used as a study tool. A sample size of
164 was considered using Convenience Sampling. And data analysis was done using the SPSS version 28.0.0.0.
Results: An increase in the bed occupancy, ALOS and HAIs among the ICU patients was markedly observed. The
chi-square analysis revealed significant difference (3) = 18.0231, p < 0.05) and ( (3) = 11.48, p < 0.05) in practice,
among the nursing staffs with respect to the quality indicators based on different variables.
Conclusion: Hospital quality indicators and the correct way to follow them, is necessary to deliver a quality
healthcare service experience to the patients admitted in the critical care areas of the hospital.