Tampere Heart Hospital
2013-2015
Implementing continuous improvement programme with Tampere Heart Hospital and it’s technology partner
Said about the project
“Tahti development programme was an important initiative that helped us to engage our people in daily and systematic improvement activities including lean methods and remote monitoring technology.”
— VESA VIRTANEN - HEAD OF CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
“Without Tahti programme it would have been more difficult to build momentum for change and prioritize development focus and resources. We succeeded in implementing solutions for problems that had been there for years.”
— JANNE BJÖRKENGREN - TAHTI PROJECTLEAD, HEAD NURSE
“Tahti Programme had target KPIs that became part of our hospital scorecard and management system. Both operative team and leadership followed these measurements and ensured that improvement activities delivered concrete results and set targets were achieved.”
— AKI HAUKILAHTI - FINANCE DIRECTOR
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Project results
• Lab and polyclinic productivity substantially improved
• Improved employee satisfaction and multidisciplinary team collaboration
• Results of customer satisfaction surveys integrated in operative improvement work
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Future steps
• After Tahti pilot programme, Tampere Heart Hospital has expanded its lean based continuous improvement culture to other Tampere and Finnish operations
• It has introduced services where it combines lean, new digital & technological solutions
Improvement activities & solutions
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1.
Analysis of the lab’s core processes and identification of improvement opportunities to optimise patient flow.
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2.
Prioritisation of first improvement initiatives (start up time, lab preparation, employee satisfaction, white board daily follow up to identify waste and deviations from targets)
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3.
Setting up systematic project management structure for this improvement programme named as Tahti: steering group, project plans, reporting and regular care team reviews called Tahti training days.
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4.
Identification of emergency patient process as next major improvement target, conducting relevant pilots and refining solutions. Developing and ensuring transparent lower level KPIs
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5.
Training lean coaches and shifting focus from lab to polyclinic operations and building a solid base to take advantage of remote monitoring digital solutions.
Client organisation & its challenge
Tampere Heart Hospital is specialised in treating heart problems with multidisciplinary heart teams. Already in 2013 it had set a target to become a Nordic leader in its field and a related growth target with a new hospital investment in place.
One of the challenges was to improve its patient services and operational efficiency through a systematic continuous activity supported by its technology partner. The aim was to implement a lean based continuous improvement programme called Tahti in a new catheterisation lab and polyclinic operations for cardiac rhythm management patients.
Role of Saramis Oy
As a local and Finnish speaking change management and lean expert Sari Kangas-Ikkala (Saramis Oy) was part of the international technology partner’s team. This team supported Heart Hospital care personnel in defining required improvement steps, ensuring strong ownership as well as follow up of transparent KPIs.
Sari worked as part of the implementation team between 2013-2015. Her responsibility was to coach local hospital project leads, set up a project management structure to steer change and ensure KPIs were reached. She also built a bridge between Finnish local organisation and international expert team of the technology partner.