Using bandwidths to visualize and improve patient pathways

Abstract

Global healthcare systems are struggling to manage the increasing demand for services. What is becoming apparent is the need for a greater understanding of the design of existing patient care pathways (journeys) and how these might be improved. Taking a Lean perspective, a popular approach employed for improving healthcare services, the authors consider how existing patient pathways can be visualized. Examples are used to illustrate varying degrees of complexity within the design and when Lean principles might help in providing a standardized and predictable service. The merits and challenges associated with using bandwidths are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.

Keywords:

• Bandwidth
• healthcare
• improvement
• Lean
• patient pathway

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sharon J. Williams

Sharon J. Williams is Health Foundation Improvement Science Fellow and Senior Lecturer, College of Human & Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK.

Zoe Radnor

Zoe Radnor is Professor of Service Operations Management and Dean of the School of Business University of Leicester, UK.