FlowchartingMedicalProcesses-VanderbiltUn.pptVIP

Flowcharting Medical Processes How to Draw Flowcharts Purpose of Flowcharting Show the steps involved within the process. Determine where delays are, their causes, how to reduce them. Aid in communication of thoughts, ideas, and procedures. Basic Flowcharting Shapes The terminator symbol marks the starting or ending point of a system. The delay symbol marks a delay in the system showing that the next occurrence is not instantaneous. The decision symbol marks a decision or branching point. Decisions are always binary (i.e. “yes” or “no”). The process symbol can represent a single step or an entire sub-process. Lines indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow. Basic Flowchart Developing a FlowchartHere is an example of flowcharting in a clinic. Handling Delays Within a Process Decisions, Decisions, Decisions Actions and Processes And the Clock Keeps Ticking Got Nurse? Obtaining Vitals What’s Next? We’re Off to See the Wizard, or are We? ??More Waiting!? Medicine Update All I Ever Do is Wait. Is There a Doctor in the House? Finally…Results. Let’s Go Home Looking Back Designing a Better Flowchart Determine the weaknesses of the system and how to improve efficiency. What is the best method to reduce delays? Does every patient need to see the MD? Does every patient need to see a RN? Design choices to progress in parallel branches, where returning to a previous step is minimized. * * The above is an example of a basic flowchart. Like most things, flowcharts can be simpler or more complex. A flowchart always starts with a terminator, usually the terminator is a process; however, it can sometimes be associated with a decision that has only one result. Decisions are important in determining what path to follow as a result of previous events. In the example above, as long as the info has not been gathered, the patient continues to wait in the waiting room. Notice the additional delay of the waiting room, that the process “Gather Info” leads to another de