Enhancing CDSS Alert Appropriateness in Clinical Workflow Using the Lean Method

Abstract

Despite the widespread use of clinical decision support systems with its alert function, there has been an increase in medical errors, adverse events as well as issues regarding patient safety, quality and efficiency. The appropriateness of CDSS must be properly evaluated by ensuring that CDSS provides clinicians with useful information at the point of care. Inefficient clinical workflow affects clinical processes; hence, it is necessary to identify processes in the healthcare system that affect provider's workflow. The Lean method was used to eliminate waste (non-value added) activities that affect the appropriate use of CDSS. Ohno's seven waste model was used to categorize waste in the context of healthcare and information technology.

Keywords: CDSS; Clinical workflows; Evaluation; Lean; Ohno; Patient safety; healthcare.