Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Just Call Me Ms. Fix-It! (But What If It IS Broken, Part 2)



The above is a Process Flow Diagram (aka SwimLanes) for the check-in process at the clinic. (See this post for a description of the challenges we face.) I built this in Excel because the money we'd spend for a tool like Visio will buy 8 bottles of insulin. And it's okay, because Excel actually worked pretty well.

Each band on the diagram represents a role -- patient, front-desk worker, charge nurse, doctor, etc. -- in the process. We've been using it for a couple of weeks now and things have gotten a lot smoother. On Thursday night (which is always the worst, for some reason) we had completed check-in and triage by quarter after six. I'm pretty sure that's a record.

Not sure why I'm sharing this with you, other than I LOVE doing this -- taking something that's broken and crappy and making a thing of beauty from it. A lot of people like new stuff -- new houses, new furniture -- but I'm a sucker for reclaimable junk.

The need to fix things: just one more form of co-dependency.

17 comments:

  1. I'm still using the vacuum cleaner my husband had when we married 22 years ago. . . he keeps fixing the damn thing!

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  2. I love it too.

    I make a lot of process maps (in excel) for my part time job. It always feels good to improve the flow of work.

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  3. (oh - I forgot to add, I haven't heard a peep out of Belle in nearly a month. I miss her.)

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  4. It is nice to feel like you have accomplished something. Our new administrator starts June 1st. Hope she is up to the task!

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  5. I'm glad you shared it and I think you should be very proud of what you have done there.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  6. I am an admirer of process, as this is what I do on a daily basis(you know, at the job they actually pay me for, instead of blogging.)

    You did this in Excel? Heavenstomergatroy! This is fantastic...very creative, eeeeven.

    I'm a whiz at Excel, but didn't know you could craft a piece of art like this with that program.

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  7. Change is fun when you do it...Not so fun when it is done to you...
    Getting people to "buy in" is a bigger job than the changes!

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  8. Okay my head is spinning...I am horrible in Excel...

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  9. I love process improvement too...it's a sick obsession of mine but I won't give it up, I tell you! :) Love your map!!!

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  10. Woo hoo good on you. Now work out how many steps you ave saved and how much money you have saved and go ask for a payrise. We do so many things we dont need to and if you love this work you could find a new career too! Well done Jeanne.

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  11. Jeanne -- Would you please come to my house and do this for me? Thank you!

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  12. What I love about the world is the fact that people are different..If we all saw it the same way, we would live in an ant hill, or a hive. Coming from product engineering and technical sales, I tend to paint with a broad brush- concept guy... People who can organize anything are much appreciated by people like me! No matter what I've accomplished, I will always admire people who could do what I couldn't...

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  13. That's a great talent! I am not so gifted, but I love a guy in a tool belt.

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  14. I love the fact that you are a fixer. Very interesting.

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  15. Okay, Ms Rocket Scientist..(as you can see, I'm still smarting from not being able to see 3 nude women!!!)

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  16. I totally understand the need to fix things. I'm glad that you are doing something you enjoy doing!

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  17. You are pure awesomeness. I only wish I could be as good as you at stuff like this.

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