December 01, 2007 —
California Healthcare Foundation - Reports and Initiatives: Improving Efficiency: Management Engineering Comes to the Safety Net
David Belson, Adjunct Professor, USC Daniel J. Epstein Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering
California's safety-net hospitals serve a population that would otherwise not have access to care. To provide the highest quality care to California's underserved residents, these hospitals need to look to innovative ideas to ensure the safety of patients, achieve the best clinical outcomes, and maximize efficiency in their operations.
One way to achieve these goals is through the application of management engineering methods. Management engineering is a systematic process for diagnosing and correcting problems in the delivery of care. It can improve care by increasing productivity, controlling costs, and reducing wait times for patients.
This issue brief looks at the benefits of applying management engineering processes through three demonstration projects in hospitals in the counties of San Bernardino, Mendocino, and Los Angeles. It describes the keys to a successful intervention, the potential impact, and the lessons learned.
The complete issue brief is available through the link below:
Improving Efficiency: Management Engineering Comes to the Safety Net (pdf - 216k) 
