About this Presentation
Despite the recent finger-pointing in the press, such as editorials in the NY Times, it's crucial to recognize that the use of local optima in managing healthcare organizations and investments in new technology have significantly contributed to the rising costs in the healthcare supply chain (HCSC). Healthcare is often perceived as a 'wicked' problem, characterized by complexity and an unknown number of potential solutions. Researchers have identified ten criteria for wicked problems, making them prevalent in today's challenges. In the operational research (OR) academic literature, there are two schools of thought on problem structuring and solving: hard OR (quantitative) and soft OR (qualitative). While hard-OR researchers have applied quantitative methods to healthcare for decades, the wicked problem remains unsolved. Soft OR studies have been more effective in capturing the complexity of wicked problems, but implementations are still scarce. In contrast, Goldratt's innovative, win-win, and paradigm-shifting solutions, although not initially designed for healthcare, have been successfully applied by a select group of TOC consultants and academics in actual healthcare settings. One example is Alex Knight, who has been applying TOC to healthcare for three decades, focusing on hospital and social care systems in the UK. Building upon Goldratt's methods and Simon's hierarchical decomposition principle, our approach addresses the entire wicked problem of the HCSC, with some aspects previously presented elsewhere. However, one crucial piece of the puzzle remains: a set of simple guidelines in non-TOC terminology that practitioners can easily follow to improve individual links (outpatient clinics) and achieve synchronization across the supply chain, providing timely, excellent, and cost-effective healthcare. This presentation offers such guidelines, with a primary focus on outpatient settings—an essential component of the healthcare supply chain. Join us as we unravel the complexities of the healthcare supply chain and explore actionable steps towards achieving optimal healthcare outcomes.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The healthcare system is in crisis globally with inefficiencies in scheduling and high costs. A lot of the ED visits are not actually needed, leading to wastage of resources.
The key to healthcare is timeliness. If primary care can be made more efficient and timely, it can reduce the burden on emergency departments.
The speakers propose a new approach to appointment scheduling, with same-day acute appointments and second day to fifth day concerned appointments. They also suggest redefining all job descriptions based on TOC and being proactive in scheduling.
Instructor(s)
James F. Cox III
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.