About this Presentation
This case study describes a physician lead TOC implementation to improve his ophthalmologic practice in a Brazilian hospital. The work consisted of performing 2 retinal imaging exams: fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. After applying the 5 focusing steps, buffer management, and drum-buffer-rope, the practice improved continuously. In 4 weeks, the practice increased the number of appointment slots by 50% and last minute appointments by 150%. All stakeholders saw the benefits beginning on the first day. Patients flowed very smoothly through the system. More importantly, the quality of care improved after implementing TOC. Since fighting fires was eliminated, the provider and the assistant could focus on the current patient treatment, dedicate more time for each patient and also attend more patients per session. Video length: . PDF: slides.
What Will You Learn
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Instructor(s)
Gustavo Bacelar
GUSTAVO BACELAR (PhD) helps healthcare organizations achieve major performance improvements from existing resources. Introduced to Theory of Constraints (TOC) in 2005, he has been using this management methodology for business and life ever since. In Brazil, he implemented TOC in his ophthalmology practice (in a hospital and in his private practice) and was able to attend 64% more patients (without overtime, at no extra cost) providing better care. In Portugal, Gustavo has been working with TOC since 2012 in several areas of health (e.g. pharmacy, obstetrics) and taught a course on TOC in Healthcare (theme of his PhD) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP). He has 2 MD degrees – from Brazil (EBMSP) and Portugal (FMUP) –, holds an MBA (FGV), a Master of Medical Informatics degree from FMUP and is a PhD (FMUP). Additionally, he is a proud member of TOCICO (Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization).
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.