About this Presentation
Healthcare systems appear complex. Each patient is different and requires the efforts of many different resources. The traditional response to this apparent complexity is to divide the system into parts and manage and measure each part separately in an attempt to improve the whole. This approach is only successful when the number of variables is relatively predictable and small, which is not the case in health systems. The TOC solution is based on the belief that inherent simplicity exists in any goal-oriented flow system: only a few places have the power to affect the rate of output/performance – the system’s constraint(s). The methodology allows focus on these constraints by tackling the waiting times in the emergency department with the patient at the center of decision making. By establishing a buffered flow time target for the system, with traffic light color system, we create the visual awareness of delays and blockages to flow in order to prioritize management interventions.
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 Theory of Constraints (TOC) can be effectively applied in healthcare settings to improve patient flow and reduce waiting times.
The implementation of TOC in various hospitals in Venezuela, despite initial resistance and challenges, has shown positive results in improving efficiency and patient care.
The healthcare system in Venezuela faces unique challenges due to political and economic instability, including lack of resources, poor management, and high demand.
Instructor(s)
Jennifer Eckman
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.