Vinh City General Hospital: Promoting the effectiveness of the '5S' quality management model

(Baonghean) - In order to build a scientific and safe working environment for employees and patients, improve work efficiency and quality of medical examination and treatment; since July 2017, Vinh City General Hospital has deployed the quality management model "5S - Screening, Arrangement, Cleanliness, Care, Readiness".

The above mentioned “5S” model has been and is being effective, gradually improving the quality management system; increasing the trust and satisfaction of patients with the medical care services at the Hospital.

When visiting Vinh City General Hospital, patients can feel the clear change in the overall space of the hospital and the departments and rooms are all arranged neatly, scientifically and cleanly. Signs and instructions are placed in the right places to create convenience for patients and their families, shortening the process of moving and examining.

In the departments, always ensure neatness and cleanliness, equipment is always placed in ready positions, medical instruments and medicines are arranged in order, labeled so that medical staff can easily find and promptly serve examination and treatment.

The improved working environment has helped to limit errors and incidents during the treatment process; to ensure patient safety, and at the same time create habits for medical staff to work more conveniently and effectively.

The Laboratory Department, Vinh City General Hospital effectively applies the “5S” model; improves the working environment. Photo: PV

This positive change is due to the fact that the departments and rooms of the Hospital have effectively applied the model "5S - Screening, Sorting, Cleaning, Caring, and Readiness" into their daily work.

Starting the 5S practice movement since July 2017, the hospital established a "5S Committee"; assigned members of the Committee to conduct field surveys and evaluate the current situation in departments and rooms. The Quality Management Department - Vinh City General Hospital has conducted guidance and training for all hospital staff on "5S" knowledge; to apply this model, from patient rooms, department offices, procedure rooms... to the restrooms of departments and rooms.

Departments and offices have made a list and proposed materials and equipment according to the plan; agreed to standardize the color code applied to the entire hospital and supervised the implementation. At the same time, screened and classified necessary items and removed unnecessary items; arranged to ensure safety, convenience, and aesthetics; kept the entire workplace, machinery, equipment, tools, etc. clean; maintained 3S at all times and places and were ready to make 4S a habit; everyone voluntarily complied with 5S.

For example, the Emergency Department regularly receives serious and dangerous patients. Since applying the “5S” model, it has contributed to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment. The Department has improved the working environment by conducting general cleaning activities, screening unnecessary medical supplies and equipment; making a list of proposed supplies and equipment for service according to the plan; labeling the location of equipment; then arranging and re-arranging medical instruments and supplies neatly, cleanly, scientifically, and easily to use.

After a period of optimally applying the "5S" model, employees have gradually formed scientific working habits and work efficiency has been improved.

The Emergency Department's good practice of "5S" has created a scientific, safe and effective working environment in emergency care for patients. Photo: PV

Doctor Tran Thanh Le - Head of the Emergency Department - Vinh City General Hospital shared: "Previously, at the Emergency Department, supplies and equipment were not arranged neatly and clearly, and items were not standardized. There was still a situation where machinery and equipment were not prepared, and consumables were in stock, causing waste. Staff were not highly aware of arranging medicines and medical supplies. This easily caused the risk of confusing medicines and medical supplies, wasting time searching, and having a lot of inventory, causing waste.

But when practicing "5S" well, it creates a scientific, safe, convenient, fast and effective working environment in emergency care for patients, while improving work efficiency and minimizing risks and waste. Thanks to that, patients who are cared for and treated at the department feel satisfied."

Similarly, in departments and rooms throughout the hospital, such as: Laboratory; Internal Medicine; Cardiology; Internal Medicine... the "5S" model has been popularized and applied effectively. Staff and workers have had positive changes and high awareness in implementing hospital management according to the "5S" model.

The model has contributed to changing awareness, forming clean, tidy and scientific working habits of all hospital staff; increasing work efficiency. At the same time, the working environment is safer, staff are more adaptable and satisfied with their workplace. With the "5S" model, the Hospital has shortened the time in all tasks such as: Finding medicine, consumable medical supplies; limiting mistakes and errors; avoiding waste of medical supplies; better controlling incidents, ensuring patient safety, increasing patient satisfaction.

The Emergency Department has changed positively, the quality of medical examination and treatment has been improved after applying the '5S' model. Photo: PV

Good practice of “5S” is the foundation for medical facilities to move towards a scientific and safe working environment while improving work efficiency, minimizing risks and waste, thereby continuously meeting patient satisfaction.

Sharing experiences in effectively implementing the 5S quality management model, Doctor CKII Pham Van Son - Deputy Director of Vinh City General Hospital said: "To successfully implement this model, leaders of units, departments and offices must always take the lead and demonstrate their commitment to implementing the "5S" principles through their own actions. Raising awareness of staff to realize the benefits of "5S" and thereby voluntarily implement it.

Officers and employees are assigned specific and clear responsibilities in the process of implementing and maintaining "5S" in common areas and working areas of departments and rooms. Everyone regularly studies and shares good practice experiences of "5S" with other units and departments in the hospital's departments and rooms. The implementation of "5S" by medical staff is also included in the evaluation of emulation and rewards at the unit.

Deploying the “5S” model in departments and rooms of Vinh City General Hospital is the first step in improving the efficiency of hospital quality management. This is also one of the orientations to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment towards building a smart hospital model of Vinh City General Hospital.

Therefore, in the coming time, the Hospital will continue to expand the "5S" model in all departments and rooms of the entire unit. To regularly and continuously maintain quality management according to the "5S" model and promote the practical effectiveness of this model in improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, the hospital focuses on training the departments and rooms on how to do it.

At the same time, periodically organize the assessment of the implementation of "5S" of organizations and individuals in departments and offices. Supervise, urge, guide, and share good practice experiences of "5S" with all staff. Departments and offices are cared for, cared for, and supported promptly, to increasingly meet the needs of patients; thereby creating a friendly - safe - perfect service hospital environment./.

Dinh Nguyet