Reference no: EM132936851

Flow Chart

Learning Objective 1: Create a detailed flow chart showing the steps of a process.
Learning Objective 2: Determine where process changes could be made to improve the efficiency of the process.

Instructions
1. Read the process description and create a detailed flow chart. The flow chart should include at least the following symbols:

Start / End Decision No
Yes
Process Step

Other symbols may be used as appropriate.
2. When the flow chart is completed, answer the following questions about the process by reviewing the steps in the process:
a.) Are there any bottlenecks in the process? At which step(s)?
b.) Are there non-essential activities? At which step(s)?
c.) Are there any duplicative steps that can be combined? Which ones?
d.) Is there any "idle time" in the process? At which step(s)?
e.) Is there any "back-tracking" in the workflow? At which step(s)?
f.) Does the process include any "re-work" that can be eliminated? At which step(s)?
g.) Is there any way to reduce the number of steps in the process? Explain how you would change the process to reduce the number of steps.

Health Information Management (HIM) Department Procedure for Charting Transcribed Hospital Reports

1. Pick up dictated material in the basket located in receptionist's office.

2. Look up patient room numbers in the computer alpha census.

3. If computer is down, look up room number in in-house card box in HIM department. If card is not in box, look through un-filed cards still on the printer.

4. Write patient's room number in pencil in upper right corner of report.

5. Look up discharge date for discharged patients.

6. Write discharge date in pencil in upper right corner of report.

7. If patient was discharged less than 2 days ago, place report in file cabinet in assembly/analysis work area. File in discharge date order.

8. If patient was discharged more than 2 days ago, place report in in-basket in file clerk area.

9. If patient has not yet been admitted, look up surgery schedule for current day.

10. If surgery schedule cannot be found, call admitting department and ask that one be sent to you.

11. Record patient's anticipated date of admission in pencil in upper right hand corner of report.

12. If patient will be admitted the next day or at some future date, forward report to admitting department via inter-office mail. Report will be filed with patient's admission forms.

13. If patient will be admitted today, chart report on next charting run.

14. If patient cannot be found by one of the above methods, set report aside and try again in 6 hours at time of next charting run.

15. If patient cannot be found after seven days, return report to transcription department where it will be held in a pending file.

16. Chart reports for current inpatients and patients that will be admitted today.

17. Arrange dictated material for charting by floors and room numbers.

18. Walk to each floor's nursing station (start with ICU, then same day surgery admissions).

19. Locate chart at nursing station and file reports in proper location in patient record.

20. If patient is transferred, ask ward staff for patient's new room number or look up on the computer and take report to new location for charting.

21. If patient is discharged, write discharge date with pencil in upper right hand corner of report and bring report back to assembly/analysis work area and file in file cabinet in discharge date order.

22. If patient is still on the census but the record is not available, bring report back to receptionist's office in-house charting basket for charting on the next run in 4 hours. (e.g. chart and patient are off the ward for treatment or procedure)

Attachment:- Flowchart exercise.rar