Rethinking Clinical Workflow

Joseph J Schlesinger; Kendall Burdick; Sarah Baum; Melissa Bellomy; Dorothee Mueller; Alistair MacDonald; Alexander Chern; Kristin Chrouser; Christie Burger

doi:10.1016/j.anclin.2017.10.008

Rethinking Clinical Workflow

Anesthesiol Clin. 2018 Mar;36(1):99-116. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2017.10.008.

Authors

Joseph J Schlesinger¹, Kendall Burdick², Sarah Baum³, Melissa Bellomy⁴, Dorothee Mueller⁵, Alistair MacDonald⁶, Alexander Chern⁷, Kristin Chrouser⁸, Christie Burger⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 21st Avenue South, Medical Arts Building, Suite 422, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. Electronic address: joseph.j.schlesinger@vanderbilt.edu.
² Neuroscience/Pre-Med Undergraduate, Vanderbilt University, 1211 21st Avenue South, Medical Arts Building, Suite 422, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
³ Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington, 1715 NE Columbia Road, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
⁴ Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 21st Avenue South, Medical Arts Building, Suite 422, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
⁵ Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 21st Avenue South, Medical Arts Building, Suite 422, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
⁶ St. Patrick's Hospital, 500 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802, USA.
⁷ Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 21st Avenue South, Medical Arts Building, Suite 422, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
⁸ Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, 720 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
⁹ VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, 1310 24th Avenue S, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.

PMID: 29425602
DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2017.10.008

Abstract

The concept of clinical workflow borrows from management and leadership principles outside of medicine. The only way to rethink clinical workflow is to understand the neuroscience principles that underlie attention and vigilance. With any implementation to improve practice, there are human factors that can promote or impede progress. Modulating the environment and working as a team to take care of patients is paramount. Clinicians must continually rethink clinical workflow, evaluate progress, and understand that other industries have something to offer. Then, novel approaches can be implemented to take the best care of patients.

Keywords: Attention; Distractions; Team dynamics; Urgency; Workflow.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesiology / methods*
Humans
Models, Organizational
Patient Care Team
Workflow*