Process Thinking Bob Luttman, Robert Luttman & Associates

Home Page Introduction Process Thinking Flowcharts Cause-Effect Analysis Critical Path Method (aka PERT Charts) Failure Mode Effect Analysis (aka Variance Effect Analysis) Summary and Conclusion Assignment Questions Comments References/Bibliography

Process Thinking In the Next Generation Quality model clinical and ancillary processes are embedded in clinical pathways. This requires process thinking when designing pathways, analyzing variance data, and improving process performance. This not to advocate unending meetings to produce mind numbingly detailed flowcharts. On the contrary, we advocate simplicity and high level understanding. The power of these tools is in the process they facilitate, the understanding the bring, and the "aha's" they produce. Not how many 3 ring binders did you fill. Each of these tools is useful at each phase of the pathway lifecycle (design, management, and improvement). Each works better in a team setting. Each is adaptable, creative use of the tools is encouraged. Alas, we can only introduce the tools and examples of their use. Deeper understanding comes from their use, the wealth of books on quality management (some of which are available from our Bookstore), or our services.

rluttman@robertluttman.com
Improving Healthcare Across the Continuum