Lean Quality Improvement Helps Surgical Residency Programs
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2025 -- Surgical residency programs can improve working environments using Lean methodology, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Surgery.
J. Jeffery Reeves, M.D., from the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues evaluated whether industry-based Lean process improvement techniques could be leveraged to increase compliance with work-hour restrictions within a general surgery residency. The analysis included resident time logs and annual Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education resident and faculty surveys for academic years 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 before and after implementation of a quality improvement program that included implementation of 15 multifactorial interventions impacting call and weekend scheduling, work practices and efficiencies, intern and service orientations, and faculty and cultural expectations.
The researchers found that the mean number of residents per block who logged >80 hours per week decreased by 3.6 violations per block, from 12.4 to 2.2 percent. For the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 academic years, perceived compliance with 80 hours on the annual resident survey was 72, 83, 83, and 88 percent, respectively. Faculty perception of resident preparedness for the case increased from a mean of 2.6 to 3.0 over time. No significant differences in technical skill, clinical judgment, sense of responsibility, efficiency, or sense of well-being were seen.
"Results of this quality improvement study suggest that Lean methodology was effective in addressing complex challenges in surgical education, particularly in ensuring compliance with work-hour regulations," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted January 2025
Read this next
Parent-Reported Firearm Storage Poor Estimator of Teen Perceived Access
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- Parent-reported firearm storage seems to be a poor estimator of teen perceived firearm access, according to a study published online June 10 in JAMA...
CT Colonography Cost-Effective, Clinically Effective for CRC Screening
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- Computed tomography colonography (CTC) is cost-effective and clinically effective for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, according to a study published...
Global Incidence Rate of Rheumatoid Arthritis Increased From 1990 to 2021
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- The incidence rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increased globally from 1990 to 2021, with the heaviest burden born by regions with a high...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.