About The Course

Recognize the significance of mapping and how it can help the student to redefine their ED process. Apply Value Stream Mapping to individual processes. Understand how to calculate value added ratios.

What is Value Stream Mapping (VSM)? Value stream mapping is a technique used to define your current processes in a way that can be understood by everyone. As opposed to general process flow mapping which can be done by just about anyone who wants to communicate the process, VSM is usually done by a team of people over the course of several days to help them gain a better understanding of the overall process and come to a general agreement about the current state of their operations. The output of a VSM session is a value stream map that has a combination of process flow, information flow, and current performance data that really helps create a comprehensive view of the team’s operations. Value Stream Mapping is a vital first step in any process improvement endeavor and should be used to define your process before you do anything else.

Why is Value Stream Mapping Important? Value stream mapping provides a common language and reference for discussing process improvement. It helps to define where the value is from the patient’s perspective and to clearly define the waste in terms of quantitative and qualitative elements. It helps your team visualize the overall process and the overall ED flow and provides a foundation for making decisions about flow. Critical data elements make it easy to analyze flow and take corrective measures. It helps the team see how the individual steps in a process are connected, and helps tie lean concepts and tools together to form the basis of a strategy and plan. It also helps show the link between information flow and patient flow.

The goal is to develop reliable processes that are linked by effective communication. This is so that what is supposed to happen does happen, when we want it to happen, and how we want it to happen, based on the signals we have designed to make it happen.

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