Improving the Quality of Emergency Intrahospital Transport for Critically Ill Patients by Using Toyota Production System Methods

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of the Toyota Production System (TPS) for improving the quality of emergency intrahospital transport for critically ill patients in management. METHODS: Between April and June 2021, 68 critically ill patients were transported to corresponding wards, while 63 critically ill patients were transported to corresponding wards between July and September 2021. The pre-TPS and post-TPS management groups each included 30 cases based on their propensity score. The TPS management tool was combined with the PDCA method for analysing the current situation as well as determining the target for improvement, calculating the value and process efficiencies, and modifying and evaluating relevant processes. At last, the changes in transport time, receiving department, patient satisfaction, and adverse event rate of critically ill patients after TPS management were analysed. RESULTS: The total intrahospital transport time of critically ill patients decreased from 39 minutes (median) before the implementation of TPS management to 27 minutes (median) after TPS management, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Process efficiency and value efficiency both increased from 33.33% and 38.46% before TPS management to 42.86% and 40.74% after TPS management, respectively. Likewise, the satisfaction of receiving departments and patients increased from 73.33% and 76.67% before TPS management to 96.67% and 96.67% after TPS management (P<0.001). Finally, the adverse event rate decreased as a result of TPS management from 13.33% to 3.33% (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: TPS management may significantly shorten the intrahospital transport time for critically ill patients, reduce the occurrence of adverse events in emergency care, advance patient satisfaction, and improve the overall quality and safety of emergency care.