ISE Magazine recently published the work of Paul Barkley, Black Belt and Director of Operations for Navicent Health Baldwin. The study, entitled “Six Sigma Sticks Patients Less,” details Barkley’s Six Sigma Black Belt capstone project, which improved emergency department processes for drawing blood cultures.

Barkley’s project, which began in late 2014, focused on improving successful blood culture draw rates through process standardization and Lean efficiency. Through implementation, the Emergency Department at The Medical Center, Navicent Health – which performs an average 10,000 blood cultures annually – was able to improve its rates of successful blood draws, with less reliance on redraws.

“Improving our blood draw process through the tenants of Six Sigma was a win for patients, as well as the emergency department and our health system. Many patients fear needles, and if there is a problem with the initial blood collection, repeated cultures annoy the patient while also consuming staff time and resources. By improving our process, we are creating a better experience for the patient while also reducing costs to the health system,” said Barkley.

Navicent Health implemented Lean/Six Sigma, a highly disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating waste, improving outcomes, and delivering extraordinary service, in 2014. Barkley, who served as Operations Manager of Laboratory Services and other leadership positions at The Medical Center, Navicent Health for the past 26 years, now serves as Director of Operations for Navicent Health Baldwin in Milledgeville, Ga. Barkley earned his MBA from Mercer University, undergraduate degrees from Georgia Southern University and Augusta University, and is a registered Medical Technologist with the American Society for Clinical Pathology. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
 
“Lean Six Sigma is applicable to global industries ranging from auto manufacturing and defense to healthcare. The unique aspect of Lean Six Sigma in healthcare is that process improvement directly improves people’s health and wellbeing. As exhibited in this study, Lean Six Sigma improves patient care while saving time and resources. Black Belts at Navicent Health are continually seeking new avenues for implementation as we improve our processes. Efforts such as these are core to the work we are doing at Navicent Health, and will be critical in helping our health system – as well as many others nationwide – prepare for future relevance and value-based care,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health.
 
Barkley’s project has been expanded beyond the Emergency Center at The Medical Center, Navicent Health and implemented in other departments throughout the health system. The study may be replicated in other healthcare facilities, directly impacting the industry.