Lean Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis to Enhance Patient Safety in Healthcare Organizations: A Narrative Review, 2000-2016

Background: Lean Six Sigma [LSS] and Root Cause Analysis [RCA] are powerful quality business tools that cost-effectively improve efficiency and effectiveness of and client satisfaction in healthcare, academia and other industries. RCA, an iterative process helps in the identification of the root cause of an adverse medical incident and injuries and consequently prevents its recurrence provided RCA recommendations are properly implemented in the healthcare industry.

Objective: This narrative review aims to describe the principles and objectives of LSS and RCA tools with a special focus on their diverse roles in healthcare organizations.

Methods: A computer searches of PubMed, OvidSP, and Google Scholar (2000-2016) were made using keywords such as Lean, or Six Sigma or lean six sigma or medication errors (MEs) or adverse drug events or RCA which retrieved thousands of references but only 110 articles were included in this paper.

Results: Lean, Six Sigma, LSS, and RCA are powerful quality improvement tools that prevent adverse events, produce better quality services and result in enhancing patient satisfaction and safety. These quality tools also decrease costs, work performance variance, waste and increase customer satisfaction and the work performance of healthcare professionals.

Conclusion: The use of the quality improvement tools produce better quality healthcare services with greater efficiency, and good outcome and also prevents adverse drug events linked with significant morbidity, mortality and financial burden on the public health around the world.