Focus on Variation:
Standardize (Create a Formal Process)
The use of standards, or standardization, has a negative and bureaucratic connotation to many people. But an appropriate amount of standardization can provide a foundation upon which improvement in quality and costs can be built. Standardization is one of the primary methods to reduce variation in a system. The use of standardization, or creating a more formal process, should be considered for leverage points — the parts of a system that have a significant effect on outcomes.
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A hospital's records showed much variation among patients in recovery time from knee operations. Their average costs for this particular operation were higher than those of other health systems. They worked with a team of doctors and therapists to develop a standard process for patients who had a knee joint replaced. After implementing the standard process, recovery times became more consistent and the hospital’s costs were in line with other systems.
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