Rapid Implementation of Telepsychiatry at CHA Using Lean Methodology Showcased in NEJM Catalyst
NEJM Catalyst, a peer-reviewed journal from NEJM Group and the publishers of the New England Journal of Medicine, published a quality improvement article by CHA researchers Paola Peynetti Velázquez, senior performance improvement advisor, Gaurav Gupta, performance improvement advisor, Gouri Gupte, director of performance improvement, Nicholas Carson, MD, medical director of child and adolescent outpatient psychiatry, and, Jacob Venter, MD, MBA, vice chief of psychiatry operations, detailing the Department of Psychiatry’s transition to telehealth using Lean tools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The quality improvement article highlights how a multi-disciplinary, cross-departmental team set up the system quickly (in five days) using Lean tools and provides implications and lessons learned from the project. The article includes 12 recommendations for policy and practice for telemedicine using Lean, telepsychiatry, system redesign and an equity-based approach. Short-term outcomes of the rapid implementation include a reduction of no-shows, stability in the volume of visits, and an opportunity to consider strategies that will enhance seamless delivery of equitable and quality care for all.
Read the case study titled Rapid Implementation of Telepsychiatry in a Safety-Net Health System During Covid-19 Using Lean in NEJM Catalyst.