Lean management technologies to optimize COVID-19 vaccinationin adults

Introduction. Lean process improvements are needed to meet the increased adult demand for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The purpose of the study is to develop interventions to improve adult vaccination against COVID-19 based on lean manufacturing strategies.

Material and methods. We conducted 200 timings of the COVID-19 vaccination process and surveyed 200 vaccinated people. The time of the process, the time of creation of the value stream was calculated, production losses were analyzed.

Results. After optimizing the COVID-19 vaccination process, the process time decreased by 2.3 times (from 5474.3 ± 127.3 to 2354.6 ± 22.5 sec; p < 0.01). The time for the prophylactic vaccination against COVID-19 in the vaccination room was reduced by 3 times (from 600.6 ± 23.3 to 181.3 ± 25.6 sec; p < 0.01). Production losses in the form of overproduction, excessive data processing, and unnecessary movements are excluded from the activities of the doctor and the nurse at the vaccination room. The time to value stream creation during vaccination increased from 68% to 97% (p < 0.01).

Limitations. The research materials are limited to the results of scientific research of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov received over 2021.

Conclusion. The use of lean manufacturing technologies made it possible to identify the nature of production losses and analyze the causes of their occurrence in the process of vaccination of the adult population against COVID-19. The organizational measures taken in the form of patient flow management, standardization of work processes, redistribution of functional responsibilities, elimination of production losses contributed to a significant increase in the throughput of the vaccination room in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov (protocol No. 9, May 12, 2021). Patients signed an informed voluntary consent to participate in a medical and sociological study on satisfaction with the organization of the COVID-19 vaccination process.

Contribution of the authors:
Garifullin T.Yu. — research concept and design, collection and processing of material, writing the text, compilation of the list of literature, statistical data processing;
Avdeeva M.V. — research concept and design, collection and processing of material, writing the text;
Panov V.P. — research concept and design, collection and processing of material, writing the text;
Filatov V.N. — editing;
Hurtsilava O.G. — editing;
Alikbaev T.Z. — compilation of the list of literature, statistical data processing, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: February 07, 2022
Accepted: May 18, 2022
Published: February 28, 2023