
18 Leveraging Lean in Ancillary Hospital Services
if the ED is over capacity and waiting on inpatient beds, the post-operative recovery unit may also
be competing for the same beds, both vying for the same support resources, such as transportation
or maybe even a CT slot (Figure 1.3). In addition, we nd oor units waiting for pharmacy to com-
plete medication orders, while all areas of the hospital await laboratory results.
For instance, a physician needs a laboratory result in order to discharge a patient. If the phle-
botomist does not draw the patient’s blood in time or there is a delay in the laboratory getting the
result to the physician, ...