Evidence‐based re‐engineering: re‐engineering the evidence: A systematic review of the literature on business process redesign (BPR) in hospital care
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 1 October 2006
Abstract
Purpose
Business process redesign (BPR) is used to implement organizational transformations towards more customer‐focused and cost‐effective care. Ideally, these innovations should be carefully described and evaluated so that “best practices” can be re‐applied. To investigate this, available evidence was collected on patient care redesign projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The Ebsco Business Source Premier, Embase and Medline databases were searched. Studies on innovations related to re‐engineering patient care that used before‐after design as minimum prerequisites were selected. General characteristics, logistic parameters and other outcome measures to determine the objectives and results and interventions used were looked at.
Findings
A total of 86 studies that conformed to the criteria were found: a minority mentioned measurable parameters in their objectives. In the majority of studies, multiple interventions were combined within single studies, making it impossible to compare the effects of individual interventions. Only three randomized controlled trials were found. Furthermore, inconsistencies were noted between the study objectives and the reported results. Many more issues were reported in the results than were mentioned in the study aims. It would appear that publications were hard to find owing to a lack of specific MeSH headings. Nearly 7,500 abstracts were scanned and from these it was concluded that clear and univocal research methods, terms and reporting guidelines are advisable and must be developed in order to learn and benefit from BPR innovations in health care organizations.
Originality/value
This appears to be the first time available evidence about redesign projects in hospitals has been systematically collected and assessed.
Keywords
Citation
Elkhuizen, S.G., Limburg, M., Bakker, P.J.M. and Klazinga, N.S. (2006), "Evidence‐based re‐engineering: re‐engineering the evidence: A systematic review of the literature on business process redesign (BPR) in hospital care", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 19 No. 6, pp. 477-499. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860610686980
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited