Six Sigma Process Improvement of St. Pete’s Home Health and Hospice Program

Abstract

St. Peter’s Health is one of the largest health systems in Montana and is dependent on Medicare to provide quality healthcare to the community. Unnecessary emergency room (ER) visits from patients out of the Home Health program (patients cared for in their homes) can lead to significant losses of Medicare reimbursements. We explore the problem of unnecessary ER visits from Home Health patients using the Six Sigma (6σ) methodology. Six Sigma (6σ) helps businesses improve processes and reduce defects through D-M-A-I-C (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). Our goal is to identify and address the key factors contributing to preventable ER admissions, ultimately improving patient care and resource allocation.