Swim Lane Process Map for a Medical Procedure7

Professor John Grout Campbell School of Business, Berry College

Figure 3.7 shows the swim lane process map for a patient undergoing a lumpectomy (the surgical removal of a small tumor from the breast). Nine parties, including the patient, were involved in the process. In this case, the patient detected two errors in the process. Error 1 occurred when the surgeon intended to employ a needle locator to identify the location of the tumor, but failed to forward an order to that effect to the hospital. The patient identified the omission prior to surgery. No harm occurred. Error 2 was a typographic error on the pathology report indicating that the tumor was 1.6 millimeters in diameter, when in fact it was 1.6 centimeters. While this could have been a more serious mistake, a phone call to confirm the correction avoided any harm.

Figure 3.7 Swim Lane Process Map for a Surgical Procedure