ENGINEERING
PRACTICE(ENI317B)
ASSIGNMENT 2
MAY 15, 2024
MALATJI F
224612028
1. TASK 0
 BACKGROUND
The industrial problem based on my community is healthcare delivery efficiencies, hospitals and clinics
suffer from long wait times, inefficient patient low and inventory management issues. Some patients
end up not getting the help they need because of delays in medicines. This can be prevented by applying
lean principles to organize processes, implementing inventory management systems, and optimizing
schedule algorithms can improve healthcare delivery efficiencies.
Background factors may include:
 Patient flow management: hospitals and clinics may experience bottlenecks in patient wait,
resulting in long queues, waiting areas being overcrowded and delays in service care delivery.
 Overcrowded emergency: emergency departments are overcrowded leading to delays in care
and an increase in patients’ dissatisfaction and risk to patients’ safety.
 Resource allocation: hospitals and clinics in my community have few resources to accommodate
all the patients such as medical equipment, staff and facilities leading to overexploitation
threatening both patient care and operational costs.
 Scheduling challenges: wrong scheduling of appointments, surgeries, and procedures may result
in overbooking, causing disturbance in the healthcare delivery process.
 Communication and information flow: miscommunication and lack of information between
healthcare providers, patients and staff members can lead to errors, unessential tasks, and
delays in care coordination.
These challenges can be prevented by doing the following:
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Optimizing facility layout and design to improve workflow and efficiency.
Gather information together to identify areas for improvement and make decisions based on
the information found.
Introduce technology to make life easy, e.g., having electronic health records to enhance
communication.
By doing these my community can improve access to quality care, enhance patient experience and
optimize resource utilization in healthcare facilities.
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2. TASK 1
DEMONSTRATING HOW I CAN UTILIZE THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION TO ADDRESS THE
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE COMMUNITY
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As an industrial engineer, I can apply the following factors of production to tackle healthcare
delivery inefficiencies in many ways.
Human Resources (Labor)
Adjust staffing and skill distribution: Study patient demand trends and skill necessities to
guarantee the appropriate number and types of healthcare workers are present to address
patient requirements effectively.
Optimize staffing levels: Utilize scheduling and workload balancing methods to align the
number of staff members with patient demand fluctuations, minimizing wait times and
enhancing resource efficiency.
Improve the quality and efficiency of care: Offer continuous learning opportunities to healthcare
workers to improve their abilities and knowledge, allowing them to provide better care.
Capital (Physical Resources)
Enhance facility layout and design: Revamp healthcare facilities to improve patient movement,
minimize travel distances, and maximize space utilization, thereby reducing congestion and wait
times.
Upgrade medical equipment and technology systems: Invest in advanced medical equipment
and technology systems to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline processes, and enhance the
efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Use telemedicine: Employ telehealth tools to offer virtual visits, track patients from afar, and
increase access to care, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources.
Staffing and Training
Develop a comprehensive training program: Design a training program that covers all aspects of
the hospital’s operations, including patient care, medical procedures, and emergency response.
Ensure that all staff members receive regular training and updates to maintain their skills and
knowledge.
Simplify and optimize supplies: Establish uniformity and logic for medical supplies and
equipment across divisions and standardize procedures to lower differences, streamline
procurement, and save money.
Work with suppliers: Join forces with suppliers to enhance supply chain transparency, secure
better deals, and create backup plans to handle supply chain issues.
Information (Data and Knowledge)
Use electronic health records (EHRs): Switch to EHR systems to store patient records
electronically, enable information exchange among healthcare providers, and enhance care
coordination and continuity.
Apply data analysis: Examine healthcare data to discover patterns, trends, and possibilities for
enhancement, such as decreasing readmission rates, optimizing resource allocation, and
improving patient outcomes.
Support research-based methods: Encourage the use of clinical guidelines and best practices
based on scientific evidence to standardize care processes, reduce variation, and improve the
quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
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ADVISING MY TEAM HOW THEY CAN UTILISE THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY CURVE TO ASSIST
IN DESIGNING THE SOLUTION THAT WILL UPLIFT THE ECONOMY
To apply the principles of demand and supply in creating a solution for healthcare delivery
inefficiency that boosts the economy, your team can proceed as follows:
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Analyze the Market Trends: Examine the elements that affect the demand for healthcare
services, such as the characteristics of the population, the frequency of chronic illnesses, and
the economic conditions.
Analyze the elements influencing the supply of healthcare services, such as the accessibility
of healthcare professionals, medical facilities, and technological progress.
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Analyze the Market Equilibrium: Create a graph that shows how much healthcare services
people want to buy at different prices, considering things like what patients like, how much
money they have, and what health problems they have.
Create a graph that shows the relationship between the quantity of healthcare services
provided and the price of those services, considering factors such as the number of
healthcare providers, the availability of resources, and any restrictions imposed by
regulations.
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Analyze Market Equilibrium: Find the point where the demand and supply curves cross,
indicating the market balance where the amount of healthcare services people want equals the
amount of healthcare services providers offer at a specific price.
Determine if the existing healthcare system is functioning at or close to the optimal level
of resources and services, or if there is a substantial difference between what is
available and what is needed.
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Eliminate Inefficiencies: Recognize problems in the way healthcare is provided, such as lengthy
waiting periods, unequal access to healthcare resources, or excessive expenditure on
healthcare.
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Develop strategies to tackle these problems, with the goal of optimizing resource use, improving
service quality, and expanding access to care.
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Promote Economic Incentives: To better match healthcare supply and demand, contemplate the
introduction of economic incentives.
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For instance, implement pricing strategies such as value-based pricing or pay-for-performance
models to motivate providers to offer high-quality, cost-efficient care.
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Support Research and Development: Invest in research and development to advance medical
knowledge, discover new treatments, and improve health outcomes. - Support the growth of
healthcare facilities, staff, and equipment to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare
services.
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Assess and Adjust: Regularly assess the outcomes of the implemented interventions on the
healthcare systems supply and demand, as well as their overall economic influence, and make
necessary modifications.
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Utilize metrics like patient outcomes, healthcare utilization rates, and healthcare expenditures
to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the implemented solutions.
By applying the demand and supply curve framework to healthcare delivery inefficiency, my
team can create solutions that are based on evidence and that not only tackle healthcare issues
but also promote economic growth and prosperity.
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3. TASK 2
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To create a successful solution that brings economic benefits and a good return on investment,
it is important to study the community and find the best ways to gather information from
customers (VOC). This is a summary of the possible ways to gather VOC data in your area:
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Interviews and Focus Groups: Asking people questions and collecting their answers can help
you learn what they think and feel about their health care, what they like and dislike, and what
they want from it. Different methods of distribution, such as community centers, healthcare
facilities, online platforms, and mail, can be used to distribute surveys to a wide range of people.
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Groups: Conducting group discussions enables a thorough examination of community members'
viewpoints, requirements, and anticipations related to healthcare services. Segmenting focus
groups according to demographic traits, healthcare usage habits, or health issues allows for the
inclusion of a wide range of viewpoints.
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Public Forums and Town Hall Meetings: Organizing community gatherings and town halls allows
for face-to-face interaction with residents, enabling the collection of feedback and insights on
healthcare matters. These meetings can foster communication, enabling community members
to voice their worries, recount their encounters, and participate in the creation of remedies.
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Community Health Needs Assessment: To perform a thorough community health needs
assessment, gather information on how people access, use, and fare with healthcare, as well as
the factors that affect their health, such as their income, education, and environment. - To
evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare delivery, various methods such as surveys, interviews,
focus groups, and data analysis can be used to pinpoint areas that require improvement and
determine the most appropriate interventions.
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Stakeholder Interviews: Conducting interviews with important stakeholders like healthcare
professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and advocacy groups can offer valuable
information about the healthcare issues and possibilities in the community. - By conducting
interviews with stakeholders, we can uncover obstacles that hinder the delivery of quality
healthcare, areas where services are lacking, and possibilities for working together.
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Community Engagement: Actively engaging with the community through social media platforms
enables healthcare providers to stay informed about community sentiment, concerns, and
ongoing discussions. By examining social media data, we can gain useful information about what
people think, what problems are arising, and how we can do better in healthcare.
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Community Health Needs Assessments: Collaborating with local health agencies, non-profit
groups, or academic institutions to perform community health needs assessments can provide
detailed information on healthcare requirements, habits, and preferences. The surveys can be
conducted among people in their homes, at gatherings, or on the internet to include a wide
range of individuals in the population.
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As a team leader designing a questionnaire/tool to extract relevant information from the
community while considering affordability, it is essential to create a survey that is concise, userfriendly, and cost-effective.
Title: Community Healthcare delivery Survey
Introduction:
Thank you for participating in our community healthcare survey. Your feedback is especially important in
helping us improve healthcare delivery in our community. Please answer the following questions to the
best of your ability. Your responses will remain anonymous.
Section A: Demographic Information
1. Gender:
- Male
- Female
- Other (please specify): __________
2. Age:
- Under eighteen
- 18-24
- 25-34
- 35-44
- 45-54
- 55-64
- 65 or older
3. Zip Code:
- __________ (optional)
Section B: Healthcare Access and Utilization*
4. Do you have health insurance coverage?
- Yes
- No
5. How often do you visit a healthcare provider for preventive care (e.g., annual check-ups)?
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- Regularly (once a year or more)
- Occasionally (every few years)
- Rarely (never)
6. Have you experienced any difficulties in accessing healthcare services in our community? (Check all
that apply)
- Long wait times
- Limited appointment availability
- Lack of transportation
- Cost of healthcare services
- Other (please specify): __________
Section C: Healthcare Preferences and Needs
7. What healthcare services do you consider essential for our community? (Check all that apply)
- Primary care
- Urgent care
- Mental health services
- Dental care
- Specialty care (e.g., cardiology, orthopedics)
- Other (please specify): __________
8. How satisfied are you with the quality of healthcare services available in our community?
- Very satisfied
- Somewhat satisfied
- Neutral
- Somewhat dissatisfied
- Very dissatisfied
9. What factors would encourage you to utilize healthcare services more frequently in our community?
(Check all that apply)
- Reduced cost or subsidies
- Extended clinic hours
- Improved appointment scheduling
- Expanded service offerings
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- Other (please specify): __________
Section D: Suggestions and Feedback
10. Do you have any additional comments, suggestions, or concerns regarding healthcare delivery in our
community?
Conclusion:
Thank you for your participation! Your input will help shape the future of healthcare in our community.
If you have any further questions or would like to get involved, please contact [012 235 0052].
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3. TASK 3
3.1.1. WBS with 20 tasks showing, task, duration and preceding tasks
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