Improved service in cancer patient pathways by better collaboration : How should Diagnostikcentrum be present in the breast cancer process?

This report aims to investigate how Diagnostikcentrum should be available and coordinated with other care givers to achieve satisfactory delivery capability in cancer patient pathways.The availability refers to how Diagnostikcentrum should participate in the process. In whatway and with what recourses. The aim is to contribute to the process and its possibility ofgiving the patients care in time. Diagnostikcentrum performs diagnostic results and provides Region Östergötland with resources and competences in laboratory medicine and visual- and functional medicine. Diagnostics are the basis for investigating and giving the patient a correctdiagnosis. One area where Diagnostikcentrum is very much involved is in the cancer care.(Diagnostikcentrum, 2017) In Sweden, cancer have been increasing in recent years and the increase is expected to continue.This means there is a great need for a strategy for how cancer care should be conducted.(Cancerfonden, 2017) To improve the cancer care and shorten the lead times, cancer patientpathways have been introduced in Sweden. The purpose of a cancer patient pathway is that the patients should experience a well-organized, comprehensive and professional care without excessive waiting times (Cancercentrum, 2017). This report aims to investigate the cancerpatient pathway for breast cancer. In the process of breast cancer there are many different caregivers involved. A few from Diagnostikcentrum within different clinics. At present, thereis no knowledge if Diagnostikcentrum is being properly coordinated or involved in the correctway with this clinics and other caregivers. The research began with a literature review to gather research that were relevant to the study. For example, literature linked to process orientation, Supply Chain Management and delivery capacity. The literature covers the areas both from a traditional manufacturing perspective aswell as how these theories can be applied in health care. A flow mapping was carried out to gain an understanding of the care process for breast cancer. Based on this, an analysis of the process showed several areas of improvements such as sub-optimisation, bottlenecks and uncertainties. Delivery capacity for the breast process was defined based on literature and of the case study.The definition of delivery capacity was formulated as following. That 80 percent of the patientsgiven care in the cancer patient pathway for breast cancer should receive an investigation within 28 days. Based on that definition, it was later examined how well the process is performing today. The result was not positive and great opportunities for improvement exist. In present, only 41 percent of the patients receive an investigation for breast cancer in time. Based on the literature review, proposals were made for the coordination of the process.Such proposals included increased integration, collaboration and information sharing with the goal of achieving delivery capacity in the long term. Finally, suggestions that showed how Diagnostikcentrum can be available and contribute togreater coordination and compliance in the care process were made. The proposals imply that through adaptation to demand, increased flexibility and adaption to each other and the process the flow can be improved. Other suggestions include how to manage bottlenecks and iterations as well as dividing the lead time within the process, avoid sub-optimization through safer delivery times and finally improve measurement within the care process