The Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Nursing have announced today that simply agreeing to use one single, common patient bedside health chart (instead of the more than 100 currently used) across the country could save up to 6,000 lives a year!  It seems amazing that in the 21st century this is news.  Obviously staff move from one hospital to another and to see the same information presented in the same format everywhere they work obviously saves time and confusion.  Imagine if car manufacturers kept changing where they put the steering wheel or the speedometer…? 

It is a breath taking example of how steeping back and simplifying can save time and money.  I have no doubt it will take a lot more time time and money before the various authorities manage to agree to move forward with this simple step but of course, there are examples closer to home, probably within your own business.  Where can you simplify your processes?  Where can you introduce single common systems across your organisation?   Having worked in large corporations I know there is a constant tension between local ‘big wigs’ who want information presented how they want it and the Head Office who want single systems, but these often move far too slowly and are unresponsive to their users needs. 

Systems should be reviewed regularly to see if they are fit for purpose, users should be involved as they will know where there are problems.

Resources:

1. Telegraph article
2. BBC Story

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”  Leonardo da Vinci

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”  Albert Einstein