4th QOK Group Level Competition 2023
Dhanasekar. S*
Assitant General Manager, Head Business Excellence, Kauvery Hospitals, India
*Correspondence: +91 8925808444; dhanasekar.s@kauveryhospital.com
The 4th Quality circle, One-point lesson and Kaizen (QOK) was successfully completed in the last week of March 2023 at Group Level.
QOK stands for Quality circle, One-point lesson and Kaizen. The theme initially originated from our Managing Director’s vision on improving and refining ourselves. Thus, he created a healthy competition within we Kauverians.
The competition was held for two days from 28th March 2023 – 31st March 2023 (Every day, 2nd half). The competition was held on three different categories – Quality Circle, One-Point Lesson and KAIZEN and two set of functions (Clinical and Supportive)
Participants:
The participants were selected by respective unit coordinators.
As per the criteria and guidelines given by the Business Excellence Team seven teams from each unit participated for QC Supportive & Clinical (except Kauvery Electronic City Bangalore), and eight teams for OPL & Kaizen.
Each team from the units competed against each other. Adding to this, Tirunelveli unit participated for the first time at a group level competition.
The biggest and notable success of this 4th QOK was that 90% of participants in this QOK were first time participants at the QOK competition, and 75% of them are the staff who have joined within an year
QOK Process
Eligibility check
One week before the competition the respective unit coordinators submitted their unit projects on all the three categories. The submitted projects were validated and corrections were suggested by Business Excellence Team.
Juries Panel
The competition was judged by two external members of the Jury, followed by two clinical experts and our mentor
External members of the Jury:
Mr. Shankaran
Mr. Shankaran is a Safety Professional, with around forty years’ experience in military high explosives and solid rocket propellant processing, with degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. He has been a Manager of Safety at ISRO / Srihari Kota for thirty years.
Mr. Prasanna Kumar
Mr Prasanna is a qualified mechanical engineer who has 37 years of Industrial experience in Manufacturing, Quality, TQM, 5S, Lean Management Standards. During this period of service he has developed more than 100 QC circles (SGA) at shop floor level, followed by 50 KAIZEN teams, up to Supervisory level and 25 Cross Functional Teams(CFT) up to Manager level
Clinical Experts
QC Competition: Dr. Ratanlal Rajesh Agarwala
He is Medical Administrator, Kauvery Speciality Hospital (Cantonment unit), Trichy. Dr Rajesh is a senior Orthopaedic Surgeon as well a seasoned leader. His contribution to Kauvery played a key role in defining the role and capabilities of the hospital. He has played a key role in improving operational efficiency, Clinical Improvement as well in inducting new departments in Kauvery Speciality Hospital.
Dr. Rajesh was asked to join as Internal Member of the Jury in the clinical Quality Circle. His support was overwhelming during the entire competition. He supported through providing various clinical clarifications to the Juries, and also added his inputs on various aspect of QC which was helpful to all the participants to improve themselves to the next level.
KAIZEN Competition: Ms. Mahalakshmi
Ms Mahalakshmi, who is the Nursing Superintendent at Tennur – Trichy, had begun her career as staff nurse and climbed all the way as a Nursing Superintendent. She was asked to join as a Clinical Expert in the Kaizen Clinical. Ms. Mahalakshmi’s support in the clinical part was very helpful to the judges in analysing and delivering the correct scoring for the clinical Kaizens; their suggestions regarding areas of improvements were very helpful to the participants to improve themselves.
Mentor: Mr. Mukundan R
Mr Mukundan, Vice President ABK – AOTS, is an accomplished TQM practitioner with over three decades of years of insightful experience in implementation of 5S, Kaizen and other Japanese Management Techniques
Mr. Mukundan has been part of our Kauvery hospital more than a decade. His mentorship in 5S, QOK and other initiatives played a key role in improving ourselves to the next levels. Mr. Mukundan’s support throughout the entire QOK was remarkable, his comments were noteworthy and helped us to improve to the next level of competition.
Competition
On all the four days (2nd half) the competition went on full swing with increment support from the top level management. The teams gave their best in order to win the competition.
The Juries and Mentor delivered experience-based comments, with positive feedback on areas of improvement, after each presentation, as well as overall feedbacks.
The Clinical Experts, Dr Rajesh and Ms. Mahalakshmi, supported the external juries in the clinical perspective, and also with their valuable inputs.
Winners Declaration
Based on the assessment by Juries, and scores submitted by Business Excellence Team, the winner was declared
This time one Winner and two Runners-up, and Jury awards, were given as the number of unit’s participation increased from 6 to 8.
| Category: QC (Supportive) | |||
| Team Details | Name of the Unit | Level of Winning | Project title |
| Ms. Jayashree | Heart City
(KHC) |
Winner | Increasing Patient Satisfaction by strengthening Reimbursement Process – IP Billing |
| Ms.Jayalakshmi | |||
| Ms.Akila | |||
| Ms.Santha Priya | |||
| Mr.Senthil Kumar | |||
| Ms. Anuratha | |||
| Ms. Suseela | Cantonment (KCN) |
1st Runners-up | Reducing OPD Waiting Time – Plastic Surgery |
| Ms. Jesintha Mary | |||
| Ms. Shantha Sheela | |||
| Ms. Keerthana | |||
| Ms. Saraswathi | |||
| Ms. Gayathri | Tennur (KTN) |
2nd Runners-up | To Reduce Pharmacy sales return |
| Ms. Amutha | |||
| Ms.Clara | |||
| Ms.Harishmitha | |||
| Category: QC (Clinical) | |||
| Ms. Saranya | Cantonment (KCN) |
Winner | To Prevent Extravasation of Calcium in Neonates |
| Ms. Suganya | |||
| Ms. Shanthini | |||
| Dr. Aslesha | Chennai (KCH) |
1st Runners-up | Reduction of TAT in ER (OP) |
| Dr Augustine Sylvesterstallone | |||
| Dr Prahathes | |||
| Mr Santhosh | |||
| Ms Meena | |||
| Mr Sridhar | |||
| Mr Jagadeesh | |||
| Ms.Jasmine | Heart City (KHC) |
2nd Runners-up | To Reduce the OP – AMA (Against Medical Advice) |
| Ms.Revathy | |||
| Ms.Rajalakshmi | |||
| Ms.Rama | |||
| Category: OPL (Supportive) | |||
| Mr. Obuli | Salem
(KSM) |
Winner | LMO / Manual Oxygen Plant pressure maintenance &
Ergonomics at work |
| Mr. Murali | |||
| Mr. Balasubramaniyam | |||
| Mr. Palanisamy | |||
| Ms. Swathi Sree | Hosur
(KHO) |
1st Runner-up | To Eliminate frequent failures of automated door & to improve safety |
| Ms. Thenmozhi | |||
| Mr.Gurumoorthy | Tennur (KTN) |
2nd Runner-up | Effective Communication to maintenance staffs & Canteen staff towards diet error reduction & Patient Safety |
| Ms. Vijayalakshmi | |||
| Ms. Arockiya Sarmila | |||
| Mr.Antony Vino | Tirunelveli (KTV) |
Jury Award | To have a good fragrance in restroom & Common Gestures / Postures |
| Mr.John Benjamin raja | |||
| Mr.Nagaraj | |||
| Category: OPL (Clinical) | |||
| Ms. Ashaselvamalar | Bangalore (ECB) |
Winner | To Avoid Infection & Place it right |
| Ms. Vijayakumari | |||
| Ms. Granaph | Chennai (KCH) | 1st Runner-up | Correct Procedure for sampling process & Ensuring patient safety |
| Dr. Bini Susan | Salem (KSM) |
2nd Runner-up | Breaking method of ampule &
Shifting with oxygen cylinder |
| Ms. Sowndarya | |||
| Ms. Sagayarosia | |||
| Mr. katheeresan | |||
| Category: Kaizen (Supportive) | |||
| Ms. Preethi | Hosur
(KHO) |
Winner | To Break the chain of Infection caused by Employee ID |
| Ms. Thej Aswini | |||
| Ms. Jayashree | Heart City (KHC) |
1st Runner-up | Productivity Improvement in Admission Process by enabling Virtual facility /Room tour |
| Ms. Jayalakhmi | |||
| Mr. Prathap | Bangalore (ECB) |
2nd Runner-up | To reduce safety training time |
| Mr. Praveen | |||
| Ms. Asha Selvamalar | |||
| Mr. K S Varun Kumar | |||
| Kaizen Clinical | |||
| Ms. Santhiya | Chennai
(KCH) |
Winner | Cost reduction in Linen Management |
| Ms. Shiny | |||
| Ms. Jenma Rakkini | Cantonment (KCN) |
1st Runner-up | Cost Optimisation in Nursing Care during Sponge bath |
| Ms. Karthika | |||
| Ms.Suganya | Tennur (KTN) |
2nd Runner-up | To ensure patient safety by preventing the Healthcare Associated Infections |
Recognition and Rewards
The stakes were kept high this time QOK due to competition, the rewards and recognition. The rewards were trophies, and cash award, to Winner and , Runners-up. The process boosts Employees’ motivation.
The cash will be given through unit funds.
| Sl. No | Category – QOK
(Clinical & Supportive) |
Winner
( in ₹) |
1st Runners-up
(in ₹) |
2nd Runners-up
(in ₹) |
Jury Award
(in ₹) |
| 1 | QC | 5000 | 3000 | 2000 | 1000 |
| 2 | OPL | 1500 | 1200 | 900 | 600 |
| 3 | KAIZEN | 3000 | 2500 | 2000 | 1000 |
Recognition of the winners has been promoted by displaying the results on screensavers of their respective unit.
Feedbacks
Dr. Manivannan Selvaraj – Managing Director:
It is good to see the new joiners participating in the competition. On studying the juries’ feedback, I can see that the participants have done a great job and so did the juries.
Mr. Sankaran – Jury
Compared to last 2 QOK the quality of presentation has increased. We had tough time in judging the winner as it was a neck-to-neck competition between the units.
Mr. Prasanna – Jury
These were wonderful four days; there was lots of learning, It was good interaction with everyone.
Mr. Mukundan R – Mentor
It is good to see Dr. Manivannan’s vision has been succeeding well. The sustainability of the internal competition (QOK) has been stronger because of the robust concept which we have built. QOK is a great employee engagement program which helps to improve the employee growth to next level, our next goal is to improve ourselves to the world class level. As Kauverian I am proud to see your growth.
Way Forward on QOK
After the final ceremony, a Way Forward has been determined such as
- Pre-screening and Assessment by Business Excellence Team from next QOK
- Best Practises are to be implemented across all unit
- Best Practises to be established in KOACH app as videos
Mr. Dhanasekhar,
AGM – Head of Business Excellence