USE OF BPMN IN HEALTH INSTITUTIONS - A STUDY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROCESS MODELLING IN THIS SECTOR

Abstract

Currently, a healthcare institution, of whatever type, needs a detailed management of all the processes involved, so that these organizations and their professionals can provide their services more efficiently, and archive the goals of the institution. In health institutions, the processes aren’t identified, procedure’s manuals are difficult to interpret and often, the professionals don’t have time to consult them. Business Process Management can be a possible solution, used for managing the processes in this type of institution, decreasing human and technical errors. This article aims to study the importance and the need to implement the Business Process Modelling and Notation (BPMN) in a healthcare institution, through the analysis of statistical data from the application of an inquiry to the different kind of professionals who exercise their daily activities in these organizations, evaluating their knowledge about the processes in their institution and service, and how easy they can consult procedure’s manuals in case of doubt. Being this a notation used in the business and management fields, the literature and studies realised are few, when we corelate BPMN and the health field. Although only 20,6% of the professionals inquired know this notation, 72,2% thinks that the implementation of a method that defines and characterises the processes performed in the service and institution where they work, is advantageous. In addition to that, when we analyse the answers given by the professionals, about the trust, easiness and quickness with what they consult the procedure’s manuals, the means were relatively low.