Clinical process redesign is a successful improvement method that has been used to increase access to health services in 60 public hospitals across New South Wales, and at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) in South Australia.

The method focuses on the patient journey as the primary improvement locus, and uses process mapping to identify the value-adding steps in that journey; it involves redesign teams identifying and eliminating non-value-adding steps to improve flow and reduce delays in access to emergency and elective care.

The method engages clinicians, managers, patients and carers, and delivers real gains in health care delivery.

This article outlines the clinical process redesign programs being used by NSW Health and at FMC.