Aplicação de estabilidade em uma clínica odontológica de pequeno porte

Abstract

Small dental clinics usually focus on clinical excellence while neglecting support processes, which leads to material waste, delays and team overload. This work proposes the implementation of the Lean Healthcare operational stability concept in the support sector of a small dental clinic, focusing on the storeroom and the sterilization center. The research, applied in nature and with a quali-quantitative approach, was conducted through action research, with participant observation, inventory audit, time study and photographic records, structured by the A3 Report and three Ishikawa diagrams adapted to the 6Ms, one for each measured effect. The diagnosis identified losses of BRL 7,190.00 per year in expired materials, a 40-minute room setup time and up to five interruptions per surgery to search for missing items, in an operation of approximately 130 full-setup surgeries per year. The implemented countermeasures (5S with visual management, FIFO system, standardized surgical kits and a standard operating procedure for room assembly) reduced setup time to 15 minutes (62.5%), eliminated surgical interruptions, stopped the disposal of expired materials and removed an average monthly expense of BRL 46.00 on emergency freight, freeing about 50 hours per year of the bottleneck resource. The stabilization of the 6Ms proves to be a feasible, low-cost prerequisite for continuous improvement in dental services.