Spagetti Maps

A spaghetti map is a graphic showing the movement of patients and providers in a clinic. This article gives an example in an emergency room where spaghetti maps were used to decrease ER wait times.

In a clinic one simple step to streamlining patient flow and decrease non-value added time is to standardize each room and ensure that equipment is present at the beginning of each day. My suggestion is to use a simple checklist at the beginning of each day to ensure that all equipment necessary for the majority of patients is present in the room.

While it sounds trite, the step is inexpensive and has a two-fold effect. Not only does it save time in the initial room but it also saves time when someone gets to the room that the equipment has been 'stolen from'.