Abstract: Objective: To improve the quality of blood samples of pediatric inpatients before the laboratory experiment. Methods: Based on the DMAIC method of lean management, the issues related to the pre-experimental quality of blood samples in hospitalized children were defined. The issues were examined and analyzed through value flow chart, fish bone map, literature search, and multidisciplinary team. The methods of blood sample collection of the pediatric inpatients were optimized, the relevant nursing protocols were updated , the systematic training were provided, and the effects were evaluated. Results: After the lean management, the untimely rate of the blood samples and the unqualified rate of the specimens in the pediatric inpatients were lower than previous value, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Lean management can improve the pre-experimental quality of blood samples of pediatric inpatients. It can be helpful to the more efficient operation of the hospital's overall resources.

Key words: lean management; blood sample; child