Transforming Oncology Throughput: Data-Driven Gains at Northwestern Medicine with LeanTaaS’ iQueue for Infusion Centers

Bizhan Shahpar, Program Manager of Performance Improvement at Northwestern Medicine, shares how one of the nation’s leading academic health systems improved infusion operations across multiple sites through strategic use of data and predictive analytics.

Focusing on Northwestern’s flagship infusion center, Bizhan walks through a structured, multi-phase approach to tackling throughput challenges—spanning treatment duration recalibration, template optimization, and stakeholder engagement.

Northwestern Medicine achieved:

• 67 additional patients per month by shortening scheduled durations for consistently early-ending treatments
  
• A 43% reduction in patient wait times and a 30-minute reduction in daily bottlenecks
  
• More balanced chair utilization and increased afternoon capacity by flattening peak demand
  

Healthcare leaders will leave with actionable strategies for right-sizing infusion capacity, improving patient access, and sustaining operational improvements at scale.