Abstract: This paper investigates the basic conditions and the present situation of the outpatient service process of typical third-grade and class-A hospitals in China. In order to analyze the hospital's outpatient service process and reveal the existence of the hospital patient problems, process reengineering methods are made use of. According to the process reengineering theory and methodology, the process optimization methods and information technology means are used to optimize the hospital outpatient service process. This paper also points out the hospitals' management problems, and proposes solutions to these problems.

Key words: process reengineering, outpatient service, process optimization