In the healthcare sector, the success of services and care delivery is often gauged by patient satisfaction. One popular method of establishing a high-quality healthcare system that delivers maximum value to patients is the 'Lean' concept. While some perceive Lean as a strategy to reduce costs, it's a lot more than that!
In this blog, we'll discuss what Lean Healthcare is, Lean Six Sigma in healthcare, along with some real-world examples of how Lean methodologies can be effectively applied.
The Lean methodology in healthcare refers to the implementation of Lean principles. Its primary goal is to create value by simplifying processes, reducing unnecessary costs, and eliminating activities that do not directly contribute to patient care, all while maintaining and improving patient outcomes.
By easing the operational burdens on hospitals and staff, Lean helps deliver more efficient, high-quality care.
All these objectives are accomplished through the implementation of a centralized project management software system that oversees the execution of new strategies, records their impact, and creates a system that supports constant real-time improvements.
Through the establishment of a Lean management system, medical providers can focus on testing what works and what doesn't.
Lean deploys a trial-and-error approach to identify which processes are actively helping patients and which require refining or elimination for their lack of impact.
Through this constant feedback loop, medical professionals can address inefficiencies promptly and make informed decisions.
Six Sigma is a method for reducing medical errors and improving care delivery. It sets high standards for quality and aims for a perfect outcome.
In contrast, Lean focuses on evaluating each step of the process to determine which steps add value and which do not. Lean aims to eliminate unnecessary practices, while Six Sigma seeks to remove defects through statistical analysis. Both methodologies aim to improve efficiency and quality.
These two approaches have been integrated into a hybrid improvement process known as 'Lean Six Sigma.' Originally prevalent in the manufacturing sector,
Lean Six Sigma has recently been adopted across various industries, including healthcare. Utilizing this hybrid framework allows you to solve complex problems in healthcare, remove errors and achieve precise results.
Lean methodology is all about eliminating waste while prioritizing patient needs. Recently, the healthcare industry has demonstrated success in applying its principle in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia.
The application of Lean management in healthcare can also encompass a holistic approach, such as transforming an entire business strategy. The following are key steps for implementing Lean in healthcare:
Prioritize Patient Needs
In healthcare, value is defined by what benefits the patient's well-being and health. The Lean model helps identify what patients care about and find the best ways to enhance their experience.
The aim is to focus on achieving patients' health goals. For instance, prioritizing patient needs means providing timely and appropriate care based on their specific requirements.
Visualize The Patient Journey
Inefficiencies like long wait times and unclear directions can lead to a frustrating patient experience. By mapping out the patient's journey, you can identify steps that contribute to waste and do not add value.
This process helps streamline the patient's path through care. For example, eliminating redundant diagnostic tests can improve the efficiency and outcome of patient visits.
Minimize Disruptions
To facilitate a smooth workflow, healthcare providers should organize their tasks to minimize disruptions. Implementing clear standard work processes can help reduce inconsistencies and enhance efficiency.
Tools such as electronic health records (EHR) are often used in the healthcare sector to manage patient information and prevent errors, supporting the Lean goal of minimizing disruptions. Renowned EHR software, like athenahealth, Cerner, or Epic, help prevent errors in the medical centers dotting the globe.
Demand-Driven Patient Care
Lean emphasizes providing services only when needed, avoiding unnecessary interventions. This approach prevents waste and enhances patient satisfaction by ensuring services are delivered when the patient is ready.
The goal is to create a smooth, demand-driven patient journey that pulls in only the necessary resources.
Enhance Operational Efficiency
Visual management tools can be applied to various aspects of healthcare, such as strategic planning and inventory management.
These tools, like Kanban boards, offer easy access to data and help identify issues. Implementing effective visual management improves operational efficiency and supports Lean principles.
Seek Continuous Improvement
Lean Healthcare encourages ongoing quality enhancement in daily tasks. To maintain and improve performance, healthcare providers should continuously seek feedback and review processes.
Embracing a mindset of constant improvement helps adapt to the evolving healthcare environment and ensures ongoing success with Lean methodology.
The Lean methodology is highly favored in the medical field. Healthcare organizations are leveraging Lean principles to provide better service to their patients.
This also allows the sector to reduce overtime work, satisfy their patients, and generate more clinic revenue. Some examples of Lean Healthcare are discussed here:
Improved Organization Efficiency At Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC)
MGMC integrated Lean tools and methodologies into its operations. Improving the organization's efficiency, optimizing processes, and eliminating waste through Lean has significantly achieved the center's desired outcomes.
MGMC has systematically implemented 54 new improvements, which have had a significant financial impact of $840,898.
Transformed Patient Rooms For Better Care At ThedaCare
The Lean system was implemented in ThedaCare, a non-profit healthcare organization. New patient rooms were designed to centralize supplies, medications, and electronic record-keeping systems.
This allows the nurses to devote 70% more time to patients. Patient safety was also increased by installing ceiling lifts and beds with advanced features like alarms.
Enhanced Postpartum Care At Denver Health's Eastside Clinic
Denver Health's Eastside Clinic improved its postpartum care by Lean scheduling. The clinic faced challenges with high rates of no-shows for maternal postpartum checkups.
The primary factors contributing to this were transportation difficulty and long appointment waiting times. To resolve this issue, the clinic incorporated a combined appointment system that included both mother and infant appointments.
Optimized Primary Care Processes At WakeMed Health
WakeMed Health and Hospitals successfully enhanced their patient flow in primary care with the help of Virginia Mason Institute.
Teams could streamline the patient workflow by implementing Lean principles, such as establishing a shared vision and utilizing 5S agreements. This leads to fewer patient wait times and enhances the staff's work-life balance, allowing them to leave on time and take a full break.
Decreased Patient Liability Claims At Virginia Mason Institute
Virginia Mason's Patient Safety Alert (PSA) method encourages all the staff to report any potential patient safety concerns. Such reports are addressed and investigated promptly, resulting in a 74% decrease in liability claims from 2005 to 2015.
As the healthcare sector turns toward patient-centered practices and preventive measures, the future of Lean in healthcare will continue to evolve.
Healthcare sectors that implement Lean methodology principles will be better equipped to progress in the future. Lean principles provide an effective approach to minimizing waste, controlling rising costs, and improving patient outcomes.
Integrating Lean principles in healthcare promises a more efficient, patient-centered approach. Various project management tools are available that help implement Lean principles, facilitate real-time decision-making, and accurately analyze data.
Moreover, it fosters a more engaged workforce and lessens the chances of burnout.
