Lean management fosters a cultural transformation

Hospitals need to eliminate anything that does not add value to the customer. They need to undertake a cultural transformation. The move to Lean management is just such a transformation. Lean management focuses on improving processes, so its principles and practices are applicable to any business. Lean management's techniques are elegantly simple--to understand. But putting them into practice takes perseverance. A successful continuous improvement (CI) program requires much more than the training of participating personnel. Success is hinged on developing a problem solving culture among the organization in which everyone looks for and is empowered to enact improvement opportunities. Support at the highest level of the organization is critical and the CI undertakings can only produce their full value when the elements of support, participation, and accountability exist.

For Hospital Senior Leadership, ATAC outlines the content for five distinct training and development programs and assistance areas:

1. Strategy Development for Senior Leaders training is customized to the organization's model. Training and consultation cover the key areas of:

• The Role of the Leader -- ATAC consultants meet with the organization senior manager/leader/administrative officer to establish the leader's role for CI strategy deployment
• CI Strategy Deployment -- To align the thinking and action of the Administrator and Vice Presidents to that of the anticipated results for CI and the healthcare organization's Vision, Mission and Values and its key strategic challenges. To establish the linking-pin structure to unite the various levels in the organization.  To select project of key importance and address strategic challenges.
• CI Review System -- Step-by-step planning, implementation, and review process for managing the change at the senior leader level, aka PDCA cycles
• Lunch & Learn (recommended option) -- To better understand Lean and their role in sustaining and supporting CI, ATAC recommends a program of preparation for senior leaders who plan to participate in the ½-day training event. This program involves a series of articles selected for advance reading and discussion over an informal lunch gathering. This discussion would be facilitated by ATAC CI Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who will field questions, provide insight and steer the group toward gaining a sound footing that will better prepare them for the forthcoming training.

2. Senior Leaders 1/2–day preparatory training/development program is an introductory session on Lean Continuous Improvement. Topics covered include the organization's CI Vision; Benefits of Lean in Healthcare; Value-Added vs Non-Value-Added; Problem Solving; Strategy; Sustaining; and Culture.

3. Mid-level Department Head & Key Associates 1-day training/development program is our ful-day Lean Healthcare 101 Training course. Click here for course description.

4. CI Champion 5-day training/development program is our week-long Lean Healthcare Certification course. Click here for course description.

5. Coaching with CI leaders involves two 8-hour days per month, or, as needed by the client. A coaching session provides complete access to a lean specialist for a day. Coaching can include floor walks with lean suggestions, lean plans & goal tracking, accountability on lean activities & follow-up, and many more applications. Floor “eye for waste” walks can include input on 5S, visual aids, improvement opportunities and possible data collection points. Lean Specialists can also give input on lean strategy, lean initiatives, and lean plans.

Click here to obtain a graphic illustration of the Lean CI journey for medical organizations.

Lean Healthcare Home

Contact for More Information:

Mitch Emmons; 334.844.3881; emmonmb@auburn.edu

ATAC Affiliations