tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108456.post-29784759546433911452007-07-11T11:54:00.000-05:002007-07-11T11:54:00.000-05:002007-07-11T11:54:00.000-05:00Hi Renee - thanks for your comment. Standardized work *is* a great way of improving quality in healthcare. Michael Moore wasn't highlighting anything close to that issue, of how variation or failure to follow standard practices leads to many patient injuries and deaths.<BR/><BR/>I believe that standard work DOES absolutely require common sense and thinking. I view standard work as a set of guidelines and a playbook. Sometimes, you have a good reason for deviated from the playbook. But, if you're always deviating from the playbook or doing so without a good reason, that's a problem. <BR/><BR/>Standard Work requires that employees have their thinking caps on, this isn't a "be a robot and leave your brain at the door" system. <BR/><BR/>It's important to consider WHAT to standardize, not to standardize for the sake of standardizing. If it's important, for infection prevention, to insert a central line using a certain procedure, then the process should be standardized -- people need to follow that standard. They also need to understand WHY to follow the standard, it's not just "because managers said so." It's for the patient, it's for the employee's safety, etc.Mark Grabanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07953086531083611251noreply@blogger.com