Years ago (going back to 2009), I was fortunate to play a role in something special: the healthcare site visit program run by Catalysis. These weren't casual hospital tours or leadership junkets. They were immersive, intentional learning experiences–designed to bring leaders to the gemba to see what real Lean transformation looks like, not in theory, but in practice.
I'm glad to see that the site visits continue today–and in many ways, they feel more important than ever.
Gemba Visits That Go Beyond Observation
Organizations like UMass Memorial Health, OhioHealth, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) are opening their doors and sharing what it looks like to build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement. These aren't “perfect” hospitals (no such place exists), but they are deeply committed to learning, aligning leadership behaviors, and engaging teams in solving real problems every day.
When I see the continuing evolution of these visits, a few themes stand out:
- At UMass Memorial, it's the deliberate integration of improvement, data, and project management functions–creating a system that supports both rigor and collaboration.
- At OhioHealth, the strength lies in visible standards, tiered huddles, and tight feedback loops that connect daily work with long-term strategy.
- At ZSFG, you'll see authentic leadership behaviors modeled daily. Executive leaders aren't removed from improvement–they're driving it through visibility and presence.
Each of these visits is a window into what's possible. And more importantly, they're reminders that this work is never finished.
I recently had a private opportunity to visit an OhioHealth site. I was very impressed with their commitment to a Lean management system.
UMass Memorial is a customer of KaiNexus continuous improvement software platform. They've implemented and documented more than 100,000 staff ideas under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Eric Dickson.
Why These Experiences Still Resonate
We talk a lot in Lean circles about “going to see.” But the power of a site visit isn't just in seeing a whiteboard or a huddle–it's in noticing the interactions, asking good questions, and walking away with new perspectives.
This is true when you're visiting hospitals in the U.S. — or even in Japan (come join me!).
In an increasingly digital and fragmented world, there's something grounding about being in a space where people are doing the work, where frontline staff are engaged and committed, not just compliant, and where executives show respect for people not through words but through presence and listening.
Site visits like these help answer the most common question I hear from leaders:
“What does a mature Lean management system actually look like?”
We don't really learn this through PowerPoint–it's done through practice.
An Invitation to Reflect
If you're leading change–or trying to–it can be hard to know where to focus next. Visiting another organization can reset your thinking. It can challenge assumptions. And sometimes, it can simply remind you that you're not alone in this journey.
I encourage healthcare leaders (and leaders in any industry, really) to consider attending. Even better: go with your team. Reflect together. Take notes. And when you return, start small–but start.
Check out the upcoming Catalysis site visits here.
Thank you to the Catalysis team–and the generous host organizations–for continuing this vital work.
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Let’s work together to build a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety. If you're a leader looking to create lasting change—not just projects—I help organizations:
- Engage people at all levels in sustainable improvement
- Shift from fear of mistakes to learning from them
- Apply Lean thinking in practical, people-centered ways
Interested in coaching or a keynote talk? Let’s start a conversation.
