I’m currently in Minneapolis, where today is Day 2 of our Healthcare Value Leaders Network “Gemba Visit” to Park Nicollet (read more about these visits here). Dr. John Toussaint, author of the book On the Mend: Revolutionizing Healthcare to Save…
Today, I’m linking to a fantastic interview and discussion between two luminaries in the patient safety world – Dr. Robert Wachter (read his blog) and Dr. Richard Shannon (who is featured, among other places, in the “Good News: How Hospitals…
TL;DR: Effective daily huddles are short, visual, two-way conversations held in the gemba–focused on safety, performance, and surfacing issues, not solving them on the spot. A key cultural aspect of Lean is the “daily huddle.” Sure, this practice isn’t exclusive…
TL;DR: The New York Times showed that Lean healthcare isn’t about “factory medicine,” but about removing waste so clinicians can focus on patients. When grounded in respect for people and strong leadership, Lean improves quality, access, and cost–while misapplied versions…
I’m here at the Shingo Prize conference for the second year in a row. Lots of good networking and talks I’ll share a few quotes and highlights, along with a picture of my friend and sometimes guest blogger, Adam Zak.…
In this post, I’m going to tell you about some upcoming Lean events I’m involved in – planning, producing, or participating. Eric Ries “Lean Startups” Webinar for LEI Shingo Prize Conference Lean Healthcare Transformation Summit I think these will all…
What really motivates people to improve their work–especially in healthcare and other complex environments? Drawing on Daniel Pink’s Drive, Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s teachings, and Lean principles, this post explores why intrinsic motivation consistently outperforms incentives, rewards, and punishment in…
Episode #87 is a discussion with a returning guest, Steven J. Spear, DBA, author of the outstanding book Chasing the Rabbit: How Market Leaders Outdistance the Competition and How Great Companies Can Catch Up and Win. The book is due…
Hat tip to my friend Jack for pointing out these short videos from the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI) that they call “Teachable Moments.” The first video I saw was just about 3 minutes long, perfect for YouTube and Twitter-era…
Here’s one to ponder and comment on – does putting a pharmacist in jail for six months and ruining his career and life do anything to bring back a two year-old girl? Does it do anything to make future patients…
Podcast #83 is an in-depth conversation with Jim D’Addario, the CEO of D’Addario, Inc., a manufacturer of guitar strings, drum heads, and other musical accessories. Jim and his family company were featured on CNN late last year, highlighting how lean…
One of my goals for the next few weeks is to catch up on blogging about some great speakers I’ve seen recently. Coming soon, a post about seeing Dr. Atul Gawande (The Checklist Manifesto) and Daniel Pink (Drive) in the…