Healthcare improvement isn’t about working harder—it’s about better systems, better leadership, and a culture that supports learning and speaking up. This archive brings together blog posts, podcasts, and reflections on Lean healthcare, patient safety, quality improvement, leadership, and continuous improvement. Many of these posts draw on real hospital experiences and lessons from Deming, Toyota, and frontline healthcare teams, with a consistent emphasis on respect for people and learning from mistakes.
Carter streamlines production – Fort Worth Business Press I had a chance, last year, to take some local hospital clients to Carter to see their blood processing operations. So, it’s nice to see them recognized for their Lean efforts. It…
Hospital’s shake-up gives nurses more time Here’s a nice news article about the use of Lean in a hospital in New Zealand (hat tip to Michael for sending it to me). Middlemore Hospital is the first in the country to…
Auto industry process revs up efficiency No, not a hospital for moose — a hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Five Hills Health Region is revving up speed in providing mental health services and lab tests for patients —…
A tour of a LEAN-inspired clinical laboratory | DailyKaizen Here’s a nice story by Dr. Ted Eytan about a lab that a colleague of mine worked with in their Lean efforts. It is actually a lab that is mentioned briefly…
Appleton Post-Crescent: Your Fox Cities News Source – ThedaCare CEO takes new job ThedaCare is one of the recognized leaders in the use of Lean and the Toyota Production System in hospitals. He has resigned as CEO of the health…
Wachter’s World : The Checklist Saga: Victory! This is great news for patients and is probably great news for those of you who have been following the “checklists” saga. The federal government has reversed its earlier decision to shutdown the…
L.I. Hospital Scrutinized After Deaths of Patients – New York Times It wasn’t the same laboratory this time, but it’s more than likely a similar root cause. I wrote before about pathology specimen labeling errors, how they’re preventable human error.…
Leadership Symposium (Iowa) It sure seems like Iowa gets mentioned here on the blog quite a bit, for lean manufacturing and lean healthcare. John Touissant, of ThedaCare (in Wisconsin), is speaking at an Iowa healthcare symposium April 22 (unfortunately, it…
Are Rapid Improvement Events enough? | Lean Healthcare I don’t have anything against Kaizen Events (often called “RIE” or “Rapid Improvement Events” in healthcare). They have their proper place and can bring many benefits, but events are not enough. They…
Some rhetorical questions to managers who say they want to “be Lean”: Do you properly train new employees or do you just throw them into the job to figure it out themselves? Do you label those who speak up and…
‘It’s never just one thing’ that leads to serious error – Los Angeles Times This is a stunning headline, it’s pretty amazing (in a good way) to find an article that doesn’t focus on blaming individuals. “It’s never just one…
Care and Chaos on the Night Nursing Shift – WSJ.com Free Version via CareerJournal.com The linked article is a virtual “gemba walk” for those of you who have asked how and why Lean is helpful and necessary in a hospital…
