Applying lean principles in healthcare

Healthcare is charged to do more with less and improve patient satisfaction at the same time in order to balance the bottom line. Lean is a proven and effective way to remove waste, identify issues, and successfully implement change. The principle of Lean is based on the reality that there are value added and non-value added processes in every workflow. To improve quality and reduce loss, the non-value added processes need to be eliminated. In healthcare, value is determined from the perspective of the patient. While not exhaustive of the Lean processes that a healthcare system can employ, this article provides a general outline of Lean, definitions, and its benefits to any healthcare organization.