Lean Thinking

Lean Thinking

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    Bill Evans
    (not a XING member)
    Lean and the USA Hospital
    Folks,
    USA Healthcare, its hospitals, and Lean
    My wife, Carol, and I take some issue with some of what Willie Carter writes in his latest article (http://www.techmankanata.com/admin/pdf/Healthcare-Strategy-A...) but Willie is a well respected professional in applying Lean technology and processes to industry.

    There is no doubt that Hospitals need new methods for cost control and containment and to be prepared to treat a larger number of patients with more acute requirements. But hospitals cannot bear the burden of changing an industry or in being the prime focus of Quality and Cost improvements without national and state legal and regulatory reform and a receptive and intelligent political/legislative ear.

    Many patients and politicians have little understanding of how hospitals actual function, yet are telling Hospital Corporations and Administrations how to operate and to reform and to set the example for change in what might be called a dysfunctional industry. Hospitals are easy targets for misguided “help” as they are the most visible component of healthcare and are the least affiliated to represent themselves. With over 5700 hospitals in the USA.

    While we all agree that quality and cost improvements are necessary but without reform in other parts of healthcare industry local hospital improvements will be “local” and with perhaps short term success. USA healthcare is changing and will change drastically over the next 10 years. Will these mandated changes place more burden on Hospitals, yes, and will there be resources to affect these changes, not likely.

    I, being Canadian, have a “born in” prejudice for a universal type healthcare system, even for the USA. My wife, born in Texas, is hospital executive and has been in cardiac healthcare management for over 30 years. She has worked in “not for profit”, “academic”, and “for profit” organizations.


    Bill Evans
    http://www.techmankanata.com
    • 03 Sep 2010, 5:03 pm