DailyKaizen

I got to connect with the first LEAN consultancy on the East Coast yesterday. It’s based at our national affiliate / sister organization, which is as world-class as ours, in my very humble opinion. I think much of their greatness comes from the fact that they are member-centered also, which is a core requirement of being successful with LEAN (and in health care in general) also, in my opinion (don’t you agree, though? :)).

From what I was shown, the group started relatively organically as we did. They referred to the strategy as “Middle Out” which on reflection is close to what ours was. They are combining LEAN and Six Sigma together which appears to me to add good analysis and statistical controls to the methodology. In my own training at Group Health, I was just beginning to learn about this. They have made improvements in strategic areas just like us, including the laboratory and the pharmacy. They did something that we also did - showing members and staff real improvements in the everyday care experience by making things happen, and then coming around to have the conversations about methodology. Seeing and feeling results is a great way to have the dialog, isn’t it.

The great thing about an interaction like this for me, though, is the observation of the enthusiasm that comes from being able to do better for members/patients. It’s the same feeling, different coast. We don’t want to do it the same way, but we want it to feel the same way. “You just saved your members’ time, money, improved their satisfaction, and the satisfaction of those who care for them, are you going to continue to champion this?” - The question that’s easy to answer because it answers itself.

If I am lucky I will get to report on what they do, or maybe they will do it themselves….

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