Taking Improvement from The Assembly Line to Healthcare

Taking Improvement from the

 Assembly Line to Healthcare

The Application of Lean within the Healthcare Industry

By    Ronald G. Bercaw        Copyright Year 2022


 Paperback    $39.96     Hardback     $120.00     eBook     39.96

 Available for pre-order. Item will ship after July 23, 2021

ISBN 9780367471545

July 23, 2021 Forthcoming by Productivity Press

212 Pages 52 B/W Illustrations


AWARDS
Shingo - Award Winner

Book Description

Quality healthcare is a cornerstone of any healthy society. In the U.S., we have access to sophisticated medical technology, world renowned physicians, highly trained nurses and hospital personnel, advanced pharmaceuticals, and innovations in diagnosis and treatment. But for all of our sophistication, serious problems afflict healthcare systems across the U.S. today – problems that cause severe hardship for families in communities large and small. Considering its impact on society, healthcare is arguably our most important industry. Good health is a key aspect of a productive and fulfilling life no matter what a person’s age, cultural background, social status or career.

To live well and provide for ourselves and others, we all depend on a strong healthcare system that can help us prevent illness and access effective treatment when we need it. Needless to say, building and maintaining that robust healthcare system is no easy task. According to a report by the Institute of Medicine, up to 98,000 deaths per year occur in U.S. hospitals as a result of adverse events. In other words, errors in hospitals cause more annual deaths than acceptable and are totally preventable. With the healthcare system in such critical condition, Lean is the best possible treatment as it moves to eliminate waste and improve processes.

The revised edition of Taking Improvement from the Assembly Line to Healthcare supplies step-by-step guidance on how to implement Lean methods to achieve world-class improvement with the healthcare industry. The updated edition of this Shingo award winner book provides specific examples of Lean implementation in emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, orthopedic clinics, general internal medicine, administration, and community care.

Highlighting quality, safety, and financial evidence as to why immediate change is both possible and essential, the book provides a firm foundation in Lean improvement and the tools used to deliver sustainable solutions. This revised edition presents new and updated client interviews and how the process has changed or been enhanced, what worked and what didn’t work. New case studies from U.S. and Canada provide readers with the real-world understanding needed to embark and sustain a successful improvement journey.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments..................................................................................ix

About the Author....................................................................................xi

Introduction......................................................................................... xiii

Chapter 1 Critical Condition: Why Change Is Needed..................... 1

Chapter 2 Fundamentals of Improvement........................................ 15

Chapter 3 Tools for Improvement..................................................... 39

Chapter 4 Case Studies....................................................................... 85

Chapter 5 Getting Started................................................................ 129

Index..................................................................................................... 187

Author

Ronald Bercaw is the president of Breakthrough Horizons, LTD, a

management consulting company specializing in world-class improvement

through the application of the Toyota Production System, more commonly

known as “Lean.” With over 30 years of experience in operations, his

Lean management experience was gained through multiple enterprise

transformations in different industries, including custom packaging,

power reliability electronics assembly, and test and measurement products.

 

Educated at Purdue University, Ron learned the details and disciplined

applications of Lean principles, habits, and tools from both the Shingijutsu

Sensei and their first-generation disciples. Working in both shop floor and

above-the-shop-floor areas, Ron has vigorously strived to remove waste

from businesses through the involvement and ideas of the people doing

the work.

 

Ron has consulting experience in the healthcare sector (U.S. and

Canadian health systems, including health insurance, primary care,

acute care, and community applications of both clinical and back shop

improvement), the commercial sector (administration, manufacturing,

distribution, supply chain, and engineering), and the public sector (U.S.

Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, including MRO, Pentagon, Veteran’s

Health Administration, and Surgeon General Assignments), the health

insurance sector, and Lean in agriculture.

 

In addition to operating his consulting practice, Ron has previously published

three books: Taking Improvement from the Assembly Line to Healthcare,

Lean Leadership for Healthcare, and The Lean Electronic Medical Record.

The first two books have been awarded the Shingo Research Award for

helping advance the body of Lean knowledge.


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