Healthcare
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Proposed Massachusetts Bill Could Cut Billions in Healthcare Costs
Published May 9, 2012Filed Under:
Massachusetts legislature is slating this July for passing a proposed bill, the Health Care Quality Improvement and Cost Reduction Act of 2012.
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Pennsylvania hospitals using process improvement report fewer deaths, readmissions
Published September 23, 2010Filed Under:
A report on hospital deaths in Pennsylvania revealed a substantial drop in the number of deaths and readmissions over the last seven years, and administrators point to process improvement practices, such as Lean Six Sigma, as a major reason. -
Government encourages adoption of EHRs as a means to process improvement
Published December 1, 2010Filed Under:
Health IT adoption has been encouraged by the federal government, which offered hospitals stimulus money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for meaningful use of electronic health records. -
Texas Health reduces patient wait times through process improvement
Published December 6, 2010Filed Under:
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano was recently recognized by the Texas State Board of Nursing for its successful process improvement program, known as the 30-Minute Promise, and its impact on patient safety. -
Scientist converted to the possibilities of Lean Six Sigma in the laboratory
Published September 17, 2010Filed Under:
An organic chemist with a long career in drug discovery is rethinking how Lean Six Sigma can be applied to the pharmaceutical field after hearing about researchers who used the process improvement system in their lab. -
Lean Six Sigma helps Afghanistan military hospital improve admissions
Published September 16, 2010Filed Under:
In order to improve the treatment for soldiers at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, the commander of the hospital implemented a Lean Six Sigma process improvement program that cut the steps for admission of a patient by nearly 50 percent. -
Gubernatorial candidate wants to use process improvement to reduce Connecticut's medical expenses
Published September 15, 2010Filed Under:
Connecticut candidate for governor Tom Foley is campaigning on his plan to cut $1 billion from the state's budget by implementing healthcare process improvements that will increase electronic record keeping and reduce emergency room visits. -
Healthcare waste identified in emergency room visits, delivery process
Published September 14, 2010Filed Under:
Wasteful spending in healthcare can most likely be eliminated by increasing patients' access to primary care physicians and implementing business process improvements to reduce fee-for-service reimbursements. -
Georgia hospital improves revenue management, executes process improvement plan
Published April 15, 2011Filed Under:
The implementation of a process improvement plan at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia has streamlined the hospital's revenue management process as well as revealed inefficiencies in other areas, according to Health Leaders Media. -
Lean-based system streamlines healthcare center processes
Published April 22, 2011Filed Under:
A Wisconsin doctor recently implemented healthcare process improvement by using a model derived from lean principles, according to the Regina Leader Post. -
Canadian hospital eliminates appointment waiting period
Published May 10, 2011Filed Under:
As the result of a recently completed process improvement project, the 30-day wait for a new appointment has been eliminated for patients referred to the cardiovascular clinic at Calgary-based Rockyview Hospital in Alberta, Canada, according to CTV News. -
Process improvement methods help hospital address budget issues
Published May 19, 2011Filed Under:
Rhode Island-based Westerly Hospital is reconfiguring staffing levels as part of a process improvement program designed to help the healthcare provider adapt to a reduced budget, according to The Westerly Sun. -
Canadian healthcare leaders look to Washington hospitals for efficiency tips
Published July 13, 2011Filed Under:
Last month, a selection of healthcare leaders from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan toured several facilities in Washington that have successfully leveraged Lean Six Sigma methodology to enact process improvement. -
Lean Six Sigma sensei helps St. Louis hospital enact process improvement
Published July 18, 2011Filed Under:
Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, is using Lean Six Sigma to streamline its processes and improve the speed and quality of its care, according to Marketplace from American Public Media. -
Using real-time location systems to enact healthcare process improvement
Published October 21, 2011Filed Under:
Real-time location systems (RTLS) are becoming an increasingly popular method of healthcare process improvement, according to Becker's Hospital Review. -
Hospital reduces medication waste using process improvement
Published December 19, 2011Filed Under:
Cutting costs and reducing waste have been a primary focus for healthcare facilities in the years since the recession hit, prompting many to look into implementing process improvement, notes Pharmacy Practice News. -
Texas facility enjoys process improvement savings
Published February 2, 2012Filed Under:
A Texas healthcare facility was able to save more than $6.5 million by aligning incentives to reduce costs while simultaneously engaging in healthcare process improvement that increased the quality and safety of its services. -
Using Lean Six Sigma in conjunction with 5S
Published April 12, 2012Filed Under:
When it comes to improving efficiency within a hospital setting, a Lean Six Sigma-based healthcare process improvement approach is focused on eliminating waste in the system. -
Iowa medical center ramps up process improvement efforts
Published April 11, 2012Filed Under:
Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa, recently brought in a new performance improvement engineer to help facilitate process improvement and eliminate waste, according to The Decorah Newspapers. -
Healthcare process improvement contributes to decrease in infection rates
Published April 23, 2012Filed Under:
Thanks to healthcare process improvement efforts, the 2010 rate of bloodstream infections associated with the use of a central line fell in 21 states. -
Health system drives continuous improvement
Published April 18, 2012Filed Under:
South Dakota-based Sanford Health already performs well in readmission rates, risk-adjusted mortality and other quality metrics, but it's "never satisfied," according to CMO Bruce Pitts, as quoted by Becker's ASC Review. -
Healthcare process improvement garners cost savings
Published April 17, 2012Filed Under:
A process improvement effort launched to boost the quality and safety of patient care at Detroit's Henry Ford Health System also generated cost savings for the healthcare facility, according to Crain's Detroit Business. -
Ontario process improvement program helps regional hospitals improve care
Published December 17, 2010Filed Under:
Among the 15 hospitals participating in Ontario's Emergency Department Process Improvement Program, Georgian Bay General Hospital has achieved the most progress in reducing wait times. -
Canadian hospital able to handle flu outbreak thanks to process improvement
Published January 31, 2011Filed Under:
Quinte Health Care, based in Ontario, Canada, is continuing to realize benefits from its new process improvement program, which is funded by the province. -
George Washington hospital optimizes workflow by implementing process improvements
Published March 4, 2011Filed Under:
George Washington Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., recently implemented process improvement initiatives with the goal of optimizing Electronic Medical Record data. -
Canadian hospital reduces emergency room wait times
Published March 17, 2011Filed Under:
A hospital in Canada is using healthcare process improvement techniques to cut down on patient wait times. -
Process improvement may mitigate effects of impending healthcare worker shortage
Published May 5, 2011Filed Under:
According to a recent poll conducted by ASQ, healthcare quality experts are anticipating that the growing shortage of U.S. healthcare workers will result in longer wait times, an increased rate of medical errors and an uneven level of care. -
Arkansas hospital recognized for process improvement
Published July 29, 2011Filed Under:
Hot Springs, Arkansas-based St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center was recently recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for its healthcare process improvement successes, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. -
Rochester hospitals cut costs with Lean Six Sigma
Published August 5, 2011Filed Under:
The Greater Rochester Health Foundation has made enormous savings thanks to implementing process improvement plans. -
Lean practices showing results at U.K. hospital
Published August 23, 2011Filed Under:
The Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which administers services at the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth, United Kingdom, has seen significant improvements since adopting lean practices in 2005. -
Process improvement may help the implementation of EHRs
Published September 7, 2011Filed Under:
As the nationwide implementation of electronic health records continues to expand, the question of whether the technology will improve processes and patient care remains. -
Hospital association launches OR process improvement program
Published November 15, 2011Filed Under:
The Hospital Association of Southern California recently announced the launch of a nine-month program to enact process improvement in the operating room (OR). -
Canadian hospital enjoys healthcare process improvement gains
Published November 18, 2011Filed Under:
Jayme Watson, the director of continuous improvement at Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury, Ontario, recently held a presentation about the healthcare facility's recent gains in efficiency, according to Northern Life. -
Fusing care coordination with Lean Six Sigma
Published December 12, 2011Filed Under:
Lean Six Sigma-based healthcare process improvement allows hospitals to standardize processes, reduce wait times and waste, boost quality and streamline existing procedures. -
Healthcare alliance cuts costs, boosts hospital performance
Published February 7, 2012Filed Under:
Nearly 300 hospitals across 40 states are working together to enact process improvement in their facilities, thanks to a collaborative put together by Premier healthcare alliance. -
Physician leadership training becoming more commonplace
Published February 27, 2012Filed Under:
In a bid to boost healthcare process improvement, more institutions are offering in-house physician leadership training, according to American Medical News. -
Saving money with healthcare process improvement
Published March 8, 2012Filed Under:
Careful planning and Lean Six Sigma-based healthcare process improvement can help health systems realize significant financial savings while combating waste and inefficiency. -
Hospital receives Heart Failure Institute Accreditation
Published March 13, 2012Filed Under:
San Antonio, Texas-based Methodist Heart Hospital recently achieved Heart Failure Institute Accreditation from the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium. -
Indiana Health Department Partners with MHIN for Improved Processes
Published April 27, 2012Filed Under:
To improve case management for local communicable disease investigation and state reporting, the St. Joseph County Health Department has recently partnered with the Michigan Health Information Network (MHIN).
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Missed or Cancelled Surgeries Causing Hospitals to Lose Millions
Published May 15, 2012Filed Under:
Hospitals across the United States are losing millions of dollars due to cancelled or missed surgical appointments, research from Tulane University Medical Center and an article from Anesthesiology News shows.
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Medical providers recommend a seven-step pay-for-performance model
Published September 7, 2010Filed Under:
In an effort to combat rising healthcare costs and failures in medical treatment that results in nearly 100,000 patients dying from preventable mistakes in American hospitals each year, a medical group recommends a seven-step pay-for-performance model. -
Lean Six Sigma helps CIGNA improve quality and service
Published September 7, 2010Filed Under:
After initiating Lean Six Sigma programs in 2003 on a voluntary basis, the healthcare company CIGNA has saved millions of dollars and the results have helped the company's BPM director identify how to make further improvements. -
Business process improvement one aspect of transforming healthcare
Published September 21, 2010Filed Under:
Healthcare providers are looking for ways to improve processes and eliminate inefficiencies, and for those programs becoming accountable care organizations, consultant Joe Flower says Lean Six Sigma has potential to transform modern medical care. -
CDC funding to focus on performance improvement
Published September 24, 2010Filed Under:
This week the Department of Health and Human Services announced the funding of more than $42 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for projects in health departments around the country, some of which are aimed at performance improvement on the national, state and local levels. -
Kaiser Permanente performance improvement system leads to financial and quality gains
Published December 7, 2010Filed Under:
The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety recently lauded the success of Kaiser Permanente's performance improvement system that boosted quality, safety, service and efficiency. -
Glen Cove earns distinction for doctor's implementation of Lean Six Sigma and performance improvements
Published December 8, 2010Filed Under:
The Hospitalist recently featured Dr. Bradley M. Sherman of Glen Cove Hospital in New York for his successful implementation of a Lean Six Sigma quality project that benefited patients with heart problems. -
Heart attack patients at Tennessee hospital are seen in time for survival thanks to process improvements
Published December 13, 2010Filed Under:
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, a member of West Tennessee Healthcare, recently implemented a lean process improvement program that resulted in crucial time savings for heart attack patients. -
North Carolina hospital reduces surgical site infections thanks to performance improvement
Published January 31, 2011Filed Under:
Lenoir Memorial Hospital, based in Kinston, North Carolina, recently received recognition for its surgical care performance improvements. -
Illinois health system's process improvements spur pledge of ER service in 30 minutes or less
Published January 31, 2011Filed Under:
Vista Health System based in Waukegan, Illinois, recently launched a "30 Minutes or Less ER Service Pledge" at the culmination of its six-month process improvement program. -
Minnesota hospital receives award for patient safety improvements
Published May 11, 2011Filed Under:
The Minnesota Hospital Association recently recognized Edina-based Fairview Southdale Hospital for its rapid implementation of a continuous process improvement system in response to patient safety issues that were uncovered in 2008. -
Canada healthcare provider reduces wait times, receives government grant
Published May 11, 2011Filed Under:
As a result of Ontario, Canada-based Quinte Health Care's successful implementation of a process improvement program at Belleville General Hospital last year, the province's health ministry recently announced an additional $1.2 million grant in order to help the healthcare provider further reduce emergency room wait times. -
Employing process improvement methods in healthcare
Published June 15, 2011Filed Under:
Process improvement can be implemented on a variety of levels within the healthcare industry, from improving hand hygiene to reducing patient wait times and cutting costs hospital-wide -
Lean Six Sigma methodology used to reduce wrong-site surgery rates
Published June 30, 2011Filed Under:
A process improvement initiative spearheaded by the Joint Commission was able to successfully reduce errors that can lead to wrong-site surgery at eight hospitals and surgery centers, according to DOTmed. -
Quebec implements healthcare process improvement
Published July 5, 2011Filed Under:
In an effort to keep the costs of universal health coverage down despite an aging population, the Canadian province of Quebec adopted a Lean Six Sigma-based approach, according to the Pan American Health Organization. -
Panel discusses waste-reducing healthcare initiatives
Published July 19, 2011Filed Under:
At a recent Engineering Society of Detroit Institute meeting, healthcare experts and employers discussed leveraging Lean Six Sigma methodology to reduce waste in the healthcare system, according to Crain's Detroit Business. -
Performance improvement realized through artificial intelligence software
Published August 18, 2011Filed Under:
At the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA) 39th Annual Meeting and Exposition on Wednesday, a successful process improvement strategy was presented - NASA-level artificial intelligent software. -
Heathcare process improvement important for Oklahoma hospital authority
Published August 26, 2011Filed Under:
Central Oklahoma healthcare system Norman Regional Hospital Authority has made process improvement a key goal. -
Cloud computing can improve healthcare facility operations
Published September 2, 2011Filed Under:
Thanks to new information technology, healthcare facilities can realize process improvement electronically. -
Using process improvement to mitigate malpractice lawsuits
Published September 12, 2011Filed Under:
A rising number of hospitals looking to reduce the risk of being slapped with malpractice lawsuits are considering implementing formal healthcare process improvement programs to eliminate patient care errors, according to The Wall Street Journal. -
Behind the success of the Virginia Mason Production System
Published September 23, 2011Filed Under:
Nearly a decade ago, Seattle, Washington-based Virginia Mason Medical Center adapted Lean Six Sigma manufacturing practices to facilitate healthcare process improvement. -
CMS administrator drives continuous improvement
Published December 5, 2011Filed Under:
Earlier this month, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Donald Berwick stepped down from his position, prompting the Health Affairs journal to look back at some of his greatest achievements - such as cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. -
Canadian hospital enjoys process improvement success
Published December 6, 2011Filed Under:
Cornwall Community Hospital in Ontario, Canada, is involved in a healthcare process improvement initiative to eliminate waste and maximize efficiency, according to the Seaway News. -
Tips for healthcare process improvement
Published December 16, 2011Filed Under:
Becker's Hospital Review recently offered several process improvement tips for hospitals looking to cut spending and boost efficiency. -
Using Lean Six Sigma to save money, reduce variability in healthcare
Published January 4, 2012Filed Under:
Baptist St. Anthony's Health System is one of a rising number of healthcare networks across the country that have integrated Lean Six Sigma variability-reduction techniques to standardize quality and pinpoint areas of waste and inefficiency. -
Federal report reveals need for process improvement in healthcare
Published January 9, 2012Filed Under:
A recent report from the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services shows ample need for healthcare process improvement and error reporting, according to The New York Times. -
Colorado healthcare facility enjoys quality gains, reduced costs
Published January 19, 2012Filed Under:
Colorado's Denver Health and Hospital Authority has been able to realize a $135 million financial benefit since launching a Lean Six Sigma-based healthcare process improvement effort in 2005, according to Hospitals & Health Networks Daily. -
Georgia hospital enjoys Lean Six Sigma success
Published January 20, 2012Filed Under:
By integrating Lean Six Sigma into its operations in 2010, Newton Medical Center (NMC) in Covington, Georgia, has been able to eliminate waste and improve efficiency, according to the Rockdale Citizen. -
Study: Regional healthcare process improvement collaborative boosts quality, cuts costs
Published January 24, 2012Filed Under:
According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, healthcare facilities that took part in the college's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) were able to boost quality of care, reduce infections and save money. -
Lean Six Sigma and the push for healthcare automation
Published February 23, 2012Filed Under:
The push to automate the healthcare industry kicked off in 2009, with $30 billion earmarked for the task of converting patient records to a digital format. -
Students work with hospital to enact process improvement
Published March 9, 2012Filed Under:
An operations management class from Indiana State University (ISU) recently partnered with employees of Terre Haute-based Union Hospital to conceive and implement healthcare process improvement, according to the ISU Newsroom. -
Lean Six Sigma helps keep hospital construction costs down
Published March 14, 2012Filed Under:
Building a 140-bed acute care hospital in Temecula, California, on a $144 million budget seemed like a tall order for Universal Health Services (UHS) - especially given the fact that most hospitals in the state now cost nearly $2 million per bed. -
Kaiser Permanente shares healthcare process improvement approach
Published March 15, 2012Filed Under:
In an effort to boost healthcare quality, California-based Kaiser Permanente integrated a number of different tools and process improvement methodologies, according to Becker's ASC. -
Editorial calls for healthcare process improvement
Published March 20, 2012Filed Under:
A recent Journal of the American Medical Association editorial urged hospitals to cut waste instead of care in order to reduce healthcare costs, which are currently nearly 18 percent of the country's gross domestic product. -
Reducing healthcare waste with Lean Six Sigma
Published April 3, 2012Filed Under:
At a time when the healthcare industry is struggling to balance rising costs and an increased workload with funding cuts, some providers are turning to Lean Six Sigma methodology to enact healthcare process improvement. -
NJHA’s Two-Year Project Could Reduce Non-Emergency Hospital Visits
Published May 11, 2012Filed Under:
Emergency department (ED) care in New Jersey has increased by 27 percent from 2000 to 2010, and more than $400 million a year is spent on avoidable ED visits, according to a press release from the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA).
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Study Shows Physicians Looking to Become More Digitally Involved
Published May 16, 2012Filed Under:
According to a press release highlighting survey results from ON24 and MedData Group, physicians are looking to become more digitally involved, but have not yet taken the steps to do so.
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E-Prescribing Experiences Significant Adoption in U.S. Healthcare Industry
Published May 21, 2012Filed Under:
According to “The National Progress Report on E-Prescribing and Interoperable Healthcare, Year 2011” released in May 2012 by Surescripts, e-prescribing has experienced a significant spike in adoption among U.S.-based physicians.
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Study: Digital hospital records mean process improvement
Published February 9, 2010Filed Under:
As hospitals anticipate new business process improvement requirements for digital record keeping from the federal government, a recent study reveals that patients spend 22 percent less time at hospitals with comprehensive electronic record systems. -
Process improvement shortens patient wait times
Published October 5, 2010Filed Under:
Quinte Health Care has shortened patient wait times through the implementation of a process improvement program that it began three years ago. -
Salem Health begins process improvement based on lean methods
Published October 6, 2010Filed Under:
Salem Health Production System is beginning a five-year process improvement initiative that features methodologies based on lean concepts. According to the Lund Report, the company is also sending executives to Japan to learn from lean organizations there. -
Hospitals implement Lean Six Sigma methodology to avoid layoffs
Published October 1, 2010Filed Under:
Hospitals across the U.S. are benefiting from implementing Lean Six Sigma methodologies - improving patient care and financial performance, as well as increasing employee engagement and satisfaction. -
Process improvements propel hospital to Reuters top cardiovascular services list
Published November 15, 2010Filed Under:
Thomson Reuters recently released its annual listing of the U.S. hospitals with the best cardiovascular services. -
HealthLeaders examines healthcare process improvements
Published November 12, 2010Filed Under:
HealthLeaders Media Breakthroughs recently released a report exploring how process improvement can drive cost efficient and quality healthcare. -
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation quality improvement network seeks to improve hospital performance
Published November 19, 2010Filed Under:
The Community Health Alliance of Humboldt-Del Norte, a network of Northern California healthcare providers and community leaders, recently announced that three local hospitals will send teams to participate in a nationwide quality improvement program. -
Healthcare performance leader in Texas is recognized for her impact on the community
Published December 10, 2010Filed Under:
Valerie Anderson, vice president of the Health Care Improvement and Ethics and Compliance Office for the Medical Center of Plano, Texas, was recently recognized as one of the city's top leaders by the Plano Courier Star. -
Process improvements make cancer center safer and more efficient
Published December 14, 2010Filed Under:
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute recently implemented a process improvement program in order to accommodate and treat an ever increasing number of patients in a timely manner. -
Kentucky healthcare institutions join forces in process improvement
Published December 15, 2010Filed Under:
Several healthcare institutions in Kentucky are partnering in an effort to collectively achieve strong process improvement results and meet efficiency requirements outlined in the federal healthcare reform bill. -
Patient management system process improvement helps prevent unnecessary deaths
Published January 3, 2011Filed Under:
A team of Emory University Hospital physicians recently won a quality improvement award for their process improvement efforts, including the creation of a computerized system to help with managing patients with prophylaxis. -
Duke research team uses continuous improvement to boost patient adherence to medication
Published January 4, 2011Filed Under:
A team of doctors from the Duke University School of Medicine tested a low-intensity continuous improvement initiative on a national scale to see if they could improve the number of heart surgery patients who adhere to post-operation medications. -
Johns Hopkins research team finds government-wide quality process improvement program successful in Michigan
Published February 16, 2011Filed Under:
A group of researchers at Johns Hopkins University recently released a report showing the risk of death for patients in Michigan's intensive care is much lower following the implementation of a quality process improvement program. -
Ontario healthcare network approves quality process improvement plan that seeks to exceed provincial standards
Published February 16, 2011Filed Under:
The administrator's board at Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, based in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, recently approved a quality process improvement plan for 2011 and 2012 that seeks to minimize unnecessary hospital stays, reduce wait times and boost patient satisfaction. -
Lean Six Sigma methodology aids hospital's reorganization process
Published March 25, 2011Filed Under:
Lean Six Sigma was recently used to reorganize a hospital's health insurance validation process in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, according to a press release from CS Odessa. -
Healthcare process improvement can implement change in days
Published March 25, 2011Filed Under:
Lean Six Sigma can revolutionize the quality, pace, and cost of hospital care in a matter of days, according to a new book by improvement specialist Jay Arthur. -
Lean Six Sigma initiatives could improve healthcare across the globe
Published March 29, 2011Filed Under:
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS foundation trust, which runs King's Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire, England, recently implemented people-focused continuous process improvement strategies with the help of consultant Unipart Expert Services, the Guardian reports. -
Lean Six Sigma strategies save pediatric hospital $2 million
Published March 28, 2011Filed Under:
Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey was able to save in excess of $2 million last year by implementing Lean Six Sigma healthcare process improvement strategies, according to Fitch Ratings. -
Continuous process improvement decreases hospital stays, facilitates patient flow
Published April 13, 2011Filed Under:
Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Ontario, Canada, is reducing patients' hospital stays and improving patient flow with the help of a continuous process improvement program that is being offered by the Ontario Ministry of Health, according to the Windsor Star. -
Process improvement plan kickstarts Michigan hospital's billing department
Published April 14, 2011Filed Under:
According to Health Leaders Media, a process improvement plan that was recently implemented at North Ottawa Community Hospital (NOCH) in Grand Haven, Michigan has resulted in increased efficiency within the hospital's billing and collections department. -
Ontario hospital successfully implements process improvement
Published April 28, 2011Filed Under:
Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in Ontario, Canada, which participated in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s process improvement project for emergency departments, was recently honored by the province's Health Minister for reducing wait times. -
Award-winning hospital cites process improvement system for successes
Published April 29, 2011Filed Under:
Virginia Mason Medical Center implemented process improvement with such success in 2002 that it went on to develop its own specialized model - the Virginia Mason Production System - which has now trained healthcare leaders from more than 30 states and eight countries. -
Process improvement system saves Ohio hospital $8.6 million
Published April 29, 2011Filed Under:
Catholic Health Partners, the parent organization of Mercy St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, was named one of Thomson Reuters' top 10 health systems in the U.S. last year as a result of the hospital's successful process improvement. -
Lean Six Sigma strategies help Pennsylvania hospital stay in the black
Published April 29, 2011Filed Under:
Despite the weak economy, all hospitals in the Pennsylvanian counties of Cambria and Somerset are listed as being in good financial condition, according to the Tribune-Democrat. Cambria County-based Conemaugh Health System and its affiliates credit Lean Six Sigma business management strategies for helping them stay afloat. -
Process improvement saves New Jersey healthcare provider $28 million
Published April 29, 2011Filed Under:
Since implementing a $1 million Six Sigma-based process improvement system in 2000, New Jersey-based comprehensive healthcare system Virtua has saved $28 million and increased quality and safety levels in all four of its hospitals, according to HealthLeaders Media. -
Illinois hospital recognized for process improvement
Published May 9, 2011Filed Under:
Geneva, Illinois-based healthcare and service provider Delnor Hospital recently made the 2011 Honor Roll for the Center for Companies That Care after implementing a process improvement model last year. -
Texas hospital recognized for process improvement
Published May 9, 2011Filed Under:
Hill County Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Texas, was recently recognized by the Quality Texas Foundation for launching a well-deployed and effective system of healthcare process improvement and organizational management last year, according to the Mason County News. -
Business approach to supplier relationship management could benefit healthcare
Published May 12, 2011Filed Under:
The number of organizations within the healthcare sector that practice supplier relationship management - an approach to streamlining the processes between an enterprise and its suppliers in order to maximize efficiency - is growing. -
Plan launched to increase efficiency in Ontario hospitals
Published June 2, 2011Filed Under:
The Canadian province of Ontario recently launched a new process improvement strategy designed to streamline hospital flow, reduce patient wait times, increase quality of care and improve working conditions for emergency room employees, the Sudbury Star reports. -
Texas healthcare provider increases process efficiency, frees up nurses' time
Published June 7, 2011Filed Under:
Over the past four years, Covenant Health System in Lubbock, Texas, has introduced a system of Lean Six Sigma-based process improvement, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports. The program was introduced in order to raise the morale of nursing staff and streamline daily tasks in response to the nationwide nursing shortage. -
Lean Six Sigma methodology helps teach physicians about business
Published June 3, 2011Filed Under:
In order to address physicians' lack of business training, officials at the Spokane, Washington-based healthcare provider Providence Health and Services recently introduced an internal leadership academy program based on Lean Six Sigma principle. -
Massachusetts healthcare provider leverages lean-based process improvement
Published June 13, 2011Filed Under:
For the past three years, Massachusetts-based Atrius Health has implemented healthcare process improvement with the help of Lean Six Sigma management consultants, according to Xconomy Boston. -
North Carolina healthcare facility implements performance improvement efforts
Published June 27, 2011Filed Under:
In 2008, North Carolina-based Nash Health Care Systems formed a multidisciplinary performance improvement team with the goal of combating the spread of MRSA in its hospitals, Infection Control Today reports. -
Iowa medical center leverages Lean Six Sigma to plan remodel
Published July 22, 2011Filed Under:
Associates at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa recently collaborated to construct an exact cardboard replica of the healthcare facility's cardiac care unit as part of its healthcare process improvement efforts, according to the Mason City Globe Gazette. -
Oregon psychiatric hospital leverages Lean Six Sigma techniques
Published July 26, 2011Filed Under:
Despite a history of problems, the 128-year-old Oregon State Hospital is turning things around with the help of Lean Six Sigma-based process improvement, according to the Statesman Journal. -
The lean system at work for Michigan hospitals
Published August 4, 2011Filed Under:
Hospitals and private practices can use the methodology to improve management structures, properly utilize new technologies and procedures and identify ways to more efficiently deal with data. -
New Jersey's newest hospital designed with Lean Six Sigma in mind
Published August 26, 2011Filed Under:
The new Virtua hospital in Voorhees, New Jersey, was designed to succeed. Administrators, executives and planners applied Lean Six Sigma principals from the inception of the design through the completion of the project. -
Healthcare group spreads management strategy to new acquisitions
Published August 29, 2011Filed Under:
Northern Indiana's Franciscan Alliance healthcare group is expanding the reach of its successful management and waste reduction strategies, according to the Northwest Indiana Times. -
CTCA president and CEO recognized for healthcare excellence
Published August 31, 2011Filed Under:
Cancer Treatment Centers of America - a healthcare group with several member hospitals across the nation - has one of the top healthcare administrators in the country among its ranks. -
Rising healthcare costs can be tackled with management strategies
Published August 31, 2011Filed Under:
With costs and waste in the healthcare industry both rising, process management and streamlining strategies are more important than ever at hospitals, medical centers and clinics facing budget cuts and increased government regulation through reform compliance. -
CEO explains hospital's successful process improvement
Published September 9, 2011Filed Under:
Toledo, Ohio-based Mercy St. Vincent hospital successfully implemented process improvement using a system aimed at targeting the needs of patients above everything else. -
Implementing process improvement to cut costs within the healthcare industry
Published September 9, 2011Filed Under:
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, hospitals will face $155 billion in Medicare reimbursement cuts over the next decade, Becker's Hospital Review reports. -
Lean Six Sigma helps German hospital realize savings, efficiency gains
Published September 19, 2011Filed Under:
University Hospital Giessen and Marburg in Germany was able to significantly expedite patient flow in its radiology department through the use of Lean Six Sigma methodology, according to DOTmed News. -
Emergency departments honored for healthcare process improvement
Published September 28, 2011Filed Under:
Emergency department technology solution provider T-System recently recognized five hospitals for their healthcare process improvement efforts in the ER. -
Health system uses Lean Six Sigma to reduce waste, streamline care
Published October 4, 2011Filed Under:
The Norman Regional Health System is implementing Lean Six Sigma-based process improvement in an effort to eliminate waste, facilitate the flow of service and improve the quality of patient care, according to the Norman Transcript. -
NHRA announces country's top 100 critical access hospitals
Published October 4, 2011Filed Under:
The National Rural Health Association recently released a list of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States. -
British hospital honored for healthcare process improvement success
Published October 14, 2011Filed Under:
Torbay Hospital - the main healthcare facility in South Devon, England - was recently recognized for its Lean Six Sigma-based process improvement achievements at the Health Service Journal's inaugural Efficiency Awards. -
Performance improvement in the British healthcare system
Published October 19, 2011Filed Under:
Last month, a report highlighting inefficiency and indicating areas where performance improvement is required within the U.K.'s National Health Service was published by the Public Accounts Committee. -
Cutting costs through healthcare process improvement
Published October 18, 2011Filed Under:
Mark Bogen, vice president of finance at Oceanside, New York-based South Nassau Communities Hospital, recently identified several areas where healthcare facilities can enact process improvement to great money-saving effect. -
How a brainstorming session can lead to process improvement
Published October 19, 2011Filed Under:
The Brant Community Healthcare System in Ontario, Canada, was able to enact significant healthcare process improvement in its MRI department using sticky notes, according to the Brantford Expositor. -
Realizing Lean Six Sigma-based healthcare process improvement
Published October 28, 2011Filed Under:
As Lean Six Sigma continues to prove itself as an effective healthcare process improvement method, an increasing number of hospitals are leveraging it to boost efficiency, enhance customer care and reduce expenditures, according to FierceHealthcare. -
CMS announces continuous improvement program for advisors
Published November 1, 2011Filed Under:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced a healthcare innovation project to help professionals implement continuous improvement (CI). -
AHA weighs in on healthcare process improvement strategies
Published November 7, 2011
In a recently released report, the American Hospital Association laid out core strategies to create the necessary culture of performance improvement in U.S. healthcare facilities, Healthcare Finance News reports. -
Hospital officials look to Japan for process improvement guidance
Published December 22, 2011Filed Under:
Officials from Oregon's Salem Hospital recently traveled to Japan for inspiration on how to implement continuous improvement at the healthcare facility, according to the Salem Health website. -
Canadian hospital makes continuous improvement resolution for 2012
Published December 30, 2011Filed Under:
A healthcare facility in Ontario, Canada, is gearing up to further streamline its operations in the new year, according to the Midland Free Press. -
Process improvement in the ER
Published January 6, 2012Filed Under:
Emergency department inefficiencies are costly from more than just a financial point of view. As a blog on the Petaluma Argus-Courier's website notes, delays also risk the health of patients who wait longer than they should. -
Preparing for an increased focus on continuous improvement in healthcare
Published January 12, 2012Filed Under:
The role of healthcare quality professionals is becoming more important, as reflected in the American Society for Quality's (ASQ) annual salary survey, Healthcare Finance News reports. -
Hospitals eager for process improvement in the ER
Published January 30, 2012Filed Under:
Hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area are cracking down on healthcare process improvement efforts in advance of the government potentially basing future reimbursement payments on wait times and emergency room speed. -
Patient safety coalitions help enact healthcare process improvement
Published February 6, 2012Filed Under:
Patient safety coalitions in Indiana are helping nurses at the state's healthcare facilities enact front-line process improvement to boost efficiency, reduce waste and improve quality of care, Nurse.com reports. -
Study: Cost reduction is healthcare leaders' top priority
Published March 1, 2012Filed Under:
A recent survey by national healthcare network VHA revealed that the country's top healthcare leaders prioritize three aspects. -
The process improvement component of hospital outsourcing
Published March 2, 2012Filed Under:
As Becker's ASC Review reports, hospitals that outsource services have a specific image in mind of professionals who are up to the job. -
Using healthcare process improvement to balance personalization and standardization
Published March 5, 2012Filed Under:
Personalization and standardization are buzz words in today's healthcare discussions, as Health Imaging reports. -
Medical center launches process improvement effort
Published March 6, 2012Filed Under:
Georgia-based Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) launched a comprehensive performance and cost reduction analysis last November, examining supply costs, purchased services and labor expenditures before enacting healthcare process improvement. -
Lean Six Sigma in hospital design
Published March 15, 2012Filed Under:
Designing a hospital is easier said than done. -
Hospital implements Lean Six Sigma to become No. 1 in the US
Published April 2, 2012Filed Under:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis is leveraging Lean Six Sigma to enact healthcare process improvement, according to Becker's Hospital Review. -
African hospitals enjoy process improvement success
Published April 6, 2012Filed Under:
Lean, a concept first used in the manufacturing industry, involves eliminating waste, empowering employees and striving to maintain the momentum of continuous improvement. -
Lean Six Sigma in healthcare process improvement, a decade on
Published April 9, 2012Filed Under:
Although lean and Six Sigma processes have been used in the manufacturing industry for several decades, they were only introduced to the healthcare sector a decade ago, Becker's Hospital Review reports. -
AHA Speaks Out Regarding CMS Stage 2 Requirements
Published May 8, 2012Filed Under:
According to Bloomberg news and Government Health IT, the American Hospital Association (AHA) recently submitted 68 pages of comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in which it argued that the requirements proposed for the CMS Electronic Health Records Programs expected too much of hospitals.
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U.S. HHS Taking Steps to Reduce Unnecessary Spend in Healthcare
Published May 17, 2012Filed Under:
According to a May 2012 press release from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking steps to reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations on American hospitals and healthcare providers.
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CMS to Penalize Hospitals for High Readmission Rates
Published May 18, 2012Filed Under:
According to a May 2012 news release from the American Heart Association, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to penalize hospitals with high readmission rates related to heart failure, heart attacks, and pneumonia in order to cut costs.
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Pharmaceutical company implements Lean Six Sigma to improve R&D efficiency
Published January 24, 2011Filed Under:
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories recently implemented a Lean Six Sigma program, which has already begun to improve the company's operations. -
Naval Hospital Bremerton wins awards for improvements resulting from a joint Lean Six Sigma and FMEA approach
Published February 9, 2011Filed Under:
Naval Hospital Bremerton recently received the 2010 Department of Defense Patient Safety Award in the category of Identification and Mitigation of Risks and Hazards for an in-patient facility. -
Book honors medical center's lean-driven improvements
Published February 9, 2011Filed Under:
Charles Kenney recently published a book, entitled "Transforming Health Care: Virginia Mason Medical Center's Pursuit of the Perfect Patient Experience," which discusses the hospital's successful implementation of Toyota's Lean Production system. -
Department of Health offers healthcare process improvement guidelines
Published June 23, 2011Filed Under:
The United States Department of Health & Human Services recently released a list of steps hospitals should take to implement healthcare process improvement. -
Continuous improvement in the operating room
Published September 20, 2011Filed Under:
Lean Six Sigma-based process improvement can help a healthcare facility streamline patient flow, lower rates of infection, increase quality of patient care and ensure hospital staff use their time efficiently. -
Healthcare system explains process improvement strategy
Published December 9, 2011Filed Under:
Healthcare system Kaiser Permanente recently provided insight into its continuous improvement approach in the December 2011 issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. -
Getting physicians involved in healthcare process improvement
Published December 14, 2011Filed Under:
Physician involvement is key for hospitals looking to implement healthcare process improvement, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's (UPMC) chief quality officer, Becker's Hospital Review reports. -
Real-time data benefits hospitals' customer satisfaction
Published December 13, 2011Filed Under:
Consumers want up-to-the-minute information, whether it's via a text message, email or through an internet search. Hospital patients have similar wants and needs from their healthcare providers. -
Virginia Mason enjoys process improvement success
Published December 23, 2011Filed Under:
Seattle-based Virginia Mason Medical Center is best known for its adaptation of the Toyota Production System to enact healthcare process improvement. -
Healthcare process improvement in 2011
Published December 27, 2011Filed Under:
This year has seen a number of process improvement successes in the healthcare industry. -
Proposed HIPAA Rule Could Simplify Healthcare Administrative Processes
Published May 4, 2012Filed Under:
According to a press release from April 2012, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced a proposed rule that would establish a unique health plan identifier under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
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