Data collection and analysis are important in bringing meaningful change to healthcare. The process must be approached with care in order to accurately represent the situation. The course introduces the methods and components of data collection, as well as several analytical techniques that enable pattern recognition and trend analysis. Read more

This course covers an overview of leadership and change management for successfully deploying Lean in a healthcare organization. Change occurs before, during, and after any Lean implementation. Black Belts are often tasked with a project or program leadership role and leading the change that follows. The course introduces you to key leadership and change management concepts and provides a model, templates, and tools used for successfully implementing Lean projects. It also outlines strategies for resolving dysfunctional behaviours, such as team conflict and change resistance. Read more

Waste can be defined as any element of a process that adds time, effort, and cost but no value. It is estimated that more than 30% of healthcare spending does not add much value for patients, and is considered as different types of waste. Identifying wastes is the first step towards reducing them. This course explores the concepts of value-added and non value-added, or waste, by providing examples of how employee activities can be viewed through the lens of the customer or patient. Gemba is introduced as a method for the identification of waste. The eight types of waste are defined and described. Read more

Description This course introduces Lean tools and practices used to improve process capacity and flow in healthcare organizations. Read more

Lean is a continuous improvement initiative that helps streamline processes and improve overall performance. Developed in the 1960s for manufacturing applications and predicated on the Toyota Production System, the popularity and application of Lean has spread beyond manufacturing. Several non-manufacturing industries such as banking and financial services and healthcare have embraced Lean resulting in breakthrough improvements. This course provides a high-level view of Lean, its core values and benefits of the organization, and its brief history. The course also introduces the need and application of Lean in the healthcare sector in addressing outstanding issues. Read more

6S deals with workplace organization. By establishing order in the workplace, 6S helps improve conditions for employees by making things tidier, cleaner, brighter, and safer. This, in turn, helps develop a more pleasant work environment for employees. This improves morale and, as a consequence, productivity and quality. This course will examine the 6S approach. Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, and Safety. Planning a 6S initiative will be reviewed as well as examples of how 6S was implemented in an operating room as well as a radiology department. The topic of ergonomics as it relates to Lean methodology will be discussed. The last topic will be a case study of a 6S implementation, and the outcomes from the initiative. Read more