How to Educate Health Organizations to Apply Lean Methodology

Abstract

Lean thinking is one of the most recent leadership and transformation ideologies adapted from industry that should be assessed critically in the context of healthcare organizations. Lean management system started in the Toyota Motor Company System around 1950. Because of low efficiency at the Toyota Motor Company System, they developed a method to improve production by eliminating waste. With the adop- tion of lean principles, practices, and tools, it is possible to achieve competitive advantage in healthcare organizations, and with the application of these practices and tools orientated towards lean principles, they obtained a high-quality system that offers an improvement in the patient management in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and quality. In this chapter, the authors approach the lean management healthcare methodology as a guide for different healthcare organizations with a focus on radiology departments.