Why Lean is Not Mean in Healthcare

Lean is Not Mean in Healthcare

Mark Graban(From 2007)

Why LEAN Works in Healthcare

• LEAN is not a list of things to do that applies only to factories

• LEAN is a philosophy of management that applies to any system

• LEAN rallies people around goals we can all agree on:– Patients and Employees

© Mark Graban & Constancy, Inc. 2007-2014 www.MarkGraban.com

Why is LEAN sometimes seen as MEAN?


Reason 1: Focus on Cutting Heads

• MEAN: Announcing staff cuts to fit budget numbers, then making everyone figure out how to get by with fewer people

• MEAN: Having lean success and then laying off people from that area


Reason 2: Not Helping Employees

• MEAN: Mandating an isolated lean tool because management thinks it will help– “We’re doing 5S, so you need to put tape around

everything”

• MEAN: Not understanding that lean is more than just a tool or tools


Reason 3: It’s You, Not Us

• MEAN: Pointing the finger at everyone else:– Employees, suppliers, partners, customers– “We’re OK, but YOU need to get lean”


Reason 4: Mandating Lean

• MEAN: Telling employees they need to use some lean tools without explaining:– Why the tools will help– How lean tools fit into an overall lean approach– How using the tools will help employees and

patients– How lean fits into the long-term vision


LEAN: Mean or Not

• You can be “mean” and drive out waste today

• “Real Lean” is not mean– Much more sustainable in the long term


LEAN: Mean or Not

• MEAN– Telling/ordering people to do lean so they resent it

– Lean methods add an additional “burden” to employees

• NOT MEAN– Explaining why lean benefits them so they want to

do it

– Lean methods reduce waste and free up employee time


Reasons Why LEAN is Not Really MEAN

LEAN is Good For the Patient

• Improvements in Clinical Quality– Fewer mistakes and errors– More time with providers

• Reduced Waiting Time– Fewer delays, less waiting– Lean values patient time almost as much as

MD time


LEAN is Good For the Employees

• Reduced waste• Reduced walking• Reduced frustration• Solving the “everyday problems”• More time available for value-added work– Patient care– Lab testing working


LEAN is Good For the Organization

• LEAN is about:– Building a strong organization in the long term– Reducing costs through eliminating waste– Driving revenue growth through• Improved quality (clinical and patient satisfaction)• Increased capacity without huge investment

– Attracting and keeping great employees


Health & Medicine

Why Lean is Not Mean in Healthcare