Sharing Improvements in Health Care Processes Saves Lives at Franciscan Alliance. Issue 4 (12th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swartz, Joseph E.; Hudson, Brian W.; Graban, Mark
• Is Part Of: Global business and organizational excellence. Volume 32:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2013-04-12
• Subjects: Industrial productivity -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Periodicals; Industrial organization -- Periodicals; 658
• DOI: 10.1002/joe.21492
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-2054

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Efficient, effective, and coordinated action is essential in health care, where the outcome can mean the difference between life and death. At Franciscan Alliance, a multifacility Catholic health care system in Indiana and Illinois, Lean Six Sigma projects, rapid improvement events, and Quick &amp; Easy Kaizens have become a part of the organizational culture, helping staff members at all levels to creatively rethink processes and streamline day‐to‐day operations in order to cut hospital stays and costs while enhancing the quality of patient care. In just one year, more than 4, 000 improvements yielded $1.7 million in savings. More important, a project to eliminate delays in the way heart attack patients are assessed and treated has led to the development of a standard of care that is being emulated—and is saving lives—across the globe. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>