How to Build a Lean Sensei Army for Continuous Improvement!

Session
Potpourri

Authors
Matt Morrissette
President
More Effective Consulting, LLC.

Dana Webb
Director
Care Management & CI
Southwest Washington Medical Center

Description
Hospitals need a system wide approach to their continuous improvement efforts. Lean Healthcare promotes an opportunity to raise internal change agents that teach, promote and empower. More Effective Consulting and Southwest Washington Medical Center (as well as other hospital examples being presented) have created an ideal Lean Sensei program that spread Lean quickly, achieved ROI, and enabled lasting change.

Abstract
Hospitals are in need of a system wide approach to their continuous improvement efforts. They can't rely on the quality or continous improvement departments alone. Lean Healthcare and a system wide approach sparks an opportunity to raise internal change agents that teach, promote and empower. More Effective Consulting and Southwest Washington Medical Center teamed up to create an ideal Lean Sensei program that spread Lean quickly, achieved ROI, and enabled lasting change.

Southwest Washington Medical Center has relied on all levels of the organization to step up and devote their time to leading change. Within 5 months, SWMC trained more than 9 Sensei's, 50 employees and the entire executive staff in Lean Healthcare principles. The hospital created a custom lean basics course, Sensei curriculum, and kaizen methodology while delivering over 10 kaizen events lasting 2 or 3 days each.

Much success stems from conducting all facets of the program in parallel. Each Sensei learned basic and advanced lean topics. Each Sensei shadowed and co-facilitated Kaizen events. Each Sensei practiced and presented the custom 4 hour Lean basic course. The return on investment yields beyond cost savings with departments that sustain improvement and Sensei's who feel their entire hospital is advocating change.