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Lean in Healthcare Training Services

Our 3-Tiered Approach to Lean Transformation

Our specially-designed 3-tiered approach to onsite lean in healthcare training can be customized to your organization's strategic goals and objectives, and is comprised of:

  1. Lean Leadership Training
    GBMP believes top managers play a crucial part in any Lean in Healthcare implementation. This tier prepares leaders through these specific training topics:
    *Top Management Briefing in Lean for Healthcare
    *Management Responsibility
    *Strategic Planning
    *A3 Thinking
    *Gemba Walks
    *Mentoring & Coaching


  2. Lean  Advanced  Training
    The ability to lead a lean transformation is the focus of the second tier of our approach. Our coaches provide instruction to your lean leaders on project-specific countermeasures, including:
    *Lean in Healthcare Certificate Course
    *Introduction to Lean in Healthcare
    *5S Workplace Organization
    *Problem-Solving for Lean Teams
    *A3 Thinking
    *Visual Control Systems
    *Value Stream Mapping
    *Continuous Flow
    *Standardized Work
    *Kanban/Pull Systems
    *Changeover Reduction
    *Level Scheduling
    *Poka-yoke (Mistake-proofing)

    *Train the Trainer

    Most organizations take advantage of our Lean in Healthcare Certificate program at this stage. See the column on the right of this page for more details.


  3. Lean Awareness Training
    This tier of GBMP's approach introduces the basic countermeasures (or "tools") for participating in a Lean transformation for staff level employees and new hires, including:
    *Introduction to Lean in Healthcare
    *5S Workplace Organization
    *Problem-Solving for Lean Teams

Lean in Healthcare Certificate Course

The GBMP Healthcare Lean Certificate Program was created to provide clinical and administrative employees in healthcare settings with a broad understanding of lean principles, methods and tools, as well as the opportunity to immediately begin putting that learning into practice. The fundamental premise of the course is that adopting and practicing Lean methods fosters positive patient outcomes, reduces operating costs,and enhances employee satisfaction. Using rapid cycles of “learn-do” teaching supported by group discussions, activities, quizzes, videos and hands-on coaching, students will master new ways to:

  • Identify and expose problems within workplace processes
  • Inspire colleagues to make small changes for the better that enhance patient and employee experiences
  • Stimulate ongoing cycles of practical problem solving

Between classes, participants are expected to complete reading on relevant lean healthcare topics and must carry out homework assignments to reinforce classroom concepts and increase tacit learning. Throughout the course, instructors will emphasize the “people” aspects of lean transformation, setting the expectation that lasting change can only be realized by involving the “people who do the work.” Considerable time will be spent discussing how to engage others in the lean journey, making them the agents of change rather than the objects of change, and why it is critical to leverage the knowledge and creativity of each and every healthcare employee. Participants will learn to think about “Patient Value” in new ways, as they work together to explore the strong connection between daily processes and the employees who create, operate and maintain those processes. Read a detailed syllabus here.

By the end of the 8-day course students will be able to:

  • Identify activities in their workplaces that add value and those that don’t
  • Understand how and why to engage other employees in the lean journey
  • Use a number of different lean tools to surface, document and/or counter problems
  • Utilize scientific methods for problem solving
  • Map patient, process and information flows
  • Document standardized work for key processes to ensure repeatable quality, cost and time
  • Take an active role in team-based improvement efforts
  • Articulate the important role Management plays in aligning people and activities to support patient-centered care

Some Examples of Lean Countermeasures
& Tools Implemented by our Clients