2011 MAHQ Fall Conference -
Healthcare Transformation: Leaning Toward Improvement

 

The 2011 theme for Healthcare Quality Week was “United in Quality,” and Michigan Association for Healthcare Quality’s annual conference demonstrated just how united the healthcare professionals in the ‘Mitten State’ are in improving healthcare quality.  MAHQ is proud to have received the State Education Grant from the National Association for Healthcare Quality. Funds from this grant were used to bring state and national healthcare professionals together on October 18^th in Lansing, MI to present “Healthcare Transformation:  Leaning Toward Improvement.”

 

 

 

Kicking off the information-packed day was Mike Taubitz (left) from Lean Journey LLC/FDR Safety with the topic, “Can Lean Help? Achieving Operational Excellence in Healthcare.”  Referring to Lean activities he mentored within the healthcare arena, Mike demonstrated how using these tools effectively can improve operational effectiveness in the healthcare environment. One phrase that hit home was “You can’t be lean without being safe.” Mike demonstrated quality, efficiency and safety are all impacted by the performance improvement method of Lean.

Dr. Clinton Greenstone (right) from VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System then demonstrated their Patient Aligned Care Team system (PACT), the Patient Centered Medical Home of the VA Healthcare system.  The system demonstrates a team-based care model that reenergizes primary care, and provides a high quality delivery model to our veterans.  All elements of the Patient Centered care model, from transitions of care to community resources are incorporated.  Dr. Greenstone motivated many to take a look at their system, and model change after those they see at the VA Healthcare System.

 

The next two speakers focused on Lean, with Dr. Richard J. Zarbo (left) from the Henry Ford Healthcare System leading off with “Creating a Lean Culture: The Henry Ford Production System.”  Dr. Zarbo demonstrated the effectiveness of lean in reducing waste, reducing defects and improving quality.  He emphasized that to accomplish this, the culture must empower the worker to take action, and avoid micromanagement to be effective. 

 

 

 

 

 

Aneesh Suneja (right), President and founder of FlowOne Lean Consulting LLC then picked up the baton and lead us in “Lean in the Out-patient Setting.”  The results of the project he cited were a 71% reduction in patient wait times and 25% Program Productivity gain.  One key item to note was the high morale of the staff that resulted from the Lean changes.  Not only is patient quality of care improving; there is the added bonus of improved satisfaction of the workforce, which will also have an impact on patient satisfaction.  One attendee noted, “We have not implemented Lean as well as I thought, especially with the value of staff.” 

 

Wrapping up the day was Dr. Ernest Yoder (left), Founding Dean of the Central Michigan University College of Medicine discussing “Integrating Quality Improvement into Medical Education.”  Dr. Yoder shared his experiences at Providence Health, emphasizing how using Lean/Six Sigma principles in projects involving residents, faculty and staff had an impact on quality and patient outcomes.  He then gave an overview on how and why Continuous Quality Improvement is woven into the curriculum of the CMU College of Medicine, with the anticipated future impact of the graduates.

  

In addition to the exceptional speakers, several exhibitors continued the theme of “Healthcare Transformation:  Leaning Toward Improvement” through their educational and product presentations. Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) provided additional support by donating two door prize gift baskets.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were won by Lyndia Poe (above) from Munson Medical Center and Bonnie Schweitzer (below)from the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A QI Macros package of software and books (valued at $500) was donated by QI Macros. This was won by Mary Jo Cole (left), from Munson Medical Center. Early Bird Registration Drawings for one year MAHQ memberships were awarded to Carolyn Burger of Lakeland Healthcare, and Connie Bruski from Munson Medical Center. Beth Benjamin from Lakeland Healthcare was awarded one annual MAHQ conference registration. Congratulations to all of our winners!

 

Although the entire conference was not focused solely on LEAN, much of it did demonstrate the usefulness of the LEAN principles in healthcare quality improvement.   One attendee noted, “This in-depth examination with actual examples made LEAN concepts understandable.”    As MAHQ ‘Leaned Toward Quality,’ another attendee pointed out, “(The) common theme across speakers reinforced concepts.”   With a flow of blending concepts used in both the in-patient and out-patient settings, attendees found something to take back and put to use in their workplace.

 

Revised: 01/06/12

 

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