How ThedaCare successfully integrated Lean

ThedaCare, a community health system based in Wisconsin, faced the same challenges that other organizations in the sector have encountered in recent years – new regulations, an influx of new patients, aging patients who require more care and rising costs, among others. To deal with the situation, ThedaCare opted to turn to Lean healthcare.

For ThedaCare, the key to successful integration was getting upper management to support the transition. While Lean is generally perceived as a set of practices that empowers employees take control of their work, workers need leaders who are willing to guide them through the integration process and ensure operations don't revert back at the first sign of turbulence.

“In October 2003, health system leaders embraced the Lean system as a way to promote change and encouraged mid-level managers to support it as well,” a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality explained. “ThedaCare contracted with a consultant to train staff on Lean methodologies and tools so that they could serve as Lean facilitators.”

Companies such as Enna can help leaders learn how to embrace Lean philosophies and apply them at their workplaces.