Lean "Mentor" Hospitals

Although I always like reading about the successes gained from a lean initiative, I don't mind hearing about them as well! Listen to this news report from Dave Padilla from KCBS in California.

The proliferation of lean initiatives in healthcare during the past five years has been dramatic because of rising costs and the legacy of redundant and wasteful processes. It appears the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, CA revolutionized its operations and the quality of patient care after it adopted its version of a lean management design. The important strides -- most notably, the significant reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia instances -- has resulted in the facility being named a "mentor hospital" by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Much praise should be given to CEO Anna Roth and her entire staff for the determined effort and measurable results.

Where do you see the potential power of lean making crucial improvements in hospitals and medical facilities? What are the biggest hurdles to not only the successful implementation of the tools but the development of the proper culture?