“Lean” is a process improvement methodology and, more importantly, Lean is a leadership style and a management system. Lean has been embraced by hospitals and health systems since the 1990s, especially so in the past ten years. The Lean approach is powerful, but it is not a quick fix. Lean promotes a new way of thinking and a different organizational culture, requiring change and participation from everybody at all levels. The practical methods and tools used within this broader framework have led to measurably better performance in areas such as patient safety, quality, waiting times, cost and employee morale in healthcare organizations around the world.

Lean is not something you simply implement this year or in a few short years. Lean is an approach that you practice diligently, improving and learning more over time. Lean doesn’t mean being perfect or completely free of waste, since no organization ever reaches those heights. But a “Lean hospital” is one where leaders have a humble, inquisitive mindset and a management style that allows for the reinvention of aspects of healthcare delivery and creates a culture of continuous improvement.