Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare

Abstract

Health care expenditures are currently one of the fastest growing components of the United States' GDP. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), "In 1960, healthcare expenditures accounted for approximately five percent of the nation's GDP; by 2000, that figure had grown to more than 13 percent." This massive increase is due in part to technological advances and an aging population. However, the increase can also be attributed to unnecessary operational inefficiencies found in many healthcare facilities. As a result, numerous hospitals and healthcare providers have begun implementing two process-innovation approaches that were originally applied to the manufacturing industry. These approaches are referred to as "Lean" and "Six Sigma." Lean Six Sigma, an integration of the two approaches, has proven to be a successful way for hospitals and healthcare providers to achieve higher levels of efficiency while providing better care to a larger percentage of the population.