Lean Management


How Virginia Mason became one of the first hospital systems to use the Toyota Production System for healthcare Welcome to our blog miniseries: Transforming Healthcare, featuring some of the biggest takeaways from the book Transforming Health Care: Virginia Mason Medical Center’s Pursuit of the Perfect Patient Experience. Change or Die In the early 2000s, Virginia Mason was in a financial crisis. They weren’t alone – the whole...
But people aren’t cars!
Recent Blog Posts
How Can a Kanban System Improve Health Care?

Defining kanban In Japanese, the term kanban means “visual signal” or “card.” At first glance, it’s hard to believe that a process perfected in a supermarket chain...

Why is A Cultural Shift Important in Healthcare?

When we think about what leads to positive patient outcomes, we often focus on medical advancements, skilled providers, and cutting-edge treatments. But one of the...

Zero Preventable Harm: A Strategic Imperative for...

Globally, about 10% of patients are harmed during the process of receiving healthcare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). If that statistic isn’t...

Navigating Partnerships: A Guide for Leaders...

Originally published on NHS Providers. NHS IMPACT articulates a detailed vision for quality improvement across the NHS. The task of mobilising that vision, however,...

Fostering Healing Environments: The Crucial Role...

Article originally featured on HSJ. By Wendy Korthuis-Smith, Ed.D. Psychological safety holds unparalleled significance in healthcare. It is the shared belief that...

Bringing NHS Impact to Life: What Executives Can...

NHS Impact is taking root across the nation’s trusts and practices, with many executives both eager to do their part and unsure of where to start. A few months...

Case Study | Surgical Setup Reduction Improves...

To be financially viable, a hospital’s operating rooms (ORs) must keep quality and utilization high and expenses low. It’s critical to plan ahead, be prepared, and...

What is the Virginia Mason Production System...

In 2002, at the start of a journey to provide the perfect patient experience, Virginia Mason created the Virginia Mason Production System® (VMPS), a lean management...

How Does Standard Work Lead to Better Patient...

We’re hurting people in health care more than we think. Providers and other health care specialists frequently balance the art and the science of medicine. While...

Selected Resources

Healthcare Improvement Insights

Explore articles, case studies, and research that help healthcare leaders drive sustainable improvement.

Mistake-Proofing Primary Care

Mistake-Proofing Primary Care

Start Your Lean Health Care Journey Learn More Problem Virginia Mason recognized that mistakes and ...

Read More about Mistake-Proofing Primary Care
Mistake-Proofing Primary Care

Start Your Lean Health Care Journey Learn More Problem Virginia Mason recognized that mistakes and ...

Why a Midwest Health System Went to Virginia ...

Why a Midwest Health System Went to Virginia ...

“The fact that Virginia Mason is driven by the same purpose we are – serving patients and ...

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Why a Midwest Health System Went to Virginia Mason Institute for Help

“The fact that Virginia Mason is driven by the same purpose we are – serving patients and ...

Managing Phone Calls in Primary Care

Managing Phone Calls in Primary Care

Problem Responding to patient phone calls at Virginia Mason consumed a great deal of clinic time ...

Read More about Managing Phone Calls in Primary Care
Managing Phone Calls in Primary Care

Problem Responding to patient phone calls at Virginia Mason consumed a great deal of clinic time ...