A critical look at Lean thinking in healthcare
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With healthcare, Lean Thinking encounters a world, not devoid of value, but awash with sophisticated and mutually unconnected concepts of value. DESIGN: Given a shortage of systematic analysis in the literature, this paper provides a preliminary analysis of areas where the read-across from other sectors to healthcare is relatively well understood, based on a broad review of its impact on care delivery. It further proposes areas where conceptual development is needed. In particular, healthcare, with its many measures of value, presents an unusual challenge to the central Lean driver of value to the customer. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is scope for methodological development, perhaps by defining three themes associated with value-the operational, the clinical and the experiential.
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Health care organizations worldwide increasingly adopt Lean thinking.
“health care organizations worldwide increasingly adopt an approach called “Lean thinking” (see Table 1 for a description of Lean) [5].”
From Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review (2011) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Young, T. P., & McClean, S. I.
- Affiliations
- Brunel University of London (GB)
- University of Ulster (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Young, T P
- Venue
- Quality and Safety in Health Care
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2008-10-01
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 382-386
- ISSN
- 1475-3898 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-3901
- OpenAlex
- W2123901209
- Cited by
- 255
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 24.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- BMJ Quality & Safety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (GR/S29874/01)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Healthcare Quality and Management
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Quality and Supply Management
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization
- Keywords
- lean thinking, health care, value in healthcare, health care delivery, patient experience, operational value, clinical value
- MeSH terms
- Delivery of Health Care, United Kingdom, Health Services Research, Humans, State Medicine, Systems Analysis, Efficiency, Organizational, Total Quality Management, Critical Pathways
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