E117: Transforming Healthcare with Lean Six Sigma - Interview with Sarah Cook - LSS4G Podcast

In this episode, I interviewed Sarah Cook, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt consultant from Pepper Foster Consulting in Portland, Oregon. She shares her journey from the VA medical center to becoming a performance engineer in healthcare. She discusses the application of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to healthcare, the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems, and the critical importance of data-driven decision-making.

We also discussed practical strategies for process improvement in healthcare, building trust, and mitigating risks effectively. Learn about a project she worked on reducing surgical infection rates, implementing daily tiered huddles, and the significance of psychological safety in fostering a good improvement culture. We also talked about valuable insights on monitoring data fluctuations, creating effective visual charts, and using control charts to monitor processes. This episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to drive sustainable improvements in healthcare.

00:20 Journey into Lean and Process Improvement
02:16 Impact of COVID on Healthcare Processes
05:19 Lean vs. Six Sigma in Quality Improvement
07:42 Challenges and Successes in Process Improvement
15:39 Building Trust and Managing Change
21:56 Building Trust in Conversations
22:36 Mistakes in the Clinical Laboratory
23:32 Addressing Shame and Fear in Healthcare
26:36 Proactive Risk Mitigation
32:33 The Importance of Small Improvements
36:31 Reacting to Data Fluctuations
38:49 Visualizing Process Improvements
39:48 Conclusion and Contact Information