Overcoming resistance to standardization efforts is a common chore for administrators. Doctors are particularly resistant, so dealing with their concerns is of utmost importance.

Sarah is the CEO of a hospital and have committed to several quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Scheff, a well-respected physician and medical chair with privileges in her facility, has written a rather impassioned memo to her complaining that he didn't go into medicine to do "cookbook medicine." He points out that medicine is both art and science, that his patients are all different and a standardized approach to caring for his patients is just not appropriate.

Demonstrate or explain a professional memo to Dr. Scheff explaining why standardizing some clinical work processes is beneficial to patients and enhances the overall quality of care provided. The memo should be no longer than six hundred words and should include a discussion of each of the following:

• The impact of standardization on the patient's quality of care.
• The role of payers in motivating standardization through payment incentives and the consequent impact on providers.
• The need for standardization due to the impact of public reporting initiatives on the hospital's reputation in the community.
• To conclude, explain why lean process management is a good first step and what might be achieved by going through the exercise.

Utilize the resources such as the various CMS initiatives, the Hospital Compare site, the use of SPC to present a case.

References

Johnson, J.K. & Sollecito, W.A. McLaughlin and Kaluzny's Continuous Quality Improvement in Health Care, fifth edition. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.(Chapter 5 : Lean and Six Sigma Management).

American Society for Quality (ASQ).Lean six sigma in healthcare. Retrieved fromhttp://asq.org/healthcaresixsigma/lean-six-sigma.html

David Daisher (2013, December 10).Lean Healthcare. Why Lean? Why Now?.Retrieved fromhttps://youtu.be/bSF9Ro7HBIc

Weislearners (2013, November 19).Introduction to Lean Six Sigma and Process Capability.Retrieved fromhttps://youtu.be/OToakjR5s9Y

Ed Powers (2011, August 13).The Seven Essential Practices.Retrieved fromhttps://youtu.be/5Mf6Yk-g7m8