GA 044 | Beyond Heroes with Kim Barnas

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Today’s guest is Kim Barnas, author and former Senior VP at healthcare network ThedaCare. We discussed the “hero approach” to problem-solving, the best ways to expose continuous improvement methodology to highly trained doctors, and overall how to manage the challenges of implementing lean in a medical setting.

An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.  

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Kim’s background and how she was first exposed to lean (3:33)
• The quote that inspires Kim (5:11)
• All about Kim’s book (5:56)
• What the “Hero Approach” is (7:50)
• How to implement Lean and Six Sigma tools in a medical setting (9:20)
• Some examples of problems that Kim has solved (11:10)
• How to balance experimentation with the primary goal of saving lives (13:10)
• What True North metrics are and why they matter (14:20)
• All about financial stewardship (15:32)
• Advice for healthcare employees interested in implementing lean (16:58)
• What “Respect for People” means to Kim (19:55)
• The best two pieces of advice Kim has ever received (20:36)
• Kim’s personal productivity habit (22:37)
• Kim’s final words of wisdom (27:46)

Podcast Resources

• Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
• Download a Free Audio Book at Audible.com
• Beyond Heroes: A Lean Management System for Healthcare
• Andy & Me, Second Edition: Crisis & Transformation on the Lean Journey
• Creating a Lean Culture: Tools to Sustain Lean Conversions, Third Edition
• Kim on LinkedIn

What Do You Think?

Have you had experience applying lean to a healthcare setting? What challenges did you face?

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