Since adapting the principles of the Toyota Production System to health care in 2002, Virginia Mason Health System has made enormous leaps forward in quality, safety, patient experience of care, and affordability. It has achieved world-class levels of patient satisfaction and has been honored as one of the safest hospitals in the country.
A Leadership Journey in Health Care: Virginia Mason's Story supplies an inside look at process improvement from the world leader in applying Lean methods to health care. It presents key lessons learned as well as the best practices developed at Virginia Mason during its 12-year process improvement journey.
Just as important, Virginia Mason's culture of leadership at all levels sets it apart from others in the health care universe. Describing why it's critical for leadership to be actively involved in any process improvement initiative, the book illustrates exactly what leadership looks like at all levels within Virginia Mason.
In the book, bestselling author Charles Kenney introduces breakthrough new work at Virginia Mason that most health care audiences have yet to read about. He details the reasons why governance has played such a big role in Virginia Mason's success and discusses a game-changing initiative concerning respect for people.
After reading this book, you will better understand the active leadership style that has propelled Virginia Mason's success. By following the best practices and lessons learned, you will be prepared to teach, coach, and encourage your team to achieve streamlined and standardized work, sustained improvements, and increased patient satisfaction.
Foreword by Carolyn Corvi, Virginia Mason Health System/Virginia Mason Medical Center Boards of Directors; Retired Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Describing breakthrough new work at Virginia Mason, the book explains why governance has played such a big role in Virginia Mason's success and also presents a new game-changing initiative concerning respect for people.
When I'm asked to name the best health care delivery system in the country, I answer without hesitation: Virginia Mason. No other organization has developed so many innovations-a unique approach to process improvement modeled on Toyota's, a world-class governance structure, the Physician Compact, and more-and woven them together in the service of a singular goal: putting patients first. In this well-written and engaging book, Kenney pulls back the curtain to describe how Virginia Mason makes all of this work. No surprise: the secret sauce is leadership. Read the book and you'll become a better leader. Better yet, have everybody at your organization read the book and it will become a better health system.-Robert Wachter, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, and author of The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine's Computer AgeIn a series of riveting, rich, and highly informative stories, Charles Kenney provides details and insights into the magic behind the method that can transform health care: a totally new style of collaborative leadership based on trust, alignment, patient focus, respect, and responsibility. Must reading for every health care CEO and Board member.-Lucian Leape, MD, Harvard School of Public HealthKenney's account of the Virginia Mason leadership journey offers a roadmap for young potential leaders on how to pursue a high performance health system.-David Blumenthal, MD, President, The Commonwealth FundTo successfully achieve a turnaround you must see Lean as the strategy, understand that the transition has to be led from the top and that the thing you are trying to transform is your people [your most valuable asset]. Virginia Mason touches all the bases here with particular emphasis in this book on the need for strong, aligned leadership throughout the organization. Every company can learn from VM's leadership examples. A must-read if you are interested in unlocking the hidden value within your company.-Art Byrne, former CEO of The Wiremold Company and author of The Lean TurnaroundThis practical leadership guide shares the strategy, the management tools and systems, and a vision of the culture needed to thrive in today's challenging health care world. Readers will get a detailed view of the Virginia Mason Production System and the methods that Virginia Mason leaders use to achieve world-class results for their patients.-Maureen Bisognano, President and CEO, Institute for Healthcare ImprovementTalented people leading and working together on a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy and relentless implementation plan to deliver a compelling vision! Virginia Mason's Story has important lessons for all of us!-Alan Mulally, retired CEO of Ford and Boeing Commercial Airplanes
