The term combines two quality improvement approaches: Lean and Six Sigma. Lean methodologies focus on eliminating waste and streamlining processes. Six Sigma projects involve increasing quality and yield while reducing defects and variation.
Why Use Lean Sigma?
- It doesn’t force organizations to choose between quality of care and saving money. Lean Sigma projects often boost the bottom line while improving care and reducing the chance of patient safety errors.
- It is grounded in measurement and statistical rigor, helping participants to develop plans of action that are backed by data.
- It puts quality improvement tools in the hands of frontline providers, who are familiar with the inefficiencies and hazards facing their patients, so that they can be catalysts for organizational change.
- It results in projects that more often have a significant business case, due to the requirement that teams identify the benefits up front when creating their project charter.
- It encourages sustainable, long-lasting improvement, through its focus on setting up measurement systems and then consistently tracking and feeding back performance.
Trained in Lean sigma at Johns Hopkins, an Ohio hospital gets fast results. 
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