The  Lean Sigma Prescription for Healthcare® Green Belt Certificate Course customizes the Lean Sigma approach for health care professionals. This approach combines Lean Methodology, focusing on optimizing flow, increasing speed and reducing waste, with Six Sigma statistical tools to identify root causes and reduce defects. The Lean Sigma combination provides powerful improvement tools to address chronic operational problems, particularly the seven wastes of health care:

• Defects or rework
• Overproduction
• Excess motion
• Over-processing
• Wait time
• Excess inventory
• Transportation

Examples and exercises apply Lean Sigma tools with health care-specific scenarios to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and organizational efficiencies. The course reviews statistical concepts applicable to health care, such as normality, stability and capability, as well as the most common statistical tests. Course participants delve into hands-on statistical analysis using Minitab® Statistical Software.

Registration

Upcoming workshops:

• Dec. 5, 7, 12 & 14, 2023

Registration opening soon:

• March 5, 7, 12, 14, 2024

Virtual participants: The virtual Green Belt course is $850 (prior completion of the Armstrong Lean Practioner for Healthcare Certificate Course is a REQUIRED pre-requisite).

Green Belt certification exam and review (optional) is $900

Johns Hopkins Medicine employees: No cost. Seats are limited.

Email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Please see our Cancellation/No Show & Refund Policy. Beginning January 1, 2021, the No-Show Policy has been reinstated. 

Course Objectives

Explore Lean and Six Sigma tools in health care through hands-on applications, exercises and projects. After taking this course, the participant will be able to:

• Use the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) project methodology
• Apply concepts learned to a Lean Sigma health care project
• Practice sound data collection and data analysis techniques
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of statistical methods
• Organize and lead a Lean Sigma project

Course Outline

Define/Measure (Understanding the Current State)

• Project Definition, Project Charter
• Values Stream Mapping (VSM), Spaghetti Diagram, Seven Wastes of Health Care
• Normality, Stability, Capability Analyses

Analyze (Understanding Variation and Causal Factors)

• Analysis Plan
• Hypothesis Testing using Minitab Software
• T-test, Chi-Square, Correlation, Regression, Equal Variances

Improve/Control (Generating Breakthrough Improvements)

• Mistake proofing
• Kaizen
• Single Piece Flow
• Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Balance to Takt, 5S, Operational Methods Sheets, Control Charts
• Control Methods and Plans

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for health care professionals interested in or tasked with increasing efficiency in care delivery, including:

• Executive leadership
• Department administrators
• Physicians
• Mid-level providers
• Nurses
• Hospital and medical office administration staff
• Facility and clinical engineers
• Laboratory, imaging and specialized health care services staff
• Clinical support staff
• Pharmaceutical staff

The Participant Experience

Participants in this course learn by doing. As they are introduced to Lean tools, they practice using them during hands-on exercises that simulate the inefficient systems encountered in their workplaces.

Facilitators

Laura Winner, Dr.PH, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A.
Senior Director of Operational Excellence, Lean Sigma Deployment 

Scott Burkett, B.S., C.S.S.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment

Wilson Lamy, B.S., C.S.S.M.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment

Richard Hill, B.S., C.L.S.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment (Johns Hopkins Hospital campus)

Erica Reinhardt, M.S., R.D., C.L.S.S.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment (Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center campus)

Requirements

Participants must provide a laptop with an XP, Vista, or other Windows operating system for the class. Prior to the course, participants should complete pre-reading assignments and identify a Lean Sigma project within their organization in order to apply the tools and concepts learned.

Please see our cancellation and refund policy.

Questions and Consulting Requests

Email [email protected].